Food Days (OUTSPOKEN DIVA's Favorite Recipes)

I saw this funny video circulating on social media. Then I started to think about my food education. It all didn't happen in a classroom. School Food exposed me to many foods I wouldn't have ever tasted. My grandmother cooked 90% of our meals at home. So when I started school in the early to mid-80s, I had never heard of;

• Chicken Fried Steak
• Chicken Patties
• Boxed Mashed Potatoes
• Burritos
• Tetrazzini (Chicken or Turkey)
• Chicken Nuggets
• Tator Tots
• Traditional Sloppy Joes (Muh Diva puts canned vegetable soup in her recipe)
• Cream Gravy
• Sugar Cookies
• Fruit Roll-Ups

I still remember my first pizza day in Kindergarten. Our teacher told us what was for lunch and I was excited because I knew what that was. That weird rectangle on my plate confused me. It only had pepperoni on it. Where were the vegetables & other meat? And why was corn & salad on my plate, too? Even at an early age, I knew not to ask much at school. I was teased enough without opening my mouth. The next time we had pizza at home, I learned about the different types of pizza. We ate Supreme at home. And schools served us one topping, corn, and salad because they had more people to feed. I guess that explanation satisfied Kindergarten me. Probably when I mentally made the separate groups, "Food I ate home" & "Food I ate at school" 

My first salad bar experience was at school. If a student didn't want the hot lunch, they could go over & make their own chef's salad. But no salad rivaled school Fiesta Salad. It is similar to a taco salad but with chili con carne & rice. I only know one picky eater that didn't get in the lunch line for Fiesta Salad. As a young adult, I guessed the correct recipe one day and make it. It wasn't on the internet as it is now.

Fiesta Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 Tbl sp & 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 pkg taco seasoning
• 1 tsp bottled minced garlic
• 1 lb ground sirloin
• 2 (14.5-oz) can diced tomatoes with green pepper, celery, and onion
• 1 (19-oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 oz corn chips (more if you want)
• 1/2 cup rice, cooked and hot
• 1/4 cup cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup shredded lettuce
• 1 Tbsp sour cream (optional)
• 2 Tbsp salsa (optional)
  

Directions:

1. Cook the first 5 ingredients in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until beef is browned, stirring to crumble.
2. Add diced tomatoes; bring to a boil.
3. Add beans; cook 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Set aside.
4. In a bowl place the chips inside.
5. Top with the rice.
6. Add 1 cup of the chili mixture over the rice.
7. Add the cheese.
8. Top with the lettuce, tomato, and condiments

Nowadays, I don't eat the meals I did as a school-age child often. Some of them, not at all. I limit the beloved Ravioli Casserole to once a year, but I don't eat Chili Mac at all.

Oh and I still prefer Muh Diva's version of sloppy joe. Even my Fiesta Salad is now made with no salt added canned tomatoes, fresh black beans, frozen corn, and lightly salted corn chips. Oh, and salad goes great with pizza. But it's cool to realize the foods that the school lunchroom introduced to me. And a nice trip down memory lane for my emotions & taste buds.

So, what were your school lunch favorites? Leave them in the comments.

As Always Talking to You In Adult Terms!

Define Prom Dress Inappropriateness, Please

It is Prom Season!!! I like Prom Season because I like dressing up. One night in most American students' lives they get all dolled and duded up for this special event. I love seeing the pictures of the kids in their dresses & suits.

Yes, I went to prom. I wore this cute Geranium (Fuchsia) two-piece formal suit with White Gold podesua pumps with a matching purse. One can look at my Freeze with Shirley Temple curl hairstyle and can guess when I went to prom. LoL I was sans date. That was a decision, I have yet to regret. After prom there was No scandal on my name. 4 other friend-girls and I went in a Rolls Royce Excalibur limo. We were talk of the prom for a moment. Now when I went to prom, I did see the start of the revealing inappropriate dress trend.

I remember at other local schools in my city a dress similar to this one being worn. It was the dress worn in R. Kelly's Down Low video by Garcelle Beauvais. I know...Racy!!! I know at my prom one girl had on what looked to be a mid-thigh camisole with a shrug.  We all gasped and went back to dancing. Heck, it was said that my own slightly improper cleavage top made a couple of tongues wag. That is what was told to me. Who knows and cares anymore? But those were the good ol' days before prom dress codes. 

I understand prom dress codes because the inappropriate dress has evolved into less and less clothing.

I first heard about prom dress codes in 2003 a few years after I graduated and my cousin had to show the chaperones a picture of her dress before the event for approval. So, prom dress codes are not that new. But my question is, what is considered inappropriate these days? Do the young ladies in the first picture posted look improper? Ok got to read THIS article & THIS article. 

Based on both of these stories, these young ladies were targeted, in my opinion. Especially after reading what the vice-principal disgustingly said to the young lady in the Red embroidered dress.

When asked what was wrong with the dress, Alexus was told by the assistant principal that she has more boobs and the other girls have less to show.

Like the article asked "being a plus-sized teenager with boobs is against school policy?" That is not a plunging neckline like the dress code advised against. If she is showing too much bust, then I would have Never been allowed to attend my prom at all.  Also what kind of language is that for an explanation from an adult? Can we say crass & classless? I have an issue with that. We can't expect children to use respectful words if we don't. The other young lady also wore a respectable dress. (I really like that blue polka dot dress. Wish I could wear my back out.) Backless dresses were allowed at their event. And yes, she was standing with another student, who clearly was showing more skin  I hope these parents investigate more. 

Students and parents pay a lot to go to prom. They expect to go and have a go time, Being issued suspension notices & being asked to leave. It is very embarrassing for the students and the schools should be ashamed that it came to all of this. Maybe showing the young people photos of former students of all ethnicities & body shapes that "obeyed" prom dress code so that the students have a clearer idea of what to dress. And they should be reasonable because less than 1% will wear a high neck formal to prom. No one wants to have bad memories of their prom night. Prom is too fun to have a bad time. At least it should be.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Paddling Not Abuse

Well in Springtown, TX (Parker County) two teenage girls were paddled by a male assistant principal for wrong doings. The school had permission by the parents but by school policy the male was not suppose to spank the females. If that is policy then I agree. Also the girls' paddling resulted in bruising on their bottoms. Most men have the ability to hit harder than women. So yeah that was a terrible thing. But the reactions from this is worse.

I'm a Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child depending on situation type non-parent. And to hear people complaints about corporal punishment is lost on me most times. Because some of these complaints are reaching. One woman said that the Male assistant principal paddling the Girls was teaching Boys It's Okay to hit Girls. WHOA! That is a bit much, IMO. I can't agree with that.

Okay so a father shouldn't spank his daughter if warranted because it teaching domestic violence is right. UMM NO! Parents are EQUALS. Parents & Children are NOT EQUALS. If a child or adult have that attitude or mindset, I think an equality lesson needs to be taught. That what wrong in so many cases. Children think they are adults' peers. Many adults have supported this attitude. Adults have the right to discipline (Not Abuse) children. Spanking is a form of discipline just like time out. Adults don't have the right to spank other adults. Children don't have the right discipline children. I think that needs to be taught to everyone. Because if a male spanking a female child is teaching a male child to hit females we are in a world of trouble.

I don't want a man that abuses women to use that as a lame excuse for his actions. "My dad spanked my sister". "But did he hit your Mom a*k*a his equal"? "No"! "Exactly! Now Shut up with that Crap!"
Stop this attitude. I want hear that again. But Some feel spanked children grow up to be more aggressive adults. I know some people who can shoot that theory to hell.

Unfortunately those young ladies were bruised & the policy was not up held. But that should have stayed the focus of this case, instead spouting opinions about corporal punishments and domestic violence.

Male assistant principal shouldn't have spanked the female students because of school policy and the female students wouldn't have been bruised. Nothing more needed! But that my opinion, what's yours?