Thanksgiving Ramblings

Many of my friends on Facebook have been posting daily about what they are thankful for throughout the month of November.  I have enjoyed reading their postings and last year I participated myself.  This year I decided to abstain from posting, but not because I am not thankful for what I have in my life.  I am very blessed with a wonderful teaching ministry, family, friends, and of course my faith.

I shall attempt to explain why I chose to avoid posting my blessings and thankfulness this year.  As a teacher, I have to be dramatic and the center of attention on a daily basis.  It is essential in order to have a well-run classroom in many ways.  I wouldn't necessarily call myself a drama queen, but there is a little part of me that has the need to be the center of attention.

Because I know this about myself, I decided not to post my thankfulness this year.  I was concerned that for me, some of this would become a shameless bid for attention, and not a true exercise of being thankful.  So I chose to keep my thankfulness private.  For this same reason, I rarely follow the tradition of giving up something for Lent.  I don't want something like that to become about my own effort or an opportunity to brag about how good I am.

Reading everyone's posts of thankfulness has given me a chance to think about what I'm thankful for.  I have felt so happy for my friends and family who are willing to share their blessings with their circle of Facebook friends. 

Thank you, my friends, for sharing your joys and blessings with all of us.  It has been inspiring and entertaining.

The First Days of School

The beginning of school is always an adventure.  You have new class schedules, new students, and everything is, well, new.  Even though a teacher may be seeing some of the same students, each school year is unique.

The first few days of school are always a challenge in a variety of ways.  Nothing is settled or set in stone.  You have class roster and schedule changes, you need to know when your lunch time is, you might be waiting for the books you ordered ages ago to arrive.  Students come into your classroom at the wrong time.  You think you have the seating chart *just right* and then someone else gets added to the roster, or someone drops one section and moves to the next.  Even three or four weeks into the school year this kind of thing could happen.

I don't know if I'd say it's a tradition, but the first week or two of school is fun because recent graduates will come back during the lunch hour to visit.  Often they are bringing lunch to friends or siblings who are still enrolled.  Many of them just come back to visit.  Here, we start classes about 2-3 weeks before most local universities begin, so these graduates have the spare time to come and visit.  Most of the time it's really nice to see the graduates return, and sometimes it's kind of awkward.  I think it's awkward because these kids were a part of the fabric of the school for four years, and now they're not.  Sometimes I even feel uncomfortable around former students who I had a good relationship with.  I guess it's mostly because when they are my students, the relationship makes more sense, but once they are older, I don't have a context to place them into. 

What's interesting about these visits is that sometimes the students who return and those who don't return surprise me.  Often the most involved, school-spirited, popular kids don't come back after they've graduated.  Sometimes it's even those who have siblings or other relatives still attending.  The opposite is also true.  I've had really pleasant visits with some of those challenging students who've returned to visit, and I've been gratified to see that they (finally) appreciate their experience at our school.

A couple days ago I received a lovely email from a recent graduate.  I had her twice during the school day last year, in my study hall and in English class.    During my study hall, she would often ask to use some of the lotion I had at my desk.  I keep "regular" lotion and a couple of varieties of Bath and Body Works scented lotion for my use, and I don't mind lending it to students.  I don't know if I'm really allowed to do it, but I do anyway.  She always used this one variety, and I decided to give her the lotion as a graduation gift.  Unfortunately the scent was discontinued, so I purchased an empty container and put the remainder into it.  I didn't think about this until after her graduation party, so I sent it to her this summer.  In her thank you email, she told me that coming to my class made her feel less anxious about being at school, and that there was something about me that helped with that.  I didn't realize she felt this way, and I was just interacting with her as I would with anyone.  I didn't do anything special or go out of my way to treat her special.  That made my day.

All in all, it's been a good start to the year.  Not completely smooth sailing. I can tell my last period class is going to be a challenge.  I have a pack of highly energetic freshmen and sophomores.  They're all good kids, but they can be really charged up.  Granted, I'm writing this at the end of a Friday with the first home football game.  I think there are about 6 of the 20 in that class who are football players.  That could explain their lack of focus today.  We shall see.  I may be spending more energy on these kiddos than the other 5 classes combined!

No Pinterest Guilt Here

Last summer, I discovered Pinterest.  I love this online pinboard, and I'm not going to feel any shame about it.  I have explored crafts, DIY projects, cooking, found funny sayings, classroom ideas, and more.  I have thousands of pins, quite a few boards, and I visit Pinterest several times a day.

Pinterest is a pleasure of mine.  I refuse to feel guilty about enjoying it.  I have heard that there are women out there whose Pinterest experiences cause them to feel inadequate as mothers, wives, and friends.  They see the pins and blogs of other women who seem to do all kinds of complicated projects for their children's birthday parties, or who are super organized, or who make all kinds of DIY cleaning products.  I refuse to feel that way.  (I suspect that some of these super-organized and crafty women blogging and posting about their accomplishments are liars!)

What's my point, you may ask?  Pinterest actually inspires me.  My mother is one of the craftiest people I know.  If there is a DIY or craft activity in existence, she has done it.  When I was in high school, tole painting (you know, geese and chickens on wood) was the rage.  My mom tried it and created quite a few pieces for our home.  They were really good, but when I tried to do some of this painting, it just came out looking like a cartoon.  She's done counted cross stitch (again I learned along with her, but my pieces paled in comparison to hers), latch hook, and more.  She can crochet with her eyes closed, and her sewing skills are amazing.  She made my sister's wedding dress and all the bridesmaids dresses, and they all looked better than the magazine pictures that my sister showed her for the design.  My nephew (and now my new niece) will always have the most amazing Halloween costumes because of her.  She makes cards and does scrapbooking.

As I have mentioned, I've taken up some of the crafts she tried when she started them.  I have done tole painting, I've done counted cross stitch, and she has taught me how to sew.  I tried to learn how to crochet, but I don't have the patience or the manual dexterity to do so.  I like to scrapbook, but I have scrapbooks from several years ago that are incomplete.  I have recently taken up cardmaking as well.  The best part about learning these crafting skills is that my mom buys all of the equipment and I can use it.  When she decides to do a crafty activity, she goes all out.  Joann and Michael's coupons are something she hoards and uses to her advantage in this.

But I'm getting off subject, which is another trait I share with my mom.  I'm just talking about her because it illustrates the fact that I have a standard against which I will never measure up (in my mind).  My mom is amazing at these crafting skills, and I am not.

Pinterest has revived my interest in a lot of things.  Through my visits to Pinterest, I have revived my interest in sewing.  This summer I have made a couple of bags for myself, made some garden decorations for my garden and for my mom's garden.  I enjoy reading the tutorials because most of the writers explain what they are doing in a way that makes sense, and many of the tutorials are accompanied by pictures.

My favorite exploration on Pinterest has been the recipes.  I have tried several recipes I've found with much success.  I venture to say that my cooking skills are equal to my mom's, and I get great satisfaction from cooking something that I really like.  I've made recipes from Pinterest for family gatherings and usually they get good reviews.

Pinterest encourages me to look at things in different ways.  I have tried new things (foods and DIY projects) that I may not have tried before.  I have started looking around my home and workplace and looked for ways to reuse (the new word I believe is "upcycle") materials.  I've found inspiration for working in my garden and yard, doing crafts, and more.  I have learned a whole lot...about myself and about a variety of other things.

I also find a lot of humor in Pinterest.  I'm not just talking about the funny sayings or pictures some people pin.  Some of the recipe ideas or other DIY ideas are simply ridiculous in my mind.  There are dessert recipes out there for things with so many combinations that I just have to laugh.  Who really wants to eat S'mores Almond Joy  raspberry cheesecake crescent roll pie with salted caramel sauce?  Just how many "pumpkin spice" recipes can you make?  Is it really more convenient to make reusable "paper towels"?   Would I really want to make a raised flower bed using cinder blocks?  It would be cool to make ghostly figures out of chicken wire and glow in the dark paint for Halloween, but really?

I'll admit it in writing.  I explore Pinterest when I want to avoid school work, cleaning, and yard work.  It's one of those "time-suckers" that I will intentionally use so that I can procrastinate even more.  As I wrote earlier, I feel no guilt or shame about this either.  Exploring on Pinterest is a way for me to get my mind off of some of the stressful parts of my life. I will never try every single project or recipe that I pin.  I know this.  But that doesn't mean that I can't pin it, "just in case".  So there.

Paula Deen and Words

Today I posted a status on my Facebook page that ran thusly:    
      <---Is very frustrated when I see nifty pics or sayings that share my sentiments, but contain the f-bomb. Really? I remember my mom saying that what comes out of your mouth reflects what's on your inside.

Several people made comments on the status, ranging from what makes a "bad word" a bad word, and eventually the discussion turned to racially charged language, which led me to share some thoughts on the recent Paula Deen controversy.  (I don't know if you'll be able to see my status unless you are my Facebook Friend, but HERE is a link in case you can see it.)  If you can't see it you could send me a friend request, but I'm not guaranteeing I'll accept.
 
Prior to this status adventure, I had been pondering the whole Paula Deen situation.  It relates on some level to my Outrage Overload posting earlier.  I feel compelled to share my thoughts on the issue.

As you may know, I teach English.  This means that I teach literature.  I love teaching literature because I love language, and I love how literature can give us a way to look at the world around us and develop our moral standards based on the experiences of the characters we encounter.  I love teaching texts with challenging issues.  Some of my favorite works to teach include Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men.  In the past I have taught such works as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.  One thing you may notice about these four works is that they all have race in common.  Each of these texts contains racial language that in today's culture is offensive.  In fact, these four works are in the top 25 of the most frequently challenged books list, as compiled by the American Library Association.  (You can see the full list HERE.)  The primary reason for each of these books is because of the racial language used.

Whenever I teach a text that contains potentially offensive material, I take some time to address that not only with my students but also with parents.  I will explain that I do not choose such material lightly, and that I plan to handle the material as respectfully and appropriately as possible.  I explain that in works such as these, it is important to understand the historical and cultural context in which such language is used.  The use of racial language in these works is necessary in the sense that it was a part of the culture in which the novel or memoir is set.  I use the example the presence of violence and dying in a novel about the Vietnam war; it would be impossible to write a realistic novel about something like that without death and violence.  I also emphasize that in today's culture we have an understanding that racial language is not appropriate and isn't something we should use outside of the context of discussing the novel.  If students or I must read something aloud or quote something in writing, I encourage them to handle the offensive language in a variety of ways: they can skip the word, say the first initial, or whatever else is comfortable for them.

This is all a lengthy prelude to my thoughts on the Paula Deen controversy.  Sorry, but sometimes I have to explain myself too thoroughly in order to be confident that I'm conveying myself correctly.

I am not surprised that Paula Deen admits to using racial language now or in her past.  I am not surprised that she wouldn't be fazed by the use of racial or ethnic jokes.  I am not surprised that she would think that a plantation-themed restaurant that had only African-American servers is charming.  Do I support or condone these behaviors?  Certainly not.  But I'm not surprised.

Much of what I've read about this shares some common themes.  Predominant among them is the idea that Paula Deen is a product of the culture in which she was raised.  She's white.  She's from the South.  She grew up in the South in a time when such thinking was common.  She probably heard racial language used by the people around her.  

However, Paula Deen lives in today's culture.  She's a public figure.  The fact that she may have used and allowed racial language and jokes in her presence was not the best choice to make.  Even if she was raised in a different culture, that does not excuse her turning a blind eye to such behavior.

I was raised in a different culture.  Using such language was considered beyond inappropriate..in fact racially-charged terms were (and are) considered just as bad as "swear" words.  I cannot imagine using such words out loud other than in the context of studying literature or quoting what someone else had said.   

One of the more overlooked aspects of this controversy seems to be that Deen thought it would be "impressive" to have all African-American servers at her brother's wedding.  She wanted to give hi m a "real Southern-style" wedding (See this article.) Evidently Deen had been to a restaurant where all the servers were African-American.  She thought it reflected a particular era, pre-Civil War to be exact.  Again, I'm not surprised.  

We have romanticized the Antebellum Era here in America.  The Southern plantation represents a genteel, beautiful time of hoopskirts, mint juleps, and southern drawls.  Let me rephrase this...White Americans have done this.  

We seem to overlook that the plantation culture was run on the backs of slaves.  Gone with the Wind, North and South, and hundreds of other novels, plays, and films have created this image of plantation culture that idealizes even the lives of slaves.  I myself went through a phase in high school where I was enamored of the southern belle and the plantations.  Although I can't recall specific references, I remember that there were some who believed that slavery was actually good for African Americans.

Yet I cannot believe that someone of such a high profile (or anyone, for that matter) would even consider such a theme for a wedding or a restaurant.  In this day and age, to glorify a culture that relied on the abuse of a group of people is beyond the pale.

As with any issue, there are those who are running Deen over the coals and those who support her unequivocally.  Some are saying she can never be forgiven, others are saying that she hasn't done anything worse than anyone else.  She has begun to express remorse, and after ducking out of a scheduled interview on The Today Show, she has apparently rescheduled to appear on Wednesday, June 26.  

Is she truly sorry for her actions or is she sorry that she got called out?  I don't know.  Will she survive the controversy?  Probably.  Americans are pretty forgiving.  Why?  Most of us realize that "there, but for the grace of God, go I."  All of us are quite capable of making similar, if not worse mistakes. 

Outrage Overload

I love the Internet, really I do.  As a teacher, I have tried to embrace its usefulness in enhancing my students' learning experience.  I participate myself in social media such as Facebook and Pinterest.  I use the Internet daily as a resource to learn more about the world around me.  I am able to connect with old friends, former students, family, and friends in mostly positive ways.

I hate the Internet too.  It has, in my opinion, created what I call a "culture of outrage".  Because we have access to news stories from around the world, we see and hear about events that we never would have learned about even five years ago.  Small town news stories come across our news feeds, and then suddenly the story goes viral.  In fact, I think it's quite appropriate that the adjective applied to an Internet story spreading quickly is "viral".  Because the outrage created by some of these viral stories is like a disease.

Take, for example the recent story about the Miles Ambridge class photo.  If you haven't heard this story, you can read about it here: Miles Ambridge Class Photo.  The second grade class at this Canadian elementary school had its group photo taken, but the problem was that one of the students, who was in a wheelchair was "excluded" from the photo because he was off to the side.  In the photo, the young boy was leaning to his right, straining to be closer to his classmates.

This story has come up several times on my Facebook news feed, and to summarize a lot of the reaction, you'd think that the photographer was the leader of an anti-wheelchair hate group.  I may be exaggerating just a little bit, but the indignation the photograph created seems excessive.   Please don't get me wrong, I believe people should be treated fairly and that intentional exclusion because of a handicap or other characteristic should never happen. 

But I just don't think that this was intentional.  And I don't think that the photographer and the school should be vilified because of something that was inadvertent.  People make mistakes.  Sometimes things like this just happen.  When we're in a hurry, or on a schedule, or for whatever reason, sometimes we just don't think and we take the quickest route to accomplish a task.  It's unthinking but it's not always intentional. 

I don't think there's anyone out there who hasn't done something similar for a similar reason.  We've made a poor choice, not because we are mean people, but because we are in a hurry or it just doesn't come to our minds.  Sometimes those actions can hurt others' feelings.  Sometimes they don't.  The end result is almost always "What was I thinking?"  If it is something that hurt another person, then you step up and try to make it right. 

I have a 10 year old nephew.  A couple years ago, when the last Harry Potter film came out in theaters, he spent the night at my house, we watched the 6th movie, and then the first part of the 7th.  We made special treats (mint chocolate chip brownie ice cream sandwiches).  Then the next day we went to the theater to see the last film.  It was great, and we decided we'd do it again.  Last summer we did it with the Men in Black movies.   It was a sort of special thing, just me and him together doing something with "just us."

A couple weeks ago, I was with him, his sister, my mom, and my sister at Orange Leaf.  I asked him if he wanted to see the new Despicable Me movie, and both he and his sister responded quite enthusiastically.  Without thinking I suggested that we do our special spend-the-night-at-my-house thing, and his sister responded enthusiastically, but he didn't.  In fact, the look on his face was a little disappointed.  Oops.  Later on I talked to him by himself and asked him if he was disappointed, and he was.  Fortunately, we were able to have our special night this past week, and when Despicable Me 2 comes out, the 3 of us will have our fun treat and movie night-to-day. 

The thing is, just because something like this happens doesn't mean that outrage is warranted.   The school responded with retaking the picture.  It took responsibility for the mistake and took steps to make it right.  If the school had not responded or responded insensitively, then maybe outrage would be warranted.  But is MY outrage necessary?  Does this directly affect me?   What good am I really doing in this particular situation?  Is there something in my own community that deserves my outrage?  I live in Indiana...what does a photograph of a second grade class in Canada have to do with my community?   I would be better off turning my eyes to my own community and directing my energies to righting the wrongs here.

Seriously, outrage should be reserved for what is truly outrageous.  Intentional, detrimentally hurtful actions.  Outrage is exhausting, and taking a moment to think about what outrages you allows you to perhaps truly affect something significant. 

Words are Important

Recently I posted the following meme on my Facebook page:

I posted it because it is from one of my favorite movies, The Princess Bride, and also because as an English teacher, I have to say this to my students a lot.

A friend of mine, also an English teacher, commented on the picture.  She mentioned that, after a year of reading AP Language essays, she had begun to hate the word "plethora" because her students were overusing it.  I jokingly responded that I didn't like the word, nor did I know really how it was pronounced...was it pleth-er-uh or pleth-OR-uh?  A former student of mine commented, asking why it mattered, as long as we knew what the student meant.  I responded that most English teachers have pet peeve words or phrases.  He interpreted this exchange as if we were mocking our students.  This is not, in fact, true.  We were discussing word usage.

There's a lot of subtext in the exchange that someone who is not an English teacher may be unaware of.  We English teachers spend a lot of time looking at words.  We teach about words.  We notice words, even when we are not in English teacher mode.  We analyze words, not only in the literature texts we teach but also in the student work we read.  We try to instill in our students the importance of words in any kind of writing: both the writing they read and the writing they create themselves.

Words are important.  We English teachers pay attention to them.  A lot.

A famous quotation attributed to Mark Twain states, "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."  My problem with a word like "plethora" is that I believe it is a word that many people (students in particular) use because they believe it sounds intelligent.  They don't use it because it expresses their ideas exactly.  They are using the word to impress.

Whenever I teach students about vocabulary and word choice, I try to help them understand one basic fact: they should choose words that express their ideas as precisely as possible.  John Keating, Robin Williams' character in the movie "Dead Poets Society" told his class, "So avoid using the word ‘very’ because it’s lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Don’t use very sad, use morose. Language was invented for one reason, boys - to woo women - and, in that endeavor, laziness will not do."  The point he is making is that in order for language to be effective, it must be exact.

Language must have meaning.  Today there are so many words that are overused to the extent that their power is lost.  Think about a word like "awesome".  The definition of the word is "extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring great admiration, apprehension, or fear," yet we use this word to describe anything from frozen yogurt to the latest baseball victory.  This is a word that should be reserved for true power: the presence of God, the destruction after a volcano.  It should be used for anything that inspires genuine awe. 

I realize that most people don't really notice words in the same way that I do.  It's part of my daily existence to pay attention to words.  Words do, however make an impression on each of us whether we notice it or not.  Just as an experiment, the next time you see an advertisement, watch the news, or read an article in the newspaper, think about some of the standout words.  The men and women who create them pay attention to the words they choose because they want to achieve a certain reaction from you, their audience.  Those choices are not made lightly because the creators have a specific goal in mind, and they know that certain words will trigger certain reactions in you.

Here is part of the exchange, just for the record:
My friend's first response:  You know what was a favorite of my students this year? Plethora. I started hating the word "plethora."
Me:  I don't like it much, either. Now, is it pronounced PLETH-ER-AH, or PLETH-OR-AH? I have heard it both ways.
My friend: I think it depends on your accent.

I'll let you decide if it's mocking our students or not.

An Open Letter to a Student

Dear Student:
I did something awful last week that was hurtful to you.  It was a complete accident, but nonetheless it should not have happened.  It's probably the biggest mistake I have made as a teacher.  It exposed you and there is nothing I can do to make up for this.  You have probably lost any trust you may have had in me, and that breaks my heart. 

You will never understand how much this has eaten me up inside.  I have lost so much sleep over this and I will continue to do so.  It will nag at me, probably for the rest of my life.

I hope you understand that I would never intentionally do something to hurt any of my students.  Throughout this entire school year I have given you more emotional and mental time and energy than to any of my other students.  Your parents are in regular contact with me about your work and work habits.  It has gotten to the point where I dread seeing an email from your mom.  I know that when she emails, she is going to ask me if all of the 0 grades on your progress report are accurate.  She is going to tell me that you've told her everything is caught up, but I am going to have to share with her that you have not, in fact, turned in that work. 

For some reason you seem to believe that no one is on your side.  For some reason you seem to believe that the habits you develop as a young person will not translate into the habits you keep as an adult.  Somehow you have decided that failing a class is not going to have any consequences later in life.

I know that you won't believe this, but everything I have done with respect to your work habits in class is because I care for you.  I probably care too much.  I think I care more about your grades than you do.  I have given you too much emotional space inside my heart.  And after this, the space you occupy is even bigger, because I can't stop thinking about it.

I also confess that I am angry with you too.  Your response to my apology was nasty and hurtful.  If you really understood how awful I feel about this, maybe you'd be more understanding.  If you understood how much I worry about you, maybe you wouldn't have been so nasty.  Perhaps not.  You have a chip on your shoulder, and my actions have understandably made it larger. 

What I really need to do now is to move on.  There's nothing I can do but pray that you, God and I will forgive me.   I know that I have God's forgiveness, but I probably won't ever have yours or mine.

Dealing with Diabetes

In January of 2013, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.  My blood work came back and my sugars were high enough for me to be called diabetic, but in the low range.  My doctor was confident that if I made the commitment to diet and exercise, I would be able to lower my blood sugar numbers and put my diabetes into what she called "remission."

I think that most people, when finding out about such a diagnosis, first feel confused and angry.  I was confused, it's true, but my doctor provided me with some good information about diet and exercise and I decided to do some research on my own to start a plan to change my eating habits.  She also recommended that I try a diabetes education program and so I decided to find one that worked.  Fortunately a local hospital provides one-on-one diabetes education with a licensed diabetes educator for free!  As soon as I found this out, I asked my doctor to refer me to the program and made my first appointment.

My diabetes counselor has provided me with a wealth of materials, including developing a meal plan for me.  I meet with her once every few weeks, and she monitors my progress and helps me to set goals.  She also teaches me about the kinds of lifestyle changes I need to make in order to cope with diabetes. 

I have learned a lot through this diagnosis.  I am determined to live well with this condition.  I do not see diabetes as a handicap or something to hold me back.  I do not need to feel like I am depriving myself through following my meal plan.  In fact, I view this as a challenge.  I like figuring out how I can fit the foods I like into my plan.  I enjoy trying new recipes that fit into the plan.  I have been able to use the Internet, especially Pinterest, to explore new recipes and ideas for dealing with this diagnosis.  I have learned that being intentional about what I eat and do has benefits beyond just my diabetes. 

In fact, I’d like to say that right now I am in the best health for a really long time.  I am eating better, exercising more, and feeling extremely optimistic about life.  Since January I have already lost 34 pounds and at my most recent doctor’s appointment, my doctor was very encouraged.  She even suggested that in a few months I may be able to reduce the medication she has prescribed for me if my progress continues.  I have also been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and since my diabetes diagnosis and weight loss, my blood pressure has been at its lowest in years.

I am determined to continue my progress with my disease management.  I know I will always be diabetic, but I am resolved to stem the advancement of the disease in my body.  I know I can use diet and exercise to my advantage in this regard.  I do not want to be dependent on insulin or other medication to control my disease.  I want to live a full and healthy life in spite of diabetes.

Little Turkey Meatloaves

Lately I have been trying to eat foods that are better for me.  I have recently been diagnosed as a diabetic and my doctor wants me to battle it through diet and exercise.  I was not surprised by the diagnosis and I am looking at it as the chance to really clean up my habits.  I had been making some small steps toward better health but I have been making "two steps forward, one step back" style progress.

So tonight I was driving home and thinking about what was in my refrigerator and freezer that I could make for dinner.  I had just bought some frozen sweet potato fries, and I was thinking about something that would go with those as a side dish.  It's a cold, snowy, blustery day, and I was in the mood for some comfort food.

Honestly I don't know how "healthy" these turkey meatloaves are, but I loaded them with vegetables for flavor and moisture.

Here's the recipe:

1 pound ground turkey
1 medium egg
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup or so of chopped mushrooms (I used regular button mushrooms)
1/2 cup of onions and peppers, chopped (I had a frozen blend that contained green, red, and yellow peppers with onions)
1/2 can of diced tomatoes, drained
1/4 cup spinach, chopped (I used fresh baby spinach but you could use frozen if you thawed and drained it.)
chopped garlic to taste (I think I used about a teaspoon of chopped garlic from a jar)
shredded cheese (I used Kroger's shredded queso quesadilla cheese)
barbecue sauce to spread on top of the mini loaves (if desired)

I meant to add some seasoning, but I forgot.  You could add some salt-free seasoning, or some Italian seasoning, or salt and pepper to taste.  I didn't miss it.

Preheat your oven to 400.

Mix all of the ingredients together, except for the cheese and barbecue sauce.

You will need a muffin tin (I used my large muffin tin that makes 6 muffins).  You are going to fill the miniature loaves with cheese, so put part of the meat mixture into the muffin tins, making sure that it lines the tins with a little depression in the middle.  Add the cheese and then cover the cheese with more of the meat mixture.

Bake at 400 for about 25 minutes.  The mini loaves did not get a "crust" on the edges, which I had hoped for, but I was hungry and they were fully cooked.  Probably they could have gone another 5 minutes to get that crusty edge.  After that, then baste some of the barbecue sauce on top of each mini loaf and return to the oven for a few minutes.

I didn't put BBQ sauce on all of them, and I tried a bit of the "with" and a bit of the "without".  Both were good...I suppose you could use any kind of sauce on top if you like.