Good Morning!
How are you and how has your week been so far? Mine is moving along. A little busier than I would like, but not quite as crazy as last week (thank God). I know I "brag" about my work and our CEO all the time, but I have to tell you about yesterday's virtual lunch.
It was supposed to start at Noon and when I logged on, there were already 57 people in attendance. Missing were Bobby (CEO and Dan (CFO) and a few others. They were in the Board Room at the office and were having some technical difficulties. Tom from IT was with them, but they still had "issues." Anyway, they finally came on around 12:20 or so. Talked about what a great year we had (our fiscal year just ended), how great we all are, etc. Then they started the raffle. I did not win anything, but some of the prizes were: $200 Amazon gift cards, Yeti Coolers (BIG ones), drones, a generator, Play Station 4, Wireless speakers, etc. Pretty amazing stuff (I think).
The first person to have their raffle ticket drawn was Shawn from accounting. Everyone mentioned a good thing that happened recently, or a happy thing before saying what they wanted for a prize. Shawn mentioned his 3rd baby is due in December (I think he just got married 4 years ago) and said he would take an Amazon gift card since they would be buying a lot of diapers. Everyone congratulated him and then Bobby said that's wonderful and you will need a lot of diapers, so let's double your prize!
When Ken from Purchasing had his raffle ticket drawn, he said he didn't want a prize. He was just happy that he was in a better place mentally than he had been at the start of the pandemic...he had gotten very depressed and missed social interactions, etc. He said he wanted to let people know that it was ok to feel that way and the help is available, etc., etc. Actually his "speech" was more detailed and more personal. Everyone was blown away that he would have the courage to say that, etc. Bobby tried to say you really deserve something and Ken just held up his ticket and ripped it up. Repeating that he didn't want anything and to donate his prize. So, Bobby asked what his favorite charity is and the company will be making a $5,000 donation to that charity.
That gives you a bit of flavor for the person Bobby is. It is amazing to work for a company where there is so much love and compassion.
Let's talk food! On Sunday I roasted a chicken (and it was so good!!). Tonight I'm using the left over chicken I pulled off the bones to make Brunswick Stew. Fletcher's Mom used to make this all the time. I had never had it - my Mom would always make chicken soup or turkey soup after roasting a bird, but never Brunswick Stew. I love it and typically use a recipe from the (old) New York Times Cookbook I have:
The Tabasco and Worcestershire are what make this! A great soup that also freezes really well. I bought a loaf of "Tuscan Bread" to heat in the oven to go with the soup/stew.
And - bonus!! - for dessert I will make a Pear-Cranberry Cobbler. We have a couple of pears that need to be used up and I found some cranberries in the freezer from last year (not freezer burned or anything!). I forget where I found this recipe, but here it is:
Pear-Cranberry Cobbler
Pear Filling:
- 1 TBS Butter
- 5 Medium pears - cored, peeled and cut into 1/2" chunks (2 pears is really enough)
- 1 Cup fresh cranberries
- 1/3 Cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/3 Cup sugar
- 3 TBS Cornstarch
- 2 TBS lemon juice
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
Melt butter in large skillet and add pears. Saute until slightly softened and remove from heat. Stir in cranberries and everything else. Spoon into a 1.5 quart casserole dish.
Biscuit Topping:
- 1 Cup unsifted flour
- 1/4 Cup sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 TBS milk
- 1 large egg, slightly beaten
- 1/4 Cup butter, melted
Combine flour, sugar and powder. Stir in milk and egg until just combined. Fold in melted butter. Spoon topping over filling. Place casserole dish on rimmed baking sheet.
Bake at 325 for 50-55 minutes or till top is brown and filling is bubbly. Serve with whipped cream.
Oh yum!! It is going to taste like Fall tonight at our house.
Well, it's Thursday which means it is my heavy report day. I need to get cranking on those as Fletch and I are running over to CVS this morning to try to get out booster shots! Fingers crossed we will get them today.
I passed this display on my way to the office yesterday:
My take: Caution: Yard Work May Kill You!! (see the skeleton pushing the lawn mower on the left - in the shadows? - LOL)
Mabel is doing well and will meet her brother (Colin) tonight!
Ken is my kind of people!
ReplyDeleteYour company and really, the people that work there are really something special. I don't even know them, but I'm proud of Ken and Bobby. That was a brave speech and the donation to charity will do so much more than a simple prize.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipes! I'll have everyone for dinner on Saturday night, and while we're having venison, I think I'll make that cobbler. It all sounds delicious.
And yard work will kill you; I've got two lawns to mow this weekend!
I am sitting here more than a little verklempt at the kindness and compassion at your company. What an incredible ending to a year. And what an amazing company to realize that their greatest worth is in how they treat others. You are so fortunate, Vera!
ReplyDeleteThat cobbler does look amazing! I am adding a few things to my grocery list! :)
And I am nodding with Bonny... yard will could kill you... or at least wear you down to the bone!
Your company is amazing! I wish more companies recognized how valuable their employees were and treated them so well. You are very lucky to work for them!
ReplyDeleteMmm, pears and cranberries sounds so good right now! I am so ready for all the fall desserts.
Imagine . . . what the world would look like if all companies behaved the way your company does! Thoughtfulness and kindness ALWAYS win. XO
ReplyDeleteOK, I should have quit reading and skipped over the food part, because now I am really really hungry ... ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad your have such a great company to be a part of! The recipes look fantastic!
ReplyDeleteBrunswick Stew is an old-timey recipe that's such a good one. My mother used to make it, but leave out the Tabasco. She cannot abide anything spicy. My brother hates lima beans,so he'd pick them all out and put them on the tablecloth next to his plate. He did the same thing with any and all onions. I hated cleaning the table off after lots of meals!
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrific company full of compassionate people. They should write a book or give seminars on how to run a business with humanity and heart.
Yummy comfort food! Kudos to your company recognizing and rewarding their employees.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder you're not in a hurry to retire from a company like that. They really reward the employees don't they? That's wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI'm making steamed porkchops, mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots and corn on the cob. Mandy and Piper will be here and then Piper and Lizzie,(their puppy, Zoey's sister), will spend the night with us. Piper has no school and Mandy has to work. I picked Lizzie up at the vet at noon so the puppies have been playing non-stop all afternoon. They should sleep well. I like how you call Colin Mabels brother. We do the same. We're Lizzies Grandpa and Grandma!
Blessings,
Betsy
What an awesome employer/company! Clearly a place where people feel appreciated enough to bring their authentic selves to work! Speaks volumes about the culture at your company! That is so heartening to read!
ReplyDeleteYour company is amazing. WOW. I appreciate the person's strugg1e with depression. There is nothing worse, that I know of. Hope Mabe1 snugg1es right up to Co1in or gives him that cat b1ink!
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