Spaghetti...No...Squash...No...Spaghetti Squash...YES!

I’m not the most adventurous cook. I was raised in the South (North Carolina, to be exact) and I enjoy the Southern cuisine I grew up with: fried chicken, collards, home-made biscuits, mashed potatoes, etc. (I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!) In fact, I’d never even heard of spaghetti squash back then. I mean, in my daddy’s garden, the only kind of squash he grew was yellow squash. It was delicious, whether momma stewed it with onions or fried it. Yum!

The first time I had spaghetti squash was in a restaurant, Ruby Tuesdays.  I’d heard of it. I’d seen it. It intrigued me, the way it looked like pasta but wasn’t. I was curious. And it was good.

Fast forward a few years. I figured it was time to try my hand at cooking a spaghetti squash, especially since we no longer have a Ruby Tuesdays in town. First, I went to the grocery store and picked up two, just in case I butchered the first one. Next, I Googled ‘How to Cook a Spaghetti Squash.’ Not taking any chances!

If you’re interested, here’s what I did. It’s easy, simple, and even if you’ve never cooked one before, trust me, you can do it.

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Microwave the spaghetti squash on HIGH for 5 minutes. (Trust me, you need to do this. It softens it up enough for you to cut it in two. Otherwise, just try sticking a knife in it...it's nearly impossible for me to slice! Not to mention I got the knife stuck.) 
3. Cut the spaghetti squash lengthwise in two pieces. Scrape out the 'guts' and seeds. (It reminds me of the inside of a pumpkin, which should be no surprise since a squash is sort of a cousin to a pumpkin anyway as they are in the Cucurbita family.) 
4. Place both halves, cut side down, on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray (preferably olive oil).
5. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.
6. Remove from oven and scrape out the 'spaghetti.'
7. In a frying pan, melt 3 Tbsp. of butter. Add spaghetti squash. Cook for 5 minutes on medium heat, turning occasionally. 
8. Add garlic powder, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese to taste. (Be generous!)

I was so surprised at how much one spaghetti squash made! And it was so delicious! The family loved it! Just be sure to be generous with your seasonings. (I know, I said that once and I'm saying it again; it's that important.) I’m convinced that spaghetti squash takes on whatever flavor you give it so mix and match and find whatever works for you. I know folks who actually eat it like spaghetti with pasta sauce.

The best part is, unlike eating ‘real’ pasta, you don’t have a full, bloated feeling after. And a cup only has 31 calories as opposed to 221 calories for a cup of spaghetti noodles.  (That’s while it's naked, not including what you add to it so keep that in mind.)

For this less-than-adventurous cook, this was definitely a WIN!

Try it. And feel free to let me know how it works out for you and any variations you try.

Jean

Jean Bailey Robor is that “No Buts About It” expert who simply wants you to lead happier and more successful lives. Getting past what’s holding you back and changing your mindset can put you on that path to better living. Click here to book Jean for your next event!

America’s Executive Orders? Don’t Take Their Word for It

For years, I had no idea that we the people could actually see the documents signed by the U.S. President. I thought we were pretty much at the mercy of the information we were being fed via news outlets, social media, Google® searches and Saturday Night Live.

I was wrong.

So, just in case you’ve ever wondered if you’re getting accurate information, I’m sharing this for your benefit. Now you can truly KNOW what’s going on, without the spin.

I’m not saying perusing the Federal Regulations is the most interesting reading. (Unless you’re nerdy, like me.) And unlike a newscast, it won’t be sensational. You’ll get just what it is. No frills.

What you might not know: The Federal Register is the daily journal of the United States government. The very first issue was published on Saturday, March 14, 1936. (Not online, of course.) It was signed the day before by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Presidential documents are printed first in the Federal Register with Rules, then Proposed Rules, and Notices following, respectively. This order of items made Executive Order 7316 the first article to appear on the page. However, it was not the first article submitted. (Can you find out what Executive Order 7316 is? Hint: The relevant location is South Carolina.)

Oh, and the cool thing is….you can do a Public InspectionDocument search and see documents before they are actually published in the Federal Register. (Yep, you heard it here.)

But don’t take my word for it. Now you have a choice. To get your information straight from the source or to continue wondering if what you’re being told (i.e. fed) is true.

Check it out and see for yourself. https://www.federalregister.gov/

And guess what? You can follow the Federal Register on Twitter: @FedRegister. (Or, you can follow me: @JeanBaileyRobor)

You’re welcome.

United We Stand,

Jean

Jean Bailey Robor is that "No Buts About It" expert who simply wants you to lead happier and more successful lives. Getting past what's holding you back and changing your mindset can put you on that path to better living. Click here to book Jean for your next event!

Obamacare and What You Should Do

It’s not often I use the word ‘should’ in the headline of an article. In fact, this may be the first time I’ve ever used it. In light of the conversations I’ve heard concerning The Patient Protection and Affordable CareAct (PPACA), otherwise known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare, I felt compelled to use that word. Rather than talk, we should take action. The action you take, of course, will depend on your view.

The ACA has been a hot topic of conversation both in and outside political discussions. It’s a law that reforms both the healthcare and health insurance industry that was signed on March 23, 2010 by President BarackObama. Its aim was to increase the quality, accessibility and affordability of private and public health insurance. There are both pros and cons to the deal, because, let’s face it, nothing is (or ever will be) perfect. What I feel are pros are 1) Folks who have pre-existing conditions cannot be turned down for insurance coverage; 2) Parents can keep their young adult children on their insurance. According to President Donald Trump, even if the ACA is appealed and replaced, these provisions will be intact. I’m glad to hear that. It was good to be able to keep my children on my insurance through the years they turned 26.

Now, admittedly (check out obamacarefacts.com), each of the provisions of the law have varying degrees of success. That’s to be expected.

So, you’re probably wondering what should you do. Or at the very least, what I think you should do.

With the change in administration, January 20, 2017, the possible repeal and replacement of the ACA became very real. But it was no surprise. Throughout his campaign Donald Trump noted a need for better healthcare for all Americans and promised to make that happen. According to Speaker Paul Ryan, repeal and replace would mean risk pools as a smarter way to help people with preexisting conditions to directly subsidize their care so the burden does not lie on the rest of the population. 

Also, health care savings accounts could help people with problems they are having with upfront or deductible spending. If you currently have health insurance through your workplace, you may be familiar with health care spending accounts that allow the employee to designate a certain amount of tax-free money to go into the account each payday. Other changes would include allowing insurance plans to compete over state lines; a competitive marketplace would give people better choices.

While some are excited about the possible coming changes, some are satisfied with the ACA as it is now.

However you feel about it, now is your time to act.

Here’s how: Since November 2016, Paul Ryan’s office has been conducting a phone poll concerning the Affordable Care Act. If you haven’t participated in the poll but would like to, simply call (202) 225-0600 and follow the prompts to weigh in on the issue. Near the end of the call there’s an option to leave a voicemail. (When I called on 1/22/17, the voicemail was full.) It takes about 2 minutes.

Now you know what you should do.

Make your voice heard.

United We Stand,

Jean

Jean Bailey Robor is that "No Buts About It" expert who simply wants you to lead happier and more successful lives. Getting past what's holding you back and changing your mindset can put you on that path to better living. Click here to book Jean for your next event!

Why the American Political Transfer of Power ROCKS

I first became interested in politics in 1980, if you can call it an interest. Maybe an ‘awareness’ is the better word. I was a teenager and not particularly concerned about current events; I was more concerned about where my boyfriend and I would go on our next date. (Just bein’ real, y’all.) But 1980 was a tough year to ignore. Much like 2016, the outcome of the election resulted in a drastic change in power, not to mention the highest number of electoral votes won by a non-incumbent U.S. Presidential candidate ever.

On January 20, 1981, in Washington D.C., the transfer of power went something like this. Chief Justice Warren Burger administered the oath to Ronald Reagan who placed his hand on a family Bible, a gift from his mother, which was opened to II Chronicles 7:14: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. During the inaugural lunch, Reagan had the privilege of announcing the release of 52 American hostages from Iran after 444 days of captivity. Celebrations erupted across the nation, including folks tying yellow ribbons to show support for the returning hostages. In that moment, it didn’t matter if you’d been pro-Reagan or not; America came together to celebrate the answer to a prayer, the return of our own.

Last month, the small West African country of Gambia, held an election. The President had held his position for 23 years. (Can you imagine that?) It was a shock to him when a former security guard and real estate agent won the election. President Jammeh refused to step down. The country was on the brink of political crisis. The political transfer of power began shaping up to include military action as West African troops amassed at Gambia’s borders. According to the U.N., 45,000 people has fled the country since the December 1st election, due to the turmoil. Weeks after the election, on the night of January 20, 2016, the day of the American Presidency’s transfer of power, Jammeh stepped down and Adama Barrow was inaugurated in nearby Senegal. Jammeh was offered asylum from Nigeria and Morocco. He chose to go into exile in Equatorial Guinea.

As I read of this, I realized, despite the protests in our country, even now, the leaders of our great nation transfer power in an orderly fashion, thereby ensuring our democracy works. And that, in itself, should make every American proud, no matter what side of the political fence you’re on.

This year, Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton noted the significance of the peaceful transfer of power and said, “We owe [Trump] an open mind and a chance to lead.” She and former President Bill Clinton attended the inaugural luncheon where President Trump acknowledged them and led a standing ovation in their honor, noting, “I have a lot of respect for those two people.”

Earlier that day, on January 20, 2017, as a light rain fell intermittently in Washington D.C., the power of the Presidency of the United States of America had peacefully transferred from Barack Obama to Donald Trump. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. administered the oath to Trump who placed his hand on a Bible his mother had given him in 1955 and the Lincoln Bible used at Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration in 1861. (Barack Obama is the only other president to have used the Lincoln Bible in an inauguration.) And in each of those Bibles, like Reagan’s in 1980, in the 7th chapter and 14th verse of II Chronicles is this same powerful promise: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

There was no nation that offered asylum to our outgoing leader; there was no need.

There was no inaugural ceremony in a nearby country for the safety of our incoming leader; there was no need.

The democratic political system we have works. The peaceful transfer of power between our leaders ROCKS! Mainly because of men and women like the Obamas, the Clintons, the Trumps that serve the country and its citizens and pass the torch to the next administration in honor of our Constitution.

From the comfort of my home, as I watched some of the inaugural festivities, many years past 1980, I wasn’t too (but maybe a little) concerned about my next ‘date.’ (Honey, if you’re reading this, I hear the beach is fine this time of year!) I did admire the poise and grace of the past and present FLOTUS. And, somehow, I found myself hankering for a Ralph Lauren dress. (That powder blue would go great with my red hair.)

Shopping, anyone?

Rock on, America!

United We Stand,

Jean

Jean Bailey Robor is that "No Buts About It" expert who simply wants you to lead happier and more successful lives. Getting past what's holding you back and changing your mindset can put you on that path to better living. Click here to book Jean for your next event!