Making A Point

                         

It was the biggest class I ever attended at the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Instruction and Learning (DIL) when I was there to obtain my certification in teaching high school chemistry in 2001.  The class was composed of students seeking certifications in their respective disciplines or MAT degrees. It was a required course on Learning Disabilities and our instructor was Paula who was finishing her PhD.

The class members were usually not vocal about their opinions and pretty much just listened to Paula as she gave her power point presentations until that one day when a topic struck a chord among the students. The discussion was on the pros and cons of mainstreaming students with disabilities. I remember one student voicing the futility of the approach while another mentioning the added burden on the teachers.  Paula just listened to the opinions expressed passionately by her students.  At the end of the class Paula announced that we would have a guest speaker the next meeting but did not elaborate as to who it was and neither on what topic.

The next class meeting started as usual with us chatting before Paula entered the room.  When she did, we immediately stopped talking, a little surprised by what we saw. Paula was not alone but came with a teenage girl in a wheelchair holding what looked like a laptop. With her was a man in his forties which I assumed was her caregiver.

Paula introduced the teenage girl as our guest speaker. Paula then showed to us a video of another college age girl who spoke about how she was thriving pursuing a degree at California University of Pennsylvania despite her disability. Then it was our guest speaker's turn to speak. She was born with muscular dystrophy and could speak through a special computer looking gadget on her lap. The device she was using to communicate with us sounded like a robot and similar to what the late Stephen Hawkins used. She also in some ways looked and moved like him. She told us that she had a job at Goodwill doing bookkeeping since she was adept in using the computer.  At one point she sounded just like any  teenager complaining about some issue in her job.

Everybody in the class listened including the student who was opposed to mainstreaming. I could see a compassionate look in his face as well as in the other students'.

Then the man that came with the speaker stood in front of the class. He introduced himself as the speaker's father which came as a surprise to me. I did not see any resemblance but then again how could one considering her daughter's disability that distorted her appearance. He said he was actually looking for someone to help in giving care for her daughter. He told us his experience raising her daughter that included how his daughter used to crawl and knock on his door in the middle of the night for his help to go to the bathroom. When I heard this I lost it and tears  started coming down my  cheeks. This man's love for her daughter was palpable and so was the sacrifice he had to go through.

After the speaker and her father left no discussion was needed to drive a point that was debated during our last meeting on the pros and cons of mainstreaming. Everybody in the class after witnessing the visit of the guest speaker and her father somehow learned the reason for instituting it. It goes beyond debating pros and cons. Mainstreaming was instituted not only to respect the rights of the students with disability to learn but also the desire of their parents for them to do so among their peers. Learning after all is a community effort. That is how we live. We are all part of this world. No man is an island.

Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken

One of my favorite take out food is Chipotle's burrito bowl. Now I can have it complete with its distinct flavorful chicken and sauce without leaving the house thanks to the easy slow cooker recipe below.  I decided to also provide you with the ingredients of the homemade taco seasoning. You can use the chicken and its sauce as part of a rice bowl with the usual vegetable toppings or as the meat of your tacos or burritos.

Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken 

Adapted from this recipe 

• 2 lb chicken breast, boneless and skinless 
• 1 packet taco seasoning or use 1/4 tsp each garlic, onion, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, chili powders, salt and black pepper
• 1-16 oz jar salsa
• Juice of 2 limes
• 1/3 cup chopped cilantro 

Mix the seasonings if making your own at the bottom of the crockpot. Then coat the chicken  breasts with the seasoning. Add the rest of the ingredients. Cook at high setting for 3 hours or at low for 6 hours. I cooked mine in an Aroma brand rice cooker/slow cooker for 2 hours at slow cooker setting.

Maxim 83 Notes CSJA Monroeville Prayer Group June 18, 2018

Below are the notes on Maxim 83 thoroughly prepared by Natalie for your reflection. Have a nice summer.  God bless.

Slow Cooker Coconut Chicken

Happy Father's Day to all the dads. If you want to serve something easy to prepare for that special dad in your life here is one dish he would like. My husband, a proud dad of two daughters, gave this two thumbs up.  This was inspired by a dish prepared by the new Iron Chef Stephanie Izard.  I used chicken breast instead of the beef cheeks in her recipe.

Slow Cooker Coconut Chicken

• 2 lb chicken breast, cubed
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper 
• 1 1\2 cups coconut milk from a can
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh chopped ginger 
• 1 onion sliced
• 1 tbsp sambal oelek
• Cilantro 

Add salt and pepper to the chicken and place them with the rest of the ingredients except the cilantro in the crockpot.  Cook for 3 hours at high setting or 6 hours at low.  I cooked mine in an Aroma brand rice cooker/slow cooker for 2 hours at slow cooker setting.

Scatter cilantro on top and serve over rice.

Radiant Chicago

From the ashes, a
city rose transformed into
something magnificent.

Honor Not Deny Differences

When we reconcile
our differences, we can
achieve unity.

Vegan Eggplant with Garlicky Sauce

This is one of my favorite Chinese vegetable dishes. However the restaurant version is swimming in oil. One does not have to use oil to cook the garlic, ginger and onion to get the most of their flavor. I just used vegetable broth to obtain that signature Garlicky taste.

I used ordinary eggplant and not the Asian variety and utilized the microwave method to roast them  It is a fast and easy approach. The resulting eggplant dish is as good as the one I have had at the restaurants but much healthier.

Vegan Eggplant with Garlicky Sauce

• 1 eggplant (I used ordinary ones)
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth or water 
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 inch ginger, minced
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 cup more broth or water 
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1 tbsp cornstarch in 2 tbsp water
• 2 tbsp basil roughly torn (optional)

Peel the eggplant and cut lengthwise into four or five slices. Place a paper towel on the microwave and place the eggplant slices on top and cover with another paper towel. Microwave on high for five minutes till soft. Cut into bite sized pieces and set aside. 

Place 1/2 cup broth, garlic, ginger and onions in a skillet and heat the mixture till broth boils. Cook the aromatics in the boiling broth till they are cooked. 

Add the eggplant, soy sauce, sugar, additional 1/2 cup broth and red pepper flakes into the mixture in the skillet. Heat the mixture at medium heat until the eggplant absorbs the sauce. Add more water if the mixture dries up. Add the cornstarch mixture and heat till the sauce thickens. 

Add the torn basil pieces on top if using. Serve over rice. 

Slow Cooker Chicken in Texas Roadhouse Barbecue Sauce

I fell in love with the Texas Roadhouse Baked Chicken when my husband and I ate lunch there recently. I asked the waitress if they sell their barbecue sauce and I found out they did not though their steak sauce was available.

I googled the recipe and came up with this one that I adapted and used below. It is on the sweet side and mildly tangy and perfect for slow cooker chicken recipes. And so I just did that.

Slow Cooker Chicken in Texas Roadhouse Barbecue Sauce

Adapted from this recipe

• 5 lb chicken thighs
• 1\2 cup vinegar
• 1 cup water
• 1\2 cup tomato paste
• 1\2 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp onion powder or flakes
• 1 1\2 tbsp molasses
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1\4 tsp smoked paprika
• 1\4 tsp garlic powder
• 1\4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp cornstarch

Combine all the sauce ingredients in the slow cooker and mix well.  Add the chicken pieces. Cook for four hours at high setting or eight hours at low.  I used the Aroma brand rice cooker/slow cooker for two hours at slow cooker setting.