Nancy Stampahar makes pasta with a side of passion...plus a book giveaway

***Giveaway is now closed***

Introduction by Melissa Amster

I've recently experienced another instance of "book besherte." This time, it came in the form of Nancy Stampahar. I saw an ad for her website on Facebook, right at the beginning of Foodie month, and I knew I had to contact her to visit CLC. Not only does she share recipes and cooking tips, but she also gives lessons on women's empowerment! How perfect is that for chick lit readers?!? Her lesson today is on dealing with difficult people. Someone I'm close with recently had an experience with a difficult person, so I wish these tips had been available to them at the time this was happening. (However, given the difficult person is still driving them crazy, this still may come in handy.)

Nancy is also sharing a tasty Italian recipe with us AND she has her own personal growth book, Peace, Love and Lemonade: A Recipe to Make Your Life Sweeter, to give away to one lucky reader anywhere in the world!

Nancy Stampahar has over 15 years’ experience in public speaking and training, as well as triumphant lemons to lemonade personal stories to share with audiences in need of some inspiration and a good ol' kick in the pants. Aside from being an award-winning author, she is also the creator of the first empowerment-cooking web show, Life in Nancy’s Kitchen – Dishin’ It with Zest! Nancy has grabbed the attention of The Rachael Ray Show and the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Nancy earned her BSBA degree in human resource management from Robert Morris University and as a professional development and personal growth expert, has been sought for her knowledge, candor and inspiring stories that change the attitudes and behaviors needed to achieve positive results. Nancy’s authentic and enthusiastic personality makes her one of today’s most dynamic female motivational speakers. Born into inspiration, she returned to her hometown, Pittsburgh, where she lives today. Her greatest influences are her mother, who raised her as a single parent and worked her way off welfare to earn a law degree, and her late brother, who was intellectually-disabled.

For more recipes and empowerment ideas, visit Nancy at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

5 Tips to Deal with Difficult People

With today’s globally-connected world, we are fortunately exposed to the goodness of diversity. There are many enriching types of people to learn from and enjoy both professionally and personally. While having different experiences brings tremendous opportunities for growth and fulfillment, different ways of working, living and communicating can be uncomfortable and difficult. Then, there are people who are difficult no matter what you say or do.

A difficult person is defined as someone who continues to demonstrate unfavorable, disrespectful or immature behaviors. All attempts to remedy a situation have not worked. The unpleasant, unhealthy or even toxic encounters keep happening. Perhaps there has been no resolve because of how the difficult person was or was not approached to fix the situation. Or perhaps, the difficult person does not “get it” and never will. Then, it’s up to you. You have a choice on how you will think and react the next time the situation occurs.

Tips and Insights for Dealing with Difficult People:

1) Keep in mind, that 90% of what someone says is about them, which means only 10% is about you. There are a lot of self-absorbed people with a low self-esteem. They only talk about themselves and hardly ever ask you a question about you and your life. Try not to take these people personally…it’s all about them.

2) People with low self-esteem love to gossip and make fun of people. This makes them feel superior to stroke their own self-esteem. They are pointing out your faults (real and not for real faults) instead of fixing their own. Ignore them and do not participate in the gossip. 99% of gossip is false information anyway.

3) Do not rise to their level of yelling and screaming. Keep your cool.

4) Most important, if someone continues to treat you with disrespect after you have set clear boundaries remove or distance them from your close circles. You deserve to be treated better. If you do not take this important step, you are the person who is now responsible for allowing the situation to keep happening in YOUR life.

5) Seek relationships with positive, giving, easy-to-get-along-with people.

Whoever the difficult person is in your life or workplace, you are probably fueled by negative emotions and stress when you interact with them. Your own well-being and performance are being jeopardized. You don't have to feel that way anymore. Keep in mind that you cannot change others. You can only change yourself. You can choose to respond differently each time you deal with a difficult person. There is always a way to get happy.

To your happiness,
Nancy

Check Out Nancy’s Fun Message Here About Passionate Communication – That’s Italian!



Dishin’ Passion with Nancy’s White Pasta Fagioli Recipe


Now, that’s Italian! Italians are known for their great food and passion. But Mama Mia, when their hands go flying in the air and the yelling begins, some people can get overwhelmed with fear. It’s not intentional. Understanding different communication styles can make things tolerable.

Recipe type: Soups
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients
Ditalini Pasta
Cannellini Beans
Chicken Broth
Celery (chopped)
Onions
Carrots
Garlic
Parmesan Cheese
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper



Steps
Sauté chopped celery, onions, carrots and garlic in olive oil.
In a large pot, add al dente Ditalini pasta, cannellini beans, chicken broth, salt and pepper.
Stir up your passion, heat it up and fold in baby spinach leaves, chopped parsley and parmesan cheese.
Serve and top with more grated parmesan cheese. Buon appetite!
Finding your passion and communicating with respect for others will bring you una vita molto felice.

Thanks to Nancy for visiting with us and sharing her book with our readers.

How to win Peace, Love and Lemonade:
Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your Facebook page or blog if  you can receive messages there.) 

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: What is the most difficult recipe you've ever tried to make? Were you able to conquer it?
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Giveaway ends April 3rd at midnight EST.