Is Plan B Abortive?

I was recently shown a video which claims that Plan B is not abortive. I was intrigued as I had understood that Plan B was abortive. The video clearly makes the claim (2:10-2:25) that Plan B does not stop implantation and is therefore is not abortive.

I did a quick search to see what I could find. Within 5 minutes I had looked up Plan B's website and the FDA's and found the following information.

The third FAQ on Plan B's website is  "How does Plan B work?" Here is the response they give.

 "Plan B One-Step® is one pill that has a higher dose of levonorgestrel, a hormone found in many birth control pills that healthcare professionals have been prescribing for several decades. Plan B One-Step® works in a similar way to help prevent pregnancy from happening. It works mainly by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary. It is possible that Plan B One-Step® may also work by preventing fertilization of an egg (the uniting of the sperm with the egg) or by preventing attachment (implantation) to the uterus (womb)."

Stop. Read that last sentence again.

"It is possible that Plan B One-Step® may also work by preventing fertilization of an egg (the uniting of the sperm with the egg) or by preventing attachment (implantation) to the uterus (womb)."

"OR by preventing attachment (implantation) to the uterus (womb)."

That last sentence there is key. Stopping implantation (which the video says it does not do) the makers says it can do. Folks, that's an abortion because it's preventing the fertilized egg (conceived human) from attaching to the uterus where it would continue to receive adequate nutrition that is necessary for life.

What does the FDA say?

Under question #4 "How does Plan B work?" they say essentially the same thing as the manufactures. The only difference is that they add that if implantation has already happened, Plan B will not end that pregnancy. That's great, but it still could end a pregnancy by stopping implantation if its hasn't yet occurred.

"Plan B works like a birth control pill to prevent pregnancy mainly by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary. It is possible that Plan B may also work by preventing fertilization of an egg (the uniting of sperm with the egg) or by preventing attachment (implantation) to the uterus (womb), which usually occurs beginning 7 days after release of an egg from the ovary. Plan B will not do anything to a fertilized egg already attached to the uterus. The pregnancy will continue."

It appears to me that the makers of the video blatently lied. I really hate saying that because I certainly don't want to accuse anyone of intentional misinformation. If it's not lying than it is certainly poor and sloppy research. Like I said, it took my no more than 5 minutes to check those two websites (primary sources) and find information that directly contradicted the video's claim. Sloppy research isn't much better than lying, especially when lives are stake.

You can watch the video for yourself below.

I will say that I do find it interesting that the video claims that since Plan B does not prevent implantation, Plan B is not abortive. IF it was true that implantation could not be stopped after conception, then I would agree with them. What the video is admitting by that statement is that life begins at conception.

Chocolate Chip Scones

My first attempt at scones ... and other than me making them twice as big as I was supposed to, they turned out pretty well. =) You could make a glaze to put over them if you wanted them a little sweeter, but we opted for the "healthy" version, sans glaze. I found the recipe on the Incredible Edible Egg.

These are great for breakfast or a not-too-sweet dessert.

What you'll need:

3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter, cold, cut into pieces
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk OR half-and-half

What to do:

Heat oven to 425. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender (and the pastry blender works SO MUCH better if you have one. Otherwise, make do using two forks) until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Add chocolate chips; toss to mix. (I forgot to add the chocolate chips until AFTER the ingredients were moistened, oops. Still turned out ok *grin*)

Beat eggs and milk in medium bowl until blended. Add to flour mixture; stir with a fork just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Knead dough a few strokes on lightly floured surface; pat to 3/4-inch thickness. Cut dough into rounds with lightly floured 3-inch cutter (I only had an almost 4-inch cutter, which is why mine turned out almost twice as large); place on greased baking sheet. Gather scraps and repeat to use all dough.

Bake in 425 oven until golden brown, about 10 minutes. (Mine didn't turn golden brown; I just kept an eye on the bottom of the scones and when the edges there started browning I took them out. It was about 10 minutes.) Cool on wire rack. (I made do with my dish drainer! I know, how can I not have wire racks ... but I don't. Figure out what works and use it. ;-) )

So, any ideas how to make the cream that usually accompanies scones? I didn't know how to do that, but really these don't need it.


PS - if you want a glaze, melt some margarine in the microwave and then add powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency. 

Egg Drop Soup

This is a really yummy perfect-for-a-cold-day super easy recipe. Its also easily doubled, tripled, quadrupled, etc.

For 2 servings:

What you'll need:
1 large can of chicken broth (49 oz)
2 eggs
pinch or two of marjoram
few shakes of garlic powder (cover the surface area of the pot)
few shakes of onion powder (cover the surface area of the pot)
about twice as much ginger powder
not quite twice as much white pepper
chives (optional)
starch or flour (optional)

What to do:
Empty can of broth into pot, add all seasonings except chives. Bring to a roiling boil. You can let this boil as long or as short a time as you want/need. The longer it boils, the more the flavors are incorporated. I had mine on medium heat for probably 10 minutes before I cranked it up to high to let it boil for about 20 minutes.

Mine achieved a richer color after boiling so long and a fantastic flavor. Make sure to stir a few times during boiling, just to make sure the seasonings didn't get pushed up the side of the pot.

Meanwhile, beat the two eggs very well. You want to try and make sure that when you lift up with a fork through the eggs that hardly any of the egg offers resistance.

I added chives in about 5 minutes before I added the eggs. I didn't add them at the beginning because I thought they might just disintegrate (Hubby was working late and I wasn't sure when to expect him when I put the pot on).

I always need a helper for this last step - only because I don't have three hands and it is MUCH easier to have a helper than rig up a contraption like I did the first time I made this! With practive you can probably eliminate the need for a helper, but it doesn't hurt.

When you are ready to add the eggs (this is LITERALLY the LAST step before the soup is ready to be served) cut the heat off the stove and remove your pot from the heat. Have your helper hold a fork a few inches above the pot. Then pour the eggs from the bowl they were beaten in into the pot WHILE you are stirring the soup. The egg cooks instantly.

If you have practive and have beat the eggs well enough you can likely pour the eggs into the pot slowly enough that only a tiny trickle comes out at a time. The fork serves to help the egg get into whisps, instead of their being glops of egg in the soup.

If you want to make your soup a little thicker you can add some starch or flour, but it isn't necessary.

Bon Appetit!

Shepherd's Pie

I love all inclusive meals.

This is a recipe I found via Kraft awhile back and have made it several times.

Here is what Kraft says to do, with my notes added =)

 What you need:

1-1/4 lb.  red potatoes (about 4), cut into chunks [Yellow and White work fine too!]

3 large  cloves garlic 

1 lb.  extra-lean ground beef

2 Tbsp.  flour

4 cups  frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, corn, green beans, peas), thawed [it doesn't matter too much if they are thawed]

3/4 cup  fat-free reduced-sodium beef broth

2 Tbsp.  ketchup

3/4 cup  BREAKSTONE'S Reduced Fat or KNUDSEN Light Sour Cream [its not as healthy, but I use regular sour cream ;-) ]

1/2 cup  KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese, divided [...I like cheese, so I usually use more than this]

What to do:

Cook potatoes and garlic in boiling water in large saucepan 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Meanwhile, brown meat in large nonstick skillet. [If you are not using super lean beef, drain the grease out first and then stir in the flour. Otherwise, just] Stir in flour; cook 1 min. Add mixed vegetables, broth and ketchup; cook 5 min., stirring frequently.

Heat oven to 375. Drain potatoes; return to pan. Add sour cream; mash until potatoes are smooth and mixture is well blended. Stir in 1/4 cup cheese [or more!].

Spoon meat mixture into 8-inch square baking dish; cover with potatoes.
Bake 18 min. Top with remaining cheese; bake 2 min. or until melted. [or you can put the cheese on initially and then cover with aluminum foil and then remove the foil for the last couple of minutes.]
____

And there you have it! A yummy allinone filling meal. AND this is a super easy recipe to double and put in a 9x13 pan, which is always nice.

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Taco Casserole

This is one of those recipes that I think I found somewhere online and immediately adapted and have made it from my head since then. It makes a 9x13 dish. When I made this ahead for supper last night I split it into a 7x9 and an 8x8.

I covered the 8x8 with cling wrap and then with aluminum foil and labeled it with the dish name and date stuck it in the freezer so we'll have supper for another night =)

What you'll need:
9x13 pan, or a 7x9 pan & 8x8 pan (or two of either!)
a large, deep skillet or pan. I use Anolon's Advanced 12" Covered Deep Skillet
pack of tortillas - the larger they are, the fewer you'll need
cooking spray
1 lb ground beef
Stoplight bell peppers (1 green, 1 red, 1 yellow ... or you can use orange ...)
1/2 onion
1 can black beans (I usually use the large can, but this time I used a small can)
1 can refried beans (I usually use the small can, but this time I used a large can)
cilantro
curry
garlic (you can cut up the cloves, or use the powder)
1 pk Ortega Fajita seasoning (my favorite!), if desired
1 small can of tomato paste, if desired
sour cream
hummus, if desired
shredded cheese of your choice

Directions:
Start out by browning the ground beef in the skillet.

While this is browning, cut up your onion and bell peppers. Drain grease from beef, add onion and peppers, & season with the garlic, curry, and cilantro. (I really don't know how much I use. Probably a heaping teaspoon of curry and 2 heaping teaspoons of garlic and cilantro? Its really up to how you want it to taste!)

After the onions begin to become see-through, add the black beans and then the refried beans. Mix well and let simmer awhile. This lets the flavors really mix well. Make sure you stir it from time to time so that everything cooks and nothing gets burned.

Meanwhile, spray your pan(s) with the Pam. Be generous - I didn't spray enough this past time and it was very hard to get the bottom layer of tortillas up when serving!

Put tortillas on the bottom of your dish(es) - they will go up the sides as well, this is what its supposed to do. Try and cover as much of the bottom of the dish as possible. Sometimes you'll need to rip a tortilla in half to get the appropriate coverage.

If you're using hummus, I also recommend that you put a layer of hummus on the tortillas. (I put it on top of the sour cream this past time and that just kindof mixes in ... should've just premixed it with the sour cream, really! but I think putting it on the bottom would work nicely and be less messy.)

Also, put the amount of sour cream you want to use (you'll need to be able to cover the dish with it twice) in a separate container and add ... I guess I add about a couple teaspoons?? of garlic in the sour cream, and mix. (I'm really not sure on these seasoning measurements.)

If you're using the can of tomato paste, go ahead and open it and mix in the pack of fajita seasoning.

If you shred your own cheese (like I do) go ahead and take care of that now as well.

Preheat oven to 350-400 degrees (I'd recommend the higher temperature if it was in the refrigerator overnight and most of the day like mine was.)

After your mix on the stove has simmered out most of its liquid, spoon it into your dish on top of the tortillas (and hummus). Spoon and spread the sour cream mix on top of it. If you are using the tomato paste mix, spread it on top of the sour cream. Top with cheese (I like mine cheesy!).

Put another layer of tortillas down, put hummus on top. Spoon the rest of the beef/bean mixture on top. Spread the rest of the sour cream on top, and then the rest of the tomato paste mix. Top with cheese.

Cover with aluminum foil and put in the oven for 45-60 minutes.

If you made your dish ahead of time, set out to unrefridgerate for at least half an hour. Mine took longer than I was expecting to heat up in the middle once I put it in the oven. I've only made this dish day-of before, so I'm figuring out what to do if you make it ahead of time. :-)

After the dish is warm in the middle and a little bubbly, take off the foil for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is browned on top.

Voila! I hope that wasn't too confusing. This is a highly versatile dish, so feel free to take and add to it - let me know what you do and how it turns out!

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Practicing Forgiveness

"True sorrow leads to repentance and the changing of ones ways."

Its not too uncommon to hear some such admonishment. And it's needed -- we ought to truly be sorry, instead of just apologizing because it's expected. It seems, though, that instead of only encouraging people to truly be repentant of their actions, we should also be fostering within people true forgiveness.

Just as people say "sorry" out of obligation, so do people say "I forgive you" "'sok" "no worries" or some other nice-ity.

First, "'sok" and "no worries" do not even begin to constitute verbal forgiveness. It's merely a polite way to respond to an apology of sorts (regardless of sincerity).

Second, just because the words "I forgive" exit your mouth does not mean you truly forgive the offender. Forgiveness is not merely words.

Forgiveness is commonly defined as granting pardon or remission. I don't think most people even begin to comprehend what that means, but another accepted definition is to quit feeling resentment. That's right, forgiveness is more than words, it's an emotion -- one that we, most likely, have to cultivate.

How do we cultivate forgiveness? How do we shed feelings of cold shoulder, revenge, spite, or just simply a hurt that you hold against someone? Aren't some things just too big to forgive?

Forgiveness is active. It's alright if, after initially granting forgiveness to someone, you find yourself struggling. This is where we must practice forgiveness. We must seize these hurt-filled moments and consciously decide to forgive - to not hold the offense against the offender. And we must do this until we teach ourselves, cultivate within ourselves forgiveness.

This can be a process, as every situation requiring forgiveness varies. And while it may feel as if some hurts are too great to forgive: say "I forgive you" and actively forgive whenever you have the chance.

After all, Jesus has forgiven all of us of every single wrong thing we have done -- and all those things we ever have or should have said "sorry" for was ultimately directed at him. He no longer holds our offenses against us if we accept him for who he is - our king.

If he can forgive everyone of wrongs done against him (which, since he king, is treason and rightly punishable by death) then how much more, especially after receiving such a forgiveness, should we willingly and gladly give forgiveness to others.

To give completely. That is what forgiveness originally meant, and it still holds true. Forgiveness is to completely give away resentment against another. It is not something we merely say to appease. Forgiveness is something we must practice, and, in Jesus, we have a great example to follow.

original image source

Friendly Reminder: Holidays Approaching

image from http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/thanksgiving-day

Not to freak anyone out, but Thanksgiving is a mere 21 days away. Here are some things that, if you haven't, you should go ahead and try to do sooner than later. Planning in advance saves you time -- especially in the grocery stores as you try to buy all of the ingredients you need for your feast! Not to mention you'll be much less stressed the day - or even week - of Thanksgiving.

• Plan on where you want to eat for Thanksgiving, and who you want invited. Go ahead and send invitations so your (hopeful) guests can make their Thanksgiving plans.
• Make your menu and start looking for deals in the grocery store. Websites such as Money Saving Mom and Faithful Provisions have great posts that both give recipie ideas as well as where to get those deals.
• Decide: do you want to decorate? If you do, do you already have everything you need, or will you have to run out to the store to buy decorations or craft supplies? Go ahead and set up what you want displayed for Thanksgiving. That way it's already done, and if you realize you're missing something you have time to go the store without a huge headache. Enjoy a few weeks of fall colors and reminders to be thankful, that certainly never hurt anyone. :-)

And, as we all know, Christmas comes on the heels of Thanksgiving. I know, some stores have had their decor out since August, but just because you've been blocking it out (I'm right there with you!) doesn't mean that you shouldn't start planning. I know for many, the day after Thanksgiving ("Black Friday") is the official start of the Christmas season. It is for me. Its the day we always do our big push to get our house and yard decorated for Christmas!

It is not the day I start looking for presents. I received an email today "I know it's a little early to be thinking about Christmas presents..." it began. Too early? I'm just under 3/4ths of the way finished! My personal goal is to be finished by Thanksgiving. I don't always succeed, but I usually come close. That is a totally unrealistic goal for some people, but it doesn't hurt to go ahead and start Christmas shopping.

Here are some ideas for you to go ahead and start:

• Make a list of who you need/want to buy presents for. When possible, right down specific items you want to buy for them.Write down your budget for each person, and stick to it (if you love giving gifts, like I do, this is the hardest part).
• Compare prices online. Often you can see both online and in store prices. Don't just check the stores and their websites, check to see if Amazon or Ebay (or similar store) has what you are looking for. There is quite a lot you can find at deep discounts on those sites ... and all without the hassle of shopping in an over crowded store and being overwhelmed by the noise, commercialism, and attention-grabbing signs and displays designed to make you spend more. Note: Don't forget to add in shipping to the cost of the gift. Some websites are offering free shipping on all orders during this season, just check and make sure you'll still be getting a better deal/that you're staying in budget before you buy!
• Leave room on your list to fill in what you've bought each person and how much left you have in your budget. Those sites I mentioned above for Thanksgiving help? They're useful in finding good deals on gifts too, especially making good use of those coupons (which they'll often link to :-) ).
• Buy (or make!) some inexpensive, more generic gifts that you can use in case of emergency (you forgot about someone and realize it last minute, like your child's teacher or your work's Secret Santa) or for people you want to remember but but can't drop a ton of money on.

My recommendation with Christmas shopping is to do it year round. I realize it's a little late the throw that idea out there now, but, truly, there is next year you can do that, and it's never too early to begin shopping. Year-round Christmas (birthday, anniversary, etc) shopping not only saves time, but also allows you to get better deals and not feel rushed into making a decision. Of course, all of this leads to less stress which means a more enjoyable Christmas season!

Those are some of my tips to help you have a less stressful Thanksgiving and Christmas. So what do you do to prepare for the holidays? What traditions are you looking forward to? And what do you do to figure out how to buy for those difficult people on your list (in my case, the men in my life)?