Tantalizing Thursday-Thanksgiving Leftovers Edition

Welcome to the Thanksgiving Edition of Tantalizing Thursday on Thanksgiving Day on Chief 187™Chatter.

As turkey graces the table of most of the American households today, it seems logical to offer some great uses for the leftover turkey that usually languishes in the refrigerator.

Recipes that taste similar to the original dinner are tasty but quickly become tiresome. But by using turkey as the protein to entirely different meals, the investment in the bird pays off in spades.

Enjoy these ideas for using the leftover turkey in entirely creative and scrumptious ways.

Chief’s Chef’s Salad

Ingredients:

1 bag of salad
1 cup of diced turkey
A few ounces of diced cheese, the more flavorful the better
1 hard-boiled egg, sliced
Various vegetables in bite-sized pieces
A handful of croutons
A drizzle of your favorite salad dressing

Directions:

Toss all ingredients together in a big bowl or serving platter. Serve.

*Turkey Chili

Combine up to a pound of turkey meat with a can of drained kidney beans, diced red and green peppers (or whatever color you’d like), diced onions, pureed tomato, and a package of chili seasonings from your grocery store. Let simmer and serve with corn bread, leftover dinner rolls, or tortilla chips.

*Turkey Gyro

Top pitas with turkey meat, lettuce, onion, and fresh tzatziki sauce. Tzatziki is made by mixing chopped cucumber, garlic, and lemon juice with a thick Greek yogurt.

*Turkey Mexican-Style

Replace the meat in tacos, fajitas, or enchiladas with leftover turkey.

*Turkey Panini

Slice a thick, crusty bread and spread the outsides with butter. Add layers of turkey, cheese, and cooked bacon. Cook on a griddle, using a heavy pan to hold the Panini flat while cooking. Flip over and continue to cook until Panini is golden brown and cheese is melted.

*Pulled Pork-Style Turkey

Chop up or pull apart leftover turkey meat. Toss with your favorite barbeque sauce. Serve on soft sandwich buns with a side of cole slaw.

*Turkey and Vegetable Stir Fry

Heat a wok or skillet with a little oil and sauté onions, garlic, and favorite stir fry vegetables. Add the turkey to heat and season with soy sauce or teriyaki. Serve over steamed rice.

There are so many ways to prepare the leftover turkey that you’ll be clamoring to make another bird next month just to try these all out!

Once again, I am most thankful for all of you and wish you all a very Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

*Recipes obtained on “Stuffed!”insert of the New Jersey Herald, Thursday, November 15, 2012

Thankful in 2012

*Due to the length of the article I am refraining from adding pictures. I hope you and yours have a very Happy Thanksgiving!*

On this eve of Thanksgiving I am reminded of all that I am thankful for in this year. My life has been touched by so many wonderful people – some who simply passed by and others who are lifelong friends.

I hope you can join me in reminiscing about the last twelve months and remembering all those for who you are thankful.

My list in no particular order:

Michele Rahal and Steve Waid – These two men deemed me a worthy employee and hired me after reading a “trial” article I penned. Their support, guidance, and platform have made me a far better writer and given me both confidence and validity in my career. My tenure at MotorsportsUnplugged.com I am most proud and thankful.

Jay and the Fans of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Fan Page – After writing an article about the late great Dale Earnhardt and promoting it to all I thought would care, Jay contacted me and asked if he could share it on his group page. I said “sure”. Little did I know that page had so many people – 500,000 at the time – and that my work would get featured there regularly. Jay’s support, graciousness, and friendship has meant the world to me. Having my work exposed to this group – now over 550,000 strong – has upped my numbers, added fans of my writing and radio work, and brought me in closer contact to the NASCAR fans.

Ronnie “Crate” Payne and Keith “Sinista 1” Hayes – After Homestead-Miami last November I was fortunate enough to do a one-off radio show with Crate and a friend of Keith’s. Crate and I had instant chemistry and could talk about NASCAR endlessly. The other fella just didn’t click, but I knew Keith would. Creating “Drafting the Circuits” and having these two great men co-host the program with me was one of the very greatest things I did this year. I am most thankful for their professionalism, work ethic, and friendship.

Gray Warren – A Facebook friend who consistently “Like”d my work, chatted with me, and made me smile, Gray became a guest of “Drafting the Circuits” in the early on. His work at Richard Childress Racing (RCR) along with his long history in NASCAR was what I was fascinated by and his great radio voice and infinite stories are what led to me asking Gray to be a co-host of the program. Gray is another man whom I am most thankful and who I am more than proud to call friend.

Lisa Lane – My oldest son had an eye problem diagnosed at the beginning of the year as “convergence insufficiency”. It was correctable by seeing an eye specialist and getting eye therapy – a special program to fix the way the brain used the eyes. Our doctor was good, but our therapist was extraordinary. A knowledgeable, patient, friendly, cool, and all-around wonderful woman named Lisa tasked my son each week for over three months. My son did all that was asked of him and more. She was thrilled with his progress as were we. Problems that used to plague my son throughout his life like reading, focusing on the written words, and more were no longer an issue at the end of his months of therapy. Lisa was a miracle worker to us. She was a friend, too. We no longer get to see her, but she is someone for whom my son and I will always be thankful.

Pat Leone – My husband chaired a race event at Pocono Raceway and hired professional flaggers to run the event. Pat was “control” – the boss. Within minutes of meeting we were the fastest of friends. By the time we left at the end of the weekend we had plans to attend the NASCAR race that was scheduled in a few short weeks – me as media with credentials I had earned at MotorsportsUnplugged.com and my husband working for Pat in security. Pat made a situation that seemed undoable into one that happened. I not only gained a fascinating and invaluable experience by attending a NASCAR race, but I gained a valuable friend in Pat.

My Parents – To ensure I could go to the races twice this season my parents stepped up big time. First they watched our children for a long weekend so we could go to Pocono. Next they helped defray the cost of getting me to Miami from New Jersey to get the job done. They are constantly believing in me, helping me, and cheering me on offering solutions at times when none others are presenting themselves. I am most thankful for them still parenting me.

Andy Delay and Bob Steele – My radio work garnered the attention of another radio man, Andy Delay. He invited me to do a five minute stint on his program “Burning Rubber Radio”. I did, we hit it off, and the rest, as they say, is history. My role morphed from a five minute segment to co-hosting duties. Another co-host on the program, Bob Steele, became my good buddy. He owns the Performance Motorsports Network on which “Burning Rubber Radio” is aired as well as “Drafting the Circuits”. Our professional lives continued to intersect and culminated in the three of us going to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the NASCAR Championship races. We did tons of LIVE radio work as well as taped interviews and gathered information for my articles. By the end of our weekend we were considering ourselves The Three Musketeers! And I knew in my heart these men were my forever friends.

My readership/listenership – I love what I do with a passion. Having an engaged, caring, supportive, interactive, and loyal group of people to read my articles and/or listen to my shows is so glorious that I am truly at a loss for words. Thankful? You bet, to the nth degree!

Coach White – My boys wanted to play Little League. We signed them up. My middle boy had a nice coach. My oldest boy had an exceptional one. Coach made baseball accessible to my boy who heretofore had never played. He encouraged my son when he seemed hopeless, challenged my son to get better, and used humor and firmness to reach all of the children. Having my son’s first team sport experience be with Coach White is something I am most thankful this year.

Friends – There is no substitute for dear friends who make you laugh, keep you company, identify with you, and keep you grounded. During Hurricane Sandy and the resulting aftermath we relied on our friends like never before and they on us. Knowing that we had true friends to do that with is something I am most thankful this year.

My Children – They cheer me like nothing else. They are and forever will be my greatest accomplishment in life. And I truly like them. I would honestly be friends with my children if they weren’t my own. I am always most thankful for them.

Samantha the Babysitter - We have always been most fortunate to have ideal babysitters who watch our children perfectly so my husband and I can go out and reconnect. Our current babysitter is another fabulous find who I adore and am so very thankful for constantly.

My husband – No matter what, he’s always at the very tip top of the last. Always and forever.

This is an abridged list. I hope this Thanksgiving your list runneth over along with your blessings.

Have a Blessed and Very Happy Thanksgiving from Chief 187™Chatter!

Simple Joys

Welcome to Simple Joys on Chief 187™Chatter.

As this is Thanksgiving Week Simple Joys is the most appropriate of posts. My husband calls Simple Joys my weekly gratitude list which it truly is.

Thanksgiving is a holiday that directs us to look inwardly to evaluate and give thanks. It seems to be an extension of Simple Joys.

For me, Thanksgiving is a celebration of the Simple Joys we’ve experienced in the 12 months since the last one.

This past week for me has been chock full of experiences filled with amazing opportunities, tremendous people, and Simple Joys at every turn.

And now, without further ado, is this week’s Simple Joys.

Magazines. I subscribe to several magazines that I enjoy but rarely have the time to read anymore. As I was planning what to pack for my trip to Homestead-Miami Speedway I was overly giddy that I’d be afforded the time to read.

As luck and timing would have it, the mail lady delivered two of my favorite magazines. What made it all the more delightful was they were the holiday/Christmas editions, my all-time favorite issues to peruse leisurely.

I set the magazines aside in my carry-on luggage and indulged in some luxurious reading on the plane. This was truly a very enriching and decadent Simple Joy!

Packing. Like most of you I detest packing. Whether I am going on a car trip with my entire family or traveling by plane I am panicked by the idea of choosing a finite amount of outfits, accessories, beauty products and hair appliances to satisfy my possible needs while away.

Traveling alone by plane to Miami required creativity and abandon of the creature comforts for “beauty” I normally require. I needed to have only carry-on luggage, be able to carry it myself, and turn out a decent me each day on minimal supplies.

I’ll leave the subjective opinion of how “beautiful” I was to others, but I found traveling with “bare-bones” supplies to be a huge and encouraging Simple Joy that I can survive with far less and be free from the tortures of “too much stuff”.

Confidence. As a teenager I had created opportunities for myself to travel via plane alone several times. I was a “seasoned” air traveler by 17. But, although I still board an airplane on average once a year, I hadn’t done it alone in over two decades.

In addition, this time I was traveling to a new city/airport, had sketchy plans, and was meeting people I work with on air for the very first time in person. It was all a bit overwhelming.

My plans had hiccups that required immediate decision-making and action along the way, but I rose to the occasion and handled everything by myself. All worked out well – excellently, actually – and I now revel in the Simple Joy that I had the confidence to handle everything myself.

Brother. I have a brother – my oldest – who lives in Florida. We are very close yet we don’t see one another nearly enough in recent years. My trip to Miami was for business, but circumstances allowed for us to get together my first night in town.

My brother drove over two hours to see me, take me to Coconut Grove, and dine with me al fresco at a neat café. We talked, laughed, had cocktails and shared dinner, and just had a dynamite time. Seeing my brother, even for that short time, was a grand and enriching Simple Joy.

My Team. The world we live in is a bit crazy even to this lady. My career takes place “on-line” and the people I am lucky enough to work with had heretofore existed there only to me. My trip to Miami was a last-minute deal that was offered to me by the station owner who airs two of the radio shows I do; I jumped at the chance.

Station owner and on-air talent Bob Steele and our co-host Andy Delay were the two men and talents who made up my team. We had instant chemistry in person like we’d experienced on air over the months we have worked together.

In fact, the chemistry is so strong with these two gentlemen that I know without a shadow of a doubt they are my lifelong friends.

Finally meeting and adoring my team was a Simple Joy that was most powerful and life-altering for the better in my life.

Normally I stop at five Simple Joys per week. This week I must add a sixth.

Family. I had the opportunity to ask the NASCAR community at Miami-Homestead Speedway about their Simple Joys as we headed into this Thanksgiving Weekend. I got a wide range of truly awesome answers. I am compiling them into a special article that will appear on MotorsportsUnplugged.com for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Although the answers I received were widely varied, one answer appeared most often – Family.

As I wing my way back to my home I know that no matter how much fun I had, how well I did my job, and how extraordinary my experiences were, my family – and being back with them – is the most important, strong, and passionate Simple Joy I have this week and every week.

Remember, Simple Joys are accessible to all who open their hearts and minds to them.

Certainly life presents obstacles, stresses, and road blocks to happiness, serenity, and peace. By changing one’s perspective even for a moment every hour to allow for Simple Joys to find you, life will improve, dark times will get brighter, and Simple Joys will grow exponentially with time.

Wishing you all another week filled with Simple Joys and a blessed Thanksgiving!

Monday Media Blog-Thanksgiving 2012 Edition

Welcome to the Monday Media Blog on Chief 187™Chatter.

This week is Thanksgiving! This is s a glorious holiday that speaks to family, togetherness, gratitude, thankfulness, and food!

Often Thanksgiving is left out of movies and television as it is sandwiched between Halloween and Christmas. It is perhaps less glamorous and popular than those two, but it definitely is a major force in the world of holidays.

Thanksgiving, however, has not been showcased and revered in media as much as Halloween and Christmas. But it does have starring roles.

List your favorite movie and/or television programs dealing with Thanksgiving.

Remember that parades, football games, special entertainment, and children’s movies/programming are all eligible as well as episodes of television series today and in the past.

I recall an episode of Family where Thanksgiving was given the royal treatment.

As Thanksgiving is one of my very favorite holidays I love to shine the spotlight on it before it becomes overshadowed by the Christmas season.

Happy Thanksgiving Week to you all!

Please join me for my weekly gratitude list (perfect for Thanksgiving) – the uplifting and ever-popular Simple Joys on Chief 187™Chatter.

Friday Music Blog-Championship Edition

Welcome to the Friday Music Blog on Chief 187™Chatter.

This week is the last race of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. At the end of the race a new champion will be crowned. The venue is Homestead-Miami Speedway for the 10th and final Chase Race of the season.

Championship races call to mind epic songs, celebratory pieces, and feel-good selections.

The first topic this week is songs that have the word “home” in its title, lyrics, and/or artist’s name.

Next choose songs with the word “Miami” in the title, lyrics, and/or artist’s name.

Songs that have the word “champion” in the title, lyrics, and/or artist’s name are next.

Lastly, list the song or songs you feel are appropriate to cheer on your driver.

Check on this blog throughout the day and weekend as new selections are listed periodically.

Weekends, in fact, are a terrific time to catch up on all things at Chief 187™Chatter.

Looking for simple yet delicious recipes? Try Tantalizing Thursday entrees. Trying to find a great movie, television program, or video game? Peruse the Monday Media Blogs (Monday Movie Blogs). Wanting an uplifting read or an entertaining one? Check out Simple Joys and Freestyle Wednesday posts. By utilizing the handy search feature located on the upper left hand side of this page you can find any archived articles fitting your needs.

Instead of fighting crowds – and germs – at the mall for holiday shopping, use my Amazon link to shop online. Simply enter through my Amazon link located on the sideboard (right hand side of this page). Browse, add to your cart, and check out in one transaction and, to no extra cost to you, my organization benefits greatly. I truly appreciate your support.

If you are looking for a unique gift or some neat items that show your love of Chief 187™, please visit my online store located at http://cafepress.com/Chief187. There are several pieces of high quality apparel, paper products, housewares, electronic sleeves, bags, and novelties that feature a unique Chief 187™ design, the Chief 187™ website, and/or Chief 187™’s likeness. With over 60 items from which to choose and items at all different price points, there is literally something for everyone. Be sure to check online for coupon codes for sales at Cafepress.

I am concluding my second week without power, internet, cable, and phones as well as two weeks without my children in school. Life is interesting to say the least in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. But I have found solace and relief in writing posts for Chief 187™Chatter.

Each time I am fortunate to secure an internet connection I check to see how the articles are doing without my promotion. And they are being read and so well-received. I am so grateful for my loyal readership, your comments, and the shares that occur across the Internet!

Thank you for standing by me, reading the content, and just being there. You are truly my ever-present Simple Joys.

Join me next week as we begin another week of new, fresh, and original blogs on Chief 187™Chatter.

Tantalizing Thursday-Thanksgiving Edition

Welcome to Tantalizing Thursday on Chief 187™Chatter.

It is one week until Thanksgiving, the greatest food holiday on the planet!

But this year my family will not have extended family for the big day so we are contemplating not having a Thanksgiving feast at home.

Last year on Tantalizing Thursday I posted the 187 Family Thanksgiving Menu available in the archvies.

This year I want to offer alternative recipes for families who want to shake things up or for those, like my family, who have no set plans.

What makes Thanksgiving so special and delicious is the multitude of side dishes that accompany the main course of roasted (or fried or grilled) turkey.

Classic green bean casserole with the French fried onions is a mainstay on many tables, but sometimes something different – and lighter and healthier – is appreciated. Try this one from Rachel Ray.

Green Beans with Stewed Tomatoes
Recipe found in Rachel Ray 30 Minute Meals Get-Togethers ©2003

Ingredients:

1 large bag (16 ounces) whole frozen green beans
1 can (14 ounces) stewed tomatoes
2 scallions, chopped
Extra-virgin olive oil (evoo), for drizzling (about 2 teaspoons)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine beans and stewed tomatoes, scallions, and a drizzle of evoo. Loosely cover bowl with plastic wrap and microwave on high, 5 minutes. Stir and microwave on high 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.

This recipe is far less caloric than its traditional cousin and also frees up the oven for other dishes. It is flavorful, colorful, healthy, and fast. Definitely worth a try!

From Ray’s same book there is a recipe ideal to serve as well.

Butternut Squash with Thyme
Rachel Ray 30 Minute Meals Get-Togethers ©2003

Ingredients:

½ cup chicken broth
2 boxes (10 ounces each) frozen cooked butternut squash
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese


Directions:

In a medium pot, bring chicken broth to a simmer over medium heat. Add squash and cook together until squash is warm through and loose. Stir in thyme, salt, pepper, and cheese, and cook over low heat to combine flavors. Place in a serving bowl and serve.

Two of the most important sides on any Thanksgiving spread are mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. I will admit that I have used potato flakes and canned cranberries for most of my culinary career and am thrilled with them. But, if you have the time and inclination here are a couple of simple recipes that should yield huge taste and bring on the compliments to the chef.

Company Potatoes
Recipe found in Gooseberry Patch Old Fashioned Country Christmas ©1995
Contributed by Valerie Bryan

Ingredients:

5 lbs. potatoes
2 c. sour cream
8 oz. cream cheese
¼ lb. margarine or butter


Directions:

Wash, peel, and cook potatoes until soft. Turn in to an electric mixer and add sour cream, cream cheese and margarine. Mix until smooth. Spoon into a greased 2-qt. casserole dish. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes, or until bubbly. The depth of the casserole dish may cause a variance in the baking time. Company potatoes can be made days ahead of time and refrigerated. Perfect for a family gathering!


Lastly the cranberry sauce. It is always necessary to have the canned stuff – both jellied and whole berry – on hand for the “purists” among your guests, but this recipe may convert those who are adventurous.

Cranberry Sauce
Recipe found in Gooseberry Patch Old-Fashioned Country Christmas ©1995
Contributed by Linda Crowley

Ingredients:

2 lb. whole berry cranberry sauce
6 T. orange liqueur
6 T. lemon juice
1 t. dry mustard


Directions:

Mix all the ingredients. Boil until reduced one-fourth. This will make your holiday turkey unforgettable.


These recipes can be used for the big Thanksgiving Day meal but can also be filed away for other dinners.

Wishing you all a very blessed, happy, healthy, and gratitude-filled Thanksgiving!

Remember to Be Kind

It always amazes me how rude some people are. Perhaps it shouldn’t amaze me. Some say that rude is the norm and my Pollyanna view of the world is ridiculous at best. But I don’t live my life rudely and I don’t understand those who do. As a teacher, a mother, and a human being, I don’t feel rudeness is ever the way to go.

In childhood we are taught to say our “Please” and “Thank you”. Somewhere along the way, as adults, many have forgotten those simple yet heartfelt phrases.

Two encounters I had prompted today’s topic.

First, I was in the Target discount store inquiring about a toy I want Santa to bring my daughter. The women I asked tried to help me but the toy was unavailable. I thanked them for their help and they suggested I return on Black Friday – the day after Thanksgiving when all stores, including Target, offer huge savings and deals to lure shoppers.

Typically I like to be finished with my shopping long before that red letter day. The ladies both dreaded the upcoming event as it was mandatory for all employees to work that day. While both insisted they liked their jobs and were happy to be employed, they relayed that the customers who descend on Black Friday were usually rude and unkind.

This angers me. In my past I have worked retail during holiday seasons (not only that season but through it). There is no reason to treat retail workers with rudeness and disdain. They are human beings with feelings, too. They are working during the holiday weekend to serve the consumers when they’d like to be home with family or out shopping for their own.

It is not their fault if an item is sold out or out of stock. For the most part these men and women are running on little to no sleep, have limited resources, and are reporting to work regardless of illness, family life, or anything else.

Try to smile, speak kindly, and keep your patience.

It is my belief that every person should have to work retail one holiday season so they could understand firsthand what it is like. People, I believe, would be far less rude and much more considerate.

The next incident that occurred had to do with the phone company. Over the weekend my road was finally surveyed for damage – we’ve had several utility poles down – and replaced the poles. When the crews first arrived my neighbor was livid – she didn’t want to see the phone company, she only wanted to see the power company.

My neighbor was gruff with the crews. I, on the other hand, offered them a restroom, a drink, or any other creature comfort they might need. My neighbor tried to change her demeanor in her embarrassment, but left for the house soon after.

The telephone crew declined my offer with a warm smile and set straight to work. I spoke with the manager of the team assembled and he relayed a tale from earlier in the week. No less than 12 women in a neighborhood surrounded him to “bitch him out”.

This annoys me.

Am I tired of living without power? Yes. Do I miss my internet/cable/and phones? Heck yeah!

But I understand my state has been through the wringer. Could they have come to us sooner? Perhaps, but yelling at the crew does nothing but take time away from their work. It doesn’t change anything. And, like the employees of Target, they are not the ones responsible for this mess.

I firmly believe if people started addressing others respectfully no matter their line of work life would improve. If a smile replaced a grimace, a kind word a negative one, and patience and understanding replaced irate anger then our world would be a nicer one.

I suppose I am a bit of a Pollyanna. But, I’ll tell you this, I genuinely treat people well. All people. And when I am upset about something I use sweet tone rather than an angry one.

If people just stopped and thought about the Golden Rule – “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” – then this world would be infinitely better.