Fun with leftover turkey

Ah, Thanksgiving. Leftovers. The embarrassment of riches in an overflowing refrigerator. The challenge of using those riches to feed the family a few more times.

Crockpot Shepherd's Pie; poultry style

Make layers in crockpot:

• stuffing
• gravy
• vegetables
• turkey
• mashed potatoes

Heat on low for 6-8 hours. Optional; add grated cheese to the top an hour before serving.

BLTT Sandwiches
Add a layer of turkey, sliced thin, to your standard bacon lettuce tomato sandwiches.

Easy, delicious, not so same-old, same-old. Now it's your turn; share the wealth. What did you do with leftover turkey?

Stumble It!

A Bad Day at School: Reality Show Edition

Assistant: Who was that guy who visited your classroom late in the afternoon?
Daisy: the Superintendent of Schools for our district.
Director (to photographer): I hope you got a good angle on him. He's the big guy, the boss of the boss of the bosses.
Daisy: I hope you didn't get the kid falling out of her chair while he was there on camera.
Assistant: That was funny! And the kids who kept giggling; didn't get that this was an important guest.
Daisy: Funny? Hardly! He must think I'm a complete disaster; the kids were awful while he was here!
Director: We followed him next door. That class told him math is boring.
Daisy: Shakes head, hand on forehead. Is it Friday yet?

Back up, earlier in day.
Liaison officer: I need to talk to Johnny.
Daisy: Johnny, go with Officer Krumpke.
Director: Can we use that? He might be a juvenile offender. Those records would be sealed.
Daisy: No, no, no. He's just a bully who needs a little, um, firm hand. One with a badge and handcuffs to impress the point.
Liaison officer (returning to room): We need someone who actually witnessed the incident.
Daisy (to class): That means someone who saw it happen, not someone who heard the rumors.
Officer Krumpke: Speaking of rumors, let me clear up a rumor that's going around in your grade. I am not a school security guard; I'm a police officer.
Daisy (aside to Officer K, as they walk into the hallway, motions toward gun): That's a heck of an arsenal for a security guard.
Officer K: (laughs out loud)

Back up, earlier in day
Daisy (quietly, turns microphone off): Carter, did you take your medicine at lunchtime?
Carter (bouncing on chair): What? What?! I didn't do anything.
Daisy: I'll give you a choice: show me which you choose. You can start reading here, quietly, or you can take some time to settle down in the office.
Carter: No way!
Daisy: Show me. You're not in trouble; you just need to choose where you're going to read.
(three minutes later)
Daisy (on phone to office): Carter's on his way; he needs a little time to settle down before he comes back to class. He's bringing his book and his reading log.
Assistant to director: Gee, all the other kids settled down now, too.
Daisy: It's called removing the entertainment. Now back away with that camera and let me teach these kids to read!

Back up, shortly after sunrise
Assistant: Why do I have to ride in the mom-van with you and the photog?
Daisy: You drew the short straw. Oh, drat. Darn it!
Assistant: What happened? Did you forget your homework? Your lunch box? Ha-ha. Ha-ha.
Daisy: Worse. I forgot my coffee!!

Maybe that explains everything!

Stumble It!

When green products have wasteful packaging

Eco gifts. Love 'em or hate 'em (and how could anyone truly hate a gift that helps keep our planet healthy?), they're here to stay. Last year I gave reusable shopping bags, some simple, some fancy. This year, I'm still looking for the perfect inexpensive eco-gift for my extended family and friends.

Mother Nature Network has an unusual set of gift suggestions in their Quirky Gift Guide. I seriously like these bootie slippers, but they're a little pricey for my gift budget. My favorite, however, is this wallet. If Amigo needed a new wallet, this cute bifold made from ties and suits would be perfect.

I've been thinking of giving anti-static dryer balls as a stocking stuffer. They're inexpensive, long-lasting, useful, creative - all in all, a good gift for the family members who don't need Random Stuff in their Stockings. But wait: look at this wasteful packaging! Much bigger than the product itself, plastic galore, impossible to open without scissors, yada yada yada. In other words, how could such a good product come in such a terrible package?!

I contemplated returning it. Really. In the balance, is it worthwhile? Thinking long term, these simple anti-static balls will keep a year's worth of fabric softener chemicals out of the water supply, save $$ by removing the product from grocery lists, and help take good care of clothing in the process. That's my dilemma: does the good outweigh the bad?

Readers, what do you think? How do you balance the eco-good with the eco-bad? The green with the greenwashing? The green and frugal product in the plastic package?

Stumble It!

Are your holiday cards in the mail yet?

Mine are not on the way. Mine sometimes even end up going out close to or even after Christmas. I confess.

I heard a Plurk friend exclaiming that she'd already received a card from an uber-organized Martha type. I guarantee it wasn't me. In fact, I just cut up last year's cards a week ago! With the help of a few fun craft scissors and a basket full of holiday and birthday cards, I can create gift tags and little decorative pieces for gift wrap. Some cards will yield not just one, but several cute tags.

Martha Stewart doesn't live here. Nope. Never has, never will. But I'll tell you this: I haven't purchased gift tags since we were married 25 years ago. It's too much fun (and green and frugal)to do it this way!

Stumble It!