Attention Dads and Children-This is the perfect Mother's Day Breakfast

Alright Dads and children everywhere. You must make this for Mom on Sunday. Served with strawberries and OJ, she will flip! It's incredibly easy. Cut pre-made pie crust into 4" diameter circles. You can get five easily and six if you piece the scraps together and cut one more. Place each 4" circle into a cupcake pan. Before baking, fill 2/3 full of yummies: cheese, bit of breakfast meat, mushrooms, zucchini, chives, or whatever she likes. Then mix up your eggs. For 12 mini quiches, mix 6 eggs, 1/2 Cup-ish cream, and some seasoned salt or just S&P. Fill each crust with egg mixture. Bake at 375 until puffy and cooked through. I promise, she will love it! Unless she's vegan... Or hates eggs... #butthatsjustcrazy Enjoy! & You're welcome.

Trello App for the Faith in God Program

I recently discovered Trello and it's awesome power.  I am a Webelos leader in my neighborhood and put together a few Cub Scout Tracking Templates and thought I would expand my excitement into the other programs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. So here is a peek at the Faith in God Tracking Template that I put together.

Label a card to show what year the goal was completed.
Isn't it pretty? OCD dreamin'.
Click to get a closer look

Reasons Trello is perfect for tracking Faith in God:

• IT'S FREE!!!: No ads. Not even spam.
• It's an App: The app makes updating progress as easy and pie anywhere you have your smart phone or tablet. Or if you need to make more significant updates and changes, you can get on your computer and feel the full power of Trello.
• Planning: Make a "board" for planning purposes and you can store web links, photos, and notes to specific experience cards for future reference.  It's right there, just a click away.
• Communication between leaders: You can literally have a conversation on any "card". Any leader can update progress, see finished progress, add activity ideas, add photos, and rearrange "lists" and "cards". 
• Communication with parents: You can invite parents to their child's "board" and they can always have access and see what their son or daught has accomplished, what still needs to be done, and what needs to be done at home. Then, they can update their child's "board" from home or ask a question in any comment box. (& if you use @username, then it will notify you of the comment.)

Let's get you started. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3:

• Step 1: Log in - Log into your Trello account from a computer. If you don't already have one, it's free and easy to set up (tip: you can use your gmail/google account) and I have yet to receive any spam type emails from them.

Trello Login Screen - Using your gmail/google login makes it oh so easy

• Step 2: Click on the tracking template link below: If you are already logged into Trello, it should pull up my board into your Trello account.  It will be a read only board though and you won't be able to make or save any changes.

Faith in God Master Template<---click align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" me="" nbsp="" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" table=""> Gorgeous!!

 Step 3: Make a Copy - Make a copy of my Trello board by clicking on "show sidebar" on the right side of the template, click Menu, then click on "Copy Board" from the Menu. Rename your board or keep the same name then click "Create".  Now the board is yours and you can make unlimited copies, edit, and save all you want.  

The menu is on the right... weird.

That's it! You now have an awesome resource for tracking your Personal Progress, communicating between girls, parents, & leaders, and storing activity ideas and photos!

 

LDS Personal Progress Tracking App

I recently discovered Trello and it's awesome power.  I am a Webelos leader in my neighborhood and put together a few Cub Scout Tracking Templates and thought I would expand my excitement into the other programs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. So here is a peek at the Young Women's Personal Progress Tracking Template that I put together.

Isn't it OCD-a-licious?
Click to get a better look

Reasons Trello is perfect for Personal Progress tracking:

• IT'S FREE!!!: No ads. Not even spam.
• It's an App: The app makes updating progress as easy and pie anywhere you have your smart phone or tablet. Or if you need to make more significant updates and changes, you can get on your computer and feel the full power of Trello.
• Planning: Make a "board" for planning purposes and you can store web links, photos, and notes to specific experience cards for future reference.  It's right there, just a click away.
• Communication between leaders: You can literally have a conversation on any "card". Any leader can update progress, see finished progress, add activity ideas, add photos, and rearrange "lists" and "cards". 
• Communication with parents and girls: You can invite parents to their daughter's "board" and they can always have access and see what their girl has accomplished, what still needs to be done, and what needs to be done at home. Then, they can update their daughter's "board" from home or ask a question in any comment box. (& if you use @username, then it will notify you of the comment.)

Let's get you started. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3:

• Step 1: Log in - Log into your Trello account from a computer. If you don't already have one, it's free and easy to set up (tip: you can use your gmail/google account) and I have yet to receive any spam type emails from them.

Trello Login Screen - Using your gmail/google login makes it oh so easy

• Step 2: Click on the tracking template link below: If you are already logged into Trello, it should pull up my board into your Trello account.  It will be a read only board though and you won't be able to make or save any changes.

Personal Progress Master Template Link

Screenshot of the Personal Progress Board - Oooo, pretty!

• Step 3: Make a Copy - Make a copy of my Trello board by clicking on "show sidebar" on the right side of the template, click Menu, then click on "Copy Board" from the Menu. Rename your board or keep the same name then click "Create".  Now the board is yours and you can make unlimited copies, edit, and save all you want.  

Menu on the right... weird.

That's it! You now have an awesome resource for tracking your Personal Progress, communicating between girls, parents, & leaders, and storing activity ideas and photos!

 

Trello App for Cub Scouts

I have been serving in Cub Scouts for about four years now and one problem we have run into over and over and over is: 1. tracking the boys' progress and 2. communication of progress between committee members and parents.  This can be so frustrating for leaders and parents.  We've tried excel spreadsheets (pain!), using Pack Master & other tracking programs (hard to use and $$$), notebooks full of paper tracking sheets (difficult if one leader wants to see progress and plan den meetings, but the other leader has the notebook. Ugh!) and there is even the occasional "why do I need to track progress?" (are you kidding me?!). My husband recently discovered a website/app called Trello. This app is a "free web-based project management application originally made by Fog Creek Software in 2011, that spun out to be its own company in 2014" according to Wikipedia. My husband uses this app primarily for work projects.  After observing his activities on Trello, my brain got buzzing and I asked, "Why can't I use this for my Webelos?" The answer was, yes, I can!  And once I dug in and began making my first "board", I realized what a perfect (free) solution this is.




The organization is making me tingle
Click for larger image

Reasons Trello is perfect for Cub Scout tracking:

1. IT'S FREE!!!: No ads. Not even spam.
2. It's an App: The app makes updating progress as easy and pie anywhere you have your smart phone or tablet. Or if you need to make more significant updates and changes, you can get on your computer and feel the full power of Trello.
3. Planning: Make a "board" for planning purposes and you can store web links, photos, and notes to specific achievement cards for future reference.  It's right there, just a click away.
4. Communication between den leaders: You can literally have a conversation on any "card". Either leader can update progress, see finished progress, add activity ideas, add photos, and rearrange "lists" and "cards". 
5. Communication with parents: You can invite parents to their son's "board" and they can always have access and see what their son has accomplished, what still needs to be done, and what needs to be done at home. Then, they can update their son's "board" from home or ask a question in any comment box. (& if you use @username, then it will notify you of the comment.)
6. Communication between committee members: Usually there is someone designated to enter awards into "Internet Advancement" and then go pick up the awards from the scout shop. Share the boards with this person and they can just look and see which awards need to processed.

Let's get you started. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3:

• Step 1: Log in - Log into your Trello account from a computer. If you don't already have one, it's free and easy to set up (tip: you can use your gmail/google account) and I have yet to receive any spam type emails from them.

Trello Login Screen - Using your gmail/google login makes it oh so easy

• Step 2: Click on the tracking template you need: If you are already logged into Trello, it should pull up my board into your Trello account.  It will be a read only board though and you won't be able to make or save any changes.

Bobcat/Wolves Master Template 

Bear Master Template 

Webelos Master Template 

Faith in God

The template looks like this - Isn't it beautiful...

• Step 3: Make a Copy - Make a copy of my Trello board by clicking on "show sidebar" on the right side of the template, click Menu, then click on "Copy Board" from the Menu. Rename your board or keep the same name then click "Create".  Now the board is yours and you can make unlimited copies, edit, and save all you want.

Board menu is on the right

That's it! You now have an awesome resource for tracking your Cubs' progress, communicating progress to parents and other committee members, and storing activity ideas and photos!

A few tips and tricks to make using Trello for Cubs more fruitful:

1. Keep an untouched master version of this board.  It will make adding new boys easy peasy.
2. Make a copy of your Master Board for planning purposes.  You can store activity ideas, photos, and helpful web links with any achievement or elective. Talk about easy reference for planning! (If you notice, I have already inserted some here and there.)
3. Make every boy in your den their own tracking board by making them each a copy of the Master Board.
4. Share each boy's board with their parents. That way parents can only see their son's progress through the Cub program.  They will need to have their own Trello account if they want to add the progress made at home themselves.
5. They don't want to use Trello, no problem.  You can share the board via web link.  They will not be able to change anything or update new progress, but they will be able to see what their boy has accomplished and what still needs to be done.
6. It may be helpful to introduce this system during pack meeting over a projector to let families see just how useful this system can be. When I show this to my committee, I will be bringing my iPad so they can play with the app and see it's potential.  

Good luck fellow Akela. I hope this will aid you in your den or pack! 

Low Carb Sautéed Veggies in a Pesto Cream Sauce

Cooking is not as precise as baking.  Have fun with this recipe and don't be afraid to try different things.  You may love mushrooms, so add more mushrooms! You may hate peppers, so leave them out. 

Servings: 3-4

• 1 Small Zucchini - cubed
• 4-5 Button Mushrooms - sliced
• 1/2 Red Bell Pepper - rough chopped
• Or any veggies that sauté nicely
• 1/2 Cup-ish of Cream - enough that your veggies can simmer in it
• 3-4 Tbs. Pesto Sauce - I get mine at Sam's Club

Rough chop all your veggies so they are about the same size.  This will insure that they will cook about the same fast.  Place your veggies and cream in a frying pan and turn the heat to medium.  Stir and simmer the veggies until they reach your desired tenderness.  Turn the heat off and add the pesto to taste. 



There.  That's it.  You can use this to top eggs, chicken, steak, pasta or potatoes. (ahhh! carbs!) Really tasty and will get you out of the high protein rut of just a salad and grilled meat.  This was my breakfast this morning. Cheesy egg omelet smothered in this delightful sauce!

Low Carb Cheesecake

Wednesday is my "cheat day" and cheesecake is a wonderful way to cheat.  This recipe is a really yummy low carb version of cheesecake.  It is crust less and the texture is slightly different, lighter, but with only 6 carbs per slice, it is an awesome alternative to all those sugary desserts that tempt me all the time.

Recipe courtesy of Food Network
Yield:                   12 servings
Calories/serving:  301
Carbs/serving:      6
Sugars/serving: ~ 0.5

The culinary lineup:
24 oz. Cream Cheese
1 Cup Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
1/2 C. Sour Cream
1 1/2 C. Sugar Substitute (I used Splenda)
1/3 C. Heavy Cream
1 T. Vanilla (no sugar added)
2 Large Eggs
3 Egg yolks (Don't throw out those whites! They would make a great addition to tomorrow's low carb omelette!)

Equipment:
Cheesecake Pan
Hand Mixer
Rubber Spatula

Preheat oven to 400*. Place a shallow dish that is a little larger than your cheesecake pan in the center of the oven. Fill it half way with warm water.

Cream the first four ingredients together with the hand mixer until it's smooth and creamy. About a minute.  Mix the rest of the ingredients in another bowl. Slowly add egg mixture a little at a time into the cheese mixture using the hand mixer as you go.  Mix until combined.  Pour batter into cheesecake pan and place your prepared cheesecake into the dish with water that's waiting in the oven.  Be careful!  It's hot!

Bake at 400* for 15 minutes. Then turn the oven down to 275* for 1 1/2 hours.  Then turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake in there (without peaking) for 3 more hours.  Remove from oven and chill.

 

Serves 12  people

Ingredients	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Cream cheese - Plain, 24 oz	2,370	18	237	51	2,010	1
Cheese - Ricotta, whole milk, 1 cup	428	7	32	28	207	1
Sour cream, 0.5 cup	246	5	24	4	61	0
Splenda - Granulated Sweetener - 1.2 lb Bag, 72 tsp (.5g)	0	34	0	0	0	0
Cream - Heavy whipping (whipped), 0.3 cup, fluid (yields 2 cups whipped)	246	2	26	1	27	0
Eggs - Whole, raw, 2 large	147	1	10	13	140	1
Eggs - Yolk only, raw, 3 large	164	2	14	8	24	0
Vanilla extract - Imitation, no alcohol, 1 tbsp	7	2	0	0	0	2

Total:	3,608	71	343	105	2,469	5
Per Serving:	301	6	29	9	206	0

The Dreaded "Low Carb" Diet

I have been taking a "blog break" for.... quite some time now, but I am excited to share some new recipes with all of you.  My hubby has decided to go "low carb".  That might as well say "low happiness" in my head.  I love every form of carb.  All of them.  I really want to support my hubby in his quest for health, so I decided to give it a try.  So far... for him: 26 lbs down. for me: 9 lbs down.  Crazy! I always knew I had a carb problem, but I had no idea how bad it was until I went without.  Guess what?  It's not that hard to give them up.  But, it would be infinitely harder if we weren't doing this together.  This is a lifestyle that I think we will both maintain for the rest of our lives. 

Hello, my name is Cindy and I am a Carbaholic. 

I am 14 days sober and 9 lbs down.

 

Like any respectable carbaholic, I hit the internet looking for awesome cheats!  First I found this one. 

 

Low Carb Chocolate Ice Cream

(doesn't it look awesome?!)

So creamy and chocolaty... Mmmm....

Nope!  IT WAS TERRIBLE! 

 

So the search continued.  Next I found this little number.

 

Low Carb Cheesecake

This one looked promising... Cheesecake is pretty low carb anyway...
 

Loved it!
Find this awesome recipe here!