Born Daily
  • welcome in
  • blog
  • side hustles
  • current loves
  • connect
  • about
  • welcome in
  • blog
  • side hustles
  • current loves
  • connect
  • about
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

Dig in.

nourishing & unapologetic 

11/18/2014 4 Comments

Election Reflection + Sloppy Joes

Picture
Well, Dad's Election Day has come and gone. And, it didn't turn out the way we hoped. At all. It left us with a lot.  Shock. Disappointment. Frustration. And, an opportunity for reflection. It also made me exhausted and hungry. 

Politics, such a funny animal. It's you versus another human being. Somehow, this noble goal of serving your fellow citizens and community goes to the wayside. It seems the fact that both candidates are both spouses, parents, friends, etc. is often forgotten; the other side is just a barrier in the way of a mission. The 2014 political season, especially in Kansas, certainly brought out the worst in some. Intentionally, the Pope camp stayed out of the muck.

The summary of our first foray in politics goes like this : We outlined. We planned. We campaigned cleanly with no bashing, misinformation, harvesting of votes, or other games. We voted. We waited. And though the others are difficult, the waiting is the worst. My dad decided to run for County Commissioner in mid-to-late May. Campaign tasks kicked off in the summer and we pushed through to November 4th. It was a busy few months. The Subbie got a lot of miles on her, we walked in a number of parades, tossed a lot of candy, shook a lot of hands, and did our best to get the message of VOTE POPE out. The entire time we waited to see what the people would say at the polls. 

We were told to be confident. So many people wanted change. So many said they would vote, or that they'd vote for him if they lived in the District. We went into Election Day hopeful, but not overconfident. When we got notification that the votes weren't on our side, it was a big let down and frankly, quite surprising. But my Dad, ever the optimist with rich, constant perspective, accepted the results graciously. He said, someone wins and someone has to walk away disappointed. I kid you not. He was naturally bummed, but not bitter or disheartened. He knew what he'd invested and those who supported him. He took comfort in the fact that his integrity was intact. 

I, on the other hand, was deeply bothered and was for a number of days primarily because the loyalties I thought would carry through didn't all pan out. The enthusiasm and respect for the duty to vote was disgustingly low--only about 9,000 people in a county of 23,000+ voted. I also just couldn't believe that the people of our County didn't see how wrong they were. They wouldn't get the chance to experience fairness, genuine concern for others, experience, and sense of humor my Dad had to offer. 

All that said, what I know: this experience has reaffirmed that my dad is still as much of my hero as he ever has been. His integrity is uncompromising. His stamina doesn't wain. He's positive to a fault. His sense of duty is resolute. He is confident in his values, beliefs, opinions, and abilities. He is absolutely who you should want to serve you as he's not motivated by personal intention or personal gain, but by the desire for progress and protection. He is a character with character. 
Picture
Remember I said this experience made me hungry...? Hungry for simple comfort food to be exact. So onward we go! But this recipe isn't one of my normal go-to comfort food dishes. In fact, this recipe makes something that I used to despise: Sloppy Joes. For many years, I had a love hate relationship with ground beef. It's a total texture thing. But, I'm working on it. This is my proof. 

I pulled this recipe from The Picky Palate Cookbook after Nick challenged me to make something I'd never made from one of my recently unpacked cookbooks. If' you've never heard of Jenny Flake from The Picky Palate, you should spend some time getting to know her blog and food.

This recipe is super simple and relatively quick. Skipping the can and creating it from scratch totally makes the difference. The flavors are richer and you know exactly what you're eating (including some vegetables!). 
No Can Sloppy Joes
Original Recipe in The PIcky Palate Cookbook, page 100
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely chopped white or yellow onion
3/4 cup diced carrot
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper (or sweet peppers)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
 1 pound ground beef
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup ketchup
1 1/2 tablespoons yellow mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3/4 teaspoon chili powder
Hamburger buns or kaiser rolls

Directions
1. Heat olive oil in large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and peppers. Cook about 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. 
2. Add garlic and cook another minute. 
3. Add ground beef, salt, and pepper and cook until browned. Drain the grease from the meat and put back into pan. 
4. Add ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, and salt to small bowl and combine. 
5. Mix sauce mixture with meat mixture. Stir until well combined.
6. Reduce heat to low and simmer the meat mixture.
7. Spoon on to buns and top with cheese or other condiments. Serve warm. 
Picture
Now. that my belly is full and my head a little more clear... 

Many have encouraged Dad to run again in 2018. I think he's ruled that possibility out. But, perhaps the apple won't fall far from the tree and we can have another Pope in the ring  in the future, when I'm a little older, hopefully a little wiser, and more connected. Until then, I'll stay in the kitchen where I know the landscape, the priorities, and can call the shots. 
Later!
-xo
4 Comments
Marolyn Allred
11/18/2014 14:13:09

So fun to read your blog, welcome to the world of political inconsistencies and the mysterious way people vote or in some cases don't vote. Love you and your sweet family

Reply
Amanda Shield
11/18/2014 14:23:29

I love how you speak from your heart. Your strong sense of family is inspirational! A twist on sloppy joes... Try substituting ground turkey for ground beef. That has become a favorite in our house!

Reply
John
11/18/2014 21:42:08

I stopped and talked to your dad the other day and encouraged him to run again! We need people like him to rise up and lead. But he said no way, which i completely understand, because its a LOT of hard work. He said he was dissapointed that some who pledged support may not have followed through with it. Typical voters!!! However, i still want to encourage him because now he knows the system, his name is more recognizable (which is why the incumbent won, i think) and because we need people like him. Its natural to think of the people who said they support him and then didnt, but a whole lot of people like us got out and voted for him. He did have a lot of people backing him. I mean it was close and for it to be close on a off-year, midterm election against a reconizable name/incumbent says a lot!

Reply
Mom
11/19/2014 10:55:05

Your dad had asked me if I had read your recent blog, I had not. I just finished reading it. I was very impressed with your summation of the Election. You nailed it . Dad was really touched! We are so proud of you as would your Grandparents. Everyone needs a Hero and I think you found yours! Love You.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    November 2018
    September 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

    Categories

    All Anniversary Apples Arts And Crafts Avocados Babies Baking Beach Beginning Birthday Blueberry Brands I Love Bread Breakfast Buttermilk Caramel Celebrations Cheese Cheesecake Chocolate Citrus Classic Coconut Comfort Food Community Confidence Cookies Culture Dairy Dessert DIY Donuts Events Exercise Fall Family Fitness Florida Friday Favorites Garden General Goals Goldendoodle Gratitude Grilling Ground Beef Halloween Health Hobbies Holiday Infertility Inspiration Introduction Jewelry Laughter Lemon Life Loss Love Make It Happen Monday Making A Home Marriage Miscarriage Moms Muffins Musings New Blog Newlyweds Oreo Peanut Butter Pets Pie Plexus Potatoes Pregnancy Pumpkin Quick And Easy Reading Reflection Sandwiches Side Dishes Snacks Social Media Soup Summer Summer Fashion Supper Traditions Vacation Vegetables Wichita Women




Copyright © 2018


​ ​Let's be social.