On My Mind Today

I have not only held administrative positions during my career, but have also run my own small business. Over the years I have worked for large corporations and small companies. Both of them tend to make the same mistakes. Some of the reasons these errors are made;  no proper chain of command, training deficiencies and lack of defined roles. Many in administrative roles also micro-manage. They may want to have someone else do a project or task, but can't let go and allow them to do it. What follows is what I observed while in the employment of some of these companies: No defined roles for employees, and no back-up for absences. Too many hands touching the same thing, which not only produces a repetition of work, but leads to greater chances of error. Not enough employees to properly handle the work load which causes burn-out, and lack of loyalty. No proper training programs. No written instructions for how a task needs to be comp...

Life, and dinner, would be dull if we didn't try new things. This easy slow cooker recipe is delicious and has been added to my go to recipes for when meal time gets a bit boring. For a little kick hot sauce can be added when served. Enjoy! Cuban Style Braised Steak and Peppers   1/2 cup dry white wine 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano salt and pepper 1 - 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes 1 medium onion, sliced 2 red peppers, sliced crosswise 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 Tablespoon capers, roughly chopped 1 pound flank steak, cut crosswise into 3 inch pieces (flank steak can be expensive - I used sirloin tips instead) 1 cup long grain white rice 1/4 cup pimento-stuffed olives, quartered, plus 1 Tablespoon olive brine Chopped fresh cilantro, for serving.   1. In a 5-6 quart slow cooker, whisk together the wine, cumin, oregano and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. 2. Stir in the tomatoes (and their juices), onion, peppers, ga...

We are often reminded today how a large percentage of marriages end in divorce, or long term relationships dissolve. As anyone knows the wild passionate love in the beginning does not last forever. When it starts to fade, rather than working to make the next phase deeper and more meaningful, many people give up. No effort - no reward. However, there is something more pervasive that is responsible for sabotaging relationships to the point of destruction. All you need to do is sit back and observe couples when they are out in public. The sad part of it all is that they are allowing it to happen. I am referring to cell phones and social media sites. People are so glued to their phones and engrossed in either telling everyone what they are doing, or wondering what everyone else is doing, that they are ignoring the person they are with. How could you possibly feel that what is happening in your own life at that moment is not more important. We were recently in ...

From the pages of Woman's Day and the Casserole Queens, this recipe is perfect for your Sunday brunch. You can prepare it the day before and just keep it refrigerated until you pop it in the oven the next morning. Your brunch guests will think you have spent hours putting it together. Sure to become a favorite in your recipe file.   Breakfast Bread Pudding   2 Tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the dish 1 medium onion, chopped Salt and Pepper 1 bunch Swiss chard, stems thinly sliced and leaves cut into 1-1/2 inch pieces 8 large eggs 2 cups whole milk 8 ounces country, French or Italian bread, cut into 1 inch pieces 14 ounces can artichoke hearts, patted dry and chopped 6 ounces leftover or thick-cut deli ham, cut into 1 inch pieces 6 ounces crumbled feta cheese 2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan   1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 2-1/2 to 3 quart dish. 2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, sea...

Spending time with my grandchildren is one of my greatest joys. They always have a way of rejuvenating my soul and giving me added energy. This past weekend we were fortunate to have Anthony with us, and now that he is eleven we are able to do more with him. On most of his visits we try to do something that is not only fun, but educational as well. On Saturday we were blessed with a beautiful sunny day as we made our trip down to Lexington and Concord. We arrived just in time for a trolley tour that took us through Lexington, to Concord and the Minuteman National Park. On our journey the guide told many stories of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. We saw the North Bridge in Concord where the actual first "shot heard round the world" was fired. Many think it was on the Lexington Green, however it was when the British met up with the Militia at the North Bridge. Anthony learned that being part of the militia was required and they were not paid. The Minutemen were paid...

This recipe is a slight variation on one that I found in the cookbook, Wine Bites. The original calls for goat cheese, but I have used a garlic herb spreadable cheese for added flavor. I have served this appetizer twice and received rave reviews. May your guests enjoy this as much as mine have. Garlic Toasts with Cherry Tomatoes, Basil and Garlic Herb Cheese   2 cups cherry tomatoes, a mix of red and yellow, stemmed and halved 2 Tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil About 1/2 French baguette, cut into 16 slices about1/4 inch thick 3 large cloves garlic, peeled and cut in half lengthwise about 1/4 cup olive oil Garlic Herb spreadable cheese   In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, basil, and extra-virgin olive oil and toss to mix well. Let the mixture stand at room temperature for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.   Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.   Arrange the bread slices in a single layer on a...

In a recent segment of On the Road with Steve Hartman on the CBS Evening News, I became aware of the significance of children connecting with senior citizens. Two young boys had been on a tour of the retired aircraft carrier, The Yorktown, in Charleston, SC with their parents. While on the tour they learned about World War II veteran, Robert Harding, who served on the Yorktown. Upon returning home they looked up Mr. Harding and found he was still living, and they contacted him and began to correspond by email. Mr. Harding shared many stories with the boys of his time on the Yorktown. I will share the link to this episode at the end so you can see where the story goes. What struck me as I watched was the wealth of first hand historical knowledge that these young boys received through this connection. These history lessons go far beyond what they could possibly receive in school. There may be many young people who might ask themselves, "what does that old person know?", b...

Easter - for some it signals the beginning of spring. For others it brings visions of the Easter bunny, Easter eggs and candy. Although it's wonderful to share the fairy tale of the Easter bunny, and carry on traditions like coloring eggs and the egg hunt, we also should teach our children the true meaning of Easter. It can sometimes be more difficult to teach the meaning of Easter than a holiday like Christmas. It is easy for children to understand that Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Teaching them about the resurrection of Christ is not as simple for them to grasp. So, below I have tried to put in simple terms the true meaning of Easter. Easter is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus (when he rose from the grave). No man had taken his life. He had given it freely for us - to restore our fellowship with God. He had been crucified and was buried for three days. All his disciples had be...

I love to cook, but I love baking more. Probably because I have a sweet tooth, and because I grew up watching my mother baking in the kitchen. My evening is not complete until I have my dessert. I am always searching for something new, and found this cookie recipe. If you like cranberry and chocolate then you will love these oatmeal cookies. Cranberry-Oatmeal White chocolate Chunkies   1-1/4 cups Ocean Spray Craisins Reduced Sugar Dried Cranberries 2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened 2/3 cup packed brown sugar 2 eggs 1-1/2 cups old fashioned oats 1-12 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup white chocolate chunks or chips    1. Using electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and sugar together in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well.   2. Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add to the butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition....