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Arbonne Angels ASAP Women and Children's Shelter Barenaked Ladies Bikes for Buddies Braveheart Callee Connon Christmas Bones Christmas gift Cindee Connon Clouds Connecticut School Shooting Costco Empty Bowls Feeding America Tampa Bay Florida Powerball Fly A Little Higher Gingerbread Bones Homemade Dog Treats Hunger Relief Jeff Patterson WFLA Jenerosity John Gray Kindness Day Tampa Bay Laugh at Funerals Leave a Legacy Lottery Hope love NBC Kindness Day One Week osteosarcoma Pilot Dog Rescue Pilots N Paws Sandy Hook Suncoast Animal Rescue Sword Ultimate Mix Tape Valentines Day waiting in line WFLA Kindness Day William Wallace Winn Dixie Charity Young Entrepreneurs Young Philanthropists Youth Volunteers Zach Sobiech

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Category: Food & Beverage

Teach Your Children Well…

It is never too early to start logging your community service hours and if you are 10 years old with a goal of getting into University of Florida, you might want to think about starting NOW!  My son wants to be a Gator and knows he has to earn his way to crocodilian status.  We are working now on improving his curriculum vitae.

Brooks recently celebrated his 10th birthday, which was a significant milestone.  Not only is ten “double digits,” but it is also the minimum age required to volunteer at Feeding America Tampa Bay.  I love food; my son loves food.  I work for Feeding America; now, my son volunteers there.

Brooks moves boxes in his University of Florida "swamp" shirt.

Brooks moves boxes in his University of Florida “swamp” shirt.

A few weeks ago, Brooks worked at a Mobile Pantry location where we delivered over 300 boxes of food to hungry families in less than two hours.  He was in charge of separating and moving boxes.  In full-blown, sweaty work-mode, Brooks managed to show his leadership and delegation skills like I had never seen before.  I was incredibly proud!

Brooks raised $96 in two hours at Winn Dixie in Madeira Beach. That provides 672 meals!

Brooks raised $96 in two hours at Winn Dixie in Madeira Beach. That provides 672 meals!

Yesterday, he joined me at a local Winn-Dixie Supermarket to collect donations and sell Empty Bowls made by local students.  These beautiful handmade bowls are each a precious work of art and represent the 700,000 bowls that go empty each day within our community. Each one is so unique.  It was fun to see people struggling over which bowl to select.  There are many uses for these bowls: decoration, jewelry holder, salt and pepper containers, soap dish, and ASHTRAYS.  Wouldn’t those children just love to know that they poured their hearts into making ashtrays!?!  The dentist in my family will get this fabulous bowl in her Christmas bag this year…

Who can resist a monster bowl with teeth like that???

Who can resist a monster bowl with teeth like that???

My son got an introduction to the public this weekend.  He was surprised by the Jenerosity displayed by so many people who had so little.  These sweet bowls made by sweet children made people smile.  Just one day after the horrific shooting at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School, we found ourselves remembering the innocence of those schoolchildren.  So many people wanted a little token of love from a child to take home with them - a symbol of purity, Jenerosity and good nature.  We long for a life filled with more monster bowls and fewer senseless tragedies…where children can realize their dreams by working hard and improving the world around them…where they can plan what they want to be when they grow up and attend the college of their choice, even if their endeavors are reptilian in nature!

It is never too early to start logging your community service hours and if you are 10 years old with a goal of getting i...

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Jen December 16, 2012 No Comments 0 Children, Food & Beverage, Organizations & Causes

Eat Your Cereal!

My son doesn’t eat cereal, but if he did I bet he would not appreciate it to the same extent as those of us who grew up prior to the Video Game Age.  Back in the day  (yes…one of my favorite phrases), parents showed their Jenerosity by buying the cereal that contained the best prize or contest to enter.  Opening up the cereal and digging to the bottom to get the goods before your siblings woke up was the highlight of every new box.

Nowadays, kids don’t care about cereal like we did.  It is just that…cereal.  It is not a toy or a component of pop culture.  It is not something you talk about at school.  It is not worth switching brands to something less desireable just to experience the joy of discovery.  Those were the days of eating two bowls just so you could open the new box sooner. Those were the days of studying the milk carton to see if you knew the person on the back. Those were the days of fewer choices and less pressure to buy Organic, fat-free or low-carb.  We didn’t have fancy video games or expensive forms of entertainment.  We had rollerskates, bikes, chalk, Cracker Jacks and cereal boxes.  Life was simpler and cereal was appreciated…a symbol of Jenerosity from parent to child.

While I appreciate so many of today’s conveniences, I find myself often longing for the days when Jenerosity was less complex and when people were more appreciative of the simpler things…the days when something as simple as buying the cool box of cereal pleased your kids.  Mine wants bacon and eggs everyday.  Does that tell you something?

My son doesn't eat cereal, but if he did I bet he would not appreciate it to the same extent as those of us who grew up...

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Jen December 12, 2012 No Comments 0 Children, Food & Beverage

Lovely Bones

According to Yvonne Phillips, author of Feng Shui ABC, “there is no better Feng Shui for your home than having an animal run around spreading positive chi.”  My puppy, Daisy Mae, definitely spreads positive chi wherever she goes; however, similar to most human relationships, some of her “friends” appreciate her for who she is and others would like to change her.  Last night, we made Gingerbread Bones to deliver to her friends, even the ones who aren’t so sure they want to be labeled as such.

Gingerbread Bones

Here’s the recipe I followed (from Dog Treat Kitchen) while Daisy impatiently supervised as she scaled the cabinets…

  • 3 cups whole wheat flour
  • 2 T ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  1. Preheat oven to 325° F
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon and cloves until combined.
  3. In a small bowl, using a sturdy spoon, stir together the molasses, water and canola oil.
  4. Pour the molasses mixture into the flour and stir until thoroughly combined.
  5. Roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch thickness.
  6. Use your favorite dog cookie cutters to cut shapes.
  7. Lightly spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
  8. Place your cut outs on the baking sheet.
  9. Continue to roll and cut out shapes with the remaining dough.
  10. Bake for 20 minutes.  Cool completely on a wire rack.

This recipe for dog biscuits will keep fresh for several weeks in the refrigerator.  They also freeze really well.  Keep them in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Today we delivered the treats to her favorite playmates – Roxie, Rocket and Abby.  We also delivered bags to those who need some extra Daisy love – Snickers (not always so fond of her CRAZY antics), Talulah (scared to death of her), Max (total hater), Diva (consistent avoider), Sky (love-hate relationship) and Meatball (not fond but stuck living right next door).  While all notes were the same, some should have said “Sorry for attacking you” or “Sorry for nibbling at your only good eye” or “Sorry for stealing your bone” or “I mean well, but I don’t know my own strength…mom says I am barrel-chested” or “Sorry I climb under you every time you pee…is it my fault that I have a strange fetish?”

Gingerbread Bones for all of Daisy's friends...and toys for the ones who like to play.

Gingerbread Bones for all of Daisy’s friends…and toys for the ones who like to play.

Doing Jenerous deeds for God’s creatures can bring amazing joy and improve the positive chi on our lives.  Go ahead and throw them a bone…literally!

According to Yvonne Phillips, author of Feng Shui ABC, "there is no better Feng Shui for your home than having an animal...

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Jen December 11, 2012 2 Comments 2 Animals, Food & Beverage

COSTCO rules

There is something spiritual about entering the walls of Costco.  I can almost hear the angels singing Hallelujah each time I arrive.  Considering I work at Feeding America, I may be learning to see the romantic side of warehouses. Costco just seems to have all of the things I like most.  Here is my short list of must-purchase items EVERY time I go: Spanakopita, Goat Cheese, Chandon Brut, Prosciutto and Pistachios.  If I ever leave without one of those items, have me admitted as I have probably lost my mind.  And, since the end of the world was only 13 days away at the time, I splurged on some other sinful delights.  I can’t write about those right now because I am hungry as I type.  Like grocery shopping, I have learned that you should never blog about food while you are hungry or else the fridge ends up getting raided unnecessarily.

Yesterday, I went to the Big Box with my husband, Scott, who enjoys sniffing out deals and finding useless things to appease the hoarder in him.  We made one critical mistake.  We ate before we went and forgot about the free weekend buffet served by lonely senior citizens wearing hairnets and holding scissors.  My husband almost got his hand slapped after he reached BEHIND the plexiglass cover to get a completed sample from the tray one lady was preparing (rather slowly may I add).  “NOT proper tasting etiquette!  Doesn’t he know better? What a Costco rookie,” I thought as I winced.

After sampling crackers, olives, sausages, stinky cheese and coconut water (jealous?), we pushed our TWO carts full of treasures to the check out lane.  As we worked our way up to the front of the line, my husband looked behind us and saw a sweet older gentleman with a small TV and dress shirt in his cart.  Two items compared to our two HUNDRED (give or take)…

Scott offered to have the gentleman go in front of us and he gladly accepted.  He even seemed rather surprised.  The cashier team thanked Scott and said that it is rare that customers offer to let someone go ahead of them in line.  It made me wonder if Scott’s Jenerous act was uncommon because people are in a hurry, or if they are just unaware of other people around them.  Maybe if we are more aware, we would see the opportunities to be more Jenerous all around us?  Sometimes it is less about the act of Jenerosity as much as it is about how wonderful it feels to be noticed and have someone put your needs in front of their own.  Recognition is the first step in that process.

I love my husband.  He has a great heart and seeks out opportunities to recognize the needs of others; I benefit from that frequently.  I was proud to stand next to him yesterday as the cashiers oohed and aahed over what a great guy he is.  I can’t say the same about the sampler lady with the scissors!

There is something spiritual about entering the walls of Costco.  I can almost hear the angels singing Hallelujah each t...

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Jen December 10, 2012 No Comments 0 Food & Beverage, Friends & Family

Over the Lips and Thru the Gums…

When you want to make people feel welcome, sometimes all it takes is some good ol’ comfort food.  My uncle Jerry is visiting from California and he happens to be a big fan of my cooking.  His “life partner” Doug (no, they are not gay) is staying at a nearby resort, so Jerry asked if we could invite Doug over for dinner.  I think “life partner” is code for two single guys who play golf together and one is always responsible for footing the bill.  If any of you know my uncle Jerry, then you know who is who.

First, whipped up a tender pot roast, creamy mashed potatoes and sauteed asparagus.  Then, opened a bottle of Showket Vineyards Sangiovese.  Next, put “White Christmas” on the sound system.  Finally, dimmed the dining room lights.  Call me ‘Norma Freakin’ Rockwell!’  Doug groaned and grunted as he put each bite of food in his mouth.  If I had closed my eyes, I may have thought I was watching an adult film.  He began to share how much he misses his ex-wife’s cooking.  So glad I could help him yearn for his prior life.  Culinary experience is clearly big on his list of “ideal mate” qualities.

I enjoy cooking for people.  Preparing a meal that matches their style and preferences is a great way to show you care. It is always so much more enjoyable to sit around a comfortable table and eat food that you know hasn’t been dropped on the floor and prepared by hands that have been washed.  More importantly, ending the meal with a relaxing glass of port rather than an obscene balance due and a husband whose eyes are bugging out in sticker shock is always my preference.

So…if you come and visit and all I serve is Sloppy Joes, BEWARE!  But if I serve them with a bottle of Opus One, then you know my retro soul cares.  Anything with Opus One…now that’s Jenerous!

When you want to make people feel welcome, sometimes all it takes is some good ol' comfort food.  My uncle Jerry is visi...

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Jen December 05, 2012 3 Comments 3 Food & Beverage, Friends & Family

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