Lesson Learned - Breakfast Casserole

Many years ago, a co-worker would bring in his delicious egg casserole for special occasions.  He lived close enough that it would still be warm when he arrived.  It was such a fantastic treat.  He would put in eggs, mushrooms, sour creme, sausage, cheese and sometimes some other ingredients for us.   

When I wanted to try and cut out carbs/fat (and stop eating pop-tarts for breakfast) ... he recommended that I make a smaller version of his casserole.  He informed me that I could cut it into squares and then heat up a square every morning for breakfast.  

Fast forward to now.  I still make a breakfast casserole.  I bake it in a square glass dish.  I cut it into blocks.  I slide those blocks into slices each and put them into a Tupperware container that works perfectly.  Each morning I pull out some slices and microwave them in a smaller Tupperware container.  It works well and I get a nice hot breakfast each morning, without a whole lot of fuss.   

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What you hear is not what I hear

Many of us played the game "telephone" as a kid (or as a communication exercise at work).  Telephone is where you tell someone a statement, and everyone has to pass it along to another person.  The last person in the chain has to share what they heard.  The beginning statement and the ending statement are never the same. We each hear things different and then put our spin on it when we pass it along.  

Some classes I have taken over the years have also shown me how my life experiences change the way I process things each and every day.  I put my spin on what I see and what I do, based on what I have seen and done in the past.

The other day I was watching a film called "Flipped".  It is a romcom based on two grade school kids and how they view their relationship.  It was really interesting the way they showed how each person's view of the exact same event.  

This movie reminded me how important it is to remember (every day) that:

• The way people share information with me depends on how they interpreted the original information.  
• The way I hear or process information, is based on my past experiences. 
• If I share the information, the people I share it with will bring their biases and perspectives to what I share.
• You never know the way people's pasts are affecting the way they are responding to you.  
• If you see someone acting "out of character" in a certain situation, remember that something in their past might be causing the issue; or, something in your past may be affecting the way you are reading the situation.  

No matter what, if you feel that someone might not understand what you are saying or why you are acting the way you are acting, discuss it with them.  Ensure what you are explaining is really what they are hearing and understanding. Be aware that the way you think you are acting might be seen differently by everyone around you.

In all things, give each other grace.  Everyone's past is different, and we all have different biases and beliefs that we bring to everything we hear, say and do.

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Lessons Learned - Dinner Prep

A few years ago my sister shared a secret with me about dinner prep.  Since you all enjoyed my tip on butter patties, I thought I would share a tip on hamburger for dinner prep.

I usually bought four pounds of hamburger at a time.  I would divide it into single pounds, wrap each in tinfoil and freeze them.  When we were making something with hamburger, I would need to remember to thaw out the burger and then either make patties or fry it for something like tacos or pizza.  

One weekend, I had my sister and her husband over for pizza. I was frying the ground beef when they arrived.  She asked why I didn't just fry up a few pounds at a time, and then freeze the frozen pounds in freezer bags.   

Wow!  

Sort of like the butter suggestion... I was stunned I had never thought of it.

Now, I take the four pounds and fry up three pounds - or even all of it.  I split the fried hamburger up and freeze each individually. I have a large frying pan with deep sides, which allows me to do this all at one time. It makes it so easy at dinner time.  If we decide to make tacos, I defrost the fried beef and quickly make tacos.   

It really is a true time saver and makes throwing together that meal after a long day at work, much easier.  Thanks sis!

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Lessons Learned - 2021

Another year on the books. Wow... how time flies.  

There have certainly been some frustrating and annoying issues around 2021.  Covid, no vacation, politics, cancelations of events, etc.  Yet, overall, I feel extremely blessed for 2021. I was lucky enough to land a promotion and join a new team. I was able to visit more with family and friends. I was able to throw some parties and enjoy my family and friends for the holidays. I bought a car and some furniture.  John continues to enjoy his job and joined another band.  My family and friends stayed out of the hospitals and generally healthy. Even the cats stayed healthy and playful.

I looked over the Lessons Learned 2021 blog to see if anything changed. I realized even more how very blessed I have been in 2021.  

From my 2020 recap... "Here are the things I learned in 2020 (in no particular order)."

• Friends and family are essential.   Even more true in 2021.
• Getting to touch base with my family and friends took on a special meaning this year. I have always tried to appreciate my friends and family, but this year, I realized just how truly important they are to me. I am grateful for any time I get to spend with them, any note I receive from them, or any time I get to talk to them. Not seeing them all regularly made our get-togethers even better.
• Being outside is awesome.   Still extremely true in 2021.
• I have always needed fresh air and sunshine. This year, I realized that the more I got of both, the better I felt. I learned to embrace long walks in the park. I loved my time on the patio with John. Just taking a drive with the top down made me smile.
• People are clever.   Still true and now I have found even more fun videos to share.
• I was never a big YouTube watcher, but this year, I loved watching the clever skits and songs people created to help make us smile. Cat videos, squirrel obstacle courses, mashups, and the Holderness Family kept my mood positive. There were also so many fantastic websites showing pictures, memes, and sharing knowledge.
• I am okay.  Luckily, still true.  I learned to color again, painted my critters and finished embordering my blue jean jacket.
• Normally, I kept so busy that I never really had to spend much time with myself. This year, I have learned to spend a lot of time with myself. I am no substitute for dinner with a good friend or close family member... but I am decent company.  I can sit alone and not go crazy. I can be reflective and stay positive. I can complete puzzles and get joy from the accomplishment. I can read on the porch or just watch the birds at the feeders.  I can find joy in the peacefulness.
• A good job and co-workers should be celebrated. Even more true this year.  My co-workers and teams have really helped my mental health and I am enjoying learning so many new things.
• I am always grateful when I am lucky enough to have a good job and kind co-workers, but this year has really sharpened my thankfulness. Early in the pandemic, I feared for my job. My co-workers and supervisors gave me peace of mind and showed me that they appreciated me. They found a way to keep me on staff. It meant so much to me. I appreciate having something to do to fill my days. And, the support I receive from all of my teammates helps make the days brighter.
• My cats fill me with joy.  Still extremely true.  In fact, they are becoming so used to us being home all the time, that when we actually spent a day walking Main Street or at a festival, they seemed to actually miss us.
• It is almost like our cats know we were struggling this year. They seem more playful. They seem more willing to sit on my lap and just enjoy the quiet with me. They serve as good co-workers and spend their days sleeping in my office. 

I hope you regard 2021 as a positive year and can find many reasons to feel blessed. And, I truly hope that 2022 is an even better year for everyone.

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Butter Patties

As I made my lunch today, I thought of this helpful little hint.  Butter patties.

I was making eggs and rice.  I usually like to put a butter patty in the rice, to help keep it moist when I add the scrambled eggs.   

Years ago, John had the excellent idea to pick up a butter slicer and butter dish at a garage sale.  This allows me to slice up the butter stick, making it very handy to grab a square when I need one.

The process is simple and very easy:

• When I am done with a stick of butter, I unwrap the new one and leave it sitting on the bottom part of the wrapper.
• I slice the stick onto the wrapper.
• I flip over the butter and push the butter patties through the rest of the slicer, pushing them onto the butter dish bottom - using the wrapping paper as a way to push the butter through cleanly.

Then, I just remove the final side of the wrapper and I have a nice row of sliced butter patties sitting in my butter dish.

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