P-aaarrgh-ty

How spontaneous are you?

Are you spontaneous enough to learn that, National Talk Like a Pirate Day is this Sunday (September 19) and to whip up some fun by week's end?

I hope so.  Shine Principle #10 is Spread Shine.   It states, "Shining is an attitude, highly contagious and most easily transmitted through the celebration of people and events."  It means, in part, that people who shine look for reasons to celebrate and most often involve others in their celebrations.  These special people understand that bringing people together creates shine because it connects people in a world where, increasingly, people feel isolated.

I've decided to host Pirate Bingo at my house on Saturday afternoon and I hope you will join me.

I don't mean join me at my house.  That would be a stretch for the majority of you who are scattered around the country.

I mean, join me in hosting an event - however big or small - to celebrate National Talk Like a Pirate Day.

And, if you are searching for an idea, Pirate Bingo is fun.  Gather friends and a Bingo game.  Play rounds of Bingo, awarding a small prize at the end of each round.  The "pirate" portion of the game begins when the winner of Round #2 can steal the prize from the winner of Round #1, who in turn can steal a prize from someone else.  On and on the game goes until someone is thrown overboard (or you feel like calling it quits).

I love a good theme, so I might dress the event up by inviting kids to wear pirate attire, serving fish and chips, and creating a pirate centerpiece.  But that's me.  That is no requisite for shining.  Click here to revisit some ideas our Pirate Party a few years ago.

One more question.

How philanthropic are you?

If the answer is, "a little," "somewhat," "yes," "definitely," or any variation thereof, then consider one more thing.

Consider helping the House of Shine tell one more person they Shine.  Suggest your guests make a small donation of either a nickel, quarter, dollar, or two dollars per Bingo board.  At the end of the evening, tally up your money and send it to House of Shine, 4012 Harvestwood Court, Grapevine, TX 76051.  Every $20.00 we earn allows us to flood one more person's mailbox with anonymous letters of gratitude, a Shine t-shirt, and a Shine Manifesto.  Want to know more about our project?  Click here on the Yellow Envelope Project.

We've even collected some pirate booty for five spontaneous and philanthropic people who manage to raise the most loot.  Five Lowe's Tool Belts, chock full of "tools" for all sorts of fun things.  Below is a belt containing all the tools you need to...

Spontaneous and philanthropic, but not sure you can squeeze another thing into your week?  Say, "yes" and then join us each day for the rest of this week, while we swap quick and simple ideas for pulling off your pirate party.  Quick and simple.  I work full time and, like you, have a full, full life.  I'm talking three or four things you can do in twenty minutes or less.  A quick visit to our Community Forum labeled, "Today's Post" is all you need to do to get started.  Tell us who, if you were to host something, you would invite?

Shining off until tomorrow...

Yellow Envelope Project: Arizona

It seems especially unfair when bad things happen to good people - to people who shine.

(It's an idea that seems especially potent today - September 11 - a time when we must remember the senseless acts of terrorism from nine years ago.) 

It isn't nearly as bothersome when the person falling on hard luck can be described as lazy, self-centered, self-promoting, or inwardly focused.  When that person falls on hard times, we often explain it by saying things such as, "He deserved it," "Serves him right," or "What goes around comes around."

When good people go through hard times, you want to shield them from the inevitable sadness and pain they are being forced to endure.  You want to protect their goodness, so their hearts don't become hardened and they don't become angry or jaded.  You want to do it for two reasons.  First, you want to shield them because you worry about whether a person responsible for creating such happiness can handle such sadness.  Secondly, we want to protect these people, because selfishly, we still want access to their goodness.  When people who shine are healthy and happy, they are in the best position to work their magic and to make their corner of the world a brighter place.

I think today's nominee is a perfect example.  There is an entire community negatively impacted by the sadness of a single woman.  Not just any woman.  A happy, joyful, and passionate woman.  A woman who, for twelve years, has poured herself into the lives of preschoolers at a school in Arizona.  Take a look at what her nominator had to say: 

"Stella was one of the first employees at our precious school back in 1998. Since then she has served in many positions but all of the positions have touched the lives of our preschoolers. She loves them, brings them comfort and motherly love during the 7.5 hours they are away from their parents. She has the heart of gold. Stella lost her husband Waldo this past March unexpectantly. Waldo was her soul mate, the person she was going to grow old with. She has returned to work after taking off 4 months off and she needs to know that she is loved and that her love for children does not go unnoticed. We need to lift Stella up as she has done that for children for the past 12 years."

I have no question Stella will eventually manage the sadness of her loss and will find her way back to serving the students.  She will, because Stella has Shine in her DNA and people who Shine cannot help but find ways to make a difference.

And, when you make a difference you heart almost always feels better and more joyful.

Try it.

Participate in the Yellow Envelope Project this week and see what I mean.

Participating is easy.  Simply write Stella a short note letting her know you are sorry to hear about her recent loss.  Remind her she is a force for good in her community and that her presence makes the school a better, brighter place.  Let her know there are people all over the country rooting her on and wishing that the hole left in her heart could be filled with our feelings of admiration and gratitude.

Seal your note in a yellow envelope (or a white envelope decorated with yellow markers or stickers).  Place the words, "Yellow Envelope Project" in the upper left hand corner and mail it to the address below.

Commit to mailing your envelope before next Saturday when we meet to recognize our next worthy recipient and, in turn, come one person closer to powering the planet with Shine!

Shining off until Monday. 

Cake Adventures

Corn Cakes that is! Happy Friday, Shiners. You made it to another weekend. Congratulations. It's Cheryl here to share a yummy Ricotta-Corn Cake recipe with you. They're easy to make and tasty. No, let me say it again, TASTY!

If you know me, you know I am a rule followers. I like rules. I like structure. Especially in cooking. I can't do it if you say, "Just add some milk to it." How much milk? Just a pinch an to taste or bad words to me when I'm cooking. But with this recipe, I break the rules. What has gotten into me?

I first had these in May of 2006 when Denise at Jess Reid Real Estate made them for my going away office party! Whew! Was that fun! And, I have loved them ever since.

The official recipe calls for the following: 17oz of Ricotta cheese (not to be confused with Risotto because I do call it that on occasion and I confuse everyone involved including me) but they don't make a 17oz container of Ricotta cheese so I only use 15oz. 1/2 cup of finely chopped chives (I didn't buy enough and I was not dragging my boys back to the store so I used what I had, which here was about 1/4 cup), 2 tbls sugar, 1.5 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 3 eggs, 9 oz of thawed frozen corn, 2/3 cup yellow cornmeal, 1/3 cup all purpose flour and finally, some olive oil for cooking.

Ready. Let's begin. In a medium bowl, stir ricotta cheese, chives, salt, sugar and pepper.  

Next up, get your blender out and puree the three eggs and the thawed corn. I didn't wait for mine to thaw but it worked out fine.

When you have that all blended up to a puree throw it in with your cheese mixture and stir until all mixed together.

Stir in the cornmeal and flour. I know it's been difficult so far but you can do it.

Once it's all mixed up go take a one hour nap and leave your mixture to sit at room temperature. One hour nap. Room temperature. Got it?

When one hour is up, wipe the sleep out of your eyes, pull out your olive oil and heat it in a pan. About a tablespoon or so. A pinch. To taste. Not too much. Not too little.

Drop a spoonful of your cheesy corn mixture into the hot oil in the hot pan- okay wait- just medium heat. You don't want them to burn. Yes, I have burned some of them. They still tasted goooood. When I first started cooking these I found them hard to flip but the more you cook them the easier it gets. I promise. You learn to wait until they're cooked on the bottom. Over medium heat, not high heat.

I always want to turn them too soon but that one in the back is perfection- all golden brown like. Yummm. You're a very nice corn cake, yes, you are.

Work in batches of about 8 to 10 depending on your pan size. Set them on a plate to cool and try not to snack on the finished ones as you cook the rest of them. Resist the temptation or you'll have none left. Trust me. You just can't eat one! Another tip is about every other batch, I take a paper towel and wipe the pan out a little and then add fresh oil. Just a little.

The original recipe serves them as an appetizer with sour cream and fresh salsa. Guess who forgot to get the salsa? Wouldn't that have made a pretty picture? But, revisit note about not going back to the store.

Right, moving on. You can make them ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to serve and then just zap them in the microwave or in the oven to reheat.

You can serve them with chili, beans and rice, or just beans, soups, on the side of your steak and potatoes or just straight out of the fridge the next day for breakfast. I'm so country with my recipes of choice but I will tell you whoever put this recipe together suggested replacing the sour cream and salsa with caviar. I will try that some day. It has to be good because these cakes are just good! With anything! I like them hot and I like them cold. I like them in the morning and I like them at night. Ricotta Corn Cakes are delicious anytime of day!

Will you make them and report back to me? How and/or what will you serve them with?

Whatever you do, keep shining!