Our son Mark and I like to cook for our newspaper team.
One of our team’s favorites is our lasagna.
It takes us a Saturday afternoon to make it.
We always make extra for Saturday night dinner.
This is a simple dish but takes time to prepare.
Lexington County Chronicle Lasagna
(to feed 16 people)
2 lbs sweet Italian sausage
4 lbs lean ground beef
2 large heads peeled, crushed garlic
2 28-oz cans crushed tomatoes
2 6-oz cans tomato paste
2 14-oz cans tomato sauce
4 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tbsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (or 2 tsp dried)
18 lasagna noodles
32 oz ricotta cheese
2 lbs shredded mozzarella cheese
1-1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
In a large pot, brown sausage and beef over medium heat.
Drain fat from pot.
Stir in garlic, tomatoes, seasonings and parsley.
Cover and simmer an hour.
Stir occasionally to keep bottom from scorching.
Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C).
Spray cooking spray on bottoms of three 9x13 inch baking dishs.
This makes cleaning up easier.
Spread a layer of meat sauce on bottom of each baking dish.
Next a layer of uncooked noodles over sauce.
Add a layer of ricotta, layer of meat sauce and layer of mozzarella.
Sprinkle each dish with 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
Spray 3 sheets of foil with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Cover and bake for 60 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15 minutes.
Set aside for 5 minutes to cool before serving.
Open bottle of Chianti Classico Reserva. Celebrate.
Best advice: Cook with someone you love.
It’s a great bonding exercise.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Learning from the Marines
Retired Gen. Tony Zinni knows what makes the Marines elite.
The U.S. Marines often draw the toughest duty.
They make up with brains and guts what they lack in numbers.
In Gen. Zinni's “Battle Ready”, you will be struck by how Marine values apply to any team that wants to develop pride, professionalism and a competitive spirit.
Our son Mark gave me a copy.
It made me examine my own values.
Marines realize they are not vital to the nation's existence.
Yet Marines offer unique values we admire and respect.
Values we can't afford to lose.
Does that describe your team and the role you play?
Does your team represent values people admire?
Are these values we respect and can't afford to lose?
We believe our little newspaper does.
We're glue to hold our community together.
We celebrate the best and uncover the worst.
We allow citizens to keep an eye on their government.
We show if our officials are good stewards of our money.
We alert residents to crime and other threats to security.
We report on how well our children are schooled.
Gen. Zinni cites eight values the Marine Corps offers.
Would you like a copy of all eight?
Email me at mailto:Jerry@JerryBellune.com
I hope these values will inspire you and your people.
The U.S. Marines often draw the toughest duty.
They make up with brains and guts what they lack in numbers.
In Gen. Zinni's “Battle Ready”, you will be struck by how Marine values apply to any team that wants to develop pride, professionalism and a competitive spirit.
Our son Mark gave me a copy.
It made me examine my own values.
Marines realize they are not vital to the nation's existence.
Yet Marines offer unique values we admire and respect.
Values we can't afford to lose.
Does that describe your team and the role you play?
Does your team represent values people admire?
Are these values we respect and can't afford to lose?
We believe our little newspaper does.
We're glue to hold our community together.
We celebrate the best and uncover the worst.
We allow citizens to keep an eye on their government.
We show if our officials are good stewards of our money.
We alert residents to crime and other threats to security.
We report on how well our children are schooled.
Gen. Zinni cites eight values the Marine Corps offers.
Would you like a copy of all eight?
Email me at mailto:Jerry@JerryBellune.com
I hope these values will inspire you and your people.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
How to Reach Peak Performance
My father encouraged me to practice the piano by telling me stories about the virtuoso Ignacy Paderewski.
“If I miss a day of practice,” the great pianist said, “I can tell it.
”If I miss two days, my colleagues in the orchestra can tell it.
”And if I miss three days, the audience can tell it.”
Even a nine-year-old child, struggling to master the keys with tiny but growing fingers, understood that story.
Of the gifts my father gave, among the best were his stories about successful people and what they demanded of themselves.
All of us have seen exceptional people achieve exceptional results.
In truth, they are all fairly ordinary folks like the rest of us.
Michael Jordan practiced at the arena hours before a game.
Tiger Woods, even after a tournament, was on the practice green.
Top performers put in hours of “deliberate practice”.
They set specific goals for themselves.
They solicit immediate feedback from coaches and mentors.
They constantly push themselves, stretching to reach higher levels.
Where does your passion lie?
Where do you feel compelled to excel?
What price are you willing to pay to reach that summit?
How committed are you to making that happen?
For more on reaching peak performance, go to:
http://www.jerrybellune.com/success-strategies.htm
Click on “Reaching Peak Performance”.
“If I miss a day of practice,” the great pianist said, “I can tell it.
”If I miss two days, my colleagues in the orchestra can tell it.
”And if I miss three days, the audience can tell it.”
Even a nine-year-old child, struggling to master the keys with tiny but growing fingers, understood that story.
Of the gifts my father gave, among the best were his stories about successful people and what they demanded of themselves.
All of us have seen exceptional people achieve exceptional results.
In truth, they are all fairly ordinary folks like the rest of us.
Michael Jordan practiced at the arena hours before a game.
Tiger Woods, even after a tournament, was on the practice green.
Top performers put in hours of “deliberate practice”.
They set specific goals for themselves.
They solicit immediate feedback from coaches and mentors.
They constantly push themselves, stretching to reach higher levels.
Where does your passion lie?
Where do you feel compelled to excel?
What price are you willing to pay to reach that summit?
How committed are you to making that happen?
For more on reaching peak performance, go to:
http://www.jerrybellune.com/success-strategies.htm
Click on “Reaching Peak Performance”.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
An underdog becomes a big dog
Myelita Melton thought she was headed for the big time in TV.
Then she lost two TV jobs, one after the other.
It wasn’t her fault. It was the economy.
Her no-count husband turned to drugs and crime.
She moved him out of their house. Changed the locks herself.
She filed for bankruptcy protection from his creditors.
Because she was bilingual, she had trouble finding a job.
Employers told her she was “over-qualified.”
Relax. Her story has a happy ending.
Using her language skills, Myelita started her own business.
She called it Speak Easy Communications.
She taught health care workers to speak Spanish.
She taught construction foremen to speak Spanish.
She taught professionals who needed it to speak Spanish.
She published Spanish language tutorials.
These books and CDs have turned Myelita’s life around.
They have made her a successful business owner.
What skills do you have that could turn your life around?
What skills might you acquire to make you successful?
For more about Myelita, go to www.speakeasyspanish.com
For more about Success Strategies, go to http://www.jerrybellune.com/success-strategies.htm
Then she lost two TV jobs, one after the other.
It wasn’t her fault. It was the economy.
Her no-count husband turned to drugs and crime.
She moved him out of their house. Changed the locks herself.
She filed for bankruptcy protection from his creditors.
Because she was bilingual, she had trouble finding a job.
Employers told her she was “over-qualified.”
Relax. Her story has a happy ending.
Using her language skills, Myelita started her own business.
She called it Speak Easy Communications.
She taught health care workers to speak Spanish.
She taught construction foremen to speak Spanish.
She taught professionals who needed it to speak Spanish.
She published Spanish language tutorials.
These books and CDs have turned Myelita’s life around.
They have made her a successful business owner.
What skills do you have that could turn your life around?
What skills might you acquire to make you successful?
For more about Myelita, go to www.speakeasyspanish.com
For more about Success Strategies, go to http://www.jerrybellune.com/success-strategies.htm
Monday, April 14, 2008
How much should you raise prices?
Raising prices on your products and services is necessary if the economy is inflationary or your suppliers have raised their rates.
For instance, in newspaper publishing, the paper mills have hit us with a series of price increases over the last six months.
That's bad for our bottom lines.
Our subscribers and advertisers have to underwrite this added cost.
Your customers, clients and patients must do the same for you.
Unless you raise rates, added costs will erode your profit margins.
That could kill your competitive position and your business.
Ask your tax counselor how much he or she advises in raising rates.
Your counselor should figure this using the latest government-researched cost of living increases and your other costs.
Ask how much he or she is advising other clients to raise theirs.
For more on this, contact me at Jerry@JerryBellune.com
Next week: Rewarding loyal customers.
For advice on lowering costs and raising revenues see "Doing More With Less: 73 Strategies to Cut Costs and Boost Revenues" Click here
For instance, in newspaper publishing, the paper mills have hit us with a series of price increases over the last six months.
That's bad for our bottom lines.
Our subscribers and advertisers have to underwrite this added cost.
Your customers, clients and patients must do the same for you.
Unless you raise rates, added costs will erode your profit margins.
That could kill your competitive position and your business.
Ask your tax counselor how much he or she advises in raising rates.
Your counselor should figure this using the latest government-researched cost of living increases and your other costs.
Ask how much he or she is advising other clients to raise theirs.
For more on this, contact me at Jerry@JerryBellune.com
Next week: Rewarding loyal customers.
For advice on lowering costs and raising revenues see "Doing More With Less: 73 Strategies to Cut Costs and Boost Revenues" Click here
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