Confetti Slaw, Black Bean Quinoa Salad, and Roasted Carrots
The perfect summer lunch plate – Confetti Slaw, Black Bean Quinoa Salad, and Roasted Carrots – was inspired by a Purple Carrot recipe (Chipotle Roasted Carrots with Confetti Quinoa Salad, Black Beans, and Cumin Yogurt).
I’m a big fan (and subscriber) of Purple Carrot TB Performance meals (high in protein, gluten-free, and plant-based) but I prefer little or no added oils and no creamy yogurt or vegan mayo sauces. So, whenever I start to cook one of these meals, I figure out ways to reduce, eliminate, substitute, and/or add other ingredients so as to not give up flavor. Read more 
You Think It, I’ll Say It
You realize, don’t you, that you weren’t saying what I thought? You were saying what you thought.
You Think It, I’ll Say It is a collection of ten short stories written by Elizabeth Curtis Sittenfeld (who goes by Curtis Sittenfeld). Published in 2018, You Think It, I’ll Say It is hard to put down because the stories draw the reader in to the turmoil between what appears to be true and what is actually true. Personal perspective, as determined by history and experience, is a key part of each story which only reinforces what we all know but sometimes forget: most of us start out optimistic and naive; life experiences either strengthen us or bring bitterness and disillusionment which means that truth is often subjective. Read more
Executive Compensation at Yale
The staggering cost of a college education perplexes many people who often wonder: Why does a 4-year degree from a top private school cost about $300,000 (or about $70,000-$75,000 annually)? The answer is not as complicated as some people would lead you to believe.
In the most simplistic terms the answer is because you are supporting a huge education machine where, in the case of Yale, more than half of the total expenses ($2.2 billion of the $3.4 billion in expenses – not including depreciation) are compensation-related costs for the 28,739 employees in 2016 (an average of $75,000 each). The next largest expense categories were for grants (primarily to domestic individuals for undergrad scholarships) which totaled $437 million, Fees for Services (primarily management related with no detail provided) of $186 million, office-related expenses (occupancy, IT, office and insurance) of $182 million, $170 million in supplies, and $145 million of other expenses (no detail provided). Read more
Navitas™ Organics Power Snacks
When I have a craving for something sweet, Navitas™ Organics Power Snacks – date-based, nutrient-dense, bite-sized squares with no refined sugar, no dairy, and no artificial flavors or colors – fit the bill. With four flavors to choose from, Navitas™ Organics Power Snacks are plant-based superfood that are naturally sweet, chewy, and delicious.
Made with all organic ingredients, these super simple and nutritious snacks can be enjoyed right out of the bag or crumbled on cereal, granola, or a frozen treat. The four flavors include: Read more
The Baby Bok Choy Veggie Bowl
A few years ago two middle-aged friends were driving south in a Ford F-150 truck filled with household items for their casita in Mexico. At the US and Mexican border crossing, the customs officer asked them what they had in the truck so they read off a list of items and then jokingly added, “and some baby bok choy.” That’s all the customs officer had to hear.
The word “baby” to someone trained in trafficking raises a red flag. He demanded they get out of the vehicle and then searched the whole truck looking for who knows what (my friend thought maybe he was looking for a Chinese baby). They realized the customs officer didn’t know what baby bok choy was so they pointed to the cooler that held the baby bok choy and diffused the situation. Read more
The Destiny Thief
The Destiny Thief is a collection of essays (9) on writing, writers, and life by Richard Russo. Readers may recognize Russo, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 2002 for Empire Falls and also wrote Nobody’s Fool and the follow-up Everybody’s Fool, Mohawk, The Risk Pool, Straight Man, The Whore’s Child, and That Old Cape Magic, but for those who have not read his works, the best way to describe Russo’s books is to say they are authentic, real, and so well written. So how did he do it? By living the life he was meant to live. Read more
Student Loans, University Expenses, and Personal Responsibility
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently published an article entitled “Student-Loan Debtors Get Help From Judges” which reported that judges are now using “tools at their disposal” to reduce or cancel student loan debt after years of holding debtors responsible for the money they borrowed and promised to pay back.
One of these tools is asking lawyers who represent borrowers to provide their services for free. Yes, free. Students (legal adults) can borrow money to attend college, promise to pay it back, default on the loans, and the judiciary thinks its ok to ask a third-party (lawyers) to work for free. Is there anything more absurd? Read more
Executive Compensation at the School Nutrition Association
The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is a non-profit 501 (c) (4) national organization of school professionals that provide education and advocacy for its members in an effort to improve the quality of school meal programs. A 501 (c) (4) is a social welfare organization who can engage in advocacy and lobbying. Businesses and unions can donate unlimited amounts to 501 (c) (4)’s and the donations are not tax-deductible.
Based in National Harbour, Maryland, the SNA reported $11.8 million in revenue for the year ending July 31, 2016 (hereafter referred to as “2016”) on the Form 990 submitted to the IRS. Read more
How Revenue is Spent at the School Nutrition Foundation
The School Nutrition Foundation is the “sister organization of the School Nutrition Association” focused on obtaining resources for “education, professional development, scholarships, and research in school nutrition.” One is a 501 (c) (3) – the School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) and one is a 501 (c) (4) – the School Nutrition Association (SNA), the major difference being the former accepts tax-deductible donations while the later is a professional association (donations are not tax deductible). Read more
Where Does $100 to the Food Research and Action Center Go?
The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) that works to eradicate poverty-related hunger and improve public policies in the United States by awarding grants, assisting people with access to nutrition assistance programs, and working in both the public and private sectors to foster program participation and promote changes in public policies and attitudes.
The 2016 IRS Form 990 reports the following key information about FRAC: Read more
Paddock Post 