Noda Interaction Platforms celebrates its momentous feat in Philippines

Russian software solutions provider for contact centers, Noda Interaction Platforms recently celebrated its successful launch in the Philippines by throwing a true-blue Russian ice party in Imperial Ice Bar to its local partners, customers and media representatives.

Noda Interaction Platforms with its partner Jebssen&Jessen

Guests were treated with overflowing drinks, food and cocktails in a below zero temperature venue, which is perfect in the midst of summer heat.

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Margherita Flatbread

Well I had a fantastic weekend with friends and family where we went to a waterpark resort in Wisconsin Dells. One of the great things about our trip was that we rented out a large 2 bedroom suite that included a full kitchen. Having this available to use for our meals during our stay saved us some money and I was able to get my kitchen therapy fix. One of our meals included this Margherita Flatbread. A savory flatbread crust is topped with fresh mozzarella cheese, zesty tomato sauce and shreds of fresh basil and diced tomato for a quick and easy meal or snack...

I've partnered up with Flatout's New Thin Crust Flatbreads because Joel is a big fan of pizza and I love how kid friendly the flatbreads are. He helped me make this and enjoyed every minute of it. Another great thing about these New Thin Crust Flatbreads is that they don't take long to cook up - our yummy flatbread pizzas were ready in only six minutes!

Being at the resort away from home, I was thankful that there was a Walmart Supercenter store nearby to grab last minute items and even groceries. When I was there shopping for a few ingredients, I was glad to see Walmart carrying Flatout's New Thin Crust Flatbreads. So if you have a Walmart nearby, you can pick up the flatbreads there. If you're wondering where you can find Flatout's New Thin Crust Flatbreads, here's a link to help!

Now these Flatout's New Thin Crust Flatbreads are not gluten free. I enjoyed them with a gluten intolerance supplement. But if your family is not particular about gluten and they love pizza, they'll enjoy these for sure. Another thing to note is that these can be baked up in the oven or be used on the grill. I opted for baking in the oven since we didn't have a grill accessible at the resort we stayed at.

Definitely check out their Facebook page where they are featuring 30 Days of Grilled Pizza recipes as well as the "Let's Eat!" sweepstakes they are hosting that includes a trip for two to Chicago's Taste of Chicago (includes airfare, hotel and $150 spending cash.) I would love to have a reader win - it is Chicago afterall! Maybe we can even meet up while you're in town! Enter the giveaway below through Facebook...

Flatout Flatbread "Taste of Chicago" Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Margherita Flatbread
recipe from Flatout Flatbread

1 Flatout® Thin Crust Flatbread Spicy Italian
½ Medium Tomato, diced
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella, sliced fresh mozzarella or shredded Italian cheese blend
6 Small fresh Basil leaves
2 Tbsp. Balsamic vinegar (optional)


For the grill - Preheat grill to 350°F. Pre-bake the flatbread on the grill for 1-2 minutes. Remove flatbread from grill. Top with cheese, tomato and basil. Return flatbread to grill; close lid. Continue to grill for four minutes or until cheese is melted through. Remove from grill; drizzle with balsamic if desired before serving.

For the oven - Place Flatout Flatbread on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for two minutes. Remove and top with cheese, tomato and basil. Return back to oven and bake for four minutes or until cheese has melted. Remove from oven; drizzle with balsamic if desired before serving.

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ʽΈχουν κάνει την αλητεία επιστήμη

 

 

ʽΈχουν  κάνει την αλητεία επιστήμη

                      ΕΥΓΕΝΙΑ ΗΛΙΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ

Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα. Εβδομάδα των παθών. Στην Βουλή των Ελλήνων πέρασε το πολυνομοσχέδιο .Η τρικομματική κυβέρνηση ησυχάζει για λίγο. Οι στόχοι της ΄΄ ανάπτυξης ΄΄ μας αρχίζουν και είναι εφικτοί. Με 168 «ναι», 123 «όχι» και ένα «παρών» η Ελλάδα μας οδεύει προς την επιτυχία. Όπως τονίζει ο κύριος Στουρνάρας  «ανοίγει τον δρόμο» για την εκταμίευση της παρακρατημένης δόσης διάσωσης ύψους 2,8 δισεκατομμυρίων ευρώ,. Ελληνικά :θα μεγαλώσουν τα χρέη μας ,οι τράπεζες θα αυξήσουν τα κέρδη τους και εμείς θα γίνουμε πιο φτωχοί αφού κάθε ημέρα που περνά μας φορτώνουν περισσότερα χρέη στην πλάτη.

  Μετά από τόσους μήνες χωρίς  να πληρωθούν οι εφημερίες μας ήρθε η μεγάλη ημέρα. Αυτά που μας χρωστούσαν (Δεκ 2012 έως και Μάρτης 2013) μας τα δίνουνε μαζεμένα για να μην καταλάβουμε την μπαμπεσιά. Να μην καταλάβουμε την κλοπή. Από την χαρά μας που επιτέλους βλέπουμε λεφτά δεν θα μετρήσουμε πόσα λείπουν. Κουτοπονηριά αλλά τι να πούμε εμείς οι γιατροί τι στιγμή που υπάρχουν πολλοί άλλοι εργαζόμενοι που δεν έχουν πληρωθεί και δεν θα πάρουν παρά ελάχιστα. Το κράτος το παρουσιάζει και σε στυλ μην μιλάτε εσείς οι προνομιούχοι που δεν θα χάσετε την δουλειά σας και έχετε το προνόμιο της  άμεσης επαφής με την δημόσια υγεία. Δηλαδή σε περίπτωση ανάγκης κάποιος θα σας προσέξει. Είναι γνωστή η αλληλεγγύη και η συναδελφική συμπαράσταση που ισχύει ανάμεσα στους λειτουργούς υγείας.

 

 

  Εδώ και τρία  χρόνια  το μόνο που βλέπουμε εμείς οι λειτουργοί υγείας είναι  περικοπές και  μειώσεις προσωπικού. Το μόνο που ακούμε από τα υπουργικά χείλη είναι υποσχέσεις για βελτιώσεις και παραμύθια. Το ΄΄θα΄΄ κυριαρχεί σε όλα τα επίπεδα. Ενίοτε κοκορεύεται  ότι αυξήθηκε κατά 40 % η προσέλευση του κοινού στο ΕΣΥ και μειώθηκαν οι χρεώσεις στα φάρμακα. Η πολιτική του Μνημονίου έχει οδηγήσει σε μείωση 32% της δημόσιας δαπάνης υγείας το 2012( σε σχέση με το 2009) , σε μείωση 52% της ιδιωτικής δαπάνης και σε μείωση 40% της συνολικής δαπάνης υγείας(από 22,5 δισ. ευρώ το 2009( 9,7% του ΑΕΠ) έπεσε στα 13,5 δισ. ( 6,4% του ΑΕΠ). Δεν βλέπει ότι το ΕΟΠΥΥ είναι σε τροχιά  χρεοκοπίας; Για τι ξεχνάει  ότι με τι ηλεκτρονικές ΄΄τρικλοποδιές΄΄ και τις  αλλαγές κωδικών    πολλοί συνάδελφοι αδυνατούν να γράψουν ηλεκτρονικές συνταγές. Έτσι  ο κόσμος αναγκάζεται να ξοδέψει από την τσέπη του για να πάρει τα απαραίτητα φάρμακα του και δεν μπαίνουν σε καμία ηλεκτρονική στατιστική. Δεν ξέρει για τις  τεράστιες ελλείψεις σε υλικά (από γάζες, σύριγγες και βαμβάκι μέχρι υλικά για χειρουργικές επεμβάσεις) που απορρέουν από την πιστή εφαρμογή του μνημονίου που επιβάλλει ρητά και κατηγορηματικά περικοπές;

  ʽΈχουν  κάνει την αλητεία επιστήμη΄΄  Αυτά λες  όταν διαβάζεις το χαρτί της μηχανογράφησης σε ότι αφορά στην πληρωμή των εφημεριών μας .Αυτά σκέφτεσαι όταν ακούς τις περίπλοκες δικαιολογίες τους. ΄΄Εργαζόμαστε αλλά τους χρωστάμε από πέρσι όταν μας πλήρωσαν κανονικά΄΄ .Όλα αυτά δεν μπορούν παρά να σου προκαλέσουνε μία τεράστια αηδία. Πετσοκομμένος μισθός, έντονη ναυτία και μία ακαταμάχητη όρεξη να μουντζώσεις τους πολιτικούς μας !  

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Sale ON: MyPhone A9191 Duo Priced at Php 7,900 - 1 Day SALE at SM North Edsa

Dubbed "Something BIG has come your way IN FULL BLAST" MyPhone A919i Duo will go on sale on April 30, 2013 at SM North EDSA Annex for Php 7,900 from it's original price of Php 9,590 for that day only.

MyPhone A919i Duo is pack with Quad-core 1.2 GHz processor and equipped with 8 MP Back Camera with dual LED flash and runs on Android v4.1.2 (Jelly Bean).

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Chicken McMarnee Fingers

My child is a statistic in that he enjoys chicken fingers like many other children. We've hit that phase where he enjoys it several times a week. However rather than resorting to the already prepared and processed versions in the grocery store's freezer case, I've opted to make them myself at home. Our favorite way these days is made with sour cream and onion potato chips! These Chicken 'McMarnee' Fingers are crispy, crunchy, and healthier chicken strips with hints of sour cream and onion flavor baked in...

I got this recipe from The Baron's mom, Marnee awhile back and after making it, we were all hooked. Potato chips are a staple in my gluten free kitchen and as I've done before, they make a great coating on meats. With chicken, we particularly enjoyed the sour cream and onion chips but you can use whatever kind you like for a different spin. Not a fan of flavored chips? Stick with the classic plain for a simple variation.

Chicken McMarnee Fingers
recipe adapted from The Baron's Mom, Marnee

2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup crushed Sour Cream & Chive flavored potato chips {Pringles* has wheat starch}
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

Put chicken breasts in a  shallow pan and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Whisk egg and water together in another shallow pan.

Combine potato chips, melted butter and parsley in a gallon sized storage bag.

Dip seasoned chicken in egg wash and then place in storage bag with potato chip mixture. Seal bag and shake to coat the chicken. Transfer coated chicken to a baking pan and repeat with all chicken strips.

Bake in preheated oven uncovered for 20-30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through; juices run clear.

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Pugad Baboy the Comic Strip: Mostly Politics

Here's another weekend dose of Pugad Baboy comic strip from Philippine Daily Inquirer, this time the topic is mostly about Polictics and Kris.

 Another week of fun from the Pol Medina and his Pugad Baboy team. This week they take the conversation about Kris, Politics and North Korea. 

Happy Weekends. Have Fun...

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Multiply Closing Shop this coming May 6

This is a sad news to all, I'm an avid fan of Multiply and I've even help some friends setup some store here, but it looks like Multiply Store is closing it's shop on May 6, 2013. So if have store in here better move it other online store like sulit.com and ebay.ph.

We regret to announce that Multiply will be closing on May 6, 2013 and ceasing all business operations by May 31, 2013.

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Test Drive the new Nokia Lumia 720 for 5 days

Want to experience the new Windows Phone 8 in Nokia Lumia 72, Nokia Philippines have an ongoing promotion of their Facebook Page. Have a chance to test drive the Lumia 720 for 5 days and it's easy to apply.

Light and slim. Bright and beautiful. Be one of the first few to experience the Nokia Lumia 720 for five days with our Test Drive program. Registration is from April 26-30, 2013 only. Book yours today! The retail price for the Lumia 720 is around Php15,000 depends on the store.

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HTC One - Local Price and Availability

Expect the HTC One to be launch on 3rd week of May, this is according to Regional reps from HTC SEA, this is because of low supply on some of the components. HTC One is one of the latest offering from HTC that runs on Android 4.1.2.

  
HTC One is powered by a Quad-Core 1.7Ghz Snapdragon processor, with 2GB of RAM and choices of 32GB/64GB available capacity, because this smartphone does not come with an extra SD card slot.

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Started Tattooing As A New Hobby

I was feeling listless, in the need of something new, something different.  I was at a loss, so I sort of, on a whim, decided that I needed to become a tattoo artist.

I was feeling listless, in the need of something new, something different.  I was at a loss, so I sort of, on a whim, decided that I needed to become a tattoo artist.  I started by making a terrible rookie tattoo on my person but decided to up the bar and do something I could actually be proud of.  For that, I needed to buy some tattoo supplies.

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Autism, Grand Mal Seizures, Meds: Conor Needs Some Kermit Komfort!

Conor enjoys some Kermit Komfort this morning while sleeping and awaiting a trip to see our family physician.  It has been a very difficult week for my Buddy as we work through his seizure and medication issues. Hoping things turn for the better today!

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Dell Opens New Concept Store in SM North EDSA

Dell gets closer to the IT market in the northern metro with its recent concept store opening in the Cyberzone area of SM North EDSA Annex. The concept store will showcase an extensive range of the latest Dell products.

 

Known for its high quality computer products, Dell has collaborated with Villman Computers to pave the way for the concept store opening.  

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Iron Man 3 - The Official Game is now Available on App Store

With the Iron Man 3 now showing in almost every cinema in the Metro, today is the day that the Official Iron 3 game can be download on App Store. So after you have watched the movie why not try your skills on the Iron Man 3 - Official game.

Description
Become billionaire Tony Stark as Iron Man in this fast-paced, endless runner; the official game!
After the events of Iron Man 3, Tony has become a peacekeeper, but new threats emerge regularly all around the globe -- and Iron Man is the only one who can take care of them. Get ready for this addictive, endless 3D runner!

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Italian Potato Breaded Pork Chops

When it comes to gluten free cooking, you may be surprised how easy it is to adapt everyday recipes into something gluten free. Sometimes it takes a little thinking outside the box but it's possible and gluten free living doesn't need to be expensive or involve stocking your pantry with specialty items. Take for example these Italian Potato Breaded Pork Chops. Pork chops are seasoned and coated in a savory coating of crushed potato chips, Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese before cooking up flavorful and crispy for a gluten free meal...

Having been living gluten free now for over a year and a half, it has definitely gotten easier to adapt to a gluten free diet. I have an intolerance for gluten so what may work for me may not necessarily work for those who have celiac disease. I will admit there are times when I do have some gluten laden foods and that's when I'll take a gluten intolerance supplement which helps tremendously. At first it was tempting to just indulge in all gluten laden things when I started using the supplement but after finding out the hard way, it wasn't the smartest thing for me to do lol.

The original recipe called for panko breadcrumbs. Finding gluten free panko may not only be challenging but expensive too. So rather than paying more than I needed to, I looked into my pantry and used crushed up potato chips instead. And they worked deliciously! So whenever a recipe calls for panko, I reach for potato chips to save me time and money. See... gluten free living isn't that hard!

Italian Potato Breaded Pork Chops
recipe adapted from Giada De Laurentiis

1 cup crushed potato chips
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
2 large eggs
6 bone in  pork loin chops, about 1/3 inch-thick (1 1/2 pounds total)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons olive oil


Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.

Combine the cheese, italian seasoning and potato chips in a shallow dish. set aside. Lightly beat the eggs in another large shallow dish. Sprinkle the pork generously with salt and pepper. Dip the pork, 1 piece at a time, in the egg, allowing the excess to drip off, then dredge the pork in the potato chip mixture, patting to coat completely. Place the pork on a small baking sheet.

Heat 1/4 cup of oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the pork to the hot oil and cook until golden brown and just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then transfer them to a clean baking sheet and keep them warm in the oven. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil to the skillet and fry the remaining pork.
Serve warm.

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A Foggy Day in San Francisco

San Francisco has only one drawback - ’tis hard to leave. 

– Rudyard Kipling 

A stroll around the old French Quarter of New Orleans, the weather as hot and steamy as the city’s reputation; dinner and theater, of course, in vibrant New York, a sidle up to an ice cream truck to appease our sweet tooth, vanilla for her, chocolate for me; and now a morning under the fog at the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market and lunch in San Francisco. Dianne Jacob and I have made it a rule and a tradition to spend time together whenever we are lucky enough to find ourselves at the same conference. I flew to her city, San Francisco and together we wended our way over to and through the market, snapping photos and ogling the great foods and products, chatting away the morning.

Bundles of vibrant vegetables, bins of colorful spuds, baskets of tantalizing, intriguing greens, fragrant citrus and grapefruit so sweet a bite excited no pucker, no grimace, no spurt of tartness. Cheeses nutty, earthy, salty or mild, hunks and wheels jumbled together on card tables, slices picked off the sharp edge of a knife for the tasting; these and more carried us through the market, up and down the crowded aisles.

The pewter sky threatened rain yet remained clear, settling into a steely mood, anything but dismal. The fog hung low over the mountain, swallowing up the distant edges of the bridge creating an eerie, magical black and white vision. Tables spattered with shimmering raindrops, buckets filled with brilliant tulips, irises and peonies, snap snap snap experience the market through the lens of a camera.

(photo courtesy of Dianne Jacob)

What fascination at a market! I find myself three or four mornings a week at our own local market – never ever considered a “farmer’s” market. What else would it be? We purchase our vegetables, local, seasonal, fresh, much with the dirt still clinging to leaves and roots, fragrant bread fresh from the oven, cheeses heady with the farm. Our meats, chicken and fish come from the market, carried home in a fabric carryall or basket, nestled in between the choucroute, Indian dal, tiny ratte fingerling potatoes from neighboring Noirmoutier and bottles of wine from Nantes’ muscadet vineyards. So a market should be ho hum daily fare to me, shouldn’t it? A market should hold no secrets, no fascination for me. But this one does. I see colors and kinds of vegetables I have never known to exist? I see baskets filled with rare fist-sized morel mushrooms, a sight to behold, eliciting a squeal. I see eager, hungry people waiting in line for typically American food that I sorely miss when in France. And I turn and look out over San Francisco Bay, the water glistening under soft gray skies, a gossamer haze of fog still and silent, suspended in midair. There is something enchanting, something that inspires childlike wonder even in this jaded soul.

Lunch is always the most difficult choice for two who can’t ever seem to decide. Paper plates on knees, Asian flavors, the newly emerged sun warming our faces as we collect our belongings around us on this wooden bench overlooking the bay, pigeons clacking and fluttering around our feet.

A tight hug and away. Until next time.

Leaving San Francisco is like saying goodbye to an old sweetheart. 

You want to linger as long as possible. 

- Walter Cronkite

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Assault Fire PH, Level Up! introduces a First Person Shooting Game

Level UP, Philippines leading online game publisher, has just introduced today its latest on FPS(first person shooting) game, Assault Fire.

Assault Fire is a Game develop by Tencent Games a Chinese game developer, which boasts of next-gen 3D graphics, new and intense game modes. The game is a warfare type of simulated 3D game you can be either a Global Security Defense Unit or GSDU, or the Renegade Group Resistance.

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Oxtail Stew

It's practically the end of April, yet the weather is on a serious delay and it feels like winter. I know many folks are so anxiously awaiting for spring to actually arrive and stay longer than a day or two! But I guess one good thing about the weather is that it allows me to enjoy some comforting dishes a little while longer. I recently made this Oxtail Stew that is so rich, meaty and flavorful with a tomato based sauce and studded with peas and pearl onions. Served atop a bed of rice, this is a stick to your ribs, hearty meal on a chilly spring day...

For those that are not familiar with oxtails, this is a cut of beef from the tail end. It's a cut that is especially great for slow cooking and braising until it falls off the bone. The Baron was new to this cut of beef and so it's taking him some time to understand it since he has aversions to meat on bones. Nonetheless, Joel and I loved this dish - and all things made with oxtail. If you prefer, you can substitute the oxtail with beef stew meat for something similar... but it won't give off the same silky rich texture that oxtails do.

Oxtail Stew
recipe adapted from Sunny Anderson

4 pounds oxtails
2 large Vidalia onions, chopped
3 scallions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, smashed
1 bunch fresh thyme
2 tablespoons red pepper flakes
4 teaspoons hot paprika
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons hot sauce
6 cups low-sodium beef broth
4 teaspoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons salt
1 cup frozen peas
1 1/2 cup frozen pearl onions



In the base of a slow cooker or crockpot,  add oxtails, onions, scallions, garlic, thyme, red pepper, paprika, bay leaf, and hot sauce and marinate at least 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator, stirring occasionally.

Place the base into the slow cooker or crockpot. Add enough water to just cover the oxtails and cook on low for 6 hours, occasionally adding water to keep oxtails covered with liquid.

After 6 hours and the oxtails have become tender, add the tomato paste, and 2 more cups of beef broth and water, if needed. Cook on high for another hour,, skimming fat off top and stirring occasionally.

In the last 15 minutes of cook time, season with 2 tablespoons salt, add the peas and pearl onions and stir.

Just before serving, remove oxtail from the bone - as it should naturally fall off from the long cooking. Serve over rice.

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Broccoli Mac & Cheese

Macaroni and cheese has a way with children. Well, my child at least. It seems like Joel is on a macaroni and cheese kick and the good thing is, I enjoy it just the same. But I will admit that I'm not one for the blue box kind. Oh no... I prefer making macaroni and cheese from scratch if at all possible. These days it's pretty much inevitable since I have to use gluten free pasta for my gluten intolerance. Now pasta and cheese is just good all by itself, however I prefer jazzing it up in different ways. Take for example this Broccoli Mac & Cheese which incorporates broccoli florets and pasta in a rich, velvety, creamy cheese sauce. Blue box, step aside... a big boy version has come to the table...

I'm really fortunate that Joel enjoys his vegetables more than I anticipated. Often times the first thing he's eat off his dinner plate are his vegetables because I try to keep them colorful and the most appealing on his plate. {Thank goodness it's working, at least for now!} He's a big fan of broccoli and macaroni & cheese... so I figure why not combine the two? When I found a recipe for it online, I knew it was going to be a hit not only with Joel but the Baron as well. We loved how the cheese sauce went well with the broccoli and pasta, tying everything together deliciously...

Broccoli Mac & Cheese
recipe adapted from Cooking Light

• 3 cups frozen broccoli florets 
• 8 ounces uncooked macaroni or gluten free macaroni
• 1 tablespoon butter 
• 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or gluten free flour
• 1 1/4 cups 2% reduced-fat milk 
• 1/4 cup onions, minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 ounces reduced-fat processed American cheese, cut into pieces 
• 2 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1/2 cup packed) 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
• 
  

Cook pasta in boiling water according to package direcations; drain and set aside to keep warm.

In a large saucepan over medium high heat, melt butter in pan. Add the onion and garlic, cooking until softened.

Add the flour over the sauteed onions and garlic and whisk. Allow the flour to cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly with the whisk.

Gradually add milk to the flour mixture in pan and bring to a boil, while continuing to whisk. Cook for 1 minute or until the milk slightly thickens and remove from heat.

Stir in the American cheese and cheddar cheese; stir until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then stir in broccoli and pasta.

Return the saucepan over medium heat and warm up until heated through. Serve immediately.

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Plated Stories - An Interlude

JUST A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

On the heels of a fabulous IACP conference, I just wanted to pause to make a few announcements. An interlude. Things happen that excite, things happen that make one glow with pride. Things happen that must be shared. My readers know that several things have been brewing, that I have been working hard on projects right and left. Now, not all have yet come to fruition, but it is time to share just a few before getting back to regularly scheduled blogging.

I am very, very excited to announce a new blog, a creative collaboration between myself and my talented friend Ilva Beretta – one, a writer who sees in words, the other, a photographer who sees in images. Plated Stories allows us to explore our creativity, find inspiration, express ourselves in a way that we normally may not; an artistic symbiosis, a professional partnership that now goes beyond our individual endeavors. We will choose a different theme each week, a simple idea, and she will style and shoot and I will write, each on her own, allowing the theme itself to inspire us separately and uniquely. Every Monday we will come together and post what we have done on Plated Stories, sure that there will indeed be a visual and a verbal story told. A simple concept, an exciting adventure that we invite you to accompany us on.

Our very first post is up – the theme is MILK. We are just starting this journey and are still trying to orient ourselves and read the map, but we know that Plated Stories will allow us to grow creatively and begin to explore and experiment more and more.

Just as I arrived in San Francisco, my first story was published on Leite’s Culinaria. I am thrilled to see my words appear on this tremendous and prestigious site and I thank David and Renee for everything! If you haven’t read it yet, How To Eat A Porcupine is a brief tale of a highly unusual Nigerian food adventure.

When it rains, it pours. While I was in San Francisco, I received an email asking me to participate in TED Weekends – a collaborative effort between TED Talks and Huffington Post. My piece titled Edible Americanness is my vision of how food and culture intertwine and how it lives in my own kitchen.

Many of my friends and readers have been urging me to write a book. Thanks to guidance, advice, encouragement and beyond from dear friend Nancie McDermott, Bill Leblond of Chronicle Books and one of my favorite writers, Kathleen Flinn, I just want to let you know I am now on my way.

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Beef & Cabbage Stir Fry

Happy Monday! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and are ready for this new week ahead. Now that tax season is officially in that most of us have already filed our taxes by the deadline, I can't help but think of budget meals. A budget friendly meal I made recently is this Beef & Cabbage Stir Fry. This is a dish my mom made growing up and is considered a nostalgic favorite among me and my siblings. Ground beef is stir fried with shredded cabbage and a soy sauce based sauce before serving up over steamed rice. Easy, affordable and delicious...

What makes this a budget meal is that it uses affordable ingredients and stretches it out to feed plenty. Ground beef, half a head of cabbage {roughly 2-3 cups shredded} and some Asian pantry staples like soy sauce {or in my case, gluten free tamari}, oyster sauce and cornstarch are stir fried together. It comes together rather quickly so you can easily have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes from start to finish.

When I made this for The Baron and Joel, I was immediately taken back to my childhood. I even called my sister while we had dinner and she asked for a picture of our meal so she could live vicariously through it lol. I'm so glad that The Baron liked this dish... and he liked it so much that he had seconds! {Actually we all did lol!}

Beef & Cabbage Stir Fry
recipe adapted from my mom

1 tablespoon soy sauce or gf tamari
2 teaspoons {gf} oyster sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
1 onion, minced
3 garlic cloves, smashed
1 1/2 pounds ground beef {80/20}
2-3 cups shredded regular cabbage

In a small bowl, combine together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, and cornstarch; set aside.

Heat wok or large skillet over high heat and add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, swirling to coat. Add onion and garlic, cooking until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add ground beef, breaking it up in the wok. Cook, undisturbed, 2 minutes, then stir-fry until meat is browned and most of the rendered liquid is absorbed

Add the cabbage over the ground beef and let it steam undisturbed on top of the beef for about 2 minutes.

Stir soy mixture in the bowl and add to skillet. Stir-fry the cabbage, beef and soy mixture together until sauce is simmering and slightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes.

Serve over rice.

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Autism and the Natural Environment: Conor Celebrates Earth Day Every Day

Today is Earth Day! Conor celebrated yesterday with some Run, Jump, Fly fun on the North Riverfront Trail here in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.  We try to get outdoors and celebrate our natural environment with Conor every day, every chance we get. 

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O εκπαιδευτικός Γκουλιώνης Στέφανος κινδυνεύει να απολυθεί για «απρεπή συμπεριφορά εκτός υπηρεσίας»!

O εκπαιδευτικός Γκουλιώνης Στέφανος κινδυνεύει να απολυθεί για «απρεπή συμπεριφορά εκτός υπηρεσίας»!

 

O    εκπαιδευτικός Γκουλιώνης Στέφανος, δάσκαλος του 1^ου Ειδικού Δημοτικού Σχολείου για παιδιά με αυτισμό παραπέμπεται άμεσα στο πειθαρχικό με την κατηγορία   «της ανάρμοστης για δημόσιο υπάλληλο συμπεριφοράς εκτός υπηρεσίας». Μια σοβαρή πειθαρχική κατηγορία με βάσει το άρθρο 107 παρ. ε του ν. 4057/2012 που επισύρει και τις ποινές της προσωρινής ή οριστικής παύσης.

Αιτία ή πρόφαση για την παραπομπή του Γκουλιώνη Στέφανου είναι η πρωτόδικη καταδίκη του από το Τριμελές Πλημμελειοδικείο Λάρισας με την ψεύτικη κατηγορία της αντίστασης κατά της αρχής μετά την παντελώς άδικη και αναίτια σύλληψη κατά την παρέλαση την 25^η Μαρτίου του 2012 στην Λάρισα. Η υπόθεση αυτή σύντομα (24/10/2013) θα κριθεί και πάλι στο Εφετείο Λάρισας και είναι βέβαιο ότι όποια ψευδής κατηγορία και ποινή θα καταπέσουν.

Όμως και ανεξάρτητα από το γεγονός ότι η ποινική υπόθεση δεν έχει τελεσιδικήσει,  είναι προφανές ότι με καμία έννοια και με κανένα τρόπο δεν τεκμαίρεται «απρεπή συμπεριφορά». Ακόμη, διαχωρίζοντας την ποινική από την πειθαρχική δίωξη ο νέος πειθαρχικός κώδικας μπορεί να επιβάλει οποιαδήποτε ποινή ακόμη και αν δεν έχει τελεσιδικήσει η ποινική υπόθεση, που είναι ή υποτίθεται ότι είναι η αιτία παραπομπής του Δημόσιου Υπάλληλου και στην προκειμένη περίπτωση του εκπαιδευτικού Γκουλιώνη Στέφανου. Όμως, καμιά ποινική υπόθεση δεν μπορεί να παράγει αποτέλεσμα αν δεν έχει τελεσιδικήσει.  Η δε πειθαρχική κατηγορία της «ανάρμοστης συμπεριφοράς εκτός υπηρεσίας» δεν ορίζει ποια είναι ακριβώς αυτή η συμπεριφορά, η οποία δεν ταιριάζει με την εικόνα του Δημοσίου Υπάλληλου. Μ’ αυτή  την γενική και αόριστη κατηγορία «τσουβαλιάζονται» υπάλληλοι που μπορεί να έχουν μια αντιδικεία με έναν ιδιώτη, υπάλληλοι με πολιτική δράση, συνδικαλιστές, επιδειξίες κτλ.

 

Δημιουργείται  δηλαδή μια μεγάλη κατηγορία προς απόλυση υπαλλήλων. Ο Γκουλιώνης Στέφανος είναι άριστος εκπαιδευτικός με μεταπτυχιακές σπουδές και πάνω απ’ όλα με ήθος, αξιοπρέπεια και κοινωνική καταξίωση. Ωστόσο, αυτός ο εκπαιδευτικός μπορεί να είναι ένα από τα θύματα του νέου Πειθαρχικού Κώδικα και από τους πρώτους, μετά την μεταπολίτευση, υπάλληλος που κινδυνεύει να απολυθεί για τα συνδικαλιστικά, κοινωνικά και πολιτικά του ενδιαφέροντα και μάλιστα με την «ρετσινιά» του επίορκου.

Πρέπει να μην χάσει την δουλειά του ο  εκπαιδευτικός  Γκουλιώνης  Στέφανος, γιατί αντίκειται σε κάθε έννοια δικαίου.  

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