A Killer Price

"Black Friday Crowds Trample to Death a Wal-Mart employee"

This makes me sick, disgusted, sad: Crowds gathered outside of a Wal-Mart in New York State Friday morning surged through the front doors in a mad dash to take advantage of 'doorbuster' sales, trampling to death the employee who opened the doors. "Doorbusters" in reality, knocking the doors off of the hinges and crushing them - and the employee - to save a few bucks. Witnesses say that members of the crowd STEPPED OVER the prone body of the man as they made their way into the building, and fellow employees were battered and bruised themselves in their attempt to come to the poor man's aid. When shoppers were told the store would be closing for a few hours because of the death many continued shopping, expressing irritation and exclaiming "I waited out front for hours, I'm not leaving!"

What is wrong with you people? What have you become? Never mind the Christmas Spirit, what happened to your humanity? Although it shouldn't matter, let me put it into perspective for you - and make it personal to appeal to your selfish natures: What if this person was your grandmother, your husband, your child? How would you feel then? Would you be outraged? Would it change your behavior? Would you still step over their crumpled and battered body for a flat-screen television?

Here's my gift to all of you, and to the world at large: I didn't kill anyone this year - or ever. I tried to treat others with respect and kindness. I tried to think of someone besides myself. I made the effort. It seems like such a small thing, no effort at all really... But maybe the lowest common denominator is all we can hope for against the backdrop of selfish indifference. Maybe it's no longer about what you do to help your fellow man - maybe it's about what you DON'T do to harm them.

Roasted Squash Casserole

I came up with this dish tonite to use up some Yellow Squash I had left over. It was really good, and you don't even miss the meat, thanks to the smokey flavor of the Gouda.

Roasted Squash Casserole

Ingredients:

1 10 oz can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 half can Milk
1 16 oz jar Bertolli's or Ragu Alfredo Sauce
1 4 oz can Mushroom stems and pieces
1 Cup Smoked Gouda cheese, finely grated
1 large Yellow Onion, diced
2 ribs Celery, finely diced
1 medium Carrot, finely diced
4 medium Yellow "Crookneck" Summer Squash, Diced
Spiral Tube Pasta, cooked 'al dente'
1/4 t. Nutmeg
Salt
Pepper
Olive Oil
Directions:

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees.

Combine Squash, Onions, 2 tablespoons Olive Oil, salt and pepper and spread over a cookie sheet. Roast until soft and the slightly browned on the edges. Remove to cool, leaving the Oven on. 'Sweat' Mushrooms, Celery, carrots, salt and pepper in 1 tablespoon Olive Oil over medium heat until soft. Mix together Mushroom soup, Alfredo sauce, Milk, Cheese and nutmeg until combined. Add all vegetables and stir until combined. Pour over drained pasta and toss until well coated. Pour mixture into greased shallow glass casserole and bake for 30 minutes until heated through and slightly browned. Remove and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Serves 6 main courses or 10 sides.

Optional: Add cooked diced Chicken to the mixture - but you'll need to increase the sauce by half.

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If you try this, let me know how you liked it. We loved it.