Brussels Sprouts with Bacon (Air Fryer and Convection Oven friendly)

By Shelly Marie Redmond, Culinary Dietitian, Founder of Skinny Louisiana

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. Brussels sprouts, washed, trimmed, and halved
  • 2 slices of low-sodium turkey bacon, cut in small pieces
  • 2 tsp. olive oil
  • 1 tsp. low-sodium Cajun seasoning (we used Tony’s Spice N’ Herbs Creole Seasoning)

Air Fryer Directions:

  • Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Toss until Brussels are well coated.
  • Pour all ingredients into Air Fryer basket.
  • Cook at 360 for 15 minutes. Shake basket. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.

Oven Directions:

  • Line baking sheet with non-stick aluminum foil. Pour Brussels on lined baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

Yield: 6 servings

Calories: 60, Total fat: 3g, Cholesterol: <5mg, Sodium: 250mg, Total carbohydrates: 7g, Fiber: 3g, Sugars: 2g, Protein: 3g.

NET CARBS: 4g.

Recipe Developed by Culinary Dietitian and Skinny Louisiana Founder, Shelly Marie Redmond, MS, RD, LDN. She is the author of Skinny Louisiana…in the Kitchen and Skinny Louisiana…in the Slow Cooker and Instant Pot. Be sure to like Skinny Louisiana on Facebook and watch her weekly cooking videos on the Skinny Louisiana You Tube Channel. Questions for Shelly? Email her at shelly@skinnylouisiana.com.

SWEPCO sends linemen to California to assess/inspect lines in wildfire-affected areas

Pictured left to right: SWEPCO Linemen James Matlock, James Rowe, Cedric Thomas, Michael Rath, Mike Smith, Michael Butts and Grant Zich

Fifty-four line workers from Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), an American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) company, today arrived in Sacramento, California, to assist Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) in addressing power outages associated with the state’s ongoing high winds and wildfire emergency.

Employees from across SWEPCO’s territory – including Northwest Arkansas, Southwest Arkansas, Northwest Louisiana, East Texas and West Texas – will receive their work assignments and locations this afternoon.

Due to ongoing high wind conditions, PG&E power lines have been de-energized to prevent them from causing or contributing to wildfires. Other power lines have been damaged by fire. SWEPCO linemen will inspect and assess the condition of PG&E facilities to help determine which are ready to be re-energized and which will require repairs.

“PG&E has a critical need for experienced line personnel to help them get a handle on the best and safest way to help address this emergency while their workers focus on outage recovery,” said Drew Seidel, SWEPCO Vice President for Distribution.

SWEPCO’s sister companies AEP Ohio, Indiana Michigan Power and Public Service of Oklahoma also sent employees. The total AEP employee count is 112.

There is no definitive timeframe for the AEP personnel to remain in California, but they were told before leaving to prepare for a stay of a week or more.

Breast cancer was an unexpected curveball

In 2012, a routine mammogram turned into something Elizabeth Dailey did not expect. But the procedure enabled her cancer to be detected early sparing her the pain and expense of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.  Photos by Henrietta Wildsmith.

Breast cancer survivor Elizabeth Dailey knows firsthand the benefit of regular mammograms.

In spring 2012, the SWEPCO budget analyst went for what she imagined would be a routine appointment, however, it turned out to be anything but.

She’d had annual mammograms for the past 12 years and knew the process well. Therefore, she thought nothing of it when she received a certified letter asking her to return for additional screenings.

“I had received such a letter before, so I was not overly concerned,” she said. “I went for the follow up, which consisted of additional mammograms and an ultrasound.”

Continue reading “Breast cancer was an unexpected curveball”

‘Breast cancer didn’t break my spirit’

Survivor says joyful outlook helped her through difficult journey

The day Cassundra Mayo discovered a lump in her left breast; it did not even cross her mind that it could be cancer.

“I was lying across my bed talking to my sister on the phone and said ‘Oh, there’s a little knot right there.  Hmm, better get that checked out,’” said Mayo, who works in meter services at Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) in Shreveport.

Continue reading “‘Breast cancer didn’t break my spirit’”

Texarkana Aluminum receives nearly $100k in SWEPCO incentives for Lighting Upgrades

From left to right: Texarkana Aluminum General manager and Director of Operations Matthew Houston, Texarkana Aluminum Senior Director of External Affairs Amy Bowers and SWEPCO Energy Efficiency & Consumer Program Coordinator Mike Nix.

SWEPCO recently presented Texarkana Aluminum with a $94,987.74 incentive check for an energy efficient lighting project at its aluminum mill in Texarkana, Texas.

The mill now boasts more LEDs (light-emitting diodes) with the goal eventually to have all LED lighting. LEDs have longer lifespans and lower maintenance costs compared to the mill’s previous and existing metal halide and T5 fluorescent lighting.

Continue reading “Texarkana Aluminum receives nearly $100k in SWEPCO incentives for Lighting Upgrades”

Cancer survivor: Listen to that voice in your head saying something is wrong

Tony Rash, Public Safety and Health manager, began to feel off at the start of the summer in 2014.  When he went to the doctor a month after his initial symptoms, he began a two-year battle with cancer that would require six surgeries. 

The summer of 2014 was an eye-opening one for Tony Rash.

That June, the Longview resident began to feel off. His appetite was gone, and when he did eat, it only took a couple bites for him to feel full.

He knew something was not right but kept finding excuses for his unusual symptoms.

”It was so easy for me when I first started to say ‘Oh, it’s hot. I’m not eating as much because it’s hot weather,’” Rash said. “So many times we put off what we know are real problems.”

Continue reading “Cancer survivor: Listen to that voice in your head saying something is wrong”

‘An unintentional self-exam saved my life’

After years of regular mammograms, Shreveport mom discovers she has three tumors

In 2013, only a month after having a mammogram, Suzanne Western discovered a knot in her left breast. The knot turned out to be three tumors she needed to immediately have removed.  Photos by Henrietta Wildsmith

Suzanne Western has always been diligent when it comes to mammograms.

After losing a grandmother to breast cancer and seeing her aunt battle the disease, she’s always known the importance of keeping regular appointments for early detection. But it would be her own experience that would show her self-exams are equally as important.

In June 2013, only a month after a mammogram, Western found a knot in her left breast.

She had been getting ready for her first day back to work in fleet services in Shreveport following a summer vacation when she felt it while rubbing lotion on a sunburn.

Continue reading “‘An unintentional self-exam saved my life’”