LEAD: Robert F. Kennedy

Leadership is h.a.r.d.  Especially when you are responsible for bearing the bad news.  How do you take a terrible situation and spin it to be something positive - or at least, for people to find the positive in it?

Robert F. Kennedy's speech announcing the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. provides hope and a paradigm from which people can begin to understand.

Lead: Simon Sinek & Millenials

This. Right. Here.  If you are a leader, mentor, millennial or whatever comes after millennials, stop,  Stop what you are doing and watch this.  This speaks to me on so many levels - but in all honesty, our obsession with our phones.  It's out of control.  

This perspective is important.

Inspiration: Thank You, Mom Olympic Commercials

They get me.  Every. Single. Damn. Time. #loveoverbias

Teach: Ron Clark

Every educator should watch this speech - Ron Clark is the mecca of Educational Leadership and it is his vision that consistently inspires me to continually think beyond the red tape.  When in doubt, slide.

Inspiration: Dr. Rick Rigsby

Get out the Kleenex.  This is intense.

Inspiration: Oprah Winfrey

"Speaking your truth is the most powerful thing you can do." - Oprah 

Inspiration: David Saville & Dabo Swinney

There is nothing more inspirational than inclusion - the only disability is attitude.

And good leaders, they know good people.  I think I have a crush on Dabo.

Not My Recipe: Hot & Skinny Spinach Dip

Of course, by now, you know I'm a Pinterest Addict.  Basically, I just pin crap.  Sometimes I think about creating/baking/making the pins.  Mostly I just wish I had time to do everything I see and love.  This dip has been in my folder for a while.  Finally, I had a reason to make it - link is here. And here is my commentary for making this big hitter.

Ingredients:
6-7 oz frozen spinach (half a 12-oz bag)
1/3 c fat free Greek yogurt
2 green onions, finely sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 c shredded part skim mozzarella
1/4 c shredded Parmesan
pepper or red chili flakes (to taste)

Of course, I didn't realize that I had minced garlic in the fridge already so I used Garlic Salt - it's basically the same thing, right?  Oven should be set at 350 - which is great, because for me that just means BAKE and START.  Thaw the spinach.  Mix everything in a bowl and transfer to a baking dish.  I sprinkled Parmesan and Mozzarella on top and baked for 20ish minutes.  

Served with corn chips, crackers or Naan dippers.

Delish.

Not My Recipe: Hot Ham Sandwiches

TBH:  I had these amazing little sandwiches years ago at a baby shower or wedding shower and couldn't. stop. eating them.  I got the recipe and made them once or twice and between two kids, a move, life, I lost the recipe.  I was talking with a friend last weekend and remembered how much I LOVE these sandwiches.  So, I decided to make them for my family.

If you know me, you know that I. Do. Not. Cook.  Seriously, I think it's been 5 years that I made dinner for my family start to finish.  So, this was definitely a shock to their system.  I think they were even a little concerned that we may be ordering a pizza.  The reality:  it was a hit! And CLW even asked if I could make them every Wednesday when we had game night.  SCORE! Here's the link to where I got the recipe.

Ingredients:
1 package of Hawaiian Rolls*
1 lb of Virginia Ham sliced thin **
1 package of Swiss Cheese Slices
3/4 cup of butter
1.5 teaspoons of Dijon Mustard ***
1.5 teaspoons of Worchestershire Sauce
1.5 teaspoons of dried onion ****
Poppy Seeds *****

* I only used 1 package of 12 because it was just the four of us AND I got the Honey Wheat because I wasn't paying attention to the packaging.  It turned out fine.  In fact, my husband thought I did that on purpose.
** The recipe calls for NOT honey ham.  I got whatever was on sale.  We survived.
*** I forgot this ingredient in the sauce.  I knew something was missing.  But everyone still loved them anyway and my husband just added this to his sandwich..
**** We didn't have this in the cabinet.  It was fine.  I used Garlic Salt.
***** Skipped this.  I LOVE the Poppy Seeds but my girls and boy wouldn't, so, omit.

Directions:  In a greased Pyrex - I had to use two small ones because I couldn't find my big one.  I think something rotted in it and I had to throw it away, but that is neither here nor there - cut the Hawaiian rolls in half and place the cheese slices on bottom.  I had to break my slices in half but kinda layered.  Next, pile on the ham. Shaved ham would be better than slices but I wanted the leftover ham for lunches, so I had to make do.  Put the tops on the sandwiches.

In a saucepan, heat up the butter, add the Worcestershire, Mustard, Onion.  Once all is melted and sauce made, brush on the tops of the sandwiches and drizzle the leftover sauce over the sandwiches and let them soak.  Sprinkle Poppy Seeds on top.

Bake at 425 Degrees for 12-15 minutes, until cheese is melted.

Served with:  Green beans and Ruffles Potato chips {don't judge, had to get rid of them}.

 

Not My Recipe: Death By Chocolate

If I'm being honest, Diane (my mother) made me commit this recipe to memory so I could totally make it in my sleep - and my husband BEGS for it so I have to only make it on special occasions.  However, if you want to see a real recipe, I found a link for you.

Ingredients:
2 boxes of Brownie Mix
2 (3.9) packages of Instant Chocolate Pudding
2 (8 oz) containers of Cool Whip
Package of crushed Toffee Pieces
Kahlua * Optional

Directions:  Make the brownies.  Let them cool.  If you are feeling frisky, soak in Kahlua.  It's an extra step and expense so not necessary.  Make the Instant Pudding.  Find your trifle bowl from the cabinet where you hid it the last holiday when you made something yummy.  Crumble up the brownies and layer on the bottom of trifle bowl.  Cover brownies in pudding - be generous in your covering.  Next, layer Cool Whip.  Again, generous.  Sprinkle, generously, the toffee bits on the cool whip.  Repeat these layers until the trifle bowl is filled.

Baker's Note:  Instead of Toffee, I've used M&Ms, Peppermint, Andes Mint.  All were okay.  None were as awesome as the Heath Bar ;)  Though, Reese's Pieces or Butterfinger would probably be amazing.

Not My Recipe: Feta, Black Bean & Corn Dip

I absolutely LOVE this dish for large parties and gatherings - always a hit!  Here is the link to the original posting.

Ingredients:
15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
12 ounce can white corn, drained
4 ounce package crumbled feta
1 small bunch green onion, chopped
1/2 cup extra light olive oil
1/2 cup sugar *
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar **
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

*I use Splenda
**Sometimes I use Balsamic because I don't know the difference in Balsamic and Apple

Directions:  Mix everything in a large bowl. Refrigerate for 2 hours.  Serve with Fritos Scoops.

Warning:  Super addictive.