YOU'RE NOT MY FRIEND, IF ...; Castle Rock-WA

Truth.

For me, it is better to be hurt with an unpleasant truth - than to be lied to, "to protect" me. I'm not protected if I'm kept in the dark about situations I need to be aware of … or, treated like a child "for your own good": ignorance is not good. The truth eventually comes out, and the pain caused by that happenstance is far worse than knowing it in the beginning.

Friends don't silently stand by when someone is trashing you - at least, I don't. If someone starts bad mouthing one of my friends to me, I will shut them down; immediately, saying, "That's my friend you're gossiping about. I don't want to hear it." Or … if they won't shut their mouth, I will just herd them towards the door, and say again, "That's my friend you're gossiping about. I don't want to hear it."

If I am suspicious of a friend's friend, who is behaving like a suspicious person trying to be [a friend] - but actually just a rotten tomato phishing for juicy tidbits to spread across the county … I will deliberately feed them the tidbit they are angling for: it won't be true, but they will be true to their nature. In this way, when the gossip finds it's way back to me via the gossip grapevine … I will know exactly how the tale originated & who started the mouthy wildfire. I can't help who my friends hang with apart from me - BUT I can help who gets close to me. And sometimes, a little heavy pruning needs to be done; I don't have a problem cutting problematic branches off.

I can overlook ignorance; but I can never overlook deliberate cruelty. Like I mentioned before - I can't help who my friends hang with apart from me - BUT I can help how it affects me. It tells me a lot about a person when they can continue a tight friendship with someone who deliberately goes out of their way to make me look like a fool, feel inadequate, or totally shut out of the equation. That all of THAT is allowed to continue because "they're my friend, too" … then, I can (and do!) walk away from disloyalty, disrespect, and intolerance = in short, betrayal.

I know my worth.

And I expect my Friends to know that worth also. 

SUNFLOWER PEOPLE; Castle Rock-WA

I love sunflowers 💛: big & tall, or short & small. I love them, all 🌻 😁

Sunflowers are like people in our lives too … some bring the sunshine with them. Some light the path for us; and some stand with us when we grow through the good days and the bad days. Some help us find the light within again and some shine just enough of their light on us to remind us to turn on our own light and shine again.

Who is your sunflower?

VAL'S STOVETOP 4Patriots CHICKEN DINNER BELL-BROCCOLI-RICE CASSEROLE; Castle Rock-WA

Val's Stovetop 4Patriots Chicken Dinner Bell-Broccoli-Rice Casserole; Castle Rock-WA

It's a little cool today, with a gentle breeze making the tree limbs dance now and then - and a husband asking for chicken for supper 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨‍🍽️ So, I dug around in the few remaining 4Patriots food packets, and settled on the light, but satisfying 'Dinner Bell Broccoli Bake' 🥘: the sauce makings are already included, as well as the rice & dehydrated bell peppers.

I used half a regular packet, that I had halved & repackaged with a heated vacuum sealer, because there is only 2 of us - use the entire packet if you are cooking for a family of 4 or more.

Halved packet for 2 people serving.

These meal preparations are handy for a road gypsy lifestyle … but they really do lack in substance & flavor; so, I jazzed it up a bit with chicken bits 🍗, spices 🧂🍃, flavorings 🧄🥕🧈, and cheese 🧀 - to make a hearty, comforting stove-top casserole that is perfect for a low-key Sunday meal - with very little time on my feet in the kitchen, and little clean-up afterwards 😊

You can make the recipe as written (I used what I had on hand, today) or customize it with add-ins such as ham, mushrooms, zucchini, Parmesan cheese, bread crumb topping, etc. Be creative in your kitchen 👩‍🍳‍ 

Val's Stovetop 4Patriots Chicken Dinner Bell-Broccoli-Rice Casserole ~serves 3

1/2 Packet 4Patriots Dinner Bell-Broccoli Bake, dry mix * 1 Lrg. Chicken Breast, cut into bite size pieces * Salt & grnd. Black Pepper, to taste * 1/8 tsp Paprika * 2 TBSP Olive Oil * 2 TBSP Margarine * 1/2 Yellow Onion, chopped * 1/2 c Carrots, shredded * 3 c Water * pinch of Mustard Powder * 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder * 1/4 teaspoon Cumin Powder * 2 TBSP Mushroom Powder * 3/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce * 1/2 TBSP Lemon Juice * 1 TBSP Parsley, fresh & snipped * 1 c. Sharp Cheddar Cheese, freshly grated

1 Lrg. Skillet w-lid * Manual-Pull Food Chopper * Lrg. Cooking Spoon * Lrg. Slotted Cooking Spoon * Measuring Spoons * Lrg. Pyrex Measuring Cup * Hot Pads * Supper Plates & Silverware

Manual-Pull Food Chopper.

Chopped onion & carrot.

1) Over medium-high heat; heat oil in skillet, add chopped veggies & chicken pieces … cook until soft and tender to the bite.

2) In Pyrex cup, blend 1 c water, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, spices, & mushroom powder … pour over meat & veggies in skillet:

Mushroom powder.

Blend spices & mushroom powder; stir into liquids.

Stir liquid blend into skillet mix.

Add dry packaged ingredients, remaining 2 cups of water, & margarine - carefully blend well with slotted spoon: bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium & continue cooking, stirring frequently until rice is soft (but not mushy); about 40 minutes. All stoves cook differently, so check rice periodically & adjust cooking time every 5 minutes ⏲️, if necessary.

3) Top skillet mixture with shredded cheddar cheese & parsley; broad-spread evenly:

Cover skillet with lid, turn off heat & let skillet mixture sit on flameless burner until cheese is melted. Remove from heat - serve & enjoy.

Val's Stovetop 4Patriots Chicken Dinner Bell-Broccoli-Rice Casserole; if you don't like the gravy style … let it sit a few minutes before serving: it will thicken as it cools.