Chicken Parmiginia Bake

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Kate Rudy

By: Brady Evans

My mom and I have an annual tradition of running the Cooper River Bridge Run (have you heard of it?).

It is SO inspiring to do the same thing as nearly 40,000 other people. “Hey! Let’s run across this bridge! Let’s get as many people as possible!” As you can see, the crowd is just huge.

My mom has been running the race since the 1980s. Naturally, it has grown since then, and it has even changed bridges. It just gets better and better every year. Lately, we’ve been staying with friends of my mom’s who happen to have a beach house on the starting side of this point-to-point race.

I usually put together a meal for us to enjoy the night before the big race and pasta is a natural go-to for this sort of stuff (even though I totally don’t carb load before races). I had seen Elly’s Baked Quinoa and Chicken Parm ages ago and planned on making that meal. When I made the motions to make this meal I realized I had no more quinoa and I sort of don’t feel like buying it anymore, so I subbed whole wheat pearl/Israeli cous cous. It was a great sub and one that the Omnivore surely prefers.

I also changed it up a bit by using a whole roasted chicken. Baking meat on the bone with the skin makes for a much deeper flavor. Roast your own bird or pick one up from the store and you are good to go! This meal is hearty and filling but not overly fattening or heavy. Great for a pre-race meal or a Sunday dinner!

Chicken Parmiginia Bake (6-8 servings) (adapted from Elly Says Opa)

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 medium onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
1Tbsp. crushed, dried, basil
2 cups pearl cous cous
4 cups water or broth
1 5-lb whole roasted chicken, cooked and meat removed and bones discarded
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 and spray two 2-qt. baking dishes with cooking oil.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and add the oil.
Stir in the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until tender, 5-7 minutes.
Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 30-60 seconds. Add the balsamic vinegar, scraping anything off the bottom of the pan, and cook until it is reduced, about 3 minutes.
Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, bay leaves, basil, parsley, salt and pepper to taste.
Bring to a low boil, and then simmer while you prepare the rest of the meal.
Place the cous cous and water or broth in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil.
Cover with a lid, reduce the heat, and simmer until cooked, about 20-25 minutes.
Assemble the casserole by placing the cous cous, sauce, and chicken in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly.
In each prepared casserole, place the mixture in the baking dish until it is halfway up the sides, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese.
Top with the remaining chicken mixture. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat with other casserole.
Cover with foil and bake for about 15 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until cheese is lightly browned and bubbly, about 10 more minutes.

Vote for Dr. Epps in Dancing with the Stars, Lexington

Posted on April 16, 2013 by jenniferawilson

It takes two to tango, and Dr. Epps is cutting a rug for Lexington Medical Center in the Dancing with the Stars, Lexington competition on April 22, at the Koger Center.

Dr. Amy Epps, a cardiologist with Lexington Cardiology and a Lexington school graduate, is competing against 11 local celebrities in the event sponsored by Lexington School District 1 Education Foundation.

Each vote raises funds to support district programs and initiatives that are outside the scope of the district’s Annual Fund Budget, such as outfitting STEM Labs at Lexington 1 schools, equipping media centers with up-to-date technology and supporting professional development for teachers.

Dr. Epps has been training with professional dancers from Columbia’s Ballroom Company since early February, check out the video below:

Vote for Dr. Epps today!
www.dancingwiththestarslexington.com/vote.

Barbara Willm honored by Girl Scouts with Women of Distinction Award

Posted on April 12, 2013 by jenniferawilson

The Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands has honored Lexington Medical Center’s Barbara Willm, Vice President of Community Relations, at the 20th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Dinner. Willm was recognized Thursday, April 11, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia for her excellence in leadership throughout the midlands.

“I am honored to be a part of such an esteemed group of women and it is even more special because I was a Girl Scout,” said Mrs. Willm.

First launched in 1993, the Women of Distinction dinner is a recognition and fundraising affair that celebrates outstanding women and their impact on the community. The event pays tribute to women who exemplify excellence in service, leadership, community, visibility and professionalism.

“I was proud to nominate Barbara for this outstanding award,” said Bootsie Wynne, Assistant Director Business Partner of Human Resources at Lexington Medical Center. “When I saw that the criteria asked for women who excelled in professional community leadership andcommunity service, who are excellent role models for girls and have community visibility, I knew she fit the bill perfectly. Not only was Barbara a Girl Scout when she was younger, she has also gone on to exemplify women in leadership. The goal of the Girl Scouts of SC Mountains to Midlands is to build girls with courage confidence and character. I think Barbara is a great example for all girls and women alike,” added Wynne.

Girl Scouts exists to transform today’s girls into tomorrow’s leaders. Girls face many critical issues including school bullying, childhood obesity, teen pregnancy, self-esteem issues, substance abuse, and performance pressure in school. Participation in the Girl Scouts is proven to make a life-long difference.

“I’ve worked with Barbara for eight years and she always manages to bring life to the mission of our organization,” said LaTanza Duncan, Chief Advancement Officer, Girl Scouts of South Carolina Mountains to Midlands.

Barbara Willm is one of four exceptional community members to receive the 2013 honor:

• Cynthia B. Cooper: Vice President, Government Programs Compliance Office with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
• Sara B. Fisher: Chief Operating Officer with NBSC
• Elizabeth “Liz” McMillan: General Manager, Gamecock Sports Marketing, University of South Carolina
• Elise Partin: Mayor of Cayce, SC and Adjunct Faculty, School of Public Health, University of South Carolina
• Barbara Willm: Vice President of Community Relations with the Lexington Medical Center

Our 2012 Blogging Year in Review!

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Ashley Andrews

As we move into 2013, we thought it only appropriate to take a look back at 2012 and share with you some of the data from our year in blogging. (If you click on any of the images below, you will get an enlarged view.) Thanks to all of our readers for helping to make the Every Woman Blog a success! And a special thanks to our amazing bloggers who truly bring this blog to life and share their lives with us!

We hope you enjoy taking a look back at 2012 with us

OctoNovemCember

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Kate Rudy

By: Crisse Miller Kirby

Some nights, like tonight, I struggle with falling asleep too early and then waking up at random hours, only to struggle with falling BACK asleep. It is frustrating, to say the least. However, my random sleep habits are a discussion for another time. (I think I need to go back and watch my friend and fellow blogger, Roshanda Pratt’s video from a few weeks back!)

I often find myself perusing news sites just to see what is going on in the world around me. This morning was no different, and I came across the following little gem of an article (I hope that my air of sarcasm is detected): “’OctoNovemCember’? Retailers speed holiday calendar.” Without even reading the article, I knew, and you know too, what it will be about: the frustrating and aggravating ways that retailers shove holidays down our throats before we are ready.

Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not some miserly curmudgeon who screams “Bah, humbug” at the mention of Christmas. I love Christmas. I love Thanksgiving. And I love Halloween. Yep, I do. I love all of them at their proper time of year, though. I would be okay if my local Wal-Mart put out Halloween and Thanksgiving fare roughly around the same time since it all sort of flows together: pumpkins, harvest time, etc. with a few ghosts and goblins thrown in for good measure. However, as I recently discovered at my local Wal-Mart, Christmas decorations and Christmas cards already line the shelves. What in the world? Halloween was still two weeks away! After that, we still had close to four weeks before we would celebrate Thanksgiving, and then yet another four weeks before Christmas!

Again, please understand, I KNOW that people are shopping for Christmas already. Heck, I’ve even done a little “shopping” myself, buying a few gifts back in August. The above referenced article suggests that we, consumers, have no one to blame but ourselves because we start shopping early. We want to shop early and be done. However, how many times have you put a Christmas tree on layaway? Honestly? People want to buy gifts for their children or spouses or parents early; I’m not looking for a special new ornament right now!!

And it’s not just the fact that we are seeing all of this before the other holidays that really chaps my hide; it’s the fact that we seem to be losing Thanksgiving in there all together. And, honestly, Thanksgiving, itself, can be a day full of memories and fun, just as Christmas can be. It is a time for my family to gather together at my grandmother’s house and spend the day picking at turkey, ham, vegetable dishes and more desserts than we know what to do with. It is a day of laughter and jokes and hugs and stories passed around about children and work and life in general without the hustle and bustle of opening gifts. It is about being thankful for having a wonderful family with which to gather. It is about being thankful that we live in the country in which we do live.

I realize that my little diatribe here will have little to no effect on retailer’s habits, but I’m curious to see how our readers feel. Does it drive you insane? Or do you like it? And if you do, why?

Pink Glove Dance

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Kate Rudy

By: Crissie Miller Kirby

Over the last year I have been so blessed in having been chosen as one of the Every Woman bloggers. I have had the chance to pursue my lifelong dream of writing and have met some wonderful people and gained much self-confidence through this endeavor. However, few things can match being asked to participate in the Lexington Medical Center’s video for the 2^nd annual Pink Glove Dance competition.

As soon as the email came inviting the bloggers, I knew I wanted to participate. For those of you who may not know, the Pink Glove Dance is a competition sponsored by the medical supply company, Medline. The winners of this competition receive $10,000 to donate to a breast cancer research foundation of their choice. And, if you missed last year’s big news, our own Lexington Medical Center was the inaugural competition’s winner, securing $10,000 for the Vera Bradley Foundation!

Breast cancer is a devastating and debilitating disease. It knows no boundaries, striking young and old, black and white, men and women. My mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly before my oldest son was born in 2005 and almost seven years later, she is cancer free. One of my dearest friends was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 at the relatively young age of 40 and almost three years later, she too, is cancer free. In 2011, this same friend asked me to join her in participating in a Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer walk in Florida. What an honor and awesome experience it was for me to walk beside her and watch her cross the finish line after all she had been through. Being able to participate in the Pink Glove Dance was another way for me to honor these two ladies in my life, and all those who have battled breast cancer.

Fast forward to the day of the taping of the finale sequence of the video. When I arrived at the hospital locale for the shoot, I stood back in awe of the number of people in attendance. Young, old, male, female; just as breast cancer knows no boundaries, those wanting to stand up in the fight against it knew no boundaries either. There were doctors and nurses, hospital staff, and even a hospital chaplain who had to have been approaching 70 (he impressed me the most as he stayed and danced the entire 4 hours- in a clergy collar, no less).

As rehearsals began, I was reminded of just how terribly uncoordinated I was. But in the end, it made no difference because we were all learning the moves together, for a common cause. As daylight turned into dusk and then darkness, the site was illuminated with energy (and some really big flood lights). We pressed on, encouraged continually by the choreographer and director. The atmosphere was absolutely phenomenal and unmatched by just about anything I have witnessed in my 34 years.

During one of the breaks, I remember telling Jennifer Wilson how neat it was to see the breast cancer survivors themselves, many of whom had been highlighted by name in last year’s video. They truly were the stars of the night, and rightfully so. Their untiring and unwavering spirit was evidence of what had helped them make it through their battles with this dreaded disease. I think it helped to motivate all of us; I know it did me.

As the filming drew to a close, I looked around at all of the people present for this undertaking and reflected on what a wonderful and moving experience it had been for me, personally. To be surrounded by so many people, all fighting for a common cause without regard to race, gender, or religion was truly inspiring.

Years ago, breast cancer was hard to detect and treat. But today (depending on stage of detection) some breast cancer survival rates near 100%. Obviously, early detection and treatment are key in continuing to increase the survival rates. However, new and more effective treatments are continually needed and this is what the Pink Glove Dance represents; a chance to utilize funding to assist in research, development, and testing so that one day, breast cancer will be nothing more than a memory of days gone by.

In closing, obviously, we would LOVE to see a repeat win for Lexington Medical Center in the Pink Glove Dance Competition. This year’s video is set to Katy Perry’s encouraging song “Part of Me,” and chronicles the breast cancer battle of one of Lexington Medical Center’s own nurses. Voting will begin on Friday, October 12^th. Be on the lookout on Facebook for the video’s debut. Make sure to “Like” it, share it, and help Lexington Medical Center secure another $10,000 donation to the Vera Bradley Foundation!

Good Luck LMC! Job well done!

One Man’s Junk…

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Kate Rudy

By: Elizabeth Webber Akre

I love to crab, which is good because I also love to eat crab. I’ve crabbed in the surf, in a boat, in the creek, from a pot, off the rocks. I know a good crab when I see one, so don’t even try to talk to me about crab with a “k,” surimi, or whatever else people try to pass off as crab. I’ll eat, and enjoy, Alaskan crab but it’s just not in the same league as a “real” crab: the blue crab that adorns our waters here in the South and all up and down the East Coast.

My sister and I are probably the only people you’ll meet who will say that we actually enjoy picking crab. We learned as kids and as we moved into adulthood, it became a peaceful end-of-the-beach-day ritual for us. Get showered up, pour a glass of white wine and sit out on the balcony picking crab in the breeze.

Most people complain about blue crabs because they aren’t easy to deal with. Cleaning, cooking and then picking them is indeed a task. But the reward of fresh, creamy, milky crabmeat is well worth it. My mom (a Floridian) actually ices them down, which puts them to sleep. Then, she cleans them while they’re still alive. I know, I know, this sounds horrific. However, us biology geeks know that crabs really only operate off a “nerve net,” not an actual brain, so there is no suffering involved here. This way, we cook the cleaned crabs and there’s no spongy, foamy garbage left inside the body, which is just grosser than gross.

BUT…there’s always a but, right? No one likes dealing with the claws. They are a pain in the rump, frankly. But, it’s hard for us to waste anything, so we freeze them assuming we’ll deal with them one day.

Well, my parents have had crab claws in their freezer for a few months now and it’s been driving my dad crazy. He keeps planning the day to put them in the trash (the night before pick up because crab in a can on a hot day=horror movie) and then that day comes and goes and he realizes that he forgot to put them out there.

Not long ago, I was watching the Food Network when one of Maryland’s big time crab cakes places mentioned that they use the claw meat in the crab cakes and save the lump meat for more sophisticated dishes. AH HA! I had the answer!

Fast forward to September. I took the claws off my dad’s hands. I put together one gallon sized Ziploc of claws, which gave me about 1/2 pound of meat. I’d never used the claw meat in a cake, so I was really curious to see how it turned out. I made a basic cake…tore 2 slices of bread (crust removed) into small pieces, moistened with milk, then mixed with fresh parsley, some mayo, worchestershire, Old Bay, salt, baking powder and an egg. I refrigerated the mixture to firm it a bit. I then shaped it into cakes and pan-fried it. That little 1/2 pound of crab yielded 6 AWESOME crab cakes for our dinner tonight.

Here’s where I brag about the wunderkid again: When I told her we were having crab cakes for dinner, her reaction was “really? I love it, love it, love it, love it!” Imagine her reaction when I told her I’d also made homemade peach ice cream for dessert? It was rockin’ good.

Caviar and Champagne

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Ashley Andrews

By: Elizabeth Webber Akre

It’s funny how “we” (people) are so easily influenced by others’ perceptions and buy into preconceived notions. It’s pretty easy to figure out; someone you know and trust tells you something, you tend to believe it. There’s probably no area of our lives that is more permeated by this phenomenon than the world of food. I’m getting ready to tell you what I think you should do, but I insist that you act on what YOU think.

Kids are practically instructed not to like vegetables. You see it in the oh-so-clever and witty marketing on commercials, even sit-coms discuss how much kids should and consequently do hate vegetables. Then, the adults often follow suit by simply not even bothering to serve the children vegetables, because they aren’t going to like them anyway, so why even try, right?

This brings me to my thoughts today of champagne and caviar. I’d be willing to bet that if Jay Leno and I went out on the street together and quizzed people (you know, those really bright ones that he finds roaming the streets of L.A.), that we’d find over 70% of them believe that champagne is super expensive and only rich people ever get to drink it or even have the palate for it. This same group would also acknowledge that they’ve never tried caviar for all the same reasons as champagne, but then they’d go further to wrinkle up their faces, stick out their tongues and vehemently assert that they wouldn’t even try it anyway, because it’s (GASP!) fish eggs! They’d demonstrate loathing and disgust with as much drama as a vegetable-hatin’ 5 year old!

When I was 12, I was in the Columbia City Ballet. I was a soldier. It was a small part, but it was a part and I got to have specially ordered white pointe shoes. And, I got to fight the Rat King, who would later be named the President of my alma mater. One night the company had a “gala” fundraising party and I was invited, as a member of the “company.” My dad was my date. I got to wear a silk dress, fancy hairdo and high heels. It was very grown up, very sophisticated and very glam. And, they had caviar…

It was the classic presentation: black caviar arranged on top of cream cheese, accompanied by chopped hard boiled egg, capers, chopped red onion (there was a smoked salmon there too). It was absolutely beautiful. When I realized what it was, I wanted to try it so bad, but you know, surely I wasn’t worthy because caviar is so expensive and only rich people like it and I was just a kid. But my perfect date encouraged me to give it a try. I’ve been hooked ever since. When I later learned that you can buy caviar at the grocery store, I couldn’t believe that everyone hadn’t tried this stuff. Granted, it’s not Beluga, but it’s what we have readily available and it’s affordable. Really affordable.

Next, champagne. Same deal, really. Growing up, we were allowed to have an occasional sip at a special occasion, but once we were old enough, we had it whenever there was a holiday, a birthday, etc. Once again, mom and dad enlightened us to the fact that champage is readily available and affordable. Just like anything, there are different varieties, vintages and price points. But, it doesn’t have to be reserved for special occasions. It just doesn’t. In fact, about 10 years ago, I got a phone call on a regular day, maybe a Tuesday. My mom called to announce that she and my dad had decided that they had reached a point in their lives that they could and would, from now on, drink champagne whenever they wanted. They needed no reason, no special occasion, and that’s the end of that.

I love that my parents opened up this way of thinking to me and my sister. I have spread our wacky ways to my husband and most of my friends. Life is short. Give your kids artichokes and asparagus. Buy some champagne or cava (Paul Cheneau is a nice reasonable one). Stop at the grocery store and get some cream cheese and caviar and contemplate any other crazy foods that you’ve been told you aren’t supposed to like. Then buy those too!

Running for the Colon Cancer Challenge …

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Ashley Andrews

By: Summer Brons

On Saturday, March 24 I participated in Lexington Medical Center’s Colon Cancer Challenge. Held at Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, the event offered 65-mile and 25-mile cycling races, as well as an 8k run and a one-mile fun run/walk. With the race practically in my backyard (and with a modest registration fee!), I signed up for the 8k, happy for an opportunity to run my favorite distance for a great cause.

The 8k didn’t start until 8:45am and it was probably after 8:15 by the time I arrived. I’d intended to show up earlier, but I found myself in a bit of a battle with my iPod Shuffle, having determined that the morning of a race was the perfect time to completely erase everything on the device and begin anew. Multiple syncing issues later, I gave up the fight and decided to run with my iPhone since it was already in my hand and I knew it had music. I can’t run without my tunes, I just can’t. Kudos to other runners who can pound out the mileage without a soundtrack…I am simply not one of them.

I’ve digressed.

I made my way over to Dutch Fork High and was pleased to find that the event was extremely well-organized. I was parked within seconds and able to walk straight up to the registration tables and pick up my race packet with no wait, no hassle. All that was left to do was sit in my car and compile a suitable playlist. (Shameless plug time: A premium membership with Spotify is totally worth it.)

As the clock ticked closer to 8:45 am, I made my way to the starting line with the other runners. It was a small field and everyone seemed to be in good spirits as we listened to the speakers touting the importance of colon cancer awareness prior to the start of each race. As the horn blew and we set off, I went out entirely too fast and found myself tired within the first half of a mile…oops. I don’t run with other people very often, so when I’m in a situation with other runners around me, the excitement tends to push me beyond my typically manageable pace and I’ll burn out quickly.

Luckily, I was able to settle into a reasonable clip and particularly enjoyed the downhill stretches throughout the five-mile route. The course was great; a nice mix of flat, downhill and uphill terrain as we looped back to Dutch Fork High. My Garmin clocked me at just under 48 minutes for 5.03 miles. Solid! As long as I’m under a 10:00 min/mile pace, I’m happy. 9:40 or under is grounds for excitement in my book. According to the results posted by Strictly Running, I came in at 47:52 for an average pace of 9:38 and finished 10th out of 24.

The race was a great way to kick off my weekend and I’d like to give a huge thanks to Lexington Medical Center, Strictly Running and all involved sponsors for pulling the event together! Cancer awareness is so important; it’s great to see folks getting involved with the community to help spread the word and raise funds for continued research and treatment.

Guest Blogger: An LMC Nurse’s Colon Cancer Story

Posted on March 21, 2012 by jenniferawilson

Please welcome guest blogger Jennifer Warren, an ER nurse at Lexington Medical Center. This month, she was diagnosed with colon cancer at the young age of 41. She shares her story here.
As I write this post, it’s March — Colon Cancer Awareness Month. I’ll get back to that in a minute, but first a little background. I’ve been meaning to write an article for months about Lexington Medical Center and the quality that is inside the walls of this place with this name. I’ve worked for LMC in some way or another since January of 2000. The last 7 years I’ve worked as a Registered Nurse.

LMC nurse and colon cancer patient Jennifer Warren with her husband, son and family dogs.

During my time working at LMC I have also completed travel RN contracts at places like Stanford University Hospital and Clinics in Palo Alto, CA and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC, which are considered top ranking facilities nationally for a number of things. I am an Emergency Room nurse and I love what I do. I have flown home from California, or wherever it was I was on assignment, to work so I could ensure I did not lose my employment status at LMC.

About 6 months ago, I began having a very localized pain on my left side under my left ribs. It started out pretty infrequently, and I had no other symptoms. I checked a few things, but I thought it might be a kidney stone due to the location of pain, and didn’t think much more about it – I am 41-years-old and have no health history. The pain started occurring more frequently, but again I really had no other symptoms. I participated in PATH, the LMC employee benefit called Positive Attitudes Towards Health, and all of my lab work was what I expected in December. At the end of February I had two nights where I was so uncomfortable that I could not sleep, which prompted an Urgent Care visit. On March 1, at LMC’s Urgent Care in Lexington, I was told I may have colon cancer and I needed to follow up. March 1 – the beginning of Colon Cancer Awareness month.

I was able to schedule an appointment the following Monday to meet with a GI doctor to set up my colonoscopy. The colonoscopy was on Tuesday, and at that time I was told that he was more certain than not that I had colon cancer. During my colonoscopy they had also discovered that my colon was almost obstructed so regardless of the pathology results, whatever was there had to be removed. Pathology results at the end of the week confirmed his thought, and luckily I already had an appointment with Southern Surgical Group. Last week I had my surgery – 2 weeks to the day after the initial diagnosis. I still have a long road ahead of me, but am so very thankful to have a resource like Lexington Medical Center as my guide. I have been contacted by a Nurse Navigator and will be able to use the knowledge and understanding of the Navigator as I go through all of these new steps.

I wouldn’t have chosen any other place to go to for care, and my experiences as both an employee, and now as a patient, have assured me that this was the right decision. I cannot encourage others more to listen to your body, be aware of signs and symptoms, and follow through with medical screening guidelines.

Note from LMC: Join Lexington Medical Center’s Colon Cancer Challenge this Saturday, March 24th at Dutch Fork High School to raise awareness about colon cancer! The event includes 65-mile and 25-mile bike rides, an 8K run and a 1-mile family fun run/walk. Learn more here.

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