Reality check for monthly meal plan #1

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So, here’s how the December Monthly Meal Plan went down in terms of the menu I planned. I think where some people get tripped up about using a monthly menu is thinking that once you have the whole month planned that things aren’t flexible anymore.

December went according to the menu plan for the . . . → Read More: Reality check for monthly meal plan #1

Photo of the moment #4

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Shot with a canon 5d 70-200 4.0 L lens @127mm

ISO 400

Shutter Speed 1/640

Aperture f/4.0

Spinach Manicotti in Creamy Tomato Sauce

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Prep: 30 minutes Total: 65 minutes

Here is the link to this recipe. I actually do it a little differently. I learned this from the America’s Test Kitchen folks.

Instead of buying manicotti noodles I buy the no bake lasagna noodles. Put them in a cassarole dish with very hot water and let them . . . → Read More: Spinach Manicotti in Creamy Tomato Sauce

Black Bean-Chicken Enchilada Casserole

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Black Bean-Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes Serves 6-8

3 8oz cans tomato sauce ½ cup salsa 1 teaspoon ground cumin 3 cups cooked chopped chicken breast 1 15oz can black beans, rinsed & drained 1 4.5oz can chopped green chiles, undrained 12 corn tortillas 2 cup  shredded cheese

. . . → Read More: Black Bean-Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Truth

The truth is, I love my children more than I can even put into words. I would run into a burning building or jump in front of a train to save them because they are so precious to me that the thought of something terrible happening to them brings tears to my eyes. But the other truth is that most days, bedtime cannot come soon enough. . . . → Read More: Truth

Photo critique #2

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ISO 200

Shutter Speed  1/400

Aperture   f/5

Critique:

Settings: Overall this image looks great. The exposure is perfect. Since you were so close to your subject you have a very shallow depth of field (blurry background).

Lighting: You have your subject facing the nice soft light so you have “catch . . . → Read More: Photo critique #2

“She attended faithfully and well to a few worthy things.”

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“She attended faithfully and well to a few worthy things.”

This line is from a book of  meditations called Walking Towards Morning. One of the meditations was the subject of a sermon I heard recently. The line is an epitaph that the author came across once. She initially thought it a strange thing to put on . . . → Read More: “She attended faithfully and well to a few worthy things.”

Leek, potato, parsnip and cauliflower soup

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From Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Cookbook

Prep time: 25 minutes

Cook time: 50 minutes

Yield: 8 two cup servings

2 T EVOO

2 T coconut butter or olive oil

2 yellow onions, peeled, coarsely chopped

4 leeks of similar size, trimmed, sliced in half lengthwise, coarsely chopped and well rinsed

2 parsnips, peeled and . . . → Read More: Leek, potato, parsnip and cauliflower soup

Photo of the moment #3

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Because this one makes me feel warm too.

Shot with a Canon5d  24-70 2.8 L @ 70mm

ISO 200

Shutter Speed 1/8000

Aperture f2.8

Black & Blue Quesadilla’s

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Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 11 minutes Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 quesadilla)

Ingredients Cooking spray 1/3  cup  thinly sliced red onion 4  (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas 1/2  pound  thinly sliced low-sodium deli roast beef (such as Boar’s Head) 2  tablespoons  crumbled blue cheese 4  teaspoons  balsamic glaze (such as . . . → Read More: Black & Blue Quesadilla’s