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Five Point Friday

From the Blog and Minds of SB&K Benefits, L.L.C.

On the trail outside Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Howdy! 
 
Here is your weekly dose of Five Point Friday - a list of what I'm learning, enjoying, pondering, or reading. 
What I've read ---- "What's in that $5 Bottle of Trader Joe's or Target Wine?" Target's California Roots  is the latest in a series of budget wines, alongside Trader Joe's famous "Two Buck Chuck"? But what makes these wines so inexpensive? The answer may shock and surprise you.
What I'm listening to ----  "Dom D"Agostino - The Power of the Ketogenic Diet" from the Tim Ferris Podcat series. I have listened to this podcast several times. What do Tour de France Cyclists, endurance athletes, and cancer patients use? A Ketogenic diet - the focus is on long burning fats instead of sugar, and is changing performance diets. The winner of the 2017 Tour de France, Chris Froome, used a ketogenic diet throughout the 4 week race. Dom has studied this diet intensively, and has done "self-testing" that many of us would rather not do.
Link: 
#172: Dom D'Agostino - The Power of the Ketogenic Diet (#91 in the list)
Work Stuff ---- "Links to IRS Forms 1094 and 1095 plus Instructions". So we are nearing the last quarter and it is time to start planning for employer reporting. If you have 50 or more Full Time Equivalent employees or if your health plan is self-funded, you'll need to complete Forms 1094 and 1095 right after January 1. This post on our site has links that say 2015, but IRS will automatically direct you to 2016 forms and instructions.
What I'm eating ---- Fast White Bean Stew
 A colorful and satisfying stew is priceless this time of year, and you can't do much better than a tomatoey broth full of hearty cannellini beans, baby greens, and cubes of baked ham.

2 large garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 cup plus 1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 (14- to 15-oz) can stewed tomatoes
1 3/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 (19-oz) cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained (3 cups)
1 (1/2-lb) piece baked ham (1/2 to 3/4 inch thick), cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 (5-oz) bag baby romaine or baby arugula (10 cups loosely packed)
8 (3/4-inch-thick) slices baguette (optional)

Cook garlic in 1/4 cup oil in a 3 1/2- to 4 1/2-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat, stirring, until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Coarsely cut up tomatoes in can with kitchen shears, then add (with juice) to garlic in oil. Stir in broth, beans, ham, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. Stir in greens and cook until wilted, 3 minutes for romaine or 1 minute for arugula. 

Serve with toasted baguette slices if desired.
Quote I'm pondering ----

"With money in your pocket, you are wise and you are handsome and you sing well too. "
- Yiddish proverb

As always, please let me know your requests and suggestions on Twitter. Which bullet above is your favorite? What do you want more or less of? Let me know. Just send a tweet to @TWBryant and put #FivePointFriday in there so I can find it.

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Have a wonderful weekend!

Todd Bryant

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