tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91895612809752573452024-03-05T00:28:04.934-05:00The Cooking AccountantCooking in the kitchen, not the booksThe Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-30108544983324284912023-02-08T12:29:00.001-05:002023-02-08T12:42:35.419-05:00Required: Lifting 25 lbs. of Nothing<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I have alerts
set on LinkedIn for Controller and Assistant Controller jobs. In the past few
years, I have noticed an increasing number of companies posting physical
requirements for accounting work.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One came up
that read "Physical Requirements: This position requires you to sit, stand
and perform general office functions. You may also be required to lift up to 25
pounds occasionally. Bending, stooping and reaching are also frequently
required." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As someone who has chronic pain, this makes me angry. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As someone who has hired and worked with people who have disabilities,
illnesses, injuries, are pregnant, or are in their 80s and 90s, this seriously
pisses me off. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Why should people be dissuaded from applying for accounting work
when they only rarely must lift up to 25 lbs.?? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At first, it
looks to me like a barrier to entry for anyone who can’t lift up to 25 lbs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Then I said,
maybe I’m too cynical and there is an actual legal requirement for this. Like a
CYA for companies who don’t want to pay worker’s compensation on the occasion
an employee lifts a heavy box and hurts themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But the more
I looked into it, it was what I thought at first. That companies don’t want to
hire certain employees. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I found that
the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics has categories of the type of work and requirements
for lifting weights. Most office jobs are classified as “Sedentary” which they
define as requiring a strength level based on the weight and duration of
lifting and carrying. Sedentary work requires the lifting or carrying of up to
10 lbs. seldom or occasionally, negligible weight frequently, and no weight
constantly. Also sedentary work is met when no more than one-third of the
workday is spent standing. More fun details <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ors/factsheet/strength.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The types of
jobs they classify as sedentary include personal financial advisors, computer
programmers, insurance agents, budget analysts, and billing and posting clerks.
So, billing and posting clerks (Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable most likely)
are in the sedentary category and they are the ones, in my experience, that deal
with large piles of invoices and backup documents. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Then, which
jobs require lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. you ask? Well, that is the next
category, classified as “Light Work” which the US BLS defines as seldom and occasionally
lifting and carrying 11-25 lbs., 1-10 lbs. frequently, and negligible weight
constantly. These jobs include: hairdressers, restaurant hosts and hostesses,
waiters and waitresses, teachers and instructors, dental assistants, and phlebotomists.
There is no way that our accounting jobs require us to lift the paper
equivalent of the trays of plates and glasses a waiter or waitress must lift
and carry <b><u>after every single table</u></b>. And there is no way we are
standing and bending (even with a sit/stand desk), the hours a dental assistant
does. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">OK, at this
point you might argue that this particular job was posted by some really old-school
company that keeps banker's boxes of old, dusty paper files and binders in the
basement or warehouse. I used to have to dig through such boxes in the 1990s
and early 2000s. Even then, someone delivered them up for us. I have lugged
boxes of files as an auditor but that was before everything was “paperless.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">No, my
friends. Without giving away too much information, the business that posted
this job in this 2020s paperless world is a cryptocurrency company! Less than
10 years old! The job description goes on and on about how they love to create
efficiencies and how they are so non-traditional. Yeah OK, keep thinking that...<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, why the hell do they expect that their Accounting people should
be able to lift and carry up to 25 pounds?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Job postings
like this one signal to certain job seekers not to even bother applying; that
they will not be an ideal candidate for the job. Basically, if you are
disabled, pregnant, old, or even have a sports injury, they don't want you. And
they even have the nerve to include an "Equal Employment Opportunity"
paragraph directly after. I am not kidding. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Accounting jobs should NOT be restricted by lift and carry requirements.
This is so completely ridiculous. Think about it – People who start off being
able to lift up to 25 lbs. will eventually grow older, get pregnant, get
injured, or sustain an illness. It is part of life. But guess what? We can
still do accounting work! <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-11338356200726269832023-02-04T22:03:00.002-05:002023-02-04T22:03:30.358-05:00Kitchen Organization Series: # 4 - Staying Organized<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So, now that you’ve created a home for
everything in your kitchen, try to keep putting the items away in their home.
If something isn’t fitting or working, re-evaluate whether you can declutter
some more or if the item actually belongs there. I ended up moving some of my
cheesecake pans and Bundt pan to the back of the pans cabinet because I don’t
bake that often. It made it easier to put my loaf pans away.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To keep kitchen counters from becoming
a junk area, keep a bin with a label on it that says, “Bring upstairs.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is for any papers that need to get
shredded or buttons that fall off shirts in the wash. Somehow all this stuff
ends up on the kitchen counter. This will help keep things that don’t belong
out of your kitchen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As I mentioned in the introduction
post of this series, its’s hard to keep things organized when a lot is going
on, but you can always perform a refresh at the beginning of the year. By
following my own tips, I was able to declutter my counters and two cabinets to
make it easier to cook. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, my best tip is: Keep
everything in its home! And keep other things out of its home! <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Disclaimer:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Cooking Accountant is a
participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate
advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising
fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-52086103858769701292023-02-04T22:01:00.004-05:002023-02-04T22:01:48.023-05:00Kitchen Organization Series: # 3 - Organizing<p><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everything must have a home!</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is the trick to knowing exactly
what you own and being able to retrieve it easily. Designate areas that make
sense in your kitchen. I have all my pots and pans near the stove, glasses and
dishes near the dishwasher, baking supplies near the mixer, mugs near the
coffee machine. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don’t go nuts trying to set things up
into zones that are recommended online. Just do what feels natural to you. It
will evolve over time for you. For example, I couldn’t figure out my leftover
containers. They were in 3 different places of my kitchen due to their sizes
and weights. I ended up keeping glass containers in one cabinet near the fridge
for leftovers and plastic containers near the sink for meal prepping vegetables.
This works for me! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here are some organizing ideas: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Designate
areas of cabinets such as shelves (or even an entire cabinet) only for that
category of items</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">: Don’t put your
immersion blender on top of the baking sheets. It should have its own home.
This way, you won’t need to dig through random items to get to a baking sheet.
Keep the gadgets in their own corner or shelf. You can also corral them
together in a dollar store bin or fancier clear container. I re-purposed some
of my old tupperwares for this. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Heavy duty
office supply organizers</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">: I keep my
frying pans and skillets on them for easy access, pot lids for easy sorting,
glass/ceramic leftover containers, and baking sheets and cutting boards for
easy access. <a href="https://amzn.to/3JMgjhD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This one</a> is similar to the one I have. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07FT2438C&asins=B07FT2438C&linkId=eb06238790afe6813d32cb7f07eac443&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Add a shelf:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> This works great to create another storage
level in a cabinet. I added one to house my mugs and another for small plates. I have <a href="https://amzn.to/3HYwmHG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this one</a>. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00MFKZVOI&asins=B00MFKZVOI&linkId=eb4a734ab5556dfcfb8fd856ed13b117&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Over the
cabinet door hooks:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> I added one to
the inside of my cabinet where I keep my frying pans and skillets. I attached a
chip clip to it to hold my splatter screens. They are easy to get to and easy
to put away after washing. Much neater than my old way of throwing them in the
cabinet and wresting them out from under a skillet. <a href="https://amzn.to/3HzJLoi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">These</a> are similar: </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01J65MLC4&asins=B01J65MLC4&linkId=2e4ae60566e83f347669e2003abdc540&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bookends:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> I used them to keep stacked freezer and
sandwich bag boxes from falling over and to keep (some of) my cookbooks
contained to their side of the shelf. <a href="https://amzn.to/3JLj5U6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">These</a> are the ones I have: </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B001E6CT94&asins=B001E6CT94&linkId=e1ecd6c95e10f0718344618635ed4bde&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Baskets:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> I bought a fancy-looking basket to hold my
paperwork on the counter (no matter what you do, papers always end up in the
kitchen). I also use a metal crate to hold the cookbooks I use regularly on the
counter. Much neater than stacks of books or papers. <a href="https://amzn.to/3HXvYsU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This</a> is the one I have: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B004LE8H6K&asins=B004LE8H6K&linkId=0a913bd873f0b8e63c5e9652e408a98b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Countertop
lazy Susan:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> This somehow
keeps your oils and vinegars (or coffee items) that stay out on the counter
from looking too cluttered. They seem to take on a smaller footprint of counter
space and are easily accessible. <a href="https://amzn.to/3RNHtqp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This</a> is one I have: </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0036OQWTU&asins=B0036OQWTU&linkId=02fd9c52183d90ea9ec644f768a195a4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Are
there any kitchen organizing tools that you like to use? Let me know! <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><h2 class="title" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1em; position: relative;">Disclaimer:</h2><div class="widget-content" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "; font-size: 10.04px; line-height: 19px;"><blockquote></blockquote>The Cooking Accountant is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></b></p>The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-12318370792435993212023-02-04T21:27:00.001-05:002023-02-04T21:28:26.756-05:00Updated Kitchen Organization Series: #2 - Decluttering<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">The
first step to organizing your kitchen is to declutter. Decluttering consists of
going through your possessions and getting rid of anything that is no longer
useful or wanted. It makes sense to declutter before organizing; otherwise, you
will waste your time trying to fit things into your kitchen you really don’t
need at the expense of things you want to use more often (see my previous post
about the salvaged tiramisu cups that nobody used).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don't
you find that the less items you own, the better you take care of those few
items? This is because you take pride in them. I remember as a child, I would
have only 2 pairs of shoes at a time (one pair of regular everyday tennis shoes
and one pair of formal shoes for church and school assemblies). I took such
extremely good care of this one pair of white tennis shoes, that my friends
thought I always had new shoes! Similar in concept, I now have a few pans of
each type that I love using and I hand wash them so they stay as good as new.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
her first book, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1607747308/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1607747308&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=8916bd8d0e49a05d3d8361242b6c584d%22%3EThe%20Life-Changing%20Magic%20of%20Tidying%20Up:%20The%20Japanese%20Art%20of%20Decluttering%20and%20Organizing%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1607747308%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Life-Changing
Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">, Marie Kondo says to take EVERYTHING out to get the full
shock of seeing all your stuff out at once. You will realize that you have too
much stuff and you shouldn’t feel bad getting rid of it. If just the THOUGHT of
ALL your kitchen stuff out frustrates and overwhelms you, here is my
suggestion: <b>Take everything out of the drawers and cabinets IN
CATEGORIES. </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<hr align="center" noshade="" size="8" style="color: black;" width="100%" />
</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kitchen
item categories</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">, in any order:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Food:
refrigerator and freezer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Food:
pantry staples, kids’ snacks<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Food:
spices<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Food
prep (foil, plastic wrap, freezer bags, sandwich bags)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Cookware:
pots and pans, lids, baking sheets<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Cookbooks<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Plates,
bowls<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Glasses,
mugs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Thermoses,
water bottles<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Eating
utensils<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Cooking
utensils<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Food
storage, Tupperware<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Kitchen
towels<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Small
appliances<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Baking
supplies<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Serveware<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Holiday
items (plates, trays, mugs)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Kitchen
gadgets<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Other
stuff: vitamins, medical, junk drawer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do
cookware one day, plates another day, small appliances, gadgets, utensils, etc.
(see my list of kitchen item categories above). As you come across a gadget in
the drawer with your utensils, put it aside where most of your gadgets are. If
you are working on a category with some of the items in storage (ex: baking,
holiday serve ware) go get them so you have everything in the house for that
category together.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To
effectively declutter, go through the items and keep several boxes and garbage
bags on hand for trash, donations and storage; plus, a pen and a notepad for
notes. You will want to store or display anything that has sentimental value to
you. Evaluate your items as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.
Throw out items that are damaged, broken or expired. </span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Trash
all the food that is expired or was opened months ago (expired cans of soup,
open mustard). See if you need to buy anything that you use or eat
regularly and add to your shopping list. For things like nutmeg and capers that
you may not use as frequently, add these items to a “pantry low list." I
keep a list of pantry items that I ran out of or am running low on and refer to
it when I prepare my shopping list. Buy these items gradually as they go on
sale. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Throw
out those cracked wooden spoons, scratched up non-stick baking sheets, broken
kitchen gadgets and BPA plastic containers. These things accumulate because we
keep them “just in case.” Seriously - Do yourself a favor and get rid of them!
Think of all the precious space in your kitchen that this garbage is
taking! Kitchen storage space should be thought of as a premium location where
you keep quality items; not crap. I am now able to use the stuff I like without
all the junk getting in the way. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If
you only have one baking pan left after this, make a note in your notepad to be
on the lookout for baking pan sales at home stores. This is also your
opportunity to upgrade and splurge for a nicer item. I got rid of my scratched-up
pans and found a set of higher quality pans on sale that are much easier to
clean! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Notepad</span></u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: food shopping list,
pantry low items, upgrades/replacements wishlist<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.
Donate, sell or give away duplicates.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
you see all your baking stuff out on the counter at once, you will start asking
yourself: “Why do I have 5 sets of measuring spoons?” You don’t need all of
them! Keep 1 or 2 and donate the others. Once you have a good pile of items to
donate, sell or give away, set it up immediately! Take advantage of your
momentum and schedule the pickup, plan the garage sale, or write up that
Facebook/Craigslist ad or call your friend RIGHT NOW! Give yourself a deadline
of 3 weeks to get rid of it before putting it out with the garbage; otherwise,
it will end up sitting in your garage or basement. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You
should also list the items you are going to donate so you have them ready for
tax time. It doesn't take long - I write down each item and quantity (ex:
5 mugs, 3 baking sheets, 1 mixing bowl) on a sheet of paper after I have them
all in a box or bag ready to donate. Sometimes I search the values that night
and other times I have left it for tax time. But it's quick to calculate
the values of the donated items using the pricing guide on Goodwill’s
website. Just save this sheet of paper with any receipt you get from the
charity. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Notepad</span></u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: list of items to sell,
list of donation items to deduct<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.
Return items and assess your buying habits.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Put
aside anything purchased recently that you didn’t open yet or recently opened
but were not pleased with. At the end of all this, you can look at the item and
see if you still need or want it. The item might be a good replacement for
something you got rid of. But if you want to return it go right ahead; it can
be liberating. Just make a note to stop buying this type of kitchen item.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To
save money, I keep a list of kitchen items I need and refer to it monthly. So,
if I go to a home store or shop online, I am on the lookout for these items
going on sale. I try to keep to that list and avoid buying random items I
*think* I need. Doing this has helped me find items on sale that are better
quality because I am looking for them over time. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Notepad</span></u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: list of items to return,
list of items to stop buying, upgrades/replacements wishlist<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.
Keep items that are in good condition and useful.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You
will now be left with items that you use every day and some occasion and
sentimental items. The action of going through this whole declutter process and
taking notes will help you keep items in your kitchen that you actually use and
want to take care of.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At
this point, you should also make a list of items you want to use more often and
any additions that will help you use them. This can be a listing of your
cookbooks to go through for recipes, fun appetizer plates you forgot about,
appliance attachments and gadgets you can incorporate into your everyday life,
or cookie cutters to add to your collection.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Notepad</span></u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: list of kitchen items to
use, upgrades/replacements wishlist<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After
all this is done, you can organize and create a ‘home” for your items. Keeping
them grouped together by category in drawers or cabinets will make it much
easier for you to use and keep track of these items. We will talk about
organizing your kitchen in the next post of this series. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How
did you do with going through this kitchen declutter process?</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><h2 class="title" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1em; position: relative;">Disclaimer:</h2><div class="widget-content" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "; font-size: 10.04px; line-height: 19px;"><blockquote></blockquote>The Cooking Accountant is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.</span></div><div class="widget-content" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "; font-size: 10.04px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-62813924552279094762023-02-04T21:10:00.006-05:002023-02-04T21:20:09.700-05:00 Updated Kitchen Organization Series: #1 - Introduction<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Every January, I
look over at my kitchen from my couch and want to declutter the shit out of it.
So much crap has accumulated over the last few months – mail, junk mail, new Christmas
gift mugs and snack bowls, kitchen gadgets still in their packaging, 5 bottles
of olive oil. Some things we still need to find a home for. And some things are
out because they are easier to access. The kitchen is clean, but there is just
a bunch of stuff out on the counters.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It takes a few
weeks for the motivation to finally kick in; and by February, there is finally some
improvement. This year I threw out some glasses that were saved from tiramisu
desserts a few years ago and only reused for desserts once. They were taking up
prime cabinet real estate while I had to stretch to reach things that I use all
the time. Removing them made space for some new snack bowls and rice rinsing
bowls that I use regularly. This was such an improvement!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
best organizing advice I have ever read was to have a "home" where
each item belongs and to put the item away in its "home"
immediately after using it. The key to keeping this up over the long-term is to
make sure that the item's "home" is easily accessible, so you have no
issue putting it away. </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
In her first book, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3DIBFIF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Life-Changing
Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, <span style="color: black;">Marie Kondo talks about getting rid of items that don't
bring you joy and keeping those that do. Back in 2017, I started
decluttering in the order she recommends (with my clothes), but I couldn’t wait
to get to the kitchen. While the "joy" concept helped me
immensely in getting through my clothes, the concept of putting things away
easily helped me more in the kitchen. I went through a whole process to
organize my kitchen which combined what I've learned from this book and all the
other resources I have read. This process consisted of Decluttering, Organizing
and Staying Organized. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Since
it's a New Year, I thought I would share with you what worked for me in a
Kitchen Organization Series. Let me know the most helpful tip you've come
across to organize your kitchen. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1607747308&asins=1607747308&linkId=1fb297b458d926551ee1de3526d2d3de&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
</span></p><div><br /></div><h2 class="title" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1em; position: relative;">Disclaimer:</h2><div class="widget-content" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "; font-size: 10.04px; line-height: 19px;"><blockquote></blockquote>The Cooking Accountant is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.</span></div>The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-68618363060822285752020-05-01T22:24:00.002-04:002020-05-01T22:24:34.813-04:00CPA Exam Sections: What's the Best Order to Take Them?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Usually, some of the first and most frequently asked
questions CPA Exam candidates ask include:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">In what order should I take the sections of the CPA Exam?</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Which section should I start with?</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Which section is the easiest (hardest)?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This is all relative and depends on how comfortable you are
with the materials, when you last learned the subjects in school, and if you
encounter these subjects at work regularly (such as tax or audit). You can start
with your toughest subjects to get them over with and to not let your credits
expire. Or, you can build confidence and momentum by taking and passing your
easiest part first.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
One of the most popular recommended orders used to be:
BEC-AUD-REG-FAR or B-A-R-F (get it, barf?). The idea behind this sequence is
that your knowledge of the subject matter for each section builds and leads
into the next section. You are more likely to remember what you studied on the
last part and it would reduce your study time for the next parts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It looks like that theory is less popular these days, as
both Wiley and Becker recommend the order: FAR-AUD-REG-BEC or F-A-R-B.
According to them, the research shows that FAR is the hardest part because it
covers the most material. They also feel that the subject matter of BEC is the
easiest to handle for most candidates. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
My original plan this go-round was to take what I THOUGHT
would be my hardest to easiest sections in the order: BEC-REG-FAR-AUD. After taking
the Exam, I found the ACTUAL order of hardest to easiest sections for me was:
REG-FAR-BEC-AUD. Surprisingly, I had to study an excessive amount to pass REG
(and I failed it once). And funny enough, I ended up passing them in the order
of B-A-R-F. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Here is how I studied for each part, and the reasons why
I took them in this order: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>BEC: Passed. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I took BEC first since that is the section I always seemed
to have a hard time with. I watched all the Wiley videos and did all the
knowledge check questions (true/false) at the end and the multiple-choice
questions for each part. Then, I did the Task-Based Simulations (TBSs) when I
got to the end of each section. I used the app's flashcards and flashcard quiz,
and the paper flashcards. Even though I had work experience with budgets and
cost accounting, I still looked up any concepts that I needed to reinforce or could
not remember from school. I used Wiley’s Focus Notes to review the concepts
throughout my studying and as a final review the day before the Exam. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>REG: Failed. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I took REG next because I wanted to get it done before the
TCJA (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017) went into effect. I usually
like the Law sections but found studying it this time to be tedious. The result
was not great. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>AUD: Passed. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I took AUD next because I needed a confidence boost. I have
always loved Audit, worked as an auditor, and understood the concepts (maybe there
is something wrong with me??). I took a similar approach to BEC (above) but
with much less studying. I was glad I did not need to study that much. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>REG: Passed. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Studying for REG was like studying for BEC (above), but with
even more study effort. This time, to make sure I passed, I also used Wiley's
Mentoring feature (where the professors explain the answers to student
questions) and their Virtual Class Sessions. And I went through the flashcards
to try to memorize many of the concepts. I think these study aids helped a lot
and made a huge difference. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>FAR: Passed. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Like BEC (above), but I did not have as much time to study. I
was forced to take this part before I lost credit for BEC, and this was while
Covid-19 was getting started here in NY. Like REG (above), I used the Mentoring
feature, but I did not have enough time to watch the Virtual Classes. I used
the app a lot to do questions and review flashcards. I even purchased a new GAAP
textbook and referred to it for many of the modules. I highly recommend
reviewing the GAAP hierarchy, so you are familiar with the layout (either in
your CPA Review software, review text, online or in a reference book). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Which CPA Exam section did
you start with or hope to start with? Hopefully, my experience can help you
with your studying for the CPA Exam. Good luck!</span></b></div>
The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-64357941631439082902020-04-07T16:55:00.000-04:002020-06-13T11:12:42.698-04:00I Passed the CPA Exam... and that's why the world is ending<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>I Passed the CPA Exam...</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
If you’ve been a long-time reader of my blog, you’ll remember
I started writing in 2009 when I was looking for a new job and taking the CPA
Exam. I first started taking the Exam in 2000 (20 years ago!), back when it was
a pencil and paper exam. In these 20 years, the Exam has changed to become
computerized, and many areas of Accounting and Tax have changed as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In 2018, I started studying again using the Wiley Platinum CPA Review course (<a href="https://www.efficientlearning.com/cpa/products/platinum-cpa-review-course/" target="_blank">link</a>),
which I highly recommend (Note: this is <b>NOT</b> an affiliated post at the
time of publishing). The videos were very helpful for someone like me who hasn’t
taken accounting classes in a long time. The professors explain the differences
between old and new concepts. With REG, they compare TCJA changes to the old
tax laws. For FAR, they explain changes in GASB and FASB pronouncements. They
also offer an app that includes flashcards and a test bank to quiz yourself. I
can’t say enough about how great this course has been for me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The order I took the parts of the CPA Exam was: BEC, REG
(failed), AUD, REG (retake), FAR. I found out that I passed FAR just days
before my BEC credit expired and days before our state went into lockdown.
Talk about down to the wire! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>…and that's why the world is ending</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It's only been 3 weeks, but it feels like a lifetime ago. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I did not celebrate passing the CPA Exam because New York
was body-slammed by the Covid-19 virus and we have been under lockdown at home.
In my NYC suburb, I hear the sirens all afternoon from the volunteer firehouse
whose ambulance is picking up the 911 calls when the system gets swamped. It’s
a constant reminder that something is terribly wrong outside. As bad as this
is, it's much, much worse in some the 5 boroughs of NYC where the hospitals are
full, and the people are very sick. The virus has reached our family and
friends and affected our daily lives. Every day, I pray that the ones who are sick
will recover soon and that the rest of us stay healthy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A few weeks ago, I wrote several letters to CEOs of
companies in other states pleading for their help in making the essential gear that
nurses, doctors, hospital staff, and first responders are running out of (PPE –
personal protective equipment). I called and wrote to my Representatives to ask
the President to enact the Defense Production Act (DPA), which would compel
companies to manufacture the needed goods and equipment (instead of
volunteering to make few quantities of them). There are mechanisms for the Federal
government to use in a national emergency that they are refusing to use, and I
am extremely disappointed in their inadequate response. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
While my State, Country, and the World are dying, my own Representative
and the Federal government are instead engaged in political nonsense instead of
helping the Governor and hospitals save lives. A Representative from upstate is
even refusing to temporarily lend downstate hospitals equipment. The lack of
empathy and common sense during this pandemic is just ridiculous. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
However, there is a bright spot in all this insanity. Some Governors,
led by the Governor of Oregon, are lending our hospitals the much-needed
equipment to treat people afflicted with this virus. I am so grateful and will never
forget the example she set by helping us. As our Governor said, <b>New Yorkers
are the first ones to help. </b>We never forgot the generosity of people that
helped us after Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and I along with many, many other New
Yorkers gave supplies to help the people of Houston, TX after Hurricane Harvey
in 2017. <b>That is what New Yorkers do. We remember and we help.</b> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I'll close this post with a few lines from a Jay-Z song (U
Don't Know) that matches my mood lately. <span style="color: #7030a0;"><b>How are
you guys doing? I hope you and your families stay healthy and safe throughout
this pandemic. And to my fellow New Yorkers, WE WILL NOT LOSE, EVER.</b></span><span style="color: #cc66ff; font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Warning: EXPLICIT LYRICS..<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Jay-Z (U Don't know) <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
(See <a href="https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jayz/udontknow.html" target="_blank">AZ Lyrics</a> for the full song lyrics)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
M*****f***er - I, will, not, lose<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
"You don't know.. what you're doing, doing, doing,
doing.."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Put somethin on it<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I sell ice in the winter, I sell fire in h*ll<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I am a hustler baby, I'll sell water to a well<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I was born to get cake, move on and switch states<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Cop the Coupe with the roof gone and switch plates<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Was born to dictate, never follow orders<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
D***face, get your sh*t straight, f**ka this is Big Jay<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I.. hahahaha..<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
"You don't know.. what you're doing, doing, doing,
doing.."<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>.. will, not, lose, ever.. F**KA!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-79380330238626015492017-06-30T10:57:00.000-04:002017-07-23T16:11:57.392-04:00Online Order Frustration: My Review of Thrive Market<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In my effort to move to an
anti-inflammation lifestyle and anti-inflammation diet, I am trying to locate
stores near me and online who sell organic and healthy groceries. Thrive Market
is an online retailer that sells organic grocery items at a wholesale price,
with an annual membership ($59.95, at the time of this post). It’s like an
online Costco for organic food! I am really hoping that Amazon will come up with
something like this now that they have purchased Whole Foods.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I have a Whole Foods 12 miles
away from me, but it’s in a very congested area that I like to avoid. Years
ago, I used to drive through that area daily to go to school and later on to
one of my jobs, but the traffic has gotten insane over the last 15 years or so
and the mere thought of driving through there gives me a headache. Also, the last few times I shopped at Whole Foods, people reached over
me like I wasn’t there and took the food I was trying to pick up! It happened
multiple times and I am not a slow shopper. Such a sharp contrast to where I shop where people move their
carts over for people to pass and will move over to let people reach things
when they say “excuse me” (Whole Foods customers don’t speak).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In order to avoid the traffic and
annoying people, would a cheapo accountant like me pay $59.95 a year (which is
like $5 a month)? Sure! So, I signed up for Thrive Market right away and placed
my first order. I bought some coconut oil, almond flour, organic vinegar, nuts,
cleaning products, and feminine care products. I was so impressed with their
offerings that I added items to my shopping list for next time: organic peanut
butter, organic vanilla extract, deodorant, etc. They even have a category
called Whole30 Picks where I found a number of items I wanted to try! I was so
excited about this new service! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
After so much anticipation, I
received my order the other day and guess what? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A huge FAIL! <o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I noticed the box had a piece of
cardboard taped to the outside. <i><span style="color: #674ea7;">OK, that’s
weird. </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I open the box and the vinegars
on top were wrapped nicely and the cleaning products were separate from the
food. <i><span style="color: #674ea7;">Nice!</span></i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But under the vinegars the bag of
nuts was glistening. <i><span style="color: #674ea7;">What the hell is
this?</span></i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Under that, the coconut oil jar
is half empty. <i><span style="color: #674ea7;">Shit!</span></i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I lift that up and see coconut
oil all over the almond flour and feminine products! <i><span style="color: #674ea7;">What the !@#$!!!</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Aaand the almond flour expires
next month?! <span style="color: #674ea7;"><i>Are you !@#$ing serious? </i> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Taking these out of the box, I
see why there is cardboard on the outside of the box; the coconut oil seeped
out of the jar and all over the box, disintegrating the cardboard. Someone cut the corner of the box and patched it with cardboard and
tape. Now I assume it was UPS, which is very nice of them. I hope Thrive Market
didn’t send me the box this way! I had to throw out the coconut oil and feminine products. Everything else needed to be wiped off. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
OK, what do I do now? Normally, I
would call them immediately but they don’t provide a phone number or an online
chat. I had to e-mail them according to their Help section. That was Wednesday.
Today is Friday and I still hadn’t received a reply other than an auto e-mail
that generates a ticket number! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I researched them online and the
reviews were positive as long as you didn’t have an issue. But you are out luck
if there is a problem with your order or you want to cancel your membership as
they take a long time to answer the phone or reply to your e-mail. I find this
completely unacceptable for a food company. If you sell food, you should be
reachable and responsive <b>the same day</b>.
It should take no more than 24 hours to come back and fix the situation (i.e.
send me replacement items). I worked for a small family company and they had a
phone line for customer service, so there is no excuse for any company not
having one. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u>Update</u></b>: I sent another e-mail and a Facebook message this
morning. It looks like Facebook messaging is the way to go! They replied that
someone will contact me shortly. I finally received an e-mail reply where they
refunded me for the 3 unusable items and extended my free trial another month.
I still don’t know if I should try them again (even though they offered a 6
month membership for $29.95), because I would need to create a new order to
reorder those damaged items and you have to spend $49 for free shipping. Also, it looks like it would be hard to reach someone if my future orders had an issue. <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Please let me
know if you use them and your experience with Thrive Market or if you use a
different online grocery for organic items. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Update 2</u>:</span><span style="color: #7030a0;"> I ended up cancelling during my trial period. I just couldn't bring myself to order again after that hassle with my first order. </span></div>
The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-8625029157180418032017-06-25T10:22:00.000-04:002017-07-23T19:39:35.008-04:00My Anti-Inflammation Start<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4ZkYstqDwN7pg9A6GxO2gLJPt4bRynS5KhCbJnX22rq06ivmopJ0qvIvJpuCG7o6SuUyA7qKtYpgsv4PxtbnOkZaZAoeAukT_aOPFyp3wz9mtsCZdcgN_CC17V7OW9mjbIkYQKw7o8BK/s1600/Zucchini-muffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4ZkYstqDwN7pg9A6GxO2gLJPt4bRynS5KhCbJnX22rq06ivmopJ0qvIvJpuCG7o6SuUyA7qKtYpgsv4PxtbnOkZaZAoeAukT_aOPFyp3wz9mtsCZdcgN_CC17V7OW9mjbIkYQKw7o8BK/s400/Zucchini-muffin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">As I declared last time, I wanted to start living an anti-inflammation lifestyle, starting with my eating habits. I went through a few of those books and websites I mentioned and I am not sure if I want to start with a detox or elimination in the first phase of my diet change. It makes a lot of sense; to cut out common food allergens and then add them back to see if they are the cause of a food allergy or sensitivity. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
While I research that further, I plan to track what I eat as I make the changes that follow. [Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or any kind of health professional so anything written here is probably wrong and should not be taken as medical advice of any kind. I am just an out-of-work accountant trying to get healthy and talking about it here.]</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Tracking my weekly menu and daily food choices</li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I already plan my weekly menu in a regular bound notebook. There, I also keep track of the groceries I need to use up for the week (great for remembering to use up produce). </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I will start tracking my daily meals and snacks in another smaller journal I can carry around with me. There are some great apps available for phones, but I like flipping through notebooks. I plan to review it at the end of the day and end of the week to make notes for the following week. </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Eating organic or pastured eggs, and organic and/or grass-fed lean meats instead of farmed </li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I already eat lean meats like lean beef and chicken/turkey. I have a food sensitivity to pork so I avoid it. I also avoid processed meat like spam and deli meats (although I used to love them when I was younger). </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I have added the word “organic” next to these items in my Out of Milk shopping list app (eggs, beef, chicken/turkey) and am happy with the organic eggs and chicken I bought this week.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I plan to look in my local circulars for deals/availability of organic meats and to try other markets <a name='more'></a></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Swapping out farmed fish with wild-caught fish</li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I have added the word “wild” next to these items in my Out of Milk shopping list app (salmon)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I need to find better frozen options. Right now, I get Kirkland frozen wild salmon but tilapia which is farmed</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I plan to look in my local circulars for deals/availability of wild fish and to try other markets </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I will buy a basket to make grilling whole fish easier this summer</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Buying organic produce for the ones on the <a href="https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty_dozen_list.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EWG’s Dirty Dozen list </a></li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I have added the word “organic” next to these items in my Out of Milk shopping list app. These are the produce items that are sprayed with the most pesticides. Pesticides have been found to cause issues, so I want to reduce my exposure to them. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I plan to look in my local circulars for deals/availability and to look at the organic section more often. </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Switching to non-BPA canned products</li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I used the <a href="http://www.ewg.org/foodscores" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EWG Food Scores website</a> to find canned products that don’t have BPA in their lids and bought some tomato paste to try</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Not necessary, but I am going to email my favorite canned tomatoes brand to ask them to consider not using BPA to line their cans (I can use others, but those are San Marzano imported tomatoes and they really make the sauce!). </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><strike>I signed up for Thrive Market to order some organic and non-BPA cans and dried goods. You can use my referral link here and you get 15% off your first order (they are currently offering 20% off!) and I get $25 in Thrive Cash. The first month is free and you pay $59.95 a year, but they say that the prices are cheaper than Whole Foods and Amazon. I am going to try it for a year and will let you know how it goes. </strike>Next year, I will see what Amazon offers after its acquisition of Whole Foods. <span style="color: #990000;">[I ended up cancelling Thrive Market during my free trial. Every time I went to try them again, I couldn't go through with it. I was just not convinced they would make things right if I had another issue with my order. The hassle was just not worth it. I will be going to Whole Foods (unfortunately) or Fairway (I totally forgot about them!).]</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Using unrefined coconut oil in cooking</li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I need to search for an organic, unrefined coconut oil. Costco doesn’t offer the one I used to use anymore. And the new one is huge! </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><strike>I am going to try the one from Thrive Market</strike> <span style="color: #990000;">[I couldn't try this since it had arrived spilled all over the rest of my order.]</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I figure that these changes won’t really affect the types of meals we cook at home, although the organic versions may be a little more expensive. What it will affect, is how I eat out (summer BBQ season is starting and I will have to be more careful than usual). I will let you know how this all works out and what changes I plan to make next. <b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Let me know what you think of an anti-inflammation diet and lifestyle. Have you been successful with it? </span></b></div>
The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-8028741548396429422017-06-12T18:50:00.002-04:002017-06-12T18:50:59.056-04:00Let’s Go on an Anti-Inflammation Journey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkUt-5b9DLlOFZK1t18PyHlmx9DBITOmKg-fQwJG9U2ApFAT_HvQp61bk1wlEuJR4fU7-_hr2LcY1ypWQTTHcBBLff7zrofWZatmvzY_Jvsi5eYYSVmdNngmpiKeEqQxB4gwt7TSNlPae/s1600/Zucchini-muffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="zucchini-muffin-anti-inflammation" border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkUt-5b9DLlOFZK1t18PyHlmx9DBITOmKg-fQwJG9U2ApFAT_HvQp61bk1wlEuJR4fU7-_hr2LcY1ypWQTTHcBBLff7zrofWZatmvzY_Jvsi5eYYSVmdNngmpiKeEqQxB4gwt7TSNlPae/s400/Zucchini-muffin.jpg" title="zucchini-muffin-anti-inflammation" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">So, last time I told you guys that I am dealing with
chronic pain and wanted to start living an anti-inflammatory lifestyle. According
to all the research out there, inflammation causes a lot of health issues and
many things we use and eat daily create an inflammatory response in the body (a
“flight or fright” stress response). I made a few of the easier changes years
ago that I have stuck with such as changing out most of my hair and beauty
products, throwing out all my BPA plastic food storage containers, avoiding
coffee, and limiting alcohol. While I have been able to sustain these changes, I
haven’t been as strict as I would want to with the food I eat. It is seriously difficult to
maintain a super-clean diet while working long hours. You will always opt for
convenience – takeout and processed foods.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I have been hearing from my doctors and reading books and
websites that eating an anti-inflammation diet and reducing stress is the way
to go. [Disclaimer: What my doctors say is for me only and not for you to follow. I am not a doctor or any kind of health professional so
anything written here is probably wrong and should not be taken as medical
advice of any kind. I am just an out-of-work accountant trying to get healthy
and talking about it here.]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
OK, that’s great. I know it would help me improve my health, but how do I implement an
anti-inflammation diet? I have so many questions about it. It also doesn't help that many of the resources online contradict each other. So, which
one is right (or right for me)? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Eggs are bad because they are a common food
allergen!” “Eggs are good because they are a source of inflammation-fighting
omega-3s!” What?! Which is it??</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Can you really have a smoothie for breakfast and stay full
until lunch? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
What do I do if the other people I live with don’t want to
eat this way? I am not cooking 2 dinners every day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
How do I do this without spending a whole day on Sunday meal-prepping? My back can’t handle standing there chopping veggies for 5 hours straight. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Do I really need to try weird-to-me things like protein
powder and kefir? What will they do to my digestive system? I am not in the mood for experiments. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Again, so many questions. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And so much resistance (from me). </div>
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<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This is where I would get stuck. I continued to eat
hamburgers on a bun with a side of zucchini (a little “bad,” and a little
“good.”) I need to move past that and get rid of the bun, so to speak. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
And, that’s why I’m writing this post. It's the same concept as studying for the CPA Exam and posting
the study plan I was using to keep me accountable. I’m hoping this writing
exercise will help me go through all the info I have now to develop a plan I
can follow. And hopefully, follow through with it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A lot of the anti-inflammation diet menus I have seen online
and in books start you out with a detox phase (ex: the Whole30, the Endo diet, the
Mediterranean diet). You stay away from certain foods that are common allergens
and then you add them back gradually to see if they bother you. Some are more extreme,
cutting out entire food groups, like dairy and grains. I am not sure I can do that, but it
is something I need to research. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The allowable food lists vary from program to program, but
at least they offer me something to work with. The problem is that the meal plans
and recipes don’t really appeal to me, so I want to get ideas from multiple
programs and come up with my own meal plan that I will actually eat. The
Anti-Inflammation book by Jessica Black (see below) and the Endo Diet book by
Andrew Cook (see below) have some tips on how to get started, so I will try
them first. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
These are the Anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle books
that I already had or purchased in order to figure out a plan <span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.2667px;">[</span><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 12.1267px;">Disclaimer: </span><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 12.84px;">The Cooking Accountant is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.]: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1630269794/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1630269794&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=5b63098be5e1705bb6f3b25ea5f18bd4%22%3EThe%20Anti-Inflammation%20Diet%20and%20Recipe%20Book,%20Second%20Edition:%20Protect%20Yourself%20and%20Your%20Family%20from%20Heart%20Disease,%20Arthritis,%20Diabetes,%20Allergies,%20%E2%80%94and%20More%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1630269794%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book, Second Edition: Protect Yourself and Your Family from Heart Disease, Arthritis, Diabetes, Allergies, —and More </a>by Jessica K. Black [Plan and recipes written by a
naturopathic doctor.]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0897936213/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecookacco-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0897936213&linkId=0f6d144dae26875bce5f160d1c1da0e4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">More Anti-Inflammation Diet Tips and Recipes:Protect Yourself from Heart Disease, Arthritis, Diabetes, Allergies, Fatigueand Pain</a> by Jessica K. Black [Plan, recipes and checklists written by a
naturopathic doctor.]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345479246/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecookacco-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0345479246&linkId=a361b13a606f8ee445bc464990c2bdc7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Mediterranean Prescription: Meal Plans andRecipes to Help You Stay Slim and Healthy for the Rest of Your Life</a> by Angelo
Acquista MD [Health info geared towards everyone and recipes. The author is a
doctor.]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1101967358/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecookacco-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1101967358&linkId=838087d5f75610421fb35441988160a6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Whole New You: How Real Food Transforms YourLife, for a Healthier, More Gorgeous You</a> by Tia Mowry [Cookbook with health information at the beginning for women.]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/077880562X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecookacco-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=077880562X&linkId=3efac74d349d231081d48198626c3324" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Endometriosis Health and Diet Program: GetYour Life Back</a> by Dr. Andrew Cook MD FACOG and Danielle Cook MS RD CDE [For
women; Reading now; good information about endometriosis and reducing
inflammation.]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553459228/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecookacco-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0553459228&linkId=19aa7e282695e42d0fd9ff709d096930" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">
</a></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553459228/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecookacco-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0553459228&linkId=19aa7e282695e42d0fd9ff709d096930" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Wellness Project: How I Learned to Do Rightby My Body, Without Giving Up My Life</a> by Phoebe Lapine [For women; Reading now;
a fun read with tips along the way. The author suffers from Hashimoto’s thyroid
disease and back pain.]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0991126904/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecookacco-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0991126904&linkId=84de4289afb16b4ad5dbf706c9a1aaeb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">
</a></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0991126904/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecookacco-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0991126904&linkId=84de4289afb16b4ad5dbf706c9a1aaeb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">It Starts with the Egg: How the Science of EggQuality Can Help You Get Pregnant Naturally, Prevent Miscarriage, and ImproveYour Odds in IVF</a> by Rebecca Fett [For women; great information on avoiding BPA
and phthalates. The author has a background in biotechnology and was
no-nonsense.] <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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These are some online resources I plan to use (I have no affiliation with these, just found them either by googling or in some of the books): <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Whole30 Shopping list and other downloads: <a href="https://whole30.com/pdf-downloads/">https://whole30.com/pdf-downloads/</a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Foods that fight inflammation: <a href="http://www.oprah.com/health_wellness/anti-inflammatory-foods">http://www.oprah.com/health_wellness/anti-inflammatory-foods</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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More anti-inflammatory foods: <a href="https://thrivemarket.com/blog/natural-anti-inflammatory-foods">https://thrivemarket.com/blog/natural-anti-inflammatory-foods</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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FODMAP foods list (high and low FODMAP foods for IBS): <a href="http://www.ibsdiets.org/fodmap-diet/fodmap-food-list/">http://www.ibsdiets.org/fodmap-diet/fodmap-food-list/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The EWG’s Dirty Dozen guide to produce with the most
pesticides: <a href="https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty_dozen_list.php">https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty_dozen_list.php</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Mediterranean Diet: <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/mediterranean-diet/art-20047801">http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/mediterranean-diet/art-20047801</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Have you successfully reduced inflammation and did it help
you reduce your chronic pain or other health issues? Please let me know in the
comments! </b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-10647974757873833322017-05-19T14:22:00.000-04:002017-05-19T14:22:56.292-04:00Hello, It’s Me Again!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Hello again! Sorry I stopped posting right in the middle of
the home organization series. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It’s quite ironic – here I am trying to motivate you, my
readers, to organize your kitchen and I lost my own motivation! I wasn’t feeling
the topic anymore. I sustained an injury, which triggered an existing chronic
injury and boom! I was in a ton of pain! Writing about organizing was the last
thing I wanted to do. I physically couldn’t move stuff around and photograph it.
Even without pictures, all I needed to do was to fine-tune the posts which were
pretty much done. But, of course, I stubbornly wanted nothing to do with it! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I will post them eventually though, just for the sake of
closure. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I haven’t cooked anything creative in a while since it’s
easier to make basic staples when you are not feeling your best. My awesome husband
helped me by food shopping and aided me in making our dinners while I was in
pain. I was eventually able to do more things by myself again and I finally
made something more involved for dinner last night – ground turkey kima with pasta.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Something I have been considering for a while is cooking
with ingredients that decrease inflammation. I throw them in occasionally (like
the turmeric roasted squash the other night). That’s what’s going on in my life
right now, so I really want to write about it. As an accountant and not a health or nutrition professional, I will just
be talking about what I'm trying for myself. It will help keep me accountable.
Hopefully, you, my readers, will have some great tips for me, as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As for the CPA Exam, I want to re-take it, but it just
changed again. I will wait to see what people think about it. I am not sure I'm ready for it. I have been trying to stay current with accounting changes by
attending webinars, but am not ready for intensive studying. Not yet, anyway.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
That’s it for now; I just wanted to post a quick update. I
hope you have all been well! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-25069746750628516882017-02-23T11:11:00.000-05:002017-02-23T11:11:12.115-05:00My Kitchen Organization Series – We Need to Declutter First!<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SOKny2Iyni-Zq6xUyjDooVs16oOKJFuHKcK8c3VX459ySwzw_NUvT4HDIfV19em9wNyBcosRK35Oy-L3psoiu4TmTd1UlaxLYh9fbcOV1FY4eJmnrdnsyC0LEB5yMxGJ9x5XUcwrPwFi/s1600/kitchen-organization-cookbooks-fade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img alt="Kitchen Organization Series" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SOKny2Iyni-Zq6xUyjDooVs16oOKJFuHKcK8c3VX459ySwzw_NUvT4HDIfV19em9wNyBcosRK35Oy-L3psoiu4TmTd1UlaxLYh9fbcOV1FY4eJmnrdnsyC0LEB5yMxGJ9x5XUcwrPwFi/s400/kitchen-organization-cookbooks-fade.jpg" title="Kitchen Organization Series" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first step to organizing your kitchen is to declutter.
Decluttering consists of going through your possessions and getting rid of
anything that is no longer useful or wanted. It makes sense to declutter before
organizing; otherwise, you will waste your time trying to fit things into your kitchen you really
don’t need at the expense of things you actually want to use more often.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't you find that the less items you own, the better you take care of those few items? This is because you take pride in them. I remember as
a child, I would have only 2 pairs of shoes at a time (one pair of regular
everyday tennis shoes and one pair of formal shoes for church and school
assemblies). I took such extremely good care of this one pair of white tennis
shoes, that my friends thought I always had new sneakers! In the same concept,
I now have a few pans of each type that I love using and I hand wash them so they stay as good as
new. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In her book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1607747308/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1607747308&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=8916bd8d0e49a05d3d8361242b6c584d%22%3EThe%20Life-Changing%20Magic%20of%20Tidying%20Up:%20The%20Japanese%20Art%20of%20Decluttering%20and%20Organizing%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1607747308%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing</span></a>, Marie Kondo says to take EVERYTHING out to get the full shock of seeing all your stuff out at once. You will realize that you
have too much stuff and you shouldn’t feel bad getting rid of it. If just the THOUGHT of ALL your kitchen stuff out frustrates and overwhelms you,
here is my suggestion: <b>Take everything
out of the drawers and cabinets IN CATEGORIES! <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Kitchen item categories</b>, in any order: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Food: refrigerator and freezer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Food: pantry staples, kids’ snacks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Food: spices<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Food prep (foil, plastic wrap, freezer bags,
sandwich bags)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Cookware: pots and pans, lids, baking sheets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Cookbooks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Plates, bowls<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Glasses, mugs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Thermoses, water bottles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Eating utensils<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Cooking utensils <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Food storage, Tupperware<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Kitchen towels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Small appliances <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Baking supplies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Serveware <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Holiday items (plates, trays, mugs)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Kitchen gadgets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 20.4pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Other stuff: vitamins, medical, junk drawer <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do cookware one day, plates another day, small appliances,
gadgets, utensils, etc. (see my list of kitchen item categories above). As you
come across a gadget in the drawer with your utensils, put it aside where the
majority of your gadgets are. If you are working on a category with some of the
items in storage (ex: baking, holiday serveware) go get them so you have
everything in the house for that category together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To effectively declutter, go through the items and keep a
number of boxes and garbage bags on hand for trash, donations and storage;
plus, a pen and a notepad for notes. You will want to store or display anything
that has sentimental value to you. Evaluate your items as follows: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Throw out items
that are damaged, broken or expired. <span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Trash all the food that is expired or was opened months
ago (expired cans of soup, open </span>mustard<span style="font-family: inherit;">). See if you need to buy anything that you use or eat regularly and add to your shopping list. For things like nutmeg and capers that you may not use as frequently, add these items to a “pantry low list." I keep a list of pantry items that I ran out of or am running low on and refer to it when I
prepare my shopping list. Buy these items gradually as they go on sale. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Throw out those cracked wooden spoons, scratched up
non-stick baking sheets, broken kitchen gadgets and BPA plastic containers. These
things accumulate because we keep them “just in case.” Seriously - Do yourself a favor and get rid of them! Think of all the precious space in your kitchen that </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">this garbage is taking! Kitchen </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">storage space should be thought of as a premium location that
you keep quality items in; not crap. I am now able to use the stuff I like without all the junk getting in the way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you only have one baking pan left after this, make a note
in your notepad to be on the lookout for baking pan sales at home stores. This
is also your opportunity to upgrade and splurge for a nicer item. I got rid of
my scratched up pans and found a set of higher quality pans on sale that are
much easier to clean! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Notepad</u>: food shopping list, pantry low items, upgrades/replacements
wishlist <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Donate, sell or
give away duplicates. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When you see all your baking stuff out on the counter at
once, you will start asking yourself: “Why do I have 5 sets of measuring
spoons?” You don’t need all of them! Keep 1 or 2 and donate the others. Once you have
a good pile of items to donate, sell or give away, set it up immediately! Take advantage of your momentum and schedule the pickup,
plan the garage sale or write up the Facebook/Craigslist ad or call your friend RIGHT NOW! Give
yourself a deadline of 3 weeks to get rid of it before putting it out with the garbage; otherwise, it will end up
sitting in your garage or basement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You should also list the items you are going to donate so you have them ready for tax time. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It doesn't take long - I write down each item and quantity (ex: 5 mugs, 3 baking sheets, 1 mixing bowl) on a sheet of paper after I have them all in a box or bag ready to donate. Sometimes I search the values that night and other times I have left it for tax time. But it's pretty quick to </span>calculate the values of the donated items using the pricing guide on Goodwill’s website. Just save this sheet of paper with any receipt you get from the charity. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Notepad</u>: list of items to sell, list of donation
items to deduct <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Return items and
assess your buying habits. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Put aside anything purchased recently that you didn’t open
yet or recently opened but were not pleased with. At the end of all this, you
can look at the item and see if you still need or want it. The item might be a
good replacement for something you got rid of. But if you want to return it go right ahead; it can be liberating. Just make a note to stop buying this type of kitchen item. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To save money, I keep a list of kitchen items I need and refer to it
monthly. So, if I go to a home store or shop online, I am on the lookout for these items going on sale. I try to keep to that list and avoid buying random items I *think* I need. Doing
this has helped me find items on sale that are better quality because I am
looking for them over time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Notepad</u>: list of items to return, list of items to
stop buying, upgrades/replacements wishlist<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Keep items that are
in good condition and useful. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You will now be left with items that you use every day and
some occasion and sentimental items. The action of going through this whole
declutter process and taking notes will help you keep items in your kitchen
that you actually use and want to take care of. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At this point, you should also make a list of items you want
to use more often and any additions that will help you use them. This can be a
listing of your cookbooks to go through for recipes, fun appetizer plates you
forgot about, appliance attachments and gadgets you can incorporate into your
everyday life, or cookie cutters to add to your collection. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Notepad</u>: list of kitchen items to use, upgrades/replacements
wishlist<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After all this is done, you can organize and create a ‘home”
for your items. Keeping them grouped together by category in drawers or
cabinets will make it much easier for you to use and keep track of these items. We will talk about organizing your kitchen in the next post of this series. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">How did you do going through this kitchen declutter
process? </span><span style="color: #9966ff;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-72047756951516742812017-01-29T11:57:00.001-05:002017-01-29T11:57:21.536-05:00My Kitchen Organization Series - Introduction<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmWDQaZ8Lm-IMjGExt6QNrat6Dfn0gJKXpQE30dIFSrdskqgNogbgqg3jam49SN9RbXOf7i10P6bXcptAQd7lv1qDe5k837bQayKbLDnmJvwTAf1dIR93STENxgKoyj_s9r1cbv4Vyz8A/s1600/kitchen-organization-cookbooks-fade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="kitchen-organization-cookbooks" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmWDQaZ8Lm-IMjGExt6QNrat6Dfn0gJKXpQE30dIFSrdskqgNogbgqg3jam49SN9RbXOf7i10P6bXcptAQd7lv1qDe5k837bQayKbLDnmJvwTAf1dIR93STENxgKoyj_s9r1cbv4Vyz8A/s400/kitchen-organization-cookbooks-fade.jpg" title="kitchen-organization-cookbooks" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I started this blog years ago, we were newlyweds who hadn’t bought our first home yet. We lived in a rental apartment and the kitchen was small, with barely any cabinets and narrow counters. The <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">toaster oven, coffee machine </span>and <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">George Foreman Grill (which we used regularly back then) </span></span>took up the majority of the counter space. To make up for it, I had to use cutting boards over the sink and prepare cookies on the kitchen table. The cabinet situation wasn't any better - one cabinet was off-limits because it smelled so strongly of an unidentified pungent spice. Everything you put in there would absorb the smell, so our small appliance wedding gifts had to remain in unopened boxes in a storage closet. I couldn't wait until we bought a house so I could finally put them all out on the counters and use them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And that is exactly what I did! In our first house, I unpacked everything and lined them them along the walls on the counters – all 50 cookbooks, blender, Magic Bullet, <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Kitchenaid</span> </span>mixer. Yup, all these guys were having a party on my counters and I enjoyed finally being able to use them. It was easy to access everything, but they made the kitchen look smaller despite the wider counters. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As a result, when I had some free time, I would look for ways to store everything but in an accessible manner. I wanted to hide these small appliances, but didn't want to lug my mixer out of a cabinet every time I had to use it. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I looked for ways to make my kitchen more
efficient and organized. I read organization blogs and books, watched organization videos on YouTube, paged through magazines, and scrolled through Pinterest, looking for ideas and inspiration. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-weight: bold;">The best general organizing advice I have ever read was to have a "home" where each item belongs and to </span></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">put the item away in its "home" immediately after using it. The key to keeping this up over the long-term is to make sure that the item's "home" is easily accessible so you have no issue putting it away. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;"></span></b></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">One Saturday, I woke up around 3AM and went to the kitchen for some water. I looked around and didn't like seeing everything out there. It felt cluttered and I couldn’t go back to sleep thinking how annoying the kitchen
looked. I started googling kitchen organizing ideas again and discovered </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1607747308/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1607747308&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=8916bd8d0e49a05d3d8361242b6c584d%22%3EThe%20Life-Changing%20Magic%20of%20Tidying%20Up:%20The%20Japanese%20Art%20of%20Decluttering%20and%20Organizing%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1607747308%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing</a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"> by Marie Kondo. I downloaded it to my kindle and read almost the entire book by the morning! </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the book, Marie Kondo talks
about getting rid of items that don't bring you joy and keeping those that do. </span> I started in the order she recommends (with my clothes), but I couldn’t wait to get to the kitchen. <span style="font-family: inherit;">While the "joy" concept helped me immensely in getting through my clothes, the concept of putting things away easily helped me more in the kitchen. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I went through a whole process to organize my kitchen which combined what I've learned from this book and all the other resources I have read. This process consisted of Decluttering, Organizing and Staying Organized. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Since it's a New Year, I thought I would share with you what worked for me in a Kitchen Organization Series. Let me know the most helpful tip you've come across to organize your kitchen. </span></b></span></div>
The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-70197748493013901622017-01-20T18:44:00.001-05:002017-01-20T19:37:59.878-05:00A Bean Soup that Hits the Spot and My Review of Oprah’s New Cookbook!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAuK4dX_BdsNH5Q9JsFo_TvDkQkHuG1xrQ1fEBthaEpWlH1di7PomOc_d1S5oNrHhlq7FI1Hu5q3gh-vLQ0WeU2FezvZiPjfL6_Pniqe3HSjdtqeeOd3oExAAWHZ14qZQSpp5vf9hvsxt/s1600/Tuscan-white-bean-soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tuscan-white-bean-soup" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAuK4dX_BdsNH5Q9JsFo_TvDkQkHuG1xrQ1fEBthaEpWlH1di7PomOc_d1S5oNrHhlq7FI1Hu5q3gh-vLQ0WeU2FezvZiPjfL6_Pniqe3HSjdtqeeOd3oExAAWHZ14qZQSpp5vf9hvsxt/s400/Tuscan-white-bean-soup.jpg" title="tuscan-white-bean-soup" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Happy New Year!</span></div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Sorry to disappear, but I had to take a little break. I was
doing too many things at once, then I caught a cold and it all went downhill
from there – you know how it goes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
Once the New Year started, I yearned to become
productive once again and to get creative with my cooking; plus I missed
writing and interacting with you guys <span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>. First, we were busy with all the holiday celebrations, and then I got stuck in a rut of cooking the same old
meals or getting takeout. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p>It’s now time for a fresh start! I set my 2017 goals in my<span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Bullet Journal </span></span>and I need to get to them! </div>
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New Year, New Recipes! </div>
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<o:p></o:p>And that means a New Cookbook! Yeah!</div>
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<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I bought myself <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Oprah Winfrey’s new cookbook for Weight Watchers "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250126533/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1250126533&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=2933802b2ecfbbc946aca927cbcc3db9%22%3EFood,%20Health,%20and%20Happiness:%20115%20On-Point%20Recipes%20for%20Great%20Meals%20and%20a%20Better%20Life%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1250126533%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Food, Health, and Happiness: 115 On-Point Recipes for Great Meals and a Better Life</a>."</span> </span>I really didn’t need
another cookbook, but I was drawn to this one. I must have
flipped through it at 3 different Weight Watchers meetings. I really like the
feel of it (a nice, heavy hardcover book), the look of it (matte pages of pictures,
notes and stories all over) and I quickly identified some recipes I wanted to try. So I
bought it this week from Amazon. </div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20style=%22width:120px;height:240px;%22%20marginwidth=%220%22%20marginheight=%220%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20src=%22//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1250126533&asins=1250126533&linkId=9d99388424c20fbeac3ec214d5b2a0d6&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff%22%3E%20%20%20%20%20%3C/iframe%3E" target="_blank"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1250126533&asins=1250126533&linkId=9d99388424c20fbeac3ec214d5b2a0d6&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"> </iframe></a><br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Disclaimer: </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">The Cooking Accountant is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC
Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a
means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to
amazon.com.]</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was very excited to buy this book even after reading
a few negative reviews online. Most were from people who didn’t think a Weight
Watchers cookbook should have recipes that contain inaccessible ingredients (whether due to price or availability). Other
reviewers didn’t want a “Weight Watchers cookbook.” You don’t need to be on
the plan to enjoy this book as it’s not "in-your-face-WW." I think we can come up
with some workarounds for fancy ingredients like frozen truffle Gouda cheese (maybe regular Gouda cheese when it’s on
sale and a bottle of truffle oil?). </div>
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But seriously – Look,
Oprah is a billionaire. She has chefs who cook at her house and she has the
means to try the cuisine of the best chefs in the world – be it in an expensive 3-star Michelin restaurant or taking a first-class flight halfway around the world to
enjoy someone’s humble home cooking. I’m not going to hate on her because she’s
a successful business woman and has the means to enjoy the best food the world has to offer. Instead, I will let her open the
doors for me to try some of these recipes in my own home. I would not have
thought to buy frozen truffle Gouda cheese otherwise, but now I want to try her Truffle Tortelloni. <br />
<br /></div>
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There are some tasty-looking American comfort recipes
like Smothered Chicken, Turkey Chili and Chicken Pot Pie. Also some light fish recipes, interesting salads, healthy breakfast recipes and more delicious soups. Oprah includes recipes she grew up with and recipes she loves such as Italian
and Indian recipes from her travels and lots of other interesting ones. Cocktails, sorbets and soup garnish recipes are some nice touches that are in this book. As the book describes, these are "Oprah's Favorite Meals," and I can't wait to try a lot of them.<br />
<br />
This is a cookbook AND about how Oprah lives a happy life - in addition to the 100+ food recipes, Oprah offers us a view into her life and her relationship with food. I
really connected with Oprah's personal stories about her weight loss struggle
over the years and I share her love of good food. She has lots of helpful recipe notes
in this book as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There is a recipe in the book for Tuscan White Bean Soup that starts with roasting fresh tomatoes. I want to try this in the summer when I have a million tomatoes from the garden. Oprah mentions that the best
Pasta Fagioli she has ever had contained rosemary. So, of course, it made me
crave a rosemary-flavored soup. Here, I tried to create a rosemary-flavored soup using Oprah's recipe and my pantry staples like tomato paste and dried rosemary.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here is my take on Oprah's Tuscan Bean Soup: </div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Cannellini Bean Soup</b></span></div>
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<b>by <span class="author" itemprop="author">The Cooking Accountant</span><span class="published" datetime="2016-11-03" itemprop="published"><span class="value-title" title="2016-11-03"></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Ingredients</span></b></div>
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<ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">1 Tbsp olive oil </li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1</span></span> <span itemprop="name" style="font-size: 13.2px;">cup total diced mirepoix or aromatic vegetables (onion, celery, carrots)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span itemprop="name" style="font-size: 13.2px;">1 15-oz can cannellini (white kidney) beans, rinsed and drained </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient">6 cups chicken broth (I used 6 cups water and 3 tsp Better than Bouillon) </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient">3 tsp tomato paste </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1 bay leaf </span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1/2 tsp dry rosemary (use 1/4 tsp if you don't want the rosemary to be overpowering) </span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">a net strainer to fish out the rosemary or c</span></span>heesecloth and cooking twine to make a sachet</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">salt and pepper, </span><span itemprop="name">to taste</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">1/2 cup small pasta</li>
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<span class="instruction">In a large saucepan or soup pot, saute the aromatic vegetables in olive oil about 5 minutes under medium heat until limp and onion becomes translucent. </span><br />
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<span class="instruction">Add the beans, </span><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">chicken broth and </span><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">tomato paste. Stir and </span><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">increase the heat to medium-high. </span><br />
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Add the spices (bay leaf and rosemary sachet, salt and pepper) and stir.<br />
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Enjoy! Kali Orexi! </div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="time preptime">Prep time: 10<time datetime="PT5M" itemprop="prepTime" style="display: inline;"> mins </time><span class="value-title" title="PT5M"></span></span><span class="time cooktime">Cook time: <time datetime="PT20M" itemprop="cookTime" style="display: inline;">about 30 mins </time></span><span class="time duration">Total time: <time datetime="PT25M" itemprop="totalTime" style="display: inline;">40 mins </time><span class="value-title" title="PT25M"></span></span><span class="yield">Yield: 4<span itemprop="yield"> servings</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>What are you doing to start the New Year off to a great start food-wise? Let me know in the comments. </b></span></div>
The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-53557930967469150182016-11-03T22:37:00.001-04:002016-11-06T22:32:22.276-05:00Roasted Belgian Endives with Leeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdWHhO67PFDlfFcepSC_ia3C6jIw5Bsk3ySTbyu-gWvWLUu1EW_ofw59CjgTZeYw92tQtyreJiEYp7ZltMdUSQXPXTsly240b10l-v1HTO20yZYZ6R-VF9g8aCXvBJeFYnKPLtIGaSGZA/s1600/Roasted-Belgian-Endives-with-Leeks2-compressorio-400x225-c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Roasted Belgian Endives with Leeks" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdWHhO67PFDlfFcepSC_ia3C6jIw5Bsk3ySTbyu-gWvWLUu1EW_ofw59CjgTZeYw92tQtyreJiEYp7ZltMdUSQXPXTsly240b10l-v1HTO20yZYZ6R-VF9g8aCXvBJeFYnKPLtIGaSGZA/s400/Roasted-Belgian-Endives-with-Leeks2-compressorio-400x225-c.jpg" title="Roasted Belgian Endives with Leeks" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span onclick="printDiv('Roasted-Belgian-Endives-with-Leeks'); return false;">I'm not sure if I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year, but I have been trying out some new side dishes the past couple of weeks just in case. Thanksgiving side dishes are usually starchy and carb-y, so I want to add some fall vegetables into the mix. T</span>here are so many fall vegetables available at the market right now, so it should be easy to add some cabbage, brussels sprouts, beets, parsnips, radicchio, and Belgian endives to your Thanksgiving table next to the sweet potato casserole this year. </div>
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The Belgian endive is a leafy vegetable in the chicory family which is a good source of fiber, folate and vitamins A and K. The plant is grown underground or indoors so that the head doesn't open up like a lettuce. They look like compact, light green-towards-white bulbs. You peel the outside leaves, trim the stem end and eat the inside leaves raw or cooked. </div>
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You probably know the Belgian endive as a bitter salad green. However, roasting them with vingear cuts down the bitterness and results in a very tasty side dish or warm salad for lunch. You can omit the butter here, but I really liked how it adds a creaminess to the dish and goes well with the delicate leeks. </div>
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I roasted the vegetables at a lower temperature to keep the leeks and endive leaves from burning. If you need to serve more people, you can double the recipe and serve as a side dish. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Roasted Belgian Endives with Leeks</b></span></div>
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<b>by <span class="author" itemprop="author">The Cooking Accountant </span><span class="published" datetime="2016-11-03" itemprop="published"> <span class="value-title" title="2016-11-03"></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Ingredients</span></b></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">2 </span> <span itemprop="name"> belgian endives, halved lengthwise</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1 </span> <span itemprop="name"> medium leek, trimmed and sliced in half lengthwise</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">2 tsp </span> <span itemprop="name"> olive oil</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">2 tsp </span> <span itemprop="name"> red wine vinegar</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">salt, </span> <span itemprop="name"> to taste</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">pepper, </span> <span itemprop="name"> to taste</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1/2 Tbsp </span> <span itemprop="name"> sweet butter, cut into small pieces</span></span></li>
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<span class="instruction">Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. </span></div>
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<span class="instruction">Line a quart sheet pan with parchment paper.</span></div>
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<span class="instruction">Place the cut endive and leeks in pan in one layer.</span></div>
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<span class="instruction">Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar. </span></div>
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<span class="instruction">Season with salt and pepper. </span></div>
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Place into the oven to cook.</div>
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Halfway through cooking, take pan out of oven and add the butter pieces and mix everything around with a spatula.</div>
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<span class="instruction">Place back in oven to finish cooking. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="time preptime">Prep time: <time datetime="PT5M" itemprop="prepTime">5 mins </time><span class="value-title" title="PT5M"></span></span><span class="time cooktime">Cook time: <time datetime="PT20M" itemprop="cookTime">20 mins </time><span class="value-title" title="PT20M"></span></span><span class="time duration">Total time: <time datetime="PT25M" itemprop="totalTime">25 mins </time><span class="value-title" title="PT25M"></span></span><span class="yield">Yield: <span itemprop="yield">2 servings</span></span></span></b></div>
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The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-48968286563518703402016-10-27T12:48:00.000-04:002016-11-06T22:28:23.300-05:00Kitchen Tools: About Spiralizers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SuBwjsU9A-ImyTSiHV22n2l1E4rCLDB59ocnpG3q3UrAKSK4xw9jingFW0tTS-9H9fTzwwNrA2VOQiFdDvabG1nk5R-lWk2nPZwg7e2fTAljv-ExAFcEkOsYC_8O3kBoLEYVv2H0ZNiD/s1600/Spiralizer-red-cabbage-c-compressor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SuBwjsU9A-ImyTSiHV22n2l1E4rCLDB59ocnpG3q3UrAKSK4xw9jingFW0tTS-9H9fTzwwNrA2VOQiFdDvabG1nk5R-lWk2nPZwg7e2fTAljv-ExAFcEkOsYC_8O3kBoLEYVv2H0ZNiD/s400/Spiralizer_red_cabbage_c-compressor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This fall, I have significantly increased my consumption of vegetables and fruits in an effort to eat healthier. I have also included fall pumpkins and squash into my weekly menus. Interestingly, pumpkins and squash are treated like tomatoes in that they are actually fruits (botanically), but they are considered to be vegetables under US law! The US Supreme Court actually
ruled in the late 1800s that a tomato was a vegetable for
customs regulations, so it could be taxed (they imposed tariffs on
imported vegetables but not fruits back then). Anyway, I thought this was interesting because it was accounting AND food related. </div>
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So, to help add more vegetables to my diet, I have been using a
kitchen tool called a spiralizer at least once a week. It must be working, because
lately family, friends, and acquaintances mention my weight loss. I also feel
healthier and less lethargic. I credit this awesome invention with helping me
jump-start a much healthier lifestyle. If you don’t want to buy yet another kitchen tool,
some supermarkets sell “zoodles” (zucchini noodles) and cauliflower “rice”
(crumbles) near the bagged salads. You can easily swap out pasta and rice with
these pre-cut vegetables. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>So what is a spiralizer?</b> A spiralizer falls into the category of
kitchen cutting tools such as mandoline slicers and julienne peelers. A spiralizer has
one or more blades (usually removable and interchangeable) that cut a vegetable
into long, thin ribbons or "noodles" (such as zucchini noodles or “zoodles”). <o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>How does it work?</b> You attach the vegetable to a corer so that it is
centered. Then, you attach the other side of the vegetable to the gripping teeth on
the handle mechanism. You crank the handle, and it rotates and pushes the
vegetable through the blade, cutting it into corkscrews of “noodles.” There are
different types of spiralizers, but they all follow this same basic concept. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Cooking the “noodles.”</b> The process of spiralizing the vegetable
somehow changes the consistency of the vegetable so that it cooks quicker. For example,<span style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><a href="http://www.thecookingaccountant.com/2016/10/dont-be-intimidated-by-lamb.html" target="_blank">I made sweet potato “noodles” here</a></span></span> by sautéing them in olive oil for 5-7 minutes instead of roasting a
whole or cut up sweet potato for 30-40 minutes. The spaghetti-like vegetable “noodles”
come out al dente like actual spaghetti after a very quick saute. Compare that
to sauteing slices of zucchini which turn limp and translucent. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Stores have been advertising spiralizers
more aggressively this fall season – Bed Bath and Beyond, Sur La Table, Williams-Sonoma.<span style="background-color: white;"> I
own <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">this <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007Y9WHQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0007Y9WHQ&linkCode=undefined&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=b87ae27a3a9518c4172d2c361da1271f%22%3EPaderno%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B0007Y9WHQ%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Paderno</a> one from Amazon which has </span></span>3-blades (thin noodles, regular noodles, shredding blade), but it
looks like <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AW3B5MM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00AW3B5MM&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=02d660463457bfded778a0fc4435ff92%22%3E4-blade%20spiralizers%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00AW3B5MM%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">4-blade spiralizers</a> are now more common (they added an angel hair blade and a metal skewer to hold heavy vegetables in place). When comparing spiralizers, be sure to google some reviews first. I watched videos on
Williams-Sonoma, Amazon and YouTube before buying mine. Some things to consider
are: blade safety if you have small children (do the blades store away easily when not in use), sturdiness of the plastic base (if the entire unit is sturdy, it will not break and cranking will be easier), and ease of
cleaning (can you remove the blades and handle pieces from the base for cleaning). To clean the spiralizer blades and parts, I took the advice of Ali from the <a href="http://inspiralized.com/blog/" target="_blank">Inspiralized blog</a> - I use a round palm scrub brush like this one from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005FQ280O/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005FQ280O&linkCode=undefined&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=1b37f94756892483a6741041890b3a82%22%3EKitchenAid%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B005FQ280O%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">KitchenAid </a>or this one from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004OCLK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00004OCLK&linkCode=undefined&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=d7848cd112d63f3d7b31f7d684073fe3%22%3EOXO%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00004OCLK%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Oxo</a>. <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">As per the disclaimer in the
left sidebar, I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an
affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn
advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.</span></div>
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And speaking of
Inspiralized, I love
the innovative recipes on her website <a href="http://inspiralized.com/" target="_blank">Inspiralized </a>and have purchased Ali’s first book “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804186839/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0804186839&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=7c92991a23bf117e95d2601743838bdc%22%3EInspiralized:%20Turn%20Vegetables%20into%20Healthy,%20Creative,%20Satisfying%20Meals%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0804186839%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Inspiralized: Turn Vegetables into Healthy, Creative, Satisfying Meals</a>” (her second book “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1101907452/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1101907452&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=538fb1bc1751d77762ae7accc7f91c04%22%3EInspiralize%20Everything:%20An%20Apples-to-Zucchini%20Encyclopedia%20of%20Spiralizing%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1101907452%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Inspiralize Everything: An Apples-to-Zucchini Encyclopedia of Spiralizing</a>” is on my wishlist). Her website contains such
a wealth of information on the vegetables you can spiralize and how to prepare
and cook them. <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><a href="http://inspiralized.com/beginner-recipes-for-the-spiralizer/" target="_blank">Check out her tips on how to start spiralizing and how to cook zucchini noodles without watering down your sauce</a>!</span> </span>She even designed her own spiralizer - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BE77QL8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01BE77QL8&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=14444cc23dfdf10d4fce0fe920a92c05%22%3EThe%20Inspiralizer%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B01BE77QL8%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">The Inspiralizer</a>! (FYI - this is the Amazon link, but I think it's cheaper on her website). My Paderno spiralizer is doing great, so I
can’t justify buying another spiralizer for myself; but her spiralizer is worth
looking at if you are in the market for a new one since she improved on the
Paderno’s features (I have no affiliation with Inspiralized or the
Inspiralizer; I am just a huge fan!). <span style="background: white; font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I hope you will try adding spiralized vegetables to your weekly menu. They are fun and healthy! I actually bought the tool in 2014 and barely used it because I didn’t know what vegetables to spiralize and how to cook them<span style="background-color: white;">. But now there are so many resources online where you can find great ideas: food blogs, Instagram (#spiralized, #inspiralized, #zoodles), new cookbooks. </span>I have added raw zucchini noodles to sandwiches and wraps; cooked zucchini and sweet potato noodles to any quick weeknight saute dish; and shredded red cabbage with soy ginger dressing as a salad and even in a wrap. </div>
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<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Do you own a spiralizer or plan to buy one? Let me know
what your favorite spiralizer or spiralized vegetable recipe is! </span></b></div>
The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-54303401013632463812016-10-20T10:00:00.000-04:002016-11-06T22:29:16.259-05:00Don’t be Intimidated by Lamb!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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My family is from Thessaly which
is often called “the bread-basket” of Greece due to all the flat, fertile wheat
fields. My mother’s family has been farmers for years and they had a flock of
sheep. They still maintain large fields of wheat, corn and cotton just outside the village. My father’s
family is from a village a little higher in the hills and they were shepherds and
cow-herders. My uncle still had a huge flock of sheep up until the 1990s when
we went to visit! That was cool for us to see, being city kids from New York. I
watched my grandmother make feta and kasseri cheeses from the sheep’s milk and
they served lamb for any big celebration, as well as Easter. In the US now, we
still keep many of the traditions and have lamb at Easter with roasted potatoes
and other seriously delicious traditional side dishes.</div>
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OK, I know lots of people are
intimidated to even try cooking lamb because it’s too expensive. Some
ingredients we find at the market can be very expensive (think: some cuts of
steak, lobster, scallops, veal, lamb). However, you don’t need to cook a whole
leg of lamb; lamb chops are the answer! My market had some really nice lamb
chops so I bought them. Then, of course, they went on sale the
very next day…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Others don’t like lamb because of
the strong gamey taste (you are buying the wrong lamb!) or think it will come
out chewy. This might be because you haven’t yet tried Greek-style lamb
chops! If we go to the Greek restaurants and tavernas in Astoria here in NY for dinner, I will usually order “Paidakia
(Pa-eee-tha-kia)” or grilled lamb chops. These are made well-done since that is
how most Greeks like them. I know there are those out there that prefer their
meat medium-rare, but seriously, try some well-done Greek lamb chops. They are
rich with flavor and not at all chewy. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Pan-Fried Lamb Chops with Sweet Potato "Noodles"</span></b></div>
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<b>by <span class="author" itemprop="author">The Cooking Accountant </span></b><br />
<span class="published" datetime="2016-10-20" itemprop="published"><br /></span></div>
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These come out so tender, you'll put down your utensils and start eating them right off the bone! <br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Ingredients</span></b></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">7-8 </span><span itemprop="name">rib lamb chops</span></span></li>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1 Tbsp </span> <span itemprop="name"> olive oil</span></span></li>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1 Tbsp </span> <span itemprop="name"> rosemary</span></span></li>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1 Tbsp </span> <span itemprop="name"> thyme</span></span></li>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1/2 tsp </span><span itemprop="name">salt </span></span>(add more if you prefer)</li>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1/2 tsp </span><span itemprop="name">pepper </span></span>(add more if you prefer)</li>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">2 thin sweet potatoes, spiralized into "noodles" </span></span></li>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1 tsp </span> <span itemprop="name"> olive oil</span></span></li>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="name">salt and pepper, to taste</span></span></li>
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<b style="color: #674ea7;">Instructions</b><br />
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<span class="instruction">Rinse the lamb chops and pat dry.</span><br />
<span class="instruction"><br /></span>
<span class="instruction">Add all the spices together on a plate and mix until uniform. </span><br />
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<span class="instruction">Place each side of each lamb chop in the spice mix and press down to adhere the spices. </span>The goal is to crust them in spices. Sprinkle more salt and pepper on the chops if you wish.<br />
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<span class="instruction">Heat your skillet under a medium-high heat before adding the oil. </span><br />
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<span class="instruction">Make sure your skillet is big enough to cook the chops without overcrowding. I could fit 8 chops in my 12" pan. They also shrink during cooking. </span><br />
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<span class="instruction">Sear on one side first about 5 minutes (you can also do 3-4 minutes for medium-rare, but I recommend well-done). </span><br />
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<span class="instruction">Turn down the flame to medium. </span><br />
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<span class="instruction">Turn the chops over and sear on the other side for another 5-6 minutes for well done or until a meat thermometer reads 170 degrees F (for </span>medium-rare, it's another 3-4 minutes or until the thermometer reads 145 degrees F).<br />
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<span class="instruction">When done, remove the chops to a plate and cover with foil. </span><br />
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<span class="instruction">Heat up some olive oil in another skillet. </span><br />
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<span class="instruction">Add the sweet potato noodles and saute for about 6 minutes. Add salt and pepper near the end. </span><br />
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<span class="instruction">Serve 3-4 chops per person over the sweet potato noodles. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Details</span></b></div>
<span class="time preptime">Prep time: <time datetime="PT5M" itemprop="prepTime">5 mins </time><span class="value-title" title="PT5M"></span></span><span class="time cooktime">Cook time: <time datetime="PT16M" itemprop="cookTime">16 mins </time><span class="value-title" title="PT16M"></span></span><span class="time duration">Total time: <time datetime="PT21M" itemprop="totalTime">21 mins </time><span class="value-title" title="PT21M"></span></span><span class="yield">Yield: <span itemprop="yield">7-8 lamb chops</span></span></div>
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The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-88810125489792010932016-10-13T15:34:00.000-04:002016-11-06T22:29:47.242-05:00Acorn Squash with a Greek Flavor<div>
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Today we are going to have fun with fall squash and give it a Greek flavor. And no, that does not mean feta cheese... I'm talking about honey!</div>
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My favorite breakfast is 2 slices of toast with a light touch of butter and honey drizzled on top while the toast is still hot. This is a breakfast
that my Grandparents in Greece made along with toast with olive oil and sugar
sprinkled on top. </div>
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Greek honey is usually a thick thyme or wildflower honey. It has a deep, rich flavor; it isn't just "sweet." A little goes a long way. Recently, my mom gave me a jar of Greek honey and I have been putting it on everything! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I bought an acorn squash and was looking for some fun fall
recipes to try with it, but everything was butter and brown sugar. I wanted to try something different. I was eating my butter and honey
toast and thought: why not add some Greek flavor to this squash? I decided to make
it with walnuts and honey and sprinkled some cinnamon on top. I sliced it in
half and baked it with a little butter, crushed walnuts and honey. It was so
good! It tasted like I was eating a Greek dessert! There you go – Baklava but
healthier! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I like cooking the squash halves upside down first to roast for 30
minutes and then turning them over, adding the seasonings and cooking again for
30 minutes. I felt that the ingredient quantities were just right for me, but
obviously, you could use more butter, honey and walnuts as you want.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">What is your favorite way to make acorn squash? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Honey-Walnut Acorn Squash</span></b></div>
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by <span class="author" itemprop="author">The Cooking Accountant </span></div>
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<b>Ingredients</b></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1 medium </span> <span itemprop="name"> acorn squash</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1 tsp </span> <span itemprop="name"> olive oil</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">2 tsp </span> <span itemprop="name"> butter</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1/4 cup </span><span itemprop="name">walnuts, </span></span>chopped </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">2 tsp </span> <span itemprop="name"> honey</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">1 pinch cinnamon (if desired)</li>
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<b>Instructions</b></div>
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<span class="instruction">Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. </span></div>
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Carefully cut acorn squash in half lengthwise (tip to tip) and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. </div>
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Drizzle olive oil in the pan. </div>
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Place squash in pan, cut side down. </div>
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Bake for 30 minutes.</div>
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Take the squash out of the oven but leave the oven on (you will put it back in). </div>
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Turn both squash halves over carefully with kitchen tongs so that the cut side is facing up. Since you cut it lengthwise, they should stay still and not roll around. </div>
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<span class="instruction">Add butter into each cavity (where you scooped out the seeds). </span><span class="instruction">Sprinkle each half with chopped walnuts. </span><span class="instruction">Drizzle honey on top of each half. </span></div>
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Now put them back in the oven for another 30 minutes. </div>
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<span class="instruction">Sprinkle with cinnamon. </span><span class="instruction">Let them cool down a little bit and cut each half into 4 pieces. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Enjoy! Kali Orexi! </span></b></div>
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<span class="time preptime">Prep time: <time datetime="PT5M" itemprop="prepTime">5 mins </time><span class="value-title" title="PT5M"></span></span><span class="time cooktime">Cook time: <time datetime="PT1H" itemprop="cookTime">1 hour </time></span><span class="yield">Yield: <span itemprop="yield">4 servings</span></span></div>
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The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-8325374934050041572016-10-06T10:15:00.000-04:002016-11-06T22:30:42.273-05:00The Ultimate Comfort Food - Slow Cooker Roast Beef!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BZ65Odrpsj0ioMZerD3DZJ2CV9Ag5WDNMoF7wPsF0W5acqD3PXCiFyh-Gc32XETtSKTxvUvT9XEJ_XehIMQPAFCzt-HzZCQUZe7QHA72BmWEhYX4qAjhXnqtH_mR2MJaPJgbi4Op5OpF/s1600/Slow_Cooker_Roast_Beef_c-compressor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Slow Cooker Roast Beef Comfort Food" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BZ65Odrpsj0ioMZerD3DZJ2CV9Ag5WDNMoF7wPsF0W5acqD3PXCiFyh-Gc32XETtSKTxvUvT9XEJ_XehIMQPAFCzt-HzZCQUZe7QHA72BmWEhYX4qAjhXnqtH_mR2MJaPJgbi4Op5OpF/s400/Slow-Cooker-Roast-Beef-c-compressor.jpg" title="Slow Cooker Roast Beef" width="398" /></a></div>
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The Fall is the perfect time to break out your slow cooker and make some of your favorite fall comfort foods! I haven't used my slow cooker since last winter. I feel like spring is for making lighter dishes like sautes with fresh peas and summer is for grilling lean meats along with summer vegetables and fresh tomato salads. When fall comes around, pumpkins and squashes such as acorn and butternut are plentiful and we start seeing more root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips and turnips. </div>
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The weather is getting cooler here and beef roasts were on sale at my local market, so I decided to make a healthy slow cooker roast. I found large loose carrots and parsnips - perfect for our fall slow cooker roast! </div>
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I am always looking for slow cooker recipes that are simple and don't use too many processed ingredients such as soup mixes or high sodium broths. They are so hard to find! So, I decided to try an experiment and make my regular, delicious oven roast beef recipe in the slow cooker. </div>
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Since I didn't use a flavor enhancer, the flavor is all in the searing of the meat and veggies. If you don't sear your meat, this dish will be bland! Don't blame me! Just use one of the recipes that adds a broth or soup mix.</div>
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I just had the leftovers for lunch and they were perfect for this chilly New York Day!</div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">What's your favorite fall slow cooker recipe? </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCr5CteEN-wHEK-dMeOjs-TRwvslDU2EyaUTMDIcBz2ecRt2Lao5PUBPry1gcUdL8Cx9InesiZfzQA4ot13oMA-JOsbwAnyVyt5KQQKTiuoumEyncaJxegU2okwIEZjX3V8StXYylo4dN/s1600/Slow_Cooker_Roast_Beef_Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="Slow_Cooker_Roast_Beef" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCr5CteEN-wHEK-dMeOjs-TRwvslDU2EyaUTMDIcBz2ecRt2Lao5PUBPry1gcUdL8Cx9InesiZfzQA4ot13oMA-JOsbwAnyVyt5KQQKTiuoumEyncaJxegU2okwIEZjX3V8StXYylo4dN/s320/Slow_Cooker_Roast_Beef_Collage.jpg" title="Slow_Cooker_Roast_Beef" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Niki's Slow Cooker Roast Beef</span></b></div>
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<b>by <span class="author" itemprop="author">The Cooking Accountant </span></b></div>
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<span class="published" datetime="2016-10-06" itemprop="published"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Ingredients</span></b></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">2 Tbsps</span> <span itemprop="name">olive oil </span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">2-3 lbs </span> <span itemprop="name"> beef eye round roast, trimmed of fat</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">2-3 </span> <span itemprop="name"> carrots, roughly chopped</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">2-3 </span> <span itemprop="name"> parsnips, roughly chopped</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">2-3 stalks </span> <span itemprop="name"> celery, roughly chopped</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1 </span> <span itemprop="name"> medium sweet onion, large slices</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">2 to 2-1/2 cups </span> <span itemprop="name"> water</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="name">salt and pepper, to taste</span></span></li>
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Prepare everything first: chop your veggies, dry and salt and pepper your meat well. I'm Greek, so I use olive oil for everything, but you can use vegetable oil to sear the meat.</div>
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<span class="instruction">Sear the beef </span>in oil in a heavy pan (like a cast iron dutch oven or stainless steel pot) over medium-high heat until nice and browned on all sides. It should take about 10-15 minutes for the meat to sear. I like to add the vegetables to the pan with the meat once it's almost done to allow them to caramelize. They release water and naturally deglaze the pan. This is where all the flavor will come from.</div>
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When done, add all the veggies first to the slow cooker. Then, place the beef on top of the veggies. Add the water and salt and pepper.</div>
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Set the slow cooker to HIGH and 5-6 hours depending on the size of the meat.</div>
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I like to turn the meat over at the 3 hour mark so that the top is now submerged.</div>
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The roast beef should be done in 5-6 hours. Check it with a fork around 5 hours; the beef should feel tender. The longer you leave it, the more softer and shreddable it becomes. If you shred the meat, you can have a nice stew with your veggies; just add some steamed potatoes. Yum!</div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="time preptime">Prep time: about <time datetime="PT30M" itemprop="prepTime">30 mins </time><span class="value-title" title="PT30M"></span></span><span class="time cooktime">Cook time: 5-<time datetime="PT6H" itemprop="cookTime">6 hours</time></span><span class="time duration"><time datetime="PT6H30M" itemprop="totalTime"> </time><span class="value-title" title="PT6H30M"></span></span><span class="yield">Yield: <span itemprop="yield">4-6 servings</span></span></span></b></div>
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The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-30049566054377736552016-09-29T15:07:00.003-04:002016-10-10T10:16:53.984-04:00BEC 2016 Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRVwUghH1FumDhWEP035oIFD9rqsiK95r9ioMstH6AWc7oiNoHoKvyPjGHR1BX1V_bQdGq9z4a-erw6dto75CRwM42iP1SVL8xdV_S59F26Vcd7giTSHosEsozYwmPaDZQtY1cB9asFP6/s1600/iStock_82216751_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRVwUghH1FumDhWEP035oIFD9rqsiK95r9ioMstH6AWc7oiNoHoKvyPjGHR1BX1V_bQdGq9z4a-erw6dto75CRwM42iP1SVL8xdV_S59F26Vcd7giTSHosEsozYwmPaDZQtY1cB9asFP6/s400/iStock_82216751_SMALL.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Many people reach my blog by searching about BEC on Google
(“How can I pass BEC,” “Why did I fail BEC,” “BEC Study Plan,” etc.). Therefore,
I thought I would write this updated post for 2016 with some helpful
information instead of just complaining about BEC (you can read complaining </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.thecookingaccountant.com/search/label/BEC" target="_blank"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>here</b></span></a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">). I have included
resources that I found helpful </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">for my
own </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">study plan</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. I am not affiliated with the AICPA, NASBA or the CPA
Exam. </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">This is not official at all; I am just
a CPA candidate writing on a personal blog.</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> You should do your own research
and double-check whether the information presented here is correct and still
applies. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><b><o:p></o:p>This post contains my
BEC Strategy, A Closer Look at BEC (Content Specification Outlines) and My Study
Plan, CPA Exam Resources, and BEC Resources!<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><b></b></span></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">My BEC Strategy <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am seriously considering sitting for the CPA Exam again this
winter. And if I decide to do it, I will try to beat my nemesis first – BEC! On
the surface, BEC looks to be the easiest of the 4 parts of the CPA Exam (only 3
hours instead of 4, no simulations), but that thought is very deceiving (as
most of us have learned the hard way). The CPA Exam is also changing for April
1, 2017, so I want to get this part out of the way now. I will write more later
regarding the 2017 changes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In order to be successful this time, I will not harp on what
I did wrong the other 20 times I took it. OK, it wasn’t 20 times, but it sure
feels like it. This time, I want to be one of the 49% of CPA candidates who
passes the CPA Exam. For this go-round, I plan to: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Do a million multiple choice questions, and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Use textbooks and online resources along with the review
books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My thinking is that the multiple choice questions repeat, so
familiarizing myself with the questions will help me answer them quickly;
saving some time that can be used on the written portion. Textbooks and online
resources will provide some extra information that I can hopefully use in the
written portion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So far, I have ordered the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119119987/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1119119987&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=3cd2a7c087fe777fdb754ee7b2ee516e%22%3EWiley%20BEC%20Study%20Guide%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1119119987%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119119987/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1119119987&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=3cd2a7c087fe777fdb754ee7b2ee516e">Wiley BEC Study Guide</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1119119987" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">and have the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119297184/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1119297184&linkCode=undefined&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=9ce478bfd364cafe545012f0fbaac0e6%22%3EWiley%20BEC%20Focus%20Notes%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1119297184%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119297184/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1119297184&linkCode=undefined&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=9ce478bfd364cafe545012f0fbaac0e6">Wiley BEC Focus Notes</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1119297184" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. The <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119120020/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1119120020&linkCode=undefined&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=714fdc9e7e997bf254d3507d120cf9d2%22%3EWiley%20BEC%20Test%20Bank%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1119120020%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119120020/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1119120020&linkCode=undefined&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=714fdc9e7e997bf254d3507d120cf9d2">Wiley BEC Test Bank</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1119120020" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> looks expensive, but I might go for it. </span></span></span>I am starting out by self-studying, but will write another post on review courses later, since I’m not sure which to use yet.</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20style=%22width:120px;height:240px;%22%20marginwidth=%220%22%20marginheight=%220%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20src=%22//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1511732857&asins=1511732857&linkId=13d1d3c3e76ae3205f33757fac8aff8b&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=&title_color=&bg_color=FFFFFF%22%3E%20%20%20%20%20%3C/iframe%3E" target="_blank"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1511732857&asins=1511732857&linkId=13d1d3c3e76ae3205f33757fac8aff8b&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=&title_color=&bg_color=FFFFFF" style="height: 240px; 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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">[As per the disclaimer in
the left sidebar, I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program,
an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn
advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.] <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">A Closer Look at BEC and
My Study Plan <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Right now, the AICPA gives you 3 hours to take BEC. BEC is
comprised of 3 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) testlets (72 multiple-choice questions
total) and 1 testlet with 3 written communication tasks. In 2017, the test time
will change to 4 hours since they are adding 5 task-based simulations in
addition to the MCQs and the 3 written communication tasks. They are also
reducing the number of MCQs from 72 to 62 questions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">OK, so what does BEC test you on? According to the AICPA, the
candidate should be able to "demonstrate an understanding of the general
business environment and business concepts." Now, what does that mean? Per
our friends at the AICPA, Business Environment and Concepts pertains to the
following areas: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Corporate
Governance (16%-20%)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This area covers the COSO framework, ethics, internal
controls, enterprise risk management, and business structure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><u>My Study Plan</u>:</b>
</span>I will refer to the COSO, SOX and IIA websites (see below). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Economic Concepts
& Analysis (16%-20%) <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This area covers economics, globalization, and financial
risk management. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><u>My Study Plan</u>:</span></b>
My almost 20-year-old Economics textbook will be used as a reference since the
concepts of supply, demand, GDP, and inflation are the same as what they were
back then. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Financial
Management (19%-23%)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This area covers financial forecasting, projections, analysis,
capital management, financial valuations, debt, equity, and leasing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><u>My Study Plan</u>:</span></b>
I have some books that I use for work on financial processes and controls that
I think I can use. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Information Systems
and Communications (15%-19%) <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This area covers Information Technology (IT) and systems,
security, and segregation of duties. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><u>My Study Plan</u>:</span></b>
Flash cards! I plan to memorize the IT terms and definitions. My specialty is
in systems implementations, so hopefully, my work experience will have made me
stronger in this area than I was when I last sat for this exam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Strategic Planning
(10%-14%) <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This area covers planning – budgets, forecasts and
projections, and market and risk analysis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><u>My Study Plan</u>:</span></b>
I will refer to my old textbook on budgeting and forecasting (I think it was
called “Financial Accounting”). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">6. Operations
Management (12%-16%)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This area covers financial and non-financial measures of
performance, cost accounting, management processes and philosophies, and
project planning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><u>My Study Plan</u>:</span></b>
I plan on solving lots of multiple choice questions for the financial statement
ratios and cost accounting. There weren’t many questions on cost accounting in
the Wiley book, so I will have to find a MCQ resource to supplement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">CPA Exam Resources<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The AICPA provides the following helpful
resources:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.aicpa.org/BECOMEACPA/CPAEXAM/FORCANDIDATES/HOWTOPREPARE/Pages/how_prepare.aspx" target="_blank">How to Prepare for the CPA Exam</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.aicpa.org/BecomeACPA/CPAExam/Pages/CPAExam.aspx" target="_blank">CPA Exam Page: Announcements, Pass Rates, Tutorials and Sample Questions </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.aicpa.org/BECOMEACPA/CPAEXAM/EXAMINATIONCONTENT/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">2016 Content Specification Outlines (CSOs) and SkillSpecification Outlines (SSOs) (effective 1/1/16) and 2016 Changes to CSOs(effective 1/1/16) </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.aicpa.org/BECOMEACPA/CPAEXAM/EXAMINATIONCONTENT/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">2017 Content Specification Outlines (CSOs) andSkill Specification Outlines (SSOs) (effective 1/1/17) and 2017 Changes to CSOs(effective 1/1/17) </a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Additional Resources
for BEC: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The AICPA suggests the following resources in their CSOs
along with a list of textbooks. The organizations sell information to corporate
employees, but I was able to find a lot of free information (including PDFs) on
their websites. So please look around for the free stuff!!! I am not affiliated
with any of these organizations; just using their free resources for my own
studying as suggested by the AICPA CSO and writing about it here in case it
helps someone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.coso.org/guidance.htm" target="_blank">The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of theTreadway Commission (COSO): What is being tested for 2016 is the COSO (2013 revision).</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.coso.org/IC.htm" target="_blank">Internal Control – Integrated Framework</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">§<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Free Executive Summary and Poster <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.coso.org/-ERM.htm" target="_blank">Enterprise Risk Management</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">§<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.coso.org/ERM-IntegratedFramework.htm" target="_blank">Free Executive Summary </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/about/laws.shtml#sox2002" target="_blank">Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX)</a></span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Free full text of the Act<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://na.theiia.org/standards-guidance/Pages/Standards-and-Guidance-IPPF.aspx" target="_blank">International Standards for the ProfessionalPractice of Internal Auditing</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Free guidance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.isaca.org/COBIT/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">The Control Objectives for Information andrelated Technology (COBIT):</a></span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Free Cobit5 toolkit (at the bottom of the page) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you find this compilation of information helpful
for your own BEC Study Plan. After doing this research, I am relieved that not
much has changed since I last took BEC. Let me know in the comments below how
you plan on studying for BEC. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-53895067875636044032016-09-15T14:28:00.000-04:002016-09-15T14:39:04.703-04:00Back to School Supplies for Accountants<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgGJl2wiKfG_6tGJYpWnJCqcdDKGHQjT74_bnaC8dnDFu3qHUrPWAV6k6F1VLRud4nASpx7ETcX5XLJUx2AFBAQETa9RQ5hW1MsaDlzdaLawQzKn3qoeLewFu28MROpGQG7Qv4LDaeEbF/s1600/20160915_Accounting_Supplies_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgGJl2wiKfG_6tGJYpWnJCqcdDKGHQjT74_bnaC8dnDFu3qHUrPWAV6k6F1VLRud4nASpx7ETcX5XLJUx2AFBAQETa9RQ5hW1MsaDlzdaLawQzKn3qoeLewFu28MROpGQG7Qv4LDaeEbF/s400/20160915_Accounting_Supplies_c.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Schools started on Long Island last week and NYC this week.
How can you tell? The increase in traffic, of course! It is also getting cooler
these days and I have such an urge to buy school supplies. There's something
about fall and school supplies! Why leave all the fun to the kids? </span>Yes, Accountants – You should
have some new supplies this fall! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">OK, notebooks and other supplies may be considered low-tech compared to your
cell phone, tablet or laptop. But I find people pay more attention when taking
notes in a notebook as opposed to a laptop. Don’t you hate giving a
presentation to a conference room of people who are typing away on their
laptops? You hope that they’re taking notes on what you’re saying, but they are
more likely responding to an e-mail. How about when you
are explaining how to do something to a colleague and they just stare at you
and nod? Fast forward 3 hours later, and they completely forgot everything you said. To prevent them from asking you a
million questions via e-mail, rip out a page from your notebook and give it to
them to take notes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wise people have said that you retain more information when
you put a pen(cil) to paper, and the science now proves it. Check out this
article entitled “<a href="http://www.npr.org/2016/04/17/474525392/attention-students-put-your-laptops-away" target="_blank">Attention, Students: Put Your Laptops Away</a>” which references
a number of recent studies that prove this theory. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love notebooks and planners (paper!) and will do another
post going in-depth about note-taking for work and school (and <a href="http://bulletjournal.com/" target="_blank">the Bullet Journal</a>). But here are some of the supplies that I love! I have added the pictures below which contain links to Amazon.com so you can see what I’m talking
about. As per the disclaimer in the left sidebar, I participate in the Amazon
Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to
provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking
to amazon.com. I encourage you to shop around for the best price (Amazon,</span> Staples, Costco, Walmart, drugstores).<br />
<br />
OK, here are my <b>Top 5 Back to School Supplies for Accountants</b>:</div>
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<b>1. A
Cheap Calculator</b><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000819UFW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000819UFW&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=a225bb3a122546ccd5475638f465287c%22%3E%3Cimg%20border=%220%22%20src=%22//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B000819UFW&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL110_&tag=thecookacco-20%22%20%3E%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B000819UFW%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000819UFW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000819UFW&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=a225bb3a122546ccd5475638f465287c"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B000819UFW&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL110_&tag=thecookacco-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B000819UFW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></a><br />
At the top of
the list is the cheap calculator which I prefer over using my cell phone. My
poor cheapie calcs get dropped so many times that I have been known to tape the plastic display
covers back on. If yours is like that, don’t throw it out – use it for
inventory observations where it doesn’t matter if it falls off your clipboard 10
feet to the ground. Just tape it back up! But get yourself a backup this fall
while Staples has them on sale. I can't find the one I have anymore, but there are so many options! </div>
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<b>Wishlist</b>: I want this cool little pocket flip-case calculator!</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20style=%22width:120px;height:240px;%22%20marginwidth=%220%22%20marginheight=%220%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20src=%22//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00178HMMS&asins=B00178HMMS&linkId=18a814a3f10638f6c9059e398bc277df&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=&title_color=&bg_color=FFFFFF%22%3E%20%20%20%20%20%3C/iframe%3E" target="_blank"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00178HMMS&asins=B00178HMMS&linkId=18a814a3f10638f6c9059e398bc277df&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=&title_color=&bg_color=FFFFFF" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"> </iframe></a><br /></div>
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<b style="text-indent: 0.5in;">2. Some 0.7
Lead Pencils</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LW3OWAS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00LW3OWAS&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=bb76d9c6ca59ca1fedfab545aa210b87%22%3E%3Cimg%20border=%220%22%20src=%22//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B00LW3OWAS&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL110_&tag=thecookacco-20%22%20%3E%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00LW3OWAS%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LW3OWAS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00LW3OWAS&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=bb76d9c6ca59ca1fedfab545aa210b87"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B00LW3OWAS&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL110_&tag=thecookacco-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00LW3OWAS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </div>
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Forget the wimpy
0.5 lead pencils. And pens – What accountant uses pens?? Say no to pen ink
blobs and scribbles. Do yourself a favor and get the 0.7 lead pencils. I like the quality of the Pentel's lead, the cool twist eraser and the rubber grip on the barrel. You can find deals on these at Costco and Walmart. </div>
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<b style="text-indent: 0.5in;">3. An
Awesome Eraser</b></div>
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<o:p><a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001Q4HQVU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001Q4HQVU&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=6ac13b87316ed6c3fdb9b66e1dd081d4%22%3E%3Cimg%20border=%220%22%20src=%22//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B001Q4HQVU&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL110_&tag=thecookacco-20%22%20%3E%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B001Q4HQVU%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001Q4HQVU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001Q4HQVU&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=6ac13b87316ed6c3fdb9b66e1dd081d4"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B001Q4HQVU&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL110_&tag=thecookacco-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B001Q4HQVU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></o:p></div>
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The eraser on those Pentel pencils is good for a quick
erase. But sometimes you make a huge mess and need to erase A LOT of stuff. Use
the Pentel Hi-Polymer Eraser to get rid of any mistakes that cover a
large area of the page without destroying your sheet of paper. This is the only
eraser I trust in my precious notebooks. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="text-indent: 0.5in;">4. A
Few Notebooks</b></div>
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<o:p> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U2YZQDU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00U2YZQDU&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=2710419d42b6bf87640c99d0da732319%22%3E%3Cimg%20border=%220%22%20src=%22//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B00U2YZQDU&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL110_&tag=thecookacco-20%22%20%3E%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00U2YZQDU%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U2YZQDU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00U2YZQDU&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=2710419d42b6bf87640c99d0da732319"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B00U2YZQDU&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL110_&tag=thecookacco-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00U2YZQDU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></o:p></div>
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I like legal
pads for taking quick meeting notes and
have had collections of notes on legal pads. But 1-subject and 3-subject notebooks are
great for taking notes that you will archive and refer to in the future - have a
notebook for each client; have a section in your notebook with checklists to
refer to. I usually have one with quick reference info for programs I don’t use every day (legacy accounting systems, budget software, fixed assets
software, even the copy machine/ printer setup, UPS labels, really anything). By
all means, keep a backup on your computer (I have typed up and saved some in
Word for access away from the office), but nothing beats just grabbing a
notebook off the shelf. Check Staples and drugstores for a better price. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Wishlist:</b> If you are not ready to go full-on analog, a tablet and stylus might work better for you. These styli come in cool colors. </div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20style=%22width:120px;height:240px;%22%20marginwidth=%220%22%20marginheight=%220%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20src=%22//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B007R28B50&asins=B007R28B50&linkId=d6b4c561ff78d906413fa2aedfaa2d8e&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=&title_color=&bg_color=FFFFFF%22%3E%20%20%20%20%20%3C/iframe%3E" target="_blank"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B007R28B50&asins=B007R28B50&linkId=d6b4c561ff78d906413fa2aedfaa2d8e&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=&title_color=&bg_color=FFFFFF" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"> </iframe></a><br /></div>
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<b style="text-indent: 0.5in;">5. Poly
File Jackets</b></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006MGOYP8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B006MGOYP8&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=3c0d8c4df669029a9a5721edf72c9bbd%22%3E%3Cimg%20border=%220%22%20src=%22//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B006MGOYP8&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL110_&tag=thecookacco-20%22%20%3E%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B006MGOYP8%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006MGOYP8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B006MGOYP8&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=3c0d8c4df669029a9a5721edf72c9bbd"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B006MGOYP8&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL110_&tag=thecookacco-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thecookacco-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B006MGOYP8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></div>
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Have you had one
of those meetings where you didn’t bring your laptop bag or a tote because the
conference room is JUST on another floor or ONLY a parking lot away? Just
showed up with your notebook or laptop under your arm? It never fails that
someone will hand you a stack of expense reports, invoices they approved or
other papers on your way back from that meeting. Now you have a million papers
shoved under your arm between your laptop and notebook that you hope you don’t
lose on your way back to your desk. The solution? One of these pocket file
jackets! I shove all papers and sometimes my notebook in there. Nothing gets
lost and you won’t find a random invoice stuck in your notebook a month
later. </div>
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<b style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Bonus! The Highlighting Ruler</b></div>
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Now, this is the best ruler for work. I always order one from Staples. It is clear but has a yellow highlight in the middle. It has saved my eyes throughout the years. </div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20style=%22width:120px;height:240px;%22%20marginwidth=%220%22%20marginheight=%220%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20src=%22//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00FZYMMB6&asins=B00FZYMMB6&linkId=01b493ef1ca921ae59c2ccb42acebf13&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=&title_color=&bg_color=FFFFFF%22%3E%20%20%20%20%20%3C/iframe%3E" target="_blank"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thecookacco-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00FZYMMB6&asins=B00FZYMMB6&linkId=01b493ef1ca921ae59c2ccb42acebf13&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=&title_color=&bg_color=FFFFFF" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"> </iframe></a><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">What are your favorite “Back to
School Supplies” for accountants? Come on, admit it. You’re reading my blog, so
you must have some supplies you love. </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-90473930720370285962016-09-08T17:40:00.000-04:002016-10-22T15:58:36.261-04:00It’s Time for Turkey Meatballs!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nJTELGGDu1yCic4qgXOzUhn5XBF4O4sgagHSzgaudS6TNfFoVjf9XR1-BkSA9LcHRFifTNMqwnxotEn3nfObl_rguqx2IHmpM9a41e7ulG00Ml2hzzOw5weuIy4dB6pZDBn5bxHR036S/s1600/20160908_Turkey_Meatballs_Sauce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nJTELGGDu1yCic4qgXOzUhn5XBF4O4sgagHSzgaudS6TNfFoVjf9XR1-BkSA9LcHRFifTNMqwnxotEn3nfObl_rguqx2IHmpM9a41e7ulG00Ml2hzzOw5weuIy4dB6pZDBn5bxHR036S/s400/20160908_Turkey_Meatballs_Sauce.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s almost time to start making fall comfort foods! Even though the meteorologists are </span>forecasting<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>90 degree days <span style="font-family: inherit;">this upcoming weekend here in New York, it was a little cooler earlier in the week. And the cooler weather made it the perfect time to try spaghetti and meatballs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I usually make my meatballs with ground beef, Greek-style
with mint (like my mom does), but I decided to try ground turkey this time and
make it with more of an Italian flavor. Giada has a good recipe that I based
this on. I like some of her recipes, but I find her annoying. I grew
up in a predominately Italian neighborhood (people who recently immigrated and
also people whose families have been here in the US for a couple of generations)
and nobody pronounces spaghetti as “spa-GHEE-TEE,” ever. Maybe it’s a dialect
thing – she’s from Rome and my friends and old neighbors are from Southern
Italy? Or maybe she likes to over-enunciate her words? In any case, she adds ketchup
to her turkey meatballs, so I wanted to try that here. Let's see how that works. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, incorporated into this recipe, is my favorite tomato
sauce by Marcella Hazan from </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/039458404X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=039458404X&linkCode=as2&tag=thecookacco-20&linkId=3efc0eb74c44fda42ac67d9532194b32" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. So simple, yet it's the best! I started the sauce first
so that it would cook while I made the meatballs. I used 99% lean turkey and
the meatballs were not dry at all, but you can use a pack of less lean ground turkey, if you wish. After browning the meatballs, I cooked them for about 20 minutes
in the sauce. The sauce thickened up and the meatballs took on the flavor of the sauce.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can probably see in the picture with the food plated that
I added some spaghetti squash on top of the spaghetti before the meatballs and sauce.
This is a great way to incorporate vegetables into your meals! I just baked a
halved spaghetti squash for 30-40 minutes at 400
degrees and ran a fork through it to remove spaghetti-like strands. Just be careful cutting that thing – or poke some holes in it with a fork so that it doesn't explode and soften it in the microwave first. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #7030a0;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What are your favorite fall comfort foods? <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turkey Meatballs with
Sauce <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(serves 4) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ingredients <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the tomato sauce<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2 -28 oz cans san Marzano tomatoes (or peeled tomatoes) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">½ medium onion, left intact (no chopping)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 stick butter (8 Tbsp) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the meatballs<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">¼ medium onion, chopped (or ½ tsp onion powder)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2 garlic cloves, minced (or ½ tsp garlic powder)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 egg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3 Tbsp ketchup <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">¼ cup plain breadcrumbs (if you use seasoned, adjust the
other spices)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1.3 lbs Ground Turkey (I used 99% lean here, but use what
you want) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 tsp dried parsley (or ¼ cup fresh)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Salt and pepper to taste<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Olive oil for pan frying <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Preparation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Start the sauce first. In a large pot or Dutch oven, add the
two 28 oz cans of tomatoes, the piece of onion and the stick of butter. Let it
heat up to start boiling and then turn down to a medium-low simmer. Let the
sauce simmer uncovered for 40 minutes, stirring and breaking up the tomatoes occasionally,
while you make the meatballs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For the meatballs, have a bowl and a plate ready. In the bowl,
combine the onion, garlic, egg, ketchup, bread crumbs, parsley, ground turkey,
salt and pepper with your hands until everything is blended together. Using
your hands, form the meatballs into small balls that are about 1” across and
put them on the plate. From 1.3 lbs I was able to yield 36 meatballs.</span></div>
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Have another plate lined with 2 paper towels ready by the stove. Heat the olive oil in a deep skillet or frying pan at a medium heat. Brown the meatballs in batches to avoid over-crowding the pan. Brown them on all sides for about 5 minutes total. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I used a slotted spoon to cook them and move
them to the waiting plate, where they drained. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgadIGXFBIMqCITH8d91uyWiiW5Ga0vEqFuEmz5Vih8kwWhWwTI2mm0CGJJChvcmlLQJ1m0F1OdzCC2h5RFQ2Fqx_VwJ2so8DIhXfrxHKb4tZ8_29USIiePY5-W0QvcZth1SnNnhXctyP/s1600/20160906_Turkey_Meatballs4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgadIGXFBIMqCITH8d91uyWiiW5Ga0vEqFuEmz5Vih8kwWhWwTI2mm0CGJJChvcmlLQJ1m0F1OdzCC2h5RFQ2Fqx_VwJ2so8DIhXfrxHKb4tZ8_29USIiePY5-W0QvcZth1SnNnhXctyP/s200/20160906_Turkey_Meatballs4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once your sauce has cooked 40 minutes, add the meatballs to
the sauce and continue cook the meatballs in the sauce over a medium-low heat for
another 20 minutes. Stir occasionally. The sauce will thicken and you will have
awesome meatballs and sauce for dinner! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Serve with spaghetti, spaghetti squash or both. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><b>Enjoy! </b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><b>Kali Orexi! </b></span></div>
The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-50736714533796073232016-08-26T10:44:00.000-04:002016-08-26T10:48:49.184-04:00What Did We Do with All Those Tomatoes?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZaD-HeqmfpgacFSFVWd2hrxOJqtEdXCmUTTofzxhDyd1SYHhP-h-Hz5F9VznUcys4IsUD0FH6LfLJs4c5zGz7WCstdezh9Zf0Yl_a894P0bVUKfxs3ftTf7yHnOs9tReVpviXJI1z8E2/s1600/20160826_Summer_Tomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZaD-HeqmfpgacFSFVWd2hrxOJqtEdXCmUTTofzxhDyd1SYHhP-h-Hz5F9VznUcys4IsUD0FH6LfLJs4c5zGz7WCstdezh9Zf0Yl_a894P0bVUKfxs3ftTf7yHnOs9tReVpviXJI1z8E2/s400/20160826_Summer_Tomatoes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We are nearing the end of August and the end of summer here in
New York. Even though I love the fall season, I’m not ready for summer to end just
yet and wish to prolong it for as long as I can. What better way to stay in summer
than a quick post about tomatoes?</div>
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What is the definition of summer to you? The beach? The
pool? To me, nothing says summer more than a delicious, ripe tomato salad
straight from the garden (yours or someone else’s). I will eat store-bought
tomatoes during the year, but don’t enjoy them as much because they taste bland
in comparison. A tomato salad made from tomatoes you (or a friend or local
farmer) grew, is a summer treat. Keep them out at room temperature and mix
different types of tomatoes together. Cut and sprinkle them with salt, pepper
and oregano; pour a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar on top for a
delicious combination of flavors. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We planted 4 or 5 different varieties of tomato seeds this
year, hoping to produce tomatoes at different times during the summer. We expected
to enjoy tomatoes throughout the whole summer, instead of dozens at one time.
The 4<sup>th</sup> of July variety should have been ready the first week of
July, while the majority of the others (Beefsteak, Thessaloniki, etc.) would be
ready later in July and August. Instead, everything took longer and we were
inundated with tomatoes in August...<o:p></o:p></div>
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We had so many tomatoes that I had to start incorporating
them into my dishes. I chopped some up and made an impromptu tomato sauce for
pasta (add a teaspoon of ketchup for sweetness). I have also sliced a few
and made pita-pizzas (shredded mozzarella cheese and tomato slices on a round pita bread
with some sliced, pitted Kalamata olives). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Let’s talk about
tomatoes! What are some ways you have used up your extra tomatoes this summer?</span></b></div>
The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-75136858504129115222016-08-18T12:43:00.000-04:002016-08-18T14:03:38.365-04:005 Reasons to Take the CPA Exam Right After College<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrnCgR7oOLYsd8tBOC1c4ZCek_DdABzOrczEyy2plZCxdQbCW05rAcnFk0Z7YtYh3kWt5q9eRPi0pVTcbMayn0b2EDLJnc4bxjjpaYdet0YVB0jVpRc19AD8EvkcQ3nNSdAxVnC2b-3Jc/s1600/iStock_60286140_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrnCgR7oOLYsd8tBOC1c4ZCek_DdABzOrczEyy2plZCxdQbCW05rAcnFk0Z7YtYh3kWt5q9eRPi0pVTcbMayn0b2EDLJnc4bxjjpaYdet0YVB0jVpRc19AD8EvkcQ3nNSdAxVnC2b-3Jc/s400/iStock_60286140_SMALL.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you recently graduated from
college/university, I want to congratulate you! Well done! Are you starting a
new job this fall and would rather do anything but study in your spare time? Do
you want to take a short break from studying since that’s what you have been
doing for most of your life? Well, despite all that, it may make more sense to
take the CPA Exam sooner rather than later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">See, I made the mistake of
pushing off serious studying for the CPA Exam during my first year working at a
CPA firm. In the early 2000s, there were lots of layoffs in the Finance
industry in New York, and this included CPA Firms. It became extremely
important to have as many billable hours and not much “unassigned time.” I
could not afford to lose this job and spent my free time asking Seniors for
work that they needed help with instead of studying. I figured I could “wing it” on
some parts and study hard later when things slowed down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As the years went by and my
personal and professional responsibilities increased, it grew more and more
difficult to study. I kept trying though – passing parts, failing others. I
took breaks from the Exam. This process started to repeat over and over again. If
I knew then what I know now, I would have tried to find a balance between work
and studying very early on in my career. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you sit for the CPA Exam soon
after graduating, you may be able to avoid these 5 things that are currently
working against me:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><b>Dealing with the Expense of Paying for it Yourself<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For most jobs
in Accounting, there will be a direct or indirect offset of your CPA Review course
expenses. Employers may offer a way to offset the cost of CPA Review courses or
give you some bonus or incentive to pass the Exam. They may partner with a
review course to offer it for free or at a discount to their employees. Even
places that don’t offer this generous benefit may “reimburse” you indirectly in
the form of a raise. There is a perception that you can offer the department or
organization more now that you’re a CPA. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The lack of any kind of financial assistance is one of
the things you will feel most painfully when you shell out the 1,000s of USD to
pay for a review course later in your career (in addition to the fees to sit
for the Exam). I remember thinking all that money and those days off studying could
have gone towards a nice vacation instead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><b>Lack of Support<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When you are a recent graduate and taking the CPA Exam
for the first time (or even the 3<sup>rd</sup> or 5<sup>th</sup>), everyone
wants to help you. We root for you. No one wants to be the reason you failed
after studying for so many hours. Parents, roommates, boyfriends, girlfriends –
everyone – will usually understand why you need time alone to study. Sympathetic
managers (like me) may let you take off with barely any notice the day before
the Exam because you panic and need more time to study. Even bosses who are
jerks don’t want this Exam distracting you while you work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When you get older, no one cares as much, I’m sorry to say.
You are not a student anymore; you are in the Real World now. Yes, people may
find stories about someone they don’t know with 10 kids and 3 jobs passing the
CPA Exam an inspiration, but most people will view it as an inconvenience to
THEM if it directly affects their life. Partners, family, friends, colleagues
and employers may not give you as much support as they might have done when you
were a fresh grad. You may also hear “ugh, you’re going to take that test
again?” or at least that’s the response I get when I mention it… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><b>The Material Changed<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When you take the CPA Exam fresh out of school, you
will find that the content of the Exam reflects the material covered in your
courses. Changes are implemented regularly to keep up with the Accounting
industry and business climate, but you have a grace period before the changes
are applied to the Exam. You have time to learn these changes and how they
differ from what you memorized in school, and the number of changes should be
manageable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When you are more than a few years out of school and
not using those specific accounting rules (like those for Not-For-Profit or
Inventory accounting) at work for a few years, you may need to re-learn them.
The worst is when there has been a complete overhaul of certain areas. Forget
about comparing the test questions to what you did at work years ago (a big one
for me was derivatives accounting) since it may have changed substantially. Some of the basics, such as the conceptual
framework, have been revamped and I need to learn everything from the
beginning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><b>Less Time to Study<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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Yes, there are exceptions, but usually, when you are
younger, you have less responsibilities than you will have later in life. You
are not managing employees at work yet. You may not have started a family
yet. And you may not have bought a house yet. There are more places to fit study
time. Again, I say usually because there are some exceptions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we get older, we will move up in our careers, maybe
share our life with a partner, possibly have or adopt children, take care of an
aging or ailing relative or friend, and even volunteer in our communities. With life comes an increase in responsibility. And it will get
more difficult and sometimes impossible to say no to requests for your time.
You may not want to add something else such as studying for the CPA Exam to
your already full plate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><b>Lack of Motivation <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When you are starting out in your Accounting career,
you want to do well and passing the CPA Exam will be one of your goals. It may
even be a goal on your performance report that you will be reviewed on. So, you
have a strong motivating factor to sit for and take the Exam. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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But if you have already made it pretty far in your career
without it, you will ask yourself “should I even bother taking the CPA Exam?”
At this point, the CPA credential may not help you get a promotion, but it
could open up more career opportunities. There are many jobs where the employer
requires the candidate have a CPA license. Earning your CPA license at this
stage will be more of a personal goal and you will have to be completely
willing to make sacrifices to achieve it. The hardest part will be getting
started. You will also have to be more creative in motivating yourself to
study.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">While this particular article is geared towards those of you who are
currently in the early stages of your Accounting career, I also plan to write
about my own experiences sitting for the CPA Exam (again) later in my career. I
feel that we can all learn from each other – mistakes to avoid, from those more
advanced in their careers; and a fresh perspective on work and studying from the
younger accountants. <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Please share in the comments where you are in the process
and what you are doing to get motivated to pass the CPA Exam once and for all. </span></b></span></div>
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The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189561280975257345.post-41977957626197635232016-08-11T13:24:00.000-04:002016-10-23T10:34:04.426-04:00Some Quick Organic Quinoa<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSZlbzQMU5PFVhU3UotOqUooSd0onV1jJgAj6EVuURB-sQWTNva4HYD9LnZeR7YXU6i1BqwDtSk3RtRuToW8uLU9BfNoSeBfRBkRfSWFQHEjYZnSJhMaBPx0OvAPPnH8F0kb4WcQLMil-/s1600/20160811_Quinoa_Arugula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSZlbzQMU5PFVhU3UotOqUooSd0onV1jJgAj6EVuURB-sQWTNva4HYD9LnZeR7YXU6i1BqwDtSk3RtRuToW8uLU9BfNoSeBfRBkRfSWFQHEjYZnSJhMaBPx0OvAPPnH8F0kb4WcQLMil-/s400/20160811_Quinoa_Arugula.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
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I want to
substitute quinoa for the French fries that have somehow become my standard side dish over
the summer. Yes, I said French fries! See, it starts slowly – Too hot to stand in front of the stove? Just bake some French fries in the toaster oven. Grilling outside and don't want to walk in and out checking on food? Bake some French fries. Call it convenience or laziness, you get used to it and before
you know it, you are serving French fries with veal because “it goes” and it only takes 20 minutes. </div>
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<o:p>To break this habit, I picked up a bag of Organic Quinoa from Costco recently and have resolved to use it instead of having it sit in the pantry until it expires. I</o:p>t is said that white quinoa (which this one is) has a mild nutty taste; whereas red quinoa has a stronger nutty taste. From what I can remember, I noticed a slight difference, but not enough for me to declare either one tastier over the other. Then again, I am not a quinoa connoisseur. </div>
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Way healthier than French fries, quinoa
contains nutrients such as protein, zinc and folate and it’s known for its anti-inflammatory
properties. Like my husband, you might find that you don’t care for the texture,
so maybe try a small bag from your supermarket first to see if you like it
instead of the warehouse size. Also, try to experiment with your cooking liquid and spices. For example, try cooking it in just water first, then add a little broth the next time, then add some spices – add a bay leaf at the beginning of cooking for more flavor. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have incorporated arugula (rocket) into this meal since it was on sale at my local market. They say we should eat
at least one green leafy vegetable a week to stay healthy. And arugula is a good source of vitamin C and potassium. Arugula is
a peppery-tasting salad green that gets milder when cooked. So if you have had it
raw in a salad and didn’t care for it, cooking it might be the way to go. I
really, really like it sautéed with cherry tomatoes. In this recipe, we are sautéing it in olive oil and
adding lemon to it at the table to keep it simple. </div>
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We needed a protein to go with our healthy side dish and have chosen the versatile
grilled chicken cutlet. We grilled the cutlets outside, but you can also cook
them on the stovetop using my old recipe here: <a href="http://www.thecookingaccountant.com/2009/02/simple-or-extravagant.html">Niki's Simple Lemon Chicken Cutlets</a> or buy pre-cooked at your local supermarket or deli. It's also delicious with grilled shrimp! I didn't include a recipe but can write one up if you want. Let me know! </div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">This meal is so quick and easy, there’s nothing to it. Quinoa is perfect for a weekday when you get home late from work or school. And it is healthier than French fries ;<span style="font-family: "wingdings";">-)</span>. Let me know if you like it! </span></span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Organic Quinoa with Arugula</span></b></div>
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<b>by <span class="author" itemprop="author">The Cooking Accountant </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Ingredients</span></b></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1 cup </span> <span itemprop="name"> quinoa (yields 3 cups cooked)</span></span></li>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">2 cups </span> <span itemprop="name"> water or broth (I used 2 cups water and 1//2 tsp Better Than Bouillon)</span></span></li>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">salt, </span> <span itemprop="name"> to taste</span></span></li>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">pepper, </span> <span itemprop="name"> to taste</span></span></li>
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<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1 bunch </span> <span itemprop="name"> arugula</span></span></li>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">1 Tbsp </span> <span itemprop="name"> olive oil</span></span></li>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">salt, </span> <span itemprop="name"> to taste</span></span></li>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount">pepper, </span> <span itemprop="name"> to taste</span></span></li>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Instructions</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span class="instruction">Wash the quinoa in a wire strainer. I like to rinse all my rice and grains to get rid of little stones and debris, but quinoa needs rinsing to wash away a soapy taste. This particular brand of quinoa was pre-rinsed, but I like to rinse anyway. </span><br />
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<span class="instruction">Add the quinoa to a saucepan and add water or broth, salt and pepper. </span><br />
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<span class="instruction">Let the quinoa get to a rolling boil, then turn down heat to a simmer and partially cover. </span><br />
Let it simmer for about 15 minutes.<br />
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In the meantime, wash the arugula by swishing in a bowl of water and emptying and filling the bowl multiple times to get rid of any sand. If the arugula came in a bunch, you can cut across the stems near the root while it’s still held with a rubber band.<br />
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Add olive oil to your sauté pan or frying pan and let it heat up a bit but not to smoking.<br />
Add the arugula, salt and pepper and move it around with tongs while it wilts.<br />
Remove from heat once it wilts in a few minutes.<br />
Turn off your quinoa and cover the lid to let it fluff.<br />
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Serve with 1 lb grilled chicken cutlets or grilled shrimp (add oregano for some Greek flavor!)
Enjoy! Kali Orexi!</div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Details</b></span></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><span class="time preptime">Prep time: 5 min <time datetime="PT" itemprop="prepTime"></time><span class="value-title" title="PT"></span></span><span class="time cooktime">Cook time: 15 min <time datetime="PT" itemprop="cookTime"></time><span class="value-title" title="PT"></span></span><span class="time duration">Total time: 20 min <time datetime="PT" itemprop="totalTime"></time><span class="value-title" title="PT"></span></span><span class="yield">Yield: <span itemprop="yield">2 servings</span></span></b></span></div>
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The Cooking Accountanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794068108852711711noreply@blogger.com2