The Facebook Casserole Challenge!!!!


 Faye Dolen shared a link on Facebook with the top picture above and a recipe.  Here's what the recipe stated:  

1. Fantastic for ANY meal!!
   
   (Share so ya don't lose it)
   ...
   1 Can Flaky Grands
   Bag shredded cheddar 8 oz.
   Half cup milk
   Cubed ham or ground cooked sausage 1 cup cooked
   5 eggs
   Salt and pepper
   Add all ingredients and mix saving biscuits for last.
   
   Cut biscuits into fours and carefully mix in.
   Transfer to roomy casserole dish that has been oiled. Cook 25 at 350. You can't mess this up and it comes out looking JUST like picture. Serve for breakfast or dinner w small salad. 

I felt challenged by the "...it comes out looking JUST like picture" statement, so here ya go.   "Roomy" means 9 X 13.  25 minutes means 35.  Just sayin.  Mine was made with Jimmy Dean hot sausage, not ham (Duh, you say!)  Almost every meal in this house is served with a side of bacon.  Don't judge.  The fresh fruit canceled out all calories.  

The resident Food Snob, aka Billy Hensley, and his coworkers at Dominion Power (who shared the leftovers this morning) would like the public to know that perfection of this dish would be achieved through the use of some really good warm maple syrup.  

Closure

Closure……

At the end of every school year, I ask my students to write many letters particularly to put in the time capsule to be opened at their high school graduation.  Letters to themselves.  Letters to their BFF to open in four years……..all the while I’m thinking they won’t even know their middle school BFF’s name in four years.  Letters to their favorite teacher to thank them and tell them good-bye.  Letters to their parents about what they are feeling as they leave 8^th grade and travel to high school.  Just letters…….serious stuff for them because of the emotional roller-coaster ride they are on at the moment……this moment when they realize the year of being the top-dog in 8^th grade is over and the time to travel the halls of higher education as a FRESHMAN is upon them.  Just letters……closure……the end……

One letter I’ve asked for at the end of every year, even when I taught 7^th grade, is the letter to me.  I need closure.  I need to know the truth.  Some of you will consider this a moment of narcissistic closure.  Here’s my response to that……I get the truth!!!

I tell my kids that grades are already entered into portal, the report cards and “diplomas” are already printed, the graduation announcements already have their names printed in a 10 point French Script font, the evil Mrs. Hensley will not make an appearance, and I make the crucial pinkie promise that I will NOT be offended by the TRUTH!!!  These are teenagers.  They are hormonal little bouncy balls.  Give them the ability to tell the truth without the possibility of repercussions………..and you better watch out!!!!!!

So I ask them to write the closure letter.  The letter that tells me ……

“Wow, that really helped me learn…..keep doing that!”

OR

 “That was the worst lesson ever…..don’t ever do that again!” 

OR

 “I acted like I hated that book because everybody else did……but I really LOVED that book!” 

OR

“Please don’t ever use a worksheet again.  We don’t learn anything from them.”

OR

“You weren’t too boring.  I learned stuff.”

OR

And I Quote……

“I hate when older people try to act cool, but I had a lot of fun in your class!”

Most take this letter serious.  Some put a lot of thought into it.  I put a very long list on the board of everything we did throughout the year to remind them of everything they “endured” from me.  Some students will only address one or two things on the list.  Some will write a novel and ask for extra time.  Some will ask if they can make a chart instead of a letter.  Now here’s the deal about these letters.  I read every single word.  I let every word sink in.  I meditate over them.  I’m awed by them.   I’m shocked!  I’m disappointed.  I cry over them.  I get pissed off at them (Queue the pinky promise and STOP IT)

Then I begin my closure for the year.  I read the letter from the child who has LITERALLY  glared at me every day with what I just knew was hatred and contempt…….who wrote to tell me they will never forget how to make a noun show possession because of the “stupid” chant I made them say all year long (success for me)!!!  I read the letter from the girl who never, ever, ever volunteered an answer in class who said I MUST continue doing my bellringer activity the exact same way because she learned more from that than anything.  I read the letter from the BOYS (NOTICE THAT IS PLURAL!!!)…… the BOYS that said they loved reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.  I swore they were snoring!!!!  I thought they hated it!!!!  BUT they told me to read it again next year!!!!!!  I also read (with a broken heart) that the lessons that I thought were monumental, the top-notch lesson, the lesson that would make teachers all over the world cry with envy, the lesson I poured my heart and soul into, the lesson I knew that would change the world……….was a complete and total bomb.  They will tell the truth.  I learn the cold-hearted truth.  I learn they want to use GOOD technology.  They want to play games.  They don’t want to grade papers in class - they want me to do it to avoid being embarrassed.  They don’t really mind poetry so much.  They want to be read to.  They want to work in groups, but they want me to “pay attention” to the ones that aren’t productive and helpful.  They LOVE Socratic Seminars (This really was a SHOCK)    Soooo…….here’s what I do. 

If the majority of my students tell me they learned NOTHING from a lesson or process or procedure…..then I stop doing it.  I delete it, I change it, I rearrange it, I tweak it, I throw it in the trash -   whatever it takes - but I listen to what they wrote and I find a little peace……a little hope….. a little closure for another year.  It’s not always rainbows and butterflies when a 14 year old tells you in writing how much you SUCK, but let me tell ya……..it will ground you, it will bring your “I’m all that” teacher attitude back to Earth, and it will give you closure.

Closure for my last year in my 40’s.  ( GASP)  Closure for a year in which I found out my son and his wife are going to make me a granny!!  Closure for my youngest son’s freshman year with outstanding grades and a really cool attitude!!  Closure for another year without my momma.  Closure for a year of such clarity and freedom and happiness in my life……of being ME.  Closure for a year of sadness in seeing a great friend and mentor retire.  Closure for a year of worry about a colleague with multiple personal and family medical problems.  Closure for a year of seeing teachers and students in our district pass away…..leaving behind such sadness.  Closure for students being faced with gigantic problems…….problems kids should never, ever, ever have to face.  Closure for a year of such stress and anxiety and urgent significance placed on one test only to find out it wasn’t graded on time.  Closure for another year.  Another year in which I cry at our little 8^th grade “graduation” when I see them leave.  Another year gone.  Goodbye 2013-2014 school year.  Onward, my friends.  

Comma Flingers - Check this out!!!!

Stop flinging those commas!!!!!!!!!

1.      Use a comma to separate three or more words, phrases or clauses in a series.

Please go to the store and get bread, a gallon of milk, and peanut butter.  Here’s $40.00 to cover it. 

2.   Use a comma to set off two or more prepositional phrases.

In the morning on the way to school, may we get Cheddar rounds?

3.   Use a comma after an introductory participle and an introductory participial phrase.

Walking in the park, we watched a shooting star above our heads.

4.  Use a comma after conjunctive adverbs.

School is cool; however, I’m glad it’s almost summer!

5.   Use a comma to set off non-essential appositives

The student, Mickey Mouse, finished his homework. 

6.   Use a comma to set off words or phrases of direct address.

Mrs. Hensley, am I passing your class?

7.    Use a comma before a conjunction joining two main clauses.

I don’t need new shoes, yet I bought three pair!

8.    Use a comma after an introductory adverb clause and to set off nonessential adjective clause

After I bought new shoes, I needed a new purse.

Comma errors, which are common, can be easily corrected.

9.    Use a comma to separate parts of an address or a date.

Do you know who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC?

10. Use a comma after the salutation and close of a friendly letter

Dear Mr. President, 
       
          Cordially,  

HOW DID THE HUSHPUPPY GET ITS NAME?  Below is the tale from……….http://www.savannahclassics.com/fun_facts.html

Stories about the evolution of this fried cornmeal ball are as flavorful as the product itself. Hushpuppies are a distinctly Southern food and have often been linked to catfish.

Here are several variations of the hushpuppy story:

The oldest story has hushpuppies originating in the settlement of Nouvell Orleans (later New Orleans) shortly after 1727. They were created by Ursuline nuns who had come from France. The nuns converted cornmeal into a delicious food they named croquettes de maise. The making of these croquettes spread rapidly through the southern states.

Hushpuppies are also said to have gotten their name from the dredging of the catfish that would have been thrown out. Being thrifty, the cook from the house would send them down the slave quarters and the women added a little milk, egg and onion and fried it up. It is said they were tossed to the dogs to keep them quiet while the food was being transferred from the pot to the table. “Hush puppy! Hush puppy!”

Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins cites a Southern reader’s account that in the South the aquatic reptile called the salamander was often known as a “water dog” or “water puppy.” These were deep fried with cornmeal dough and formed into sticks. They were called “hushpuppies” because eating such a lowly food was not something a Southern wife would want known to her neighbors.

Confederate soldiers would sit beside a campfire preparing their meals. If they detected Yankee soldiers approaching, they would toss their yapping dogs some of the fried cornmeal balls with the command, “Hush puppies!”

And yes, the food created the name of the famous shoe company…

In 1958, Jim Muir was having dinner with a friend in Tennessee when he witnessed how his friend’s barking hounds were quieted down when given hush puppies. Jim thought about how aching feet were commonly referred to as barking dogs. Wolverine shoes, or rather Hushpuppies, were the answer to soothing one’s aching feet. Thus a legend began….

Here's my recipe.  It is amazing!!!

Ingredients:

1/3 cup minced onion

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

1 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tsp salt, plus more for sprinkling

1 1/2 tsp sugar

2 tsp onion powder

1 large egg

 1 cup milk

2 tbsp. chopped jalapeno

Oil for frying

1.  Combine the onion, flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, sugar, and onion powder in a bowl.  Whisk the egg and mile in another bowl.  Whisk the egg mixture into the flour mixture until smooth.  Add the chopped jalapenos.  Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

2.  Heat 2 inches of veg. oil to 350.  Drop tablespoonfuls of batter into the oil, turning frequently.  

3.  Drain on a paper-towel plate.  Season with salt.  ENJOY!!!

KNOCK YOU NAKED BROWNIES

Yep.  That’s the name of this brownie - the Knock You Naked Brownie!!!!!!

I can’t begin to tell you how ooeeyy-gooeeeyy delicious they are.  Just try it yourself and see!!

Ingredients:

1 box German chocolate cake mix

1 bag of caramels

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 bag of chocolate chip morsels

1 stick of butter

1 cup of chopped nuts - your choice

Directions:

Mix cake mix, 1/3 cup cream, 1 stick of melted butter.  Mix in nuts.

Batter is VERY THICK!!!

Use half of the batter.  Press into the bottom of a greased 8 X 8 pan.  Bake for 10 minutes at 350. 

Place caramels on top.  Then sprinkle the chocolate chips over the caramels.  On a cutting board, shape the remaining “batter” into an 8 X 8 piece and place on tops of chips and caramel.  Gently press down.

Bake for 25 minutes.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar. 

The biggest mistake we make with this recipe…………No Mayfield Vanilla Bean Ice Cream in the house.  

Pineapple Salsa

This was really, really, really good.  We served it with steak/veggie kabobs and Cajun shrimp.  

1 pineapple, diced 1/4 cup tequila 3 tbsp. lime juice 1 tsp brown sugar Canola oil 1/2 red onion, diced 1 green jalapeno, diced 1 red jalapeno, diced 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 1 tbsp. EVOO 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper
Combine tequila, 1 tbsp lime juice and pineapple.  Allow to marinate for 30 minutes.  Drain then toss the pineapple with brown sugar. Coat a saute pan with oil.  Cook pineapple, stirring frequently, until caramelized (5-8 minutes).  Remove from heat.  Combine with remaining lime juice and other ingredients.  Let it sit for 30 minutes.  
I will be honest.  I loved this!!  BUT..... I wanted a little crunch in it.  Billy suggested jicama.  I'm thinking Ramen noodles.  Tee hee.
Please comment below if you find the perfect crunch ingredient!!  

"Baby Rolls"

My sweet little boys loved when I made these rolls.  They asked me to make tiny ones for them, and they called them "baby roll."  This recipe is tried and true in a bread machine.  
1 cup tepid water 2 tbsp. room temperature butter 1 egg 3 1/4 cups bread flour 1/4 cup sugar 1 tsp. salt 3 tsp. yeast










Add the ingredients in the bread machine in the above order.  Make a volcano hole in the center to add the yeast.  Mix with the machine as "dough"
Bake for 15 minutes at 375 in buttered pans.  Serve with butter.  Lots of butter.  That's not enough butter.  More butter.  DON'T YOU DARE SERVE THESE WITH MARGARINE.  That's one molecule away from plastic.  Anyhoo, serve with butter.