Friday, February 16, 2024

Soap or Soup: Fly on the Wall




Caramel Apple Crumble | recipe developed by Karen of www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert





Welcome to our monthly Fly on the Wall, a blog post written in snippets. Marcia, Diane, and I invite you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes, at our writing desks, and in our worlds. Come on in, buzz around, see what we've been up to. Bet you laugh! 











Hubs was leaving for work and, as he always does, asks me if I need anything while he's out. I rarely do, but I'd been having trouble finding eggs and we were running low so I aked him, if he was going to be near a grocery store, to see what he could find.

Later, I hear him coming in through the garage door and hanging his coat up in the closet.

Hubs (calling from the hallway): Guess what I got?
Me (calling back from the den): Eggs?
Hubs: No, even better.
Me: Better? what did you get?
Hubs: Munchkins.
Me: Ummm . . . like little people?
Hubs: No, like donut holes.

That IS better, but I don't think I'll be scrambling them for breakfast any time soon.


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics



Later that week, he was leaving again.

Hubs: I'm going into the office for a little while, do you need anything?
Me: Yes.
Hubs: OK, I'll stop on the way home, what do you need?
Me: Summer.


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics



Hubs' tire needed air and the pump was broken at the gas station where he usually goes. He wasn't sure where he should try next. I suggested googling it. 

Hubs: I found a place that's close, but I can't picture it. It says it's at the corner of 120th and Jones.
Me: Yes, you know the place.
Hubs: I do?
Me: Yes, if you go up Jones, it's on the left, there's a gas station and a few store fronts. You used to get your hair cut there.
Hubs: I never got my hair cut at a gas station.

OK, now do you see what I'm dealing with here?



Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


A fly, a few days ago, would have seen me giggiling now and then, for no apparent reason.

I had been reading a book on my Kindle and I was starting to question whether English was the writer's first language. Some of the wording seemed odd. I wasn't quite sure until:


Remember to Edit, a Fly on the Wall | graphic designed by, featured on, and property of Karen of www.BakingInATornado.com | #blogging #humor



Either this book was taking a sharp turn into some kind of kink, or somethng here has gotten lost in the translation.

But it really was funny.


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics



Hubs had an early morning meeting in the next town over, and it just so happens there's a Dunkin' drive-thru on the way home. I've already mentioned that he'd brought some of their Munchkins home a few weeks ago.

I was in our office on our bank website paying bills when I noticed, in our account, a debit for that day. At Dunkin'.

Hubs comes home, I can't see him from the office, but I hear him hanging up his coat.

Hubs (calling out from the hallway): I have
Me (interrupting him): I know.
Hubs: You know?
Me: I know.
Hubs: What do you know?
Me: You stopped at Dunkin'.
Hubs: How do you know that?
Me: I have ESPN.
Hubs: You mean ESP.
Me: I know.


Caramel Apple Crumble | recipe developed by Karen of www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert
Caramel Apple Crumble


Later that afternoon, Hubs came in after having run a few errands. I had been in the kitchen, finally trying out a recipe (for a Caramel Apple Crumble with Rolo candies melted inside) that had been running around in my head.

Me (talking to Hubs as he hung up his coat): I made a pie.
Hubs: I know.
Me: How do you know?
Hubs: I know.
Me: Do you have ESPN too?
Hubs: No, I have a nose.



Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics
 


Hubs was at work, I knew he was busy, had a lot of paperwork to do, a meeting, and a few client appointments, so I was surprised, midmorning, to get a text from him:

Hubs: I forgot before I left the house, can you put some soup in the shower?
Me: Interesting, is that something kinky?
Hubs. Oh, umm, soap.
Me: Less interesting . . . but still could be kinky.


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics




I had made a big pot of my Crockpot Italian Soup. After dinner, I put the leftovers into containers to freeze. The spare freezer is in the basement, in a room off of the man cave, so whenever Hubs plans to go downstairs in the evening, he takes whatever I want moved to the freezer.

Hubs: Do you want me to take the leftover soup downstairs?
Me: Yes, unless . . .
Hubs: Unless?
Me: Well, unless you'd rather take it up to the shower.
Hubs: Very funny.
Me: Maybe after you run out to the gas station to get your hair cut . . .


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


still order many shelf items for pick up from the local grocery store. It's a lot easier for me to just go in personally for the meat and perishables.

Hubs: Is our grocery order ready? I can head out now.
Me: I ordered them for Tuesday, like I always do.
Hubs: And . . . 
Me: I'm pretty sure today's only Monday.
Hubs: Oh yeah, I don't have to go until tomorrow.
Me: Either that or take a blanket and a pillow. 



Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


I teased Hubs about his soap/soup text, but I (as usual) had one of those kinds of texts myself recently.

Me: What is your current jail status?
PurDude: I'm at home, no orange jumpsuit and no bars on the door.

I didn't realize what I'd typed until I read his answer. So, the back story:

PurDude had our address listed on most of his paperwork. He's updated, but his health insurance keeps getting overlooked. His 2024 health insurance card had come here so I was going to send it. Until he said that he couldn't get into his mailbox.

I asked when that would be fixed, and he said he only gets mail on Hanukkah and his birthday, so he wasn't going to bother. After multiple arguments and knowing, since I got the EOBs from when he went to urgent care in November, he'd be getting bills he should not ignore, I started arguing with him about reporting the issue. He finally agreed, and I was waiting to send him his insurance card until I knew he could receive it. 

So, mail. I wasn't asking about his jail status (yikes), I was trying to ask about his current mail status.



Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics 

Now click on the links below and see what my friends have to share:







Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Caramel Apple Crumble
                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Ingredients:
1 pie crust and 1 TBSP flour OR a frozen deep dish pie crust

1/2 stick butter, room temperature
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup brown sugar

12 Rolo candies, unwrapped
5 tart or semi-tart apples, I use Braeburn or Cosmic Crisps
1/2 cup sugar
1 TBSP caramel syrup
1/2 tsp orange zest
2 TBSP flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp apple pie spice blend

Directions
*Freeze the Rolos. If using a frozen pie crust, defrost the crust.
*Mix together the butter, 1/2 cup flour, and the brown sugar until it comes together. Roll into plastic wrap and refrigerate.
*Place a large piece of tin foil on the middle rack of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees.
*If using a refrigerated or fresh pie crust: spread 1 TBSP flour over the pie crust. Flip the crust over into a deep dish pie pan so the flour is on the bottom. Fit the crust into the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Crimp the edges.
*Peel, core, and cut the apples into 16 slices each. Mix with sugar, caramel syrup, orange zest, remaining flour, salt, and the apple pie spice blend. Place about 1/3 of the apples into the prepared crust, just covering the bottom. Mix the frozen rolos into the remaining apple mixture and spread evenly onto the apples in the crust.
*Place the pie on the tin foil in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Just before the 30 minute mark, remove the butter mixture from the refrigerator and slice (it will crumble).
*Remove the pie from the oven, leaving the oven on. Dot the butter mixture onto the top of the pie. Use a pie shield to cover the edges of the crust. Return the pie to the oven for 25 - 35 minutes, depending on how soft you like your apples.
*Cool to warm or room temperature before slicing.

Friday, January 19, 2024

Encore: Fly on the Wall

 
Prosecco Pasta | recipe developed by Karen of www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dinner





Welcome to a monthly Fly on the Wall post, where Marcia and I invite you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in, buzz around, see what we've been up to. Bet you laugh! 







Hello. 

Yeah, I got it backwards, the "hello" most often comes before the "good-bye," not after.

Just call me Lucy. 'Cause the voice in my head right now is very much Desi, rolling his eyes, looking at me and saying: "you've got some 'spaining to do . . ." And no, btw, I'm not dating myself, that line is iconic.

So yes, I quit blogging. I wrote my decision and explanation in rhyme. The poem Finale, was my last post of 2023, my last post of the multi-blogger writing challenges I've been running for almost 12 years, and my last post. Period. 

I lied.

OK, I didn't lie. It was the end. I was done. I was a little sad, but mostly both relieved and at peace with the decision. A lot of factors went into making that choice, and nothing has changed. I meant it then and I mean it now.

Except . . .

Peer pressure. 

Yeah, I'm blaming you. Or thanking you. Maybe both.

I was happily minding my own business, peacefully enjoying my retirement from blogging. My writing time had reverted back to reading time, nothing like curling up with a warm throw and a good ebook. And, although I'd stopped posting my unique Baking In A Tornado food based word games to my BIAT facebook page (after having shared almost 5oo of them), I still play and share 13 online word games with my friends there twice a day.

But three things happened to make me waver. 

After posting my finale, so many of you reached out at the news of my decision, took the time to tell me that you enjoyed my blog, appreciated the writing challenges I'd developed, would miss me. I'm grateful, honored by your words. But still done.

But there were many mentions of Fly on the Wall specifically, how fun and funny they were, how much a monthly peek into the more humorous aspects of our family life both resonated and amused. I had long known these monthly posts were reader favorites, and they're a fun, carefree post to write, too. Surprisingly, there were more than a few suggestions that I just continue sharing this monthly update. Hmmm.

Next, I heard from Marcia. She's written these Fly on the Wall posts with me every month since January of 2012. She's mostly stopped blogging, is a paid writer on multiple sites now, but never stopped writing these Fly on the Wall posts, and would like to continue. I told her she was welcome to continue without me but . . . hmmm, I'm thinking about it now . . . 

And the last piece of the puzzle is the recipes. Although I wasn't posting them, I was still developing them. Not at a rate of two a week, but as they came to me. So, like with Valentine's Day coming up, I tried out this idea for Prosecco Pasta. The recipe was written up, photographed, pretty much all dressed up with nowhere to go.



Prosecco Pasta | recipe developed by Karen of www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dinner
Prosecco Pasta

 
So, I sent Marcia a message: "I can't believe I'm saying this but. . ."

It's actually kind of embarrassing, after that whole public good-bye. I mean can you really call it a comeback tour if it's only been a 3 week hiatus?

Yes, my retirement seems to have lasted under a month. Less finale, more intermission. 
 
Or maybe a finale followed by an encore.


Encore, a return to blogging | graphic designed by, featured on, and property of Karen of www.BakingInATornado.com | #humor #blogging




So, hello. Again.

New plan. 

Instead of my normal over 100 posts and recipes per year, there will be 12. I'll probably be making very few graphics too. Now I'm not ruling out another piece here or there when . . . you know . . . I have something to say that's just bursting to come out, but I'm committing to 12. A monthly Fly on the Wall. 

I hope to see you all back here on the third Friday of each month for a look at what I've been up to. My greatest hope is that I continue to make you laugh. With all that's going on in this country, in the world, every laugh is worth its weight in gold. OK, that might not be the best analogy, since a laugh doesn't actually weigh anything, but it sure can help reduce the weight of the world . . .

And I gotta say, any fly with a strong enough constitution to survive this weather and actually be on my wall, at the very least deserves to be entertained.

Because it has been freezing around here. I mean like -14 degrees that, with the wind chill felt like -42. And not just here, the weather has been colder than normal everywhere. So, a few snippets of what's been going on in my little patch of the frozen tundra:


Encore, a return to blogging | graphic designed by, featured on, and property of Karen of www.BakingInATornado.com | #humor #blogging



There is no question that it's not safe to be outside in temperatures this extreme. We'd had 2 snow storms, about 7 inches of snow each, with only one day in between. And, of course, our snowblower would not start.

Hubs was putting on his coat and boots. 

Me: What are you doing? It's not that cold in the house.
Hubs: I'm going out to shovel.
Me: No.
Hubs: No?
Me: This weather is not conducive to human life.
Hubs: I'm just going to shovel a little of my side of the driveway, we need to be able to get at least one car out.
Me: Hammer or boiling water?
Hubs: What?
Me: When you freeze out there, would you rather I break you into shards and carry you in the house in pieces? Or throw boiling water on you and you can slosh in on your own?



Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics
 



Actually, our snowblower not working was just the tip of the iceberg (so to speak). Hubs got enough of the driveway shoveled that he could get his car in and out. But when he was done, the garage door would not go down. 

We could not get the snowblower repair shop to even answer their phone until the next day. We could bring it down, but they'd get to it when they got to it.

Hubs put the snowblower in his car, got almost to the street when his car got stuck in the snow. We shoveled, and pushed and pulled and rocked the car and even put cardboard under the wheels. Nothing.
Good thing we pay for towing insurance. 

Or not. None of their providers could come today. We could find someone ourselves or they can try again tomorrow.

To summarize: Snow on the driveway. Snowblower in the trunk of the car. Car stuck in the driveway, garage door stuck up.

Wait, I'm not done. What were we arguing about that night? College Boy ordered food for us all. The delivery company dropped it off at the neighbors' house (they were away on vacation). 

And we were at an impasse as to how to deal with it. I wanted Hubs to go get it. Hubs wanted College Boy to go get it. College Boy thought we should just have cereal for dinner and let the neighbors find the frozen food when they got home.

He had a valid point . . .


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics



Around this same time, the NFL playoff games were being played. One game was postponed, but another game, being played at night in below zero temperatures was going to be played as scheduled.

Me: I'm worried about this game tonight (yeah, I'm such a mom). It's just not safe for them to play.
Hubs: There are actually heating coils below the artificial turf. And when the players are on the bench, they have heaters and coats.
Me: What about when they're not on the bench. What happens when there's a lengthy series of plays on the field?
Hubs: They'll be running around playing the game.
Me: Yeah, it's all fun and games until someone's nose falls off.



Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics




I talk a lot in these Fly on the Wall posts, about how I've learned to reread all of my texts before sending them. Maybe it's my tiny keyboard and fat fingers, or maybe it's autocorrect (that's my story and I'm sticking to it), but I've been traumatized a time or two by texts I've sent that were . . . well . . . grossly inappropriate.

I had been texting with PurDude during those frozen days, and I remembered to ask him something I'd been wondering about.

Me: I've been meaning to ask you, do you ever use your foreplay?

Yeah, that's supposed to say fireplace.



Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Our recycle bin had been out at the curb all day, and the truck hadn't come yet. I had 4 things I wanted to put in the bin, so I put on my coat and boots and ran out to throw them in the bin.

A few minutes later, Hubs comes up from the man cave. I'm sitting on the counter with my feet in the sink and the water running.

Hubs: What are you doing?
Me: Defrosting my toes.




Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics 

Now click on the links below for a peek into another blogger's home:






See ya next month!
Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Prosecco Pasta
                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Ingredients:
1 TBSP butter
1 TBSP olive oil
1/4 onion, chopped
1/2 red pepper, chopped
4 oz mushrooms, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup vegetable broth
1/2 cup Prosecco
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
1 1/2 cups fresh spinach leaves
1 cup heavy cream
1 box (16 oz) rigatoni

Directions:
*Melt the butter with the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onion, red pepper, mushrooms and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are soft. 
*Mix in the vegetable broth, Prosecco, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and spinach. Allow to come to a boil, stirring now and then. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
*Add the heavy cream and cook, stirring now and then, for another 10 minutes.
*In a large pot, boil the past to al dente, approximately 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, then stir in the sauce.

Friday, December 29, 2023

Finale: Your Superpower Monthly Poetry Group

 

Celebrate Anything Cake | recipe developed by Karen of www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #cake


 

Last Friday of the month is for
Monthly Poetry Group to rhyme.
Diane, Mimi, and I take turns,
Your Superpower, the theme this time.
 
As usual, today I'll try,
a poem to write . . . or fudge.
Whether I'm successful or not,
you get to be the judge.  













Finale, a Your Superpower themed poem, and a good-bye to blogging | graphic designed by, featured on, and property of Karen of www.BakingInATornado.com | #poetry #blogging




Finale

Superpowers are fluid things
often changing throughout life,
Quite different when single,
than as a mom and wife.

College found me taking tests,
with hardly any sleep.
My superpower? Partying,
and yet, good grades, I'd keep.

Marriage and moving far away,
to where I'd not fit in,
Sometimes superpower can be,
just not giving in.

IVF, loss, and pregnancy,
the struggle, it was real.
Superpower in those years:
making mind and body heal.

When raising babies, some days,
wonder how we all stay alive.
My superpower in that time:
setting each of us up to thrive.

Family life frequently changes,
I later had time for me.
Exploring possibilities . . .
what would my superpower be?

Blogging was the answer,
recipe development too.
Writing something from the heart,
and creating yummies too.


  
 
Celebrate Anything Cake | recipe developed by Karen of www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #cake
Celebrate Anything Cake
Celebrate Anything Cake | recipe developed by Karen of www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #cake





My superpower in those years,
creating a blog community.
Developing, running challenges,
cultivating support and unity.

Eleven and a half years gone by,
done more than I planned to do.
Blog superpower's run its course,
though I'll miss all of you.


A superpower needn't be,
something way over the top.
Today it's just as simple as,
saying it's time to stop.





Monthly Poetry Group, a monthly group writing challenge, poetry based on a theme | graphic designed by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics #poetry


 
Before you go, stop by these blogs for more poetry:
 
 





Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics






Celebrate Anything Cake
                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups birthday cake ice cream
1 box (15.25 oz) white cake mix
1/2 cup oil
4 egg whites
2/3 cup vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup multicolored nonpareils
1/4 cup multicolored sprinkles

1 cup frosted animal cookies, crushed

1 can (12 oz) whipped white or buttercream frosting
2 - 3 drops food coloring of your choice
1 can (16 oz) vanilla frosting
OPT: additionals cookies, nonpareils, sprinkles, and/or sugar pearls for decoration

Directions:
*Defrost the ice cream.
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans.
*Beat the melted ice cream, cake mix, oil, egg whites, and yogurt for 2 minutes. Mix in the nonpareils and sprinkles. Spread evenly into the cake pans.
*Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the centers spring back to the touch. Cool for 10 minutes, remove from the pans and cool completely.
*Place the bottom layer onto a serving plate. 
*Mix a few drops of food coloring into the whipped white or buttercream frosting. Reserve 1/3 cup of this frosting in a piping bag and refrigerate.
*Frost the bottom layer with half of the remaining whipped frosting. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the chopped cookies, add the second layer and repeat with the remaining whipped frosting and chopped cookies.
*Add the top later. Frost the top and sides with the vanilla frosting. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
*Decorate the top and sides with the reserved whipped topping and the edible decorations of your choice.