Fried Green Tomatoes Anyone?

This is the prime time of the year for green tomatoes and no one is happier than the many fans of RST Lisia Cisero’s fried green tomatoes, which she cooks up in big batches for clients and staff at Webster Court. Lisia gets her green tomatoes from Webster Court’s vegetable garden and also from the gardens of her coworkers who know they won't go to waste.  “Everyone loves them,” says Lisia, who modified her grandma’s recipe to make it her own.   “It’s always a little get together on tomatoe day!”  Thanks for sharing, Lisia.

Lisia's Fried Green Tomatoes

4-6 large green tomatoes

3 eggs


1 cup all-purpose flour


1 cup yellow cornmeal


2 teaspoons salt


1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper


1 quart vegetable oil for frying


Directions


1. Slice tomatoes 1/2 inch thick. Discard the ends.


2. Whisk eggs in a medium-size bowl with salt and pepper. Mix flour and cornmeal in a medium-sized bowl and scoop onto a plate. Dip tomatoes into flour mixture to coat. Then dip the tomatoes into the egg mixture.


3. In a large skillet, pour vegetable oil (enough so that there is 1/2 inch of oil in the pan) and heat over a medium heat. Place tomatoes into the frying pan in batches of 4 or 5, depending on the size of your skillet. Do not crowd the tomatoes, they should not touch each other. When the tomatoes are browned, flip and fry them on the other side. Drain them on paper towels, sprinkle with hot sauce and enjoy!

RSTs Rock!

When it comes to Special Tree’s RSTs, there’s never a shortage of praise from clients and staff for their hard work and dedication. To show RSTs how much they’re appreciated, Special Tree organized IMAGINE, an off-site personal growth and development conference held biennially to celebrate National Nurses Aid Week last month.


To accommodate scheduling needs, the event was held over two days in June so that every RST would have an opportunity to attend. The conference featured breakout sessions on topics that RSTs expressed in a pre-conference survey. The sessions were facilitated by STRS staff and thanks go to: Catherine Steinhoff- Massage Management, Jill Prisza – Nutrition, Jim Hall - Personal Finance, Lela Hickonbottom – Health Careers, Neal Dregansky – Personal Fitness, Kristin Clearhout – Managing Stress, and Kelly Sandor & Derica Scribner – Love & Logic Parenting Skills.


Keynote speaker Walt Stasinski from Potential Unlimited in Troy inspired the crowd with a humorous but powerful presentation on the importance of having fun at work. “Everyone left feeling energized with ideas for new ways to enhance their work and personal relationships,” said HR Administrator Lisa Bray, who coordinated the IMAGINE event with RST Trainer Mary Jo Hall. RST staff from each facility competed in a Science of Caring poster contest with The Cottage and Tyler II tying for first place. RSTs also received a conference t-shirt and STRS bag and there were door prizes that included gift certificates and gas cards and a grand prize weekend trip including hotel, and pre-paid gas card awarded at each day of the conference.


On duty 24/7, 365 days a year, RSTs help clients with personal care and activities of daily living, support our nursing staff, and manage meals, medication, and household tasks at our residential locations. “The RSTs play such a critical role here,” said Mary Jo. “We want to acknowledge them in a way that helps them to grow and lets them know how much they’re appreciated.”



RSTs attended many breakout sessions throughout the day devoted to topics on personal growth and development.



Tyler 2 RSTs (pictured) and The Cottage both took First Place in the Science of Caring Poster Contest



Lisa Bray, IMAGINE coordinator, Lela Hickonbottom "Health Careers" presenter and Mary Jo Hall, IMAGINE coordinator.







Children's Services Manager Derica Scribner and Behavioral Specialist Kelly Sandor discuss parenting skills in their Parenting with Love & Logic session

Keynote Speaker Walt Stasinski from Potential Unlimited in Troy