Month: March 2013 (Page 2 of 4)

Saved by the [dinner] bell

March 20, 2013 / Michele Minehart

For all intents and purposes, today was a fail. Clarification: #momfail. The kids acted (mostly) just fine, but I lost my ability to remain calm and patient. I yelled. I got frustrated. I wagged my finger. I was late picking them up from a friend who kept them all morning (I know – all that failure stuff just in the time to get out the door. Super, eh?).

Then, there was dinner. And I was dreading it.

We had a good chunk of leftover beef brisket from the weekend that had been slow cookered with a sauce (store bought), of which no one raved. Then we had a flank steak from Pinterest that again drew few comments. So here I am with a bag of meat (*wince face, looking sideways*) that simply must be eaten or I’ll have an economic heart attack. I also had 2 heads of broccoli that my meal plan rearrangement left orphaned. So, Mongolian Beef & Broccoli it was.

Backstory: my husband looooooves “Chinese” food. (I use the quotes because I’ve yet to visit China but I have a sneaking suspicion that the food I would eat would not taste like our take out). And every attempt I’ve ever made, short of the MSG-laden envelopes, failed miserably. Even something as simple as fried rice (and yes, I cooked it the day before and then fried). So my enthusiasm for tonight dinner lagged just a tad.

Alas, the hour of whining was upon me, so I began the preparations. And I must say, the results – based on a poll of child eaters and myself, as JJ comes home late tonight – were astounding. “It’s delicious!” came out more than once per child. Baby C inhaled the broccoli. H Boy raved about the meat and ate 2 bowls of everything Miss M even finished her bowl. Top that off with the fact I didn’t obliterate the rice for once and you’ve got one happy mama.

So, here’s the recipe. I solemnly vow never to use up leftover roast or tough beef in any other way again. I’m also detailing exactly what I did because I was using leftovers. We’ll pretend it’s because I want you to have the same glorious experience. Really, I just need to log this down exactly what order I did everything because to say I “strayed” from my guiding recipe is an understatement.

Mongolian Beef & Broccoli :: Leftover Resuscitator

Mix together in a glass measuring cup:

1/2 cup soy sauce (I only buy the gluten free now, not just because of the gluten thing but because the taste is far superior. Totally worth the extra $0.40 for a purchase you make every 3 months at most)

1/2 cup water

1/4ish tsp red pepper flakes (definitely more if you like heat – this recipe is a zero on that scale, fine by me)

Several good shakes of ground ginger (I have no idea the fresh-to-dried ratios to follow, but JJ believes ginger to be the miracle seasoning, so I wasn’t shy. I’d guess 1/4-1/2 tsp)

1/4 cup brown sugar

In your biggest frying pan over low heat:

Chop 1 carrot small and saute in a few tablespoons of sesame seed oil until mostly soft

Add 3 cloves garlic and cook 1-2 minutes (if you’re using fresh ginger, add it now. How much fresh ginger? You’d have to ask a fresh ginger user. Not me.)

Add sauce and bring to a simmer, cook 3-4 minutes. It doesn’t really get much thicker.

Toss in:

2 heads broccoli, chopped (no stems for us)

1 onion, in long thin pieces (julienne? I’m so not a food blogger)

1 can water chestnuts

1 huge back of leftover meat, sliced. I swear there was at least a pound, probably a pound and a half.

Cover and let simmer on medium low heat for a little while, stirring somewhat often as it’s a very full pan and you want the sauce to cover well.

Serve over rice, if you can cook it. There’s a 40% chance in this house, but tonight it was a win.

Not a “great” day – just a normal one

March 19, 2013 / Michele Minehart

It wasn’t one of those days where I savor every moment in glee. It was just a day. A very normal day where I semi-yelled my way into convincing a few toddlers to nap. I made a lackluster lunch. I didn’t even shower and my house isn’t any cleaner than when it started. But so many moments from the day need to be remembered so that when I look back at my days and years with these tinies, I get the full picture.

1. Conversation in the van –

H: Daddy has lots of computers in his class.

Me: Yes, he does.

H: He can count them.

Me: Yes, he can. Can you?

H: No, I don’t have enough fingers.

2. Miss M giving H her cookie at dinner.

3. H putting on Baby C’s boots for her. “Can I help you?” he says. Oh yes, he does.

4. Both girls learning to sleep together and the giggles that happen in those first few moments.

5. JJ reading the “Hip Hop Dog”. (Seriously, who writes this stuff?)

6. H Boy discovering his first bean bag chair, asking to sit in it, and thoroughly enjoying the experience (at the library).

7. When any of the 3 of them exclaim “this is delicious!” to something I’ve made.

8. After enjoying an early morning banana (or apple), I hear them charge down to the basement without prompting, only to be beckoned for breakast.

9. H Boy beckoning the girls at lunch, “Girls! Lunch is ready!”

10. The look of excitement as Baby C opens her mouth as wide as she can in a grin. On multiple occasions.

Shake it if you got it

March 14, 2013 / Michele Minehart

When I first read through my news feed, I honestly said to myself, “this is probably something I’m not going to have an opinion on.” HA. All it took was a quick observation in my status and suddenly everyone’s comments had me thinking. Add in the mundane tasks of boxing 3T winter clothes and sorting socks and suddenly this girl wants to share her thoughts.

I know, you’re shocked.

For those of you out of the Ridgemont loop, or the 10TV viewing area, several of Ridgemont’s basketball players were suspended (in-school) for recording a version of the Harlem Shake in the locker room. I watched their video and other than some tasteless gyrating, it was harmless. Based on the interview, I’d judge the boys to be trying an honest effort at fun.

One of the most interesting comments came from my friend AB, who told us the roots of the dance, which are quite appalling. JJ had to explain to me the entire craze and I still don’t find any of the videos all that funny, so armed with such information I can firmly say I will never participate in such an endeavor. I’ll play my lack of participation of social trends on my high moral standards (as opposed the original reason, which is that I live in a cave made of toddlers).

So, if the principal had punished the team based on these ideals, I’d probably buy him lunch because I love to fly a good flag around for knowing the whole story and being sensitive to how our media treats people not like the mainstream ideal (white/male/adult/typically developing). Goooooo inclusion! (See? That was a cheer. Maybe I’ll get out my old Gopher skirt for it).

However, that’s not the reason the punishment came down. According to the news clip, it was for profanity, distribution of unauthorized materials and unauthorized use of the locker room. Ultimately, the principal said he thought the video made the school look bad.

Which is what I found fascinating. Here in Troy, the principal initiated a school-wide Shakedown (my term, not his) where each 1st period class came up with a video for a contest. Roots of the video aside, I applaud THS for its attempt to mix up the monotony of the doldrums of winter. At its intent, and behind each of the videos created, it was simply a chance to do something out of the norm and have a little fun.

So, what’s the difference between the videos at Troy and Ridgemont? Probably not the gyrating. Or even the shirtlessness (JJ’s video featured a bare-chested figure with a helmet, of which he had to clarify was not himself). No, if you ask me – which, you did, if you’re still reading – I think the main difference was that the Troy principal led the idea while the Ridgemont principal was surprised by it.

My understanding* is that the Ridgemont boys gained permission from their coach, so the “unauthorized” piece seems unfair. And in the coach’s defense, I would’ve made a similar decision – it seems like a harmless activity. The boys could want to go steal road signs with their jersey numbers, to which I would advise, is not a great idea. But no, they wanted to dance.

Perhaps the coach should have mentioned it to the principal in passing. The pastor at the church where I served once asked me politely to please never let me be surprised. He stood supportive of most any of my hairbrained ideas, so long as he wasn’t put in the position of being caught off guard. It was probably a wise philosophy. But then again, if I were the coach, I probably wouldn’t have thought a dance video was worth mentioning.

I think the administration puts a lot of faith into their staff and this is an area where I think they could trust his judgement. Perhaps this is my tipping point into a bit of disdain for the school’s decision – that it seems to be a power ploy, an attempt to make a statement that you may not do something without permission. I don’t think the school lost face via the video, but perhaps the principal felt like he did, as if it gave a perception that he wasn’t commander-in-chief and therefore such action needed stopped.

Which is a horrible reason to punish people. Especially kids. (“You inadvertently made me look bad and now you’ll pay” is not a life lesson to be pushed).

I’m all for “the rules apply to everybody” and it drives me crazy when people feel the exception. But I don’t think a dance video insinuates an attempt to circumvent authority. I think it was only perceived by the authority it inadvertently circumvented. People in positions of power and management tend to see it where the rest of the world do not. (I say this with the authority of a person who has felt this way before.)

Instead of responding with iron fists, perhaps the principal could laugh – or even dance – it off. Because seriously, it’s silly. All those videos are silly. (Except the original one, which is just wrong.) Maybe the guy could applaud efforts at creativity and acknowledge that kids need an outlet to express their inclination to join in the fun that the rest of the world seems to be having. He could even mention to the kids that, in the future, it would be wise to run these things past management (a lesson any worker will tell you is worthwhile).

What we have now is a fantastic opportunity for leadership to set an example of humility and say that perhaps we over-reacted. It happens. Everyone does it. And the community has the grand chance to extend a gracious hand of forgiveness, as opposed to vengeful fingerpointing with I-told-you-so’s (which is why we get so few examples of humility nowadays). We can learn the hard lesson of making wrongs right by all parties involved.

*admittedly, via FB chatter, so apologies to Nick for any inaccuracies. Feel free to correct me.

Month: March 2013 (Page 2 of 4)

Saved by the [dinner] bell

Not a “great” day – just a normal one

Shake it if you got it

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