Category: MISC

An email worth repeating… TRULY PROFOUND

At dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.  One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, “What’s a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?”  To stress his point he said to another guest; “You’re a teacher,  Bonnie. Be honest. What do you  make?” 

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, “You want to know what I make? (She paused for a  second, then began…)

  • “Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
  • I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can’t make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.
  • You want to know what I make? (She paused  again and looked at each and every person at the  table)
  • I make kids wonder.
  • I make them question.
  • I  make them apologize and mean  it.
  • I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
  • I teach them to write and  then I make them write. Keyboarding isn’t  everything.
  • I make them read, read, read.
  • I make them show all their work in math.  They use their God given brain, not the man-made  calculator.
  • I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
  • I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
  • Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.  (Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)
  • Then, when people try to judge  me by what I make, with me knowing money isn’t everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant. You want to  know what I make? I  MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  What do you make Mr. CEO?“
His jaw dropped, he went  silent.

Teaching is…the profession that makes all other professions!!!

Tradition versus Normal

Tra·di·tion~noun
[from Latin trāditiō a handing down, surrender, from trādere to give up, transmit, from trans- + dāre to give]
1: an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom) b : a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable
2: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction
3: cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions
4: characteristic manner, method, or style
5: The passing down of elements of a culture from generation to generation, especially by oral communication.
6: A mode of thought or behavior followed by a people continuously from generation to generation; a custom or usage.
7: A set of such customs and usages viewed as a coherent body of precedents influencing the present: followed family tradition in dress and manners.
8: A body of unwritten religious precepts.
9: A time-honored practice or set of such practices.
10: the handing down from generation to generation of the same customs, beliefs, etc., esp by word of mouth.
11: the body of customs, thought, practices, etc., belonging to a particular country, people, family, or institution over a relatively long period.
12: a specific custom or practice of long standing
-tra·di·tion·al~adjective
-tra·di·tion·al·ly~adverb
-tra·di·tion·less~adjective
-traditionist~noun
aprons 3

Fire Day Friday: Peanut Butter Pie with Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream

Yes, yes, I know.. this has nothing to do with grilling… but I will admit to you that I completely forgot that it was my turn to post today, so I’m giving you the same post I have up on my site.  I figured almost everyone would be able to forgive me if I could give you such a great recipe you forget it’s not done over fire 🙂 

I’ve been wanting to make this pie since I first saw it on the Taste of Home website.  The problem is, if I make a pie, it’s just Chris and I and… well… frankly… we’ll eat the whole thing.  No, not in one sitting, but still, we end up eating a whole pie.  I feel bad that in 3 or 4 days (or less depending on the size of each slice), I’ve eaten half a pie.. it just feels wrong (yet oh so right) – so, I don’t make a lot of pies, hence why it took me so long to make this 🙂 

The nice thing about the holiday season is that I don’t guilt myself about eating half a pie in a matter of days.  So, when Chris suggested making a dessert of some kind for Thanksgiving, I immediately said.. Peanut Butter Pie!!!  Mmmmmmmm!!!  He happily agreed. 

Now, had I been thinking proactively, I probably would have added some vanilla bean into the pie mixture, but for some reason I had it in my mind to make vanilla bean whipped cream and didn’t think past that.  That’s ok, the pie was incredibly fantastic and the homemade whipped cream was just the icing on the cake… or the whipped cream on the pie in this case, I guess you could say.  The pie is simple, the whipped cream is simple, there is no excuse NOT to make this.

Peanut Butter Pie with Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream
Pie recipe courtesy Taste of Home, Whipped cream recipe created by Jenn’s Food Journey
Printable Recipe 
Ingredients:
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 (8oz) carton frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 9-inch graham cracker pie crust
For the Whipped Cream –
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
3-4 Tablespoons powdered sugar (you may want to use more or less depending on taste and consistency you desire)

Directions:
In a large bowl, beat the peanut butter, cream cheese, and 1 cup powdered sugar together until smooth.  Fold in whipped topping; pour into pie crust.  Chill for at least 4 hours.

To make the whipped cream – add the whipping cream and vanilla bean to a bowl.  Beat in the powdered sugar one tablespoon at a time until you get the right flavor and consistency.  Serve on top of pie.  Refrigerate any leftovers.  Enjoy!