Believe in the Magic Traci Diary

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  • Taco Cottage Cheese Bowl (Meal Prep)

    1–2 minutes

    Yum! Most people would think the combo of taco meat and cottage cheese sounds disgusting. But in reality, it is actually quite delicious.

    I’m in perimenopause, and my estrogen levels are dropping. I need to increase my daily protein intake. Using lean ground beef or turkey for tacos helps, as does cottage cheese.

    Ingredients needed:

    • Ground beef or ground turkey (lower fat percentage – I use 93%.)
    • Salt and pepper
    • Cottage Cheese – Full fat
    • Taco seasoning – Store bought or homemade
    • Toppings – lettuce, shredded cheese, avocado, chopped onion, salsa, cilantro

    Adaptations:

    • Eat over rice or quinoa.
    • Make it into a taco salad
    • Use it as a dip with protein chips like Quest or tortilla chips.
    • Serve it as a taco in a corn tortilla
    • Add corn and/or black beans while you are cooking the meat.
    • Enjoy as nachos with the toppings

    Taco Cottage Cheese Bowl

    Taco Cottage Cheese Bowl

    • Servings: 4
    • Difficulty: easy
    • Print

    From: Believe in the Magic Traci Diary
    Adaptations:
    -Eat over rice or quinoa.
    -Make it into a taco salad
    -Use it as a dip with protein chips like Quest or tortilla chips.
    -Serve it as a taco in a corn tortilla
    -Add corn and/or black beans while you are cooking the meat.
    -Enjoy as nachos with the toppings]

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound of ground beef or ground turkey
    • Salt and Pepper, to taste
    • 1/4 to 1/2 cup full-fat cottage cheese
    • 2 Tbsp. taco seasoning
    • 1/4 cup Water

      • Additional toppings:

    • lettuce
    • shredded cheese
    • avocado
    • chopped onion
    • salsa
    • cilantro
    • black olives

    Directions


    1. Heat a skillet to medium-high heat.
    2. Add the meat to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Cook the meat for 5 to 7 minutes or until completely browned. (Internal temperature 160 degrees)
    3. Season the cooked meat with the taco seasoning. Add the water.
    4. Cook for 5 minutes.
    5. Add a fourth of the meat to a bowl. Top with the cottage cheese. Microwave for 1 minute or until the cheese is melted.
    6. Remove from the microwave. Add any extra toppings to the bowl.
    7. Enjoy!

  • A 50th Birthday Trip to Fenimore Farm

    I turned 50 last month, and it feels like just the beginning of an exciting new chapter in my life! I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to New York to visit my best friend. While there, we took a delightful trip to Cooperstown, NY, to spend quality time with my wonderful aunt.

    We decided to explore something different instead of the Baseball Hall of Fame, even though Cooperstown is famous for it! Instead, we had a fantastic time at the Fenimore Farm and Village and the Art Museum. Those places truly align with my interests and brought me so much joy in doing and seeing!

    James Fenimore Cooper was an important American author in early literature. Born in 1789, his adventure stories focus on nature and humans. His famous book, The Last of the Mohicans, published in 1826, tells of survival during the French and Indian War. He grew up on a farm by Otsego Lake. The town of Cooperstown is named after him. This reflects his influence on frontier life, Native American culture, and American identity.

    Enjoy some of the photos I took at the farm.

    A scenic view of a charming carousel surrounded by lush green grass and trees at Fenimore Farm in Cooperstown, NY.
    Historic buildings at Fenimore Farm and Village in Cooperstown, NY, showcasing the region’s rich cultural heritage.
    A scenic view of a rural pathway leading through lush greenery and historic buildings, capturing the serene atmosphere of Cooperstown, NY.
    A rustic stone wall featuring a unique iron hook, showcasing the historical charm of Fenimore Farm.
    A charming view of historical buildings at Fenimore Farm and Village in Cooperstown, NY.
    A scenic pathway lined with blooming flowers and historic buildings at Fenimore Farm and Village in Cooperstown, NY.
    Interior view of a historic room featuring a vintage couch, portrait, and period furnishings, showcasing 19th-century design.
    A vintage clothes washer on display at Fenimore Farm in Cooperstown, NY.
    The Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY, showcasing its unique architecture against a clear blue sky.
    Close-up of aged horseshoes resting on a wooden bucket, showcasing the rustic charm of Fenimore Farm.
    The historical year ‘1827’ carved into stone, reflecting the rich history of the site.
    A playful goat wandering in the green fields of Fenimore Farm and Village in Cooperstown.
    A vintage printing press on display at Fenimore Farm, showcasing historical printing technology.
    Display of Brookside Brand whisk brooms at the Fenimore Farm and Village museum.
    Historical documents and advertisements displayed at the Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown, showcasing local heritage.
    Interior view of a historic study room at Fenimore Farm, featuring period furniture and sunlight streaming through the window.
    Historical display about Justice Samuel Nelson and the landmark Dred Scott case in Cooperstown, NY.
    Antique pottery displayed at the Fenimore Farm and Village museum in Cooperstown, NY.

    Stay kind!

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

  • Share My World | June 2, 2025

    I’m off work for the summer! Yeah, it’s been a hard but successful school year. Students made progress, which is the goal. Tomorrow I’ve got to go back in for training. Then I’m done.

    1.  Can you speak a second language?
      • I know some Spanish and sign language. But in actuality, no, I don’t speak another language.
    2.  As a child, what did you find easier, climbing a rope or climbing a tree?
      • Neither, I’m quite clumsy. I was ALL legs as a child.
    3.  Did you prefer maths or science at school?
      • Math – Even though I did enjoy biology during my freshman year of high school. My sister kept getting compared to me when she had the same class and teacher. I was known for bringing in bugs or other creatures into class. Maybe I only brought in the one bug, but I was still remembered for that. I also enjoy dissections. Those were fun.
      • Even though I liked math, I hated geometry. Theorems and proofs were the death of me. Those were no bueno. Now I love the Pythagorean Theorem. That made sense. But proving why line z was parallel to line x, that made no sense.
    4.  How would you describe your sense of humor?
      • I’ll tell you how my students describe it. They’ll tell you it is cringeworthy, or they’ll tell you I’m doing too much. I’m not appreciated for my humor.
      • For the last few days of school, we had an underground teacher spirit week. They gave us different themes. We could choose to participate if we wanted to do that. I, of course, was all about participating. Some of the themes were favorite college, favorite band, black out, anything but walking, dress like a student, beach day, anything but a bag, but some of the teachers changed it to anything but a cup, and funny t-shirt day. These are a few of the days.
    I was drinking my coffee.

    I don’t know why I chose to wear a LONG dress on the anything but walking day. I have told my students numerous times not to roll around on the chairs with wheels. So I took the opportunity to do NOT what I preach but what I thought was fun.

    Share Your World: 2nd June

    Stay kind!

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

  • Three Word Challenge – February 22

    XIGUA
    YEAST
    ZIMMER

    I walked into my ZIMMER at school. I asked, “Did you remember to get the yeast for our cooking lesson?”

    The answer was a resounding no, and then a meek reply came, “I thought you wanted XIGUA or Chinese watermelon. That’s what I got.”

    I threw up my hands, sat down, and Googled what to make with the XIGUA. I suppose we won’t be making the bread today.I threw up my hands, sat down, and Googled what to make with the xigua. I guess we aren’t going to make the bread today.

    Thank goodness teachers can be flexible.

    #threethingschallenge

    Stay kind!

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

  • Answers, Maybe?!?

    I’ve been battling unseen health issues for YEARS. I’ve written about them a few times on this blog. 

    1. Hypoglycemia – I had issues with my blood sugar for years. My A1C in 2021 was below the normal range. In the last few years, I’ve brought it back to a normal range.
    2. Possible eating disorder—or what I call disordered eating. In recent months, I’ve discovered the reasons behind it.
    3. Gluten intolerance 
    4. Eczema is only present on my left elbow, but I can feel itchy in several other areas.
    5. Hip issues on my left side—I refer to my left side as the side with all the problems. I do have some issues on my right side, but most are on my left side.

    I had genetic testing done in late December. And then I got the results in January. This past week, I met with a dietitian to go over the results. 

    1. I have a histamine issue. Not necessarily a mast cell disorder, but my body does not break down histamines in food. This makes sense to me because some of my least favorite foods contain higher amounts of histamine. This includes tomatoes, avocados, and bananas. However, some of my favorite foods also have higher amounts of histamines, such as pickles and pineapple. So what does this mean? I have to avoid them and then reintroduce them to my diet. When I do, I need to note if they bother me. There are three ways I’ve noticed histamines affecting me: itchy skin on my left elbow and the lower part of my legs (annoying but manageable), immediate stomach issues (cramping), and sometimes they cause brain fog or cold-like symptoms. The immediate stomach issues can persist throughout the day.
    2. Caffeine is another issue for me. I don’t need to eliminate it but should reduce the amount I’m consuming each day. I metabolize it more slowly than others.
    3. I methylate differently. Methylation is the body’s janitorial system. It is related to the B vitamins and choline. I’ve added a link explaining what choline is and its benefits to the body. 
    4. Oxidative stress is another significant concern for me. Think of it as rust on a car. There are free radicals in our bodies that need antioxidants. We get those from our food. There are two different types of antioxidants: those that slowly link up with free radicals and those that spread quickly like a fire hose. We want more of the latter.

    I’m not an expert on any of these conditions. I have answers that weren’t available before. How does this impact my diet? 

    1. Limit my caffeine intake.
    2. I need to eat the rainbow. And lots of cruciferous foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale.
    3. Alliums – Garlic and onions – Increase the amount of them you eat.
    4. Increase Omega–3 – Fatty fish twice a week, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    5. Decrease Omega 6 – Seed oils are a no-go.
    6. Decrease the amount of foods high in histamine.
    7. Follow a lower-carb/moderate-fat/high-protein and fiber diet.
    8. Eat eggs at least twice a week to get your choline. Also, take a supplement.
    9. Get as much Vitamin D as possible. This Ohio weather has made it difficult.
    10. Follow a mostly gluten-free diet.

    Join me on this journey as I navigate this new way of eating. Some of which I’ve done in a patchwork manner in the past. Now it needs to be brought together into a cohesive diet.

    Stay kind!

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

  • Protein Coffee

    Some call it profee. I just call it protein coffee. Instead of using creamer, I have been using a ready-made protein drink in my coffee.

    I’m in the throes of perimenopause. My protein intake must increase, and my carb consumption must decrease to battle the estrogen bulge. That’s not the real name of what happens to your middle. That bulge has already decided to take up residence. Now it’s time to fight back.

    So I started drinking this coffee instead of straight-up coffee with creamer. It took some trial and error to find a yummy recipe for the coffee. Without further ado, here is how I make my protein coffee.

    Protein Coffee

    • Servings: 1
    • Print


    Believe in the Magic Traci Diary

    Ingredients

    • 6 to 8 ounces of hot coffee
    • 1/3 c. ready-made protein drink

    Directions

    1. Brew the coffee.
    2. Meanwhile, froth the protein drink.
    3. After the coffee is done brewing, add the frothed protein drink.
    4. Enjoy

  • Meal Prep Menu #2

    Jump to Menu

    Weekly Prep

    Each week, you need to make a batch of creamer.

    If you like iced coffee, make a batch for the week.

    You have the flexibility to choose between preparing both of the recommended recipes for each meal or selecting just one. Consider this menu as a starting point for your week, offering you plenty of room for creativity and variation.

    If you choose to make only one, consider prepping ingredients for the rest of the week.

    • Air Fryer Bacon
    • Wash and Cut up veggies
      • Carrots
      • Cucumber
      • Celery
      • Radishes
      • Broccoli
      • Cauliflower
      • Mushrooms
      • Etc. . .
    • Wash your fruit – Don’t wash berries far in advance because they will mold up quickly.
    • Brown hamburger
    • Cook chicken and shred it.

    Onto the Menu

    Breakfast

    1. Fruit on the bottom yogurt with granola (2 cups)
    2. Breakfast burritos (3) – Make a big batch and freeze them.
    Fruit on the Bottom Yogurt
    Granola
    Breakfast Burrito

    Snack

    1. Almond Joy Apple Bites – Omit the cacao powder if you can’t find it. Add mini chocolate chips instead.
    2. Hard-boiled egg, veggie with dip, and either a serving of your favorite nuts, seed (pumpkin or sunflower), or olives
    Almond Joy Apple Bites
    hard-boiled egg

    Lunch

    1. Meatloaf Muffins (freeze extra for other meals), roasted potatoes (make a big batch – save for dinner), brown sugar carrots (2 containers)
    2. Italian Pasta Salad
    Meatloaf Muffins
    Roasted Potatoes
    Brown Sugar Carrots
    Italian Pasta Salad

    check out my meal plans for dinners.

  • Three Word Challenge – One Impossibly heavy box

    Introduction

    Today I was given the words:

    Plunk – to drop or set down suddenly
    Plonk – to drop abruptly
    Shun – to avoid deliberately and especially habitually

    I am excited to create a post using those words. The post can be either fiction or nonfiction, whichever sparks my imagination. I am encouraged to be creative with these words!

    Lift with your legs not your back

    I’ve mentioned moving rooms in previous posts this week. The whole building actually moved to the old high school. So we packed up my entire room last April/ May. One of the items that needed to be packed is an Ellis Cutter and all of the dies. Those things are extremely heavy. I can only imagine the movers screeching in pain as they lifted the box. When they got to my new room, they probably plunked them down as quickly as possible. However the room they plonked them down in was not going to be my room for this year. They had moved me. I had to ask the custodians in my building to move the box from one room to my room for this year. I left quickly because I didn’t want to be shunned by the custodians because of that heavy box.

    Join In

    Three Things Challenge #M781

  • Three Word Challenge – Beware of those red ants

    Introduction

    Today I was given the words:

    PARTAKE – join in
    SHRINK – become or make smaller in size or amount.
    COLONY – a community of animals or plants of one kind living close together or forming a physically connected structure.

    I am excited to create a post using those words. The post can be either fiction or nonfiction, whichever sparks my imagination. I am encouraged to be creative with these words!

    Red Ants

    My family has a favorite beach in South Carolina. Folly Beach has a lighthouse that can be seen from one end of the barrier island. One time, we drove to see the lighthouse. As we were getting out of the car, I was bitten by a red ant. There was a colony of them. Have you ever been bitten by red ants? It’s painful and itchy. I was hoping no more red ants would partake in biting me. Luckily I only think the one or two did before we begin our journey to see the lighthouse. We have to walk from where we parked to about a half mile to a mile away to see the lighthouse. The boys were young at that point, so it was truly difficult plus my injured foot made it an absolutely terrible experience.
    After seeing the lighthouse, we were going to see the Angel Oak on another island. It is quite a journey to get there. Ok it’s only a half an hour drive but with an injured foot, it seemed much longer. As we drove, I looked for somewhere for us to stop so I could get some medicine. I needed the injured area to shrink and not get any bigger. Finally we stopped at a Piggly Wiggly. Medication was bought. The injury healed eventually. Probably in a few days if not within a day. The memory serves as a reminder to stay away from colonies of red ants because you don’t want them to partake in biting you.

    Join In

    Three Things Challenge #M782

  • Three Things Challenge – Here is My Stuff – Now to put it away

    2–3 minutes

    Introduction

    Today I was given the words:

    Dig – push or poke something in or into
    Unearth – discover (something hidden, lost, or kept secret) by investigation or searching
    Inter – between : among : in the midst

    I am excited to create a post using those words. The post can be either fiction or nonfiction, whichever sparks my imagination. I am encouraged to be creative with these words!

    So MANY boxes Continued

    Today, I’m going to continue with the woes of unpacking boxes of school supplies and all my teaching items. (See yesterday’s post)

    I spent 5 hours on Monday digging through all the boxes that were provided for me. The paraprofessionals and myself had packed them back in April and May. I couldn’t remember half of what was in the boxes until we unearthed what was in the boxes.

    Then yesterday I went to the school and spent 4 hours going through more boxes. There were books intertwined with pencils, glue, and scissors. I dug through boxes of markers, pens, Expo board markers, and pencils to determine if they had dried out or needed to be thrown away. Then I sorted them as best as I could. Items I had not seen in a few years were rediscovered like the highlighting tape and strips of Easy Readers were found.

    Luckily there was no one to interrupt me while I was working except for the time I was hurrying to the restroom. I’m like this is not a good time to bother me. Don’t you know the adage teacher’s get limited time to go to the restroom? That is even true when you are setting up your classroom.

    Today I’m going in once again for a few hours. Hubby is going to dig around in the storage unit for more treasures. Once he unearths them, he will bring them to my classroom. Will I be interested in them or will they become trash? That is the question of day. I just know I need to go through the items before the one paraprofessional comes to our room. He will have one answer: If you haven’t used it in years, why do you need it? Throw it away. Then I will have to dig it out of the trash when he’s not looking.

    More

    Three Things Challenge #M780