Serve an Easy Lenten Meal

Lenten meals don't have to be drab, unsatisfying or time-consuming. They can be appealing, healthful and quick.

To be sure meatless meals are nutritious, simply follow the Food Guide Pyramid. Because they have such high-quality protein, eggs are a meat alternate and make a good Lenten choice. They're also one of the easiest foods to cook in a hurry. For a balanced meal, simply combine the eggs with a grain and veggies. Then, for a dairy serving, add cheese or serve with milk.

Just grab a pot or pan, a spoon and some eggs and consider your options. If your family enjoys Latin foods, you might heat up a can of vegetarian refried beans and spread them on tortillas. Top with poached, fried or scrambled eggs and let everyone add their own choice of lettuce, tomato, avocado, shredded cheese or salsa. Another meal, serve a vegetable-based soup with comforting egg salad between slices of whole wheat bread, on bagel halves or in pita pockets. For dessert, offer fruit topped with yogurt.

On an especially busy night, combine all the ingredients in one pan to make a handy skillet supper. For Dijon Rice & Egg Skillet Supper, use rice from the bottom of the Pyramid, your choice of frozen veggies from the next tier and eggs - nature's own convenience food - in place of meat. Season with ready-made condiments and, in short order, you'll have a hearty dinner on the table.


Dijon Rice & Egg Skillet Supper

2 to 4 servings


2 cups water

1 cup uncooked rice

1/2 cup bottled non-fat Italian

salad dressing

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 cups frozen vegetable

blend, thawed

4 eggs

Parsley sprigs, optional


In 10-inch skillet with lid, cook rice in water according to package directions. Meanwhile, in small bowl, stir together dressing and mustard until well blended. Stir dressing mixture and vegetables into cooked rice. With back of spoon, make 4 indentations in rice mixture. Break and slip an egg into each indentation. Cover. Cook over medium heat until whites are completely set and yolks begin to thicken but are not hard, about 3 to 4 minutes. Garnish with parsley, if desired.

Microwave: Cook rice in water as above. Meanwhile, in small bowl, stir together dressing and mustard until well blended. Stir dressing mixture and vegetables into cooked rice. Transfer to 9-inch pie plate. With back of spoon, make 4 indentations in rice mixture. Break and slip an egg into each indentation. Gently prick yolks with tip of knife or wooden pick. Cover with lid or plastic wrap. Cook on full power, rotating 1/4 turn every 2 minutes, until eggs are almost done, about 6 to 8 minutes. Let stand, covered, until whites are completely set and yolks begin to thicken but are not hard, about 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish as above. Note: Microwave cooking times are based on a full power output of 600 to 700 watts. For a lower wattage oven, allow more time.

Nutrient information per 1/4 recipe using green beans, peas, carrots and zucchini without parsley: calories 285, total fat 5 gm, cholesterol 213 mg, sodium 476 mg, potassium 274 mg, carbohydrate 45 gm, protein 11 gm, and 10% or more of the RDI for vitamin A and C, riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, iron, phosphorus

Small Business Manager Tips

You are the owner and manager of a small business. Not only do you need to know about the inner-workings of the business and the financial issues but you also need to be a good manager. Management skills can be just as important in keeping the business running well as your other areas of expertise. Here are some quick and easy management tips to help you keep the business running smoothly.

Make rules but be fair. In this day and age you need to set some ground rules so that each employee is treated fairly. However, you also need to know when to use common sense to guide you through sticky situations. Write down your expectations, and then translate those into language that your employees will understand. Present this to each new hire and post the rules in the office.

Understand the workings of the data and telephone systems. Use new technology to help your employees work more efficiently. If your company warrants it look into a good corporate long distance plan. Train employees on the office systems in place so that they can take advantage of the timesaving features they provide.

Don't worry about the small things. If you have a tendency to micro-manage your employees they won't feel free to be creative and to think outside the box. Allow others to do things in their own way as long as they can accomplish what's needed. Constantly picking on the work of others will only keep employees from ownership of their work.

Learn to delegate. Most manager/owners have trouble giving up tasks to others. They may feel that the work is best completed by them. However, you need to give employees a chance to be productive. If the only tasks they ever receive are mundane or tedious they will soon tire of the situation. What's more, you need people who you can count on to help the business thrive. After all, you will need to take time off and get a vacation and need to know that the business will run properly even when you are away.

Teach employees what their job is. Write complete job descriptions for each position. These descriptions should be specific and complete so that current and potential employees understand their job functions. Update the descriptions as needed. Provide plenty of on the job training and remember that not everyone catches on quickly. Have patience and understanding.

Communicate regularly with all employees. Employees need to know what is happening. Rumors can run rampant and can ruin morale in the process. Send a monthly email memo or hand out a newsletter. The communication will do wonders to keep things running smoothly and to keep attitudes up.

Stress good customer service. First and foremost your customers are who keep your business going. Make sure that employees put customer service first and keep it there. Offer courses or webinars that teach employees good customer service skills. Plan some training time each month for each employee. Even an hour or two per month will help keep customer service in the forefront.