Say Something Nice

Say something nice. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Speak kindly. We all know the playground rules and how to play nice. Although as we get older, those rules seem a little harder to follow, don’t they?

Once upon a time, I actually earned a living simply by saying something nice. Okay, there was a little more to it. So let’s back it up a bit. When I was in school, I took a lot of drama and drama related courses. One of my favorite exercises was improv. The magic of improv is that you need to draw on personalities hidden within yourself. No scrip, no safety net. Given a situation, maybe an occupation or other small piece of information and from that craft an entire scene. It was this quick on my feet experience that helped me make a living by saying nice things.

I once worked for an organization called Citizens Action League. We were a grass roots organization that relied on membership dues to get things done, like put out a newsletter about issues and organize people around those issues. Whenever possible, we published the home phone numbers of elected officials. Members were encouraged call their repetitive at two am to talk about the latest gas tax or power plant proposal or other issues of concern. We sent stickers to utilities customers in the Bay area to stick on their bills. This was back in the day when punch cards were used. The stickers read “You Stuck It to Us, Now We’ll Stick It to You” and were placed over the punch holes. You get the idea.

As a grass roots organization, we canvassed neighborhoods door to door. Unscripted, we informed residences of upcoming issues, asked for signatures on various petitions and most importantly, to become a dues-paying member. While the whole thing was legit, what they did not know was their dues were split, 40% to me for getting them to fork over the money, the other 60% to fund the organization. What drew me to the organization was that it was all about the issues and never about the candidates or political parties. I’m a registered Republican these days, but that doesn’t mean the Democrats don’t have some sound ideas and I have no problem walking across the aisle to get things done.

Bet you are wondering what does CAL had to do with improv? Everything! In a matter of seconds, I had to size up the person who answered the door to figure out what they cared about most. Then I had to figure out what kind of a person would they would respond to best. Just like that I transformed into a someone who might be invited in like a long lost friend. None of it was a lie. What I said was not only true, but sincere. And who they met was a facet of my fractured self. Sometimes it helps to be a little crazy.

Years later those same skills landed me a job teaching others how to canvas neighborhoods for a solar company. What I stressed most to my students was sincerity. Never lie, always be sincere and most of all be a good listener.

Enough about my strange and checkered past, let’s get to cooking, shall we?

Oven Tender Country Style Ribs
3/4 cup Cider Vinegar
3/4 cup Ketchup
2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
1 teaspoon Dry Mustard
Pinch Black Pepper
1 Garlic Clove
3 lbs boneless Country Ribs

Heat oven to 500-degrees.

In a saucepan mix together the vinegar, ketchup, Worcestershire Sauce and brown sugar. Season with salt, paprika, dry mustard and black pepper. Peel garlic, press directly into the sauce. Whisk to incorporate.

Bring sauce to a low boil, reduce to a simmer. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

Arrange ribs in a single layer in the bottom of a roasting pan or large casserole dish. Pour sauce over the ribs. Turn several times to coat ribs well in the sauce.

Cover the pan tightly with foil. Place in the hot oven and let cook for 10 minutes. Without opening the oven door, reduce heat to 325-degrees. Let bake for 45 minutes undisturbed.

Remove pan from oven, turn ribs in the sauce, recover pan with foil and continue to cook another 10 minutes.

Remove foil cover let ribs finish in the sauce uncovered for another 15 minutes under the broiler.

Arrange ribs on a serving platter. Pour sauce into a bowl with a ladle and serve together, using sauce as desired.

Buttery Wedge Cut Fries
4 large Baking Potatoes (Russets are best)
2 tablespoons Olive Oil for drizzling
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste
4 tablespoons Butter
2 teaspoons Parsley Flakes
2 teaspoons Smoked Paprika
Chives, as desired
1/2 cup Sour Cream

Heat oven to 425-degrees. Scrub, dry and cut potatoes into wedge style potatoes (about 6 to 8 wedges, depending upon size).

Line a baking sheet with foil. Arrange potato wedges on the baking sheet. Drizzle with oil, toss to coat lightly. Season liberally with salt and pepper, roast in the heated oven for about 45 minutes, until deeply golden and crisp, turning once half way through.

Note: Depending upon how thick the cut, another 10 minutes roasting time may be necessary. Potato wedges should be golden like a French Fry on the outside, with inside soft like a baked potato.

Once the wedged potatoes are done, melt the butter in a small pan over medium heat until foamy. Add parsley flakes and smoked paprika. Swirl the pan around to blend. Pour butter over the wedges, toss to coat. Snip chives, scatter over the potato wedges. Serve with sour cream as desired.

Sweet Corn on the Cob
3 ears Corn
2 tablespoons Sugar
5 tablespoons Butter, divided
Kosher Salt to taste

Fill a large pot with enough cold water to cover the corn. Bring water to a boil.

Peel husks, clean corn to remove all the silk from the kernels. Trim ends, set aside until water comes to a boil.

Add sugar and 2 tablespoons butter to the boiling water. Carefully drop the corn into the water. Reduce heat to medium, cove the pot and slow-boil for 10 minutes.

Using tongs, remove corn from the pot to a serving platter. Serve with remaining butter and salt as desired.

---

Keep on building yourselves up on your most sacred faith.
Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,
And keep yourselves in the love of God, as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ
in His Mercy to give you eternal life.
Show mercy towards those who have doubts
Jude 1:20-22