Friday, February 13, 2015

Use Your Words: Grumpy but no Cat

Today’s post is a monthly writing challenge. If you’re new here, this is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once. All of the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist: no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the recipient will take them. Until now.

Use Your Words writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featuring this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them.

I’m using: grumpy ~ treasure ~ eternal
They were submitted by: The Bergham's Life Chronicles

 I’m totally having a panic attack. Or suffering from PTSD or something. Last month when I got my words for this challenge, I sat down to happily write my post when I looked at my last words, Grumpy Cat. Suddenly I had no idea what to write. All the other words went together but Grumpy Cat? Yikes.

I finally wrote my post and, I thought, moved on.

Now this month I look at that first word I’ve been assigned and I immediately start to hyperventilate. Nooooo . . . what is this, deja vu?

Jules must have decided to have pity on me because she actually only gave me half of Grumpy Cat, the “grumpy” half. I’m thinking next month I’ll get “cat”?

But I’m a good sport, I can do this {{breathes into paper bag}}.

OK, five things I treasure:

*Finding whatever it is I’ve lost this time {{insert item here}} BEFORE I buy another one.

*The few times I can get pictures of my boys these days. Mostly when they’re not looking, but a mama’s gotta do what a mama’s gotta do. No, taking pictures of your boys when they're sleeping is not creepy.

*When I have the house to myself. Even if it’s just for a few minutes. Even if I have to send Hubs out to get milk when we’ve got plenty and College Boy out to get the mail I already brought in.

*Feeling like I got a really great bargain. We just got College Boy a thick, fleece lined hoodie. Between the sale price and the discount coupon it cost $6. Winning! Especially since he’ll probably leave it somewhere within the next week.

*When a recipe comes out just like, or even close to, how I’d imagined it.

Five things that make me grumpy:
*When a recipe just doesn’t come at all and even bribes won’t even get Hubs to eat it.

*When I’m in the grocery store when I realize that one contact is in inside out and I have to do the rest of my shopping with one eye closed. Happens more often than you’d think and THAT doesn’t make me look just ridiculous .  . .

*When my cell dings and bings and rings and sings all day long, but (I later see) the one time PurDude texts me . . . silence.

*When it’s winter but we have one sunny semi-warm day and I’m going to take advantage of it while I get some writing done. I go out to the back deck. I’ve brought out a cushion for the chair, a drink, my phone and my laptop. I finally get settled in and THEN I remember that I can’t see the screen of my laptop in the glare of the sun.

*When dinner’s a hit and I realize that I should have made enough for leftovers.



Smoky Orange Cornish Hen | www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dinner
Smoky Orange Cornish Hens

And eternal? Just one thing:
*I hereby officially put you all on notice that I, from now on, intend to treasure my eternal right to never use grumpy, cat, or grumpy cat in a sentence against my will again.

Links to the other Use Your Words posts:


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


Smoky Orange Cornish Hens
                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
2 package Rice-a-Roni long grain and wild rice
2 mandarin oranges, peeled, or 1 small can mandarin oranges
 
Garlic powder
paprika
4 cornish hens, approximately 1 ½ pounds, each
Garlic powder, paprika
1 jar (12 ounces) Orange marmalade
2 TBSP butter
1 tsp cumin
 
Directions:
* Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a large baking pan with tin foil. If you don’t have a baking pan large enough for the hens to sit without touching, use two or they won’t crisp properly.
*Cook the packages of long grain and wild rice according to package directions. Set aside.
*In a saucepan, heat the marmalade, butter and cumin until it all melts together.
*Rinse and dry the Cornish hens. Sprinkle the back with garlic powder and paprika. Place them in the prepared baking pans, breast side up.
*Drain the mandarin oranges of all liquid and gently mix into the wild rice. Stuff the hen cavities, loosely, with the rice/orange mixture. If you have any rice leftover, you can warm it in the microwave for serving.
*Using a pastry brush, liberally brush the hens all over with half of the marmalade mixture.
*Bake about 45 minutes. Baste with the rest of the marmalade mixture.
*Bake another 15 to 30 minutes or until the juices run clear. Be sure they are cooked thoroughly, poultry should not be red at all. Remove from oven, cover loosely with foil and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

30 comments:

  1. No that looks like a nice healthy dinner, even though I consider cornish hens to be a snack!

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    Replies
    1. Yikes, that's quite an appetite you have. Glad I don't have you on my grocery bill!

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  2. Loved your closing line and I bet you will not find many ways to use those words in a sentence again! How in the world can you put a contact in backwards? I don't wear them but it seems like it would really hurt

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    Replies
    1. The contact? I'm talented. Oh, and half asleep when I put them in.

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  3. Dinner looks fabulous and I sat here smiling reading your list. I had to laugh because I see myself in several. LOL

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    Replies
    1. I love when people read my posts and feel like they can relate!

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  4. Heehee! Never say 'never'. Or 'eternal'. That's equally a cosmic challenge . . . :)

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  5. GREAT post! But what do you have against Grumpy Cat??? ;) Just kidding!

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  6. You did well. And I don't think you'll turn permanently grumpy from using that word, so don't be worried about using it again!

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, I'll use it again, but I think I'll take a bit of a break first.

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  7. Well. I'm sorry? I think. You may not have loved the words, but you created a great post! Loved it. I can relate to several. Others, I'll be there with you soon, since Weewee is growing at the speed of light. $6??? Amazing. This dinner is happening. Chad and I are huge fans of Cornish Hens. We make them plain. These look amazing. Thank you!

    P.S. I was laughing WITH you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you were laughing with me. It really was funny to get "grumpy cat" one week and "grumpy" the next.
      When you try this recipe for the hens, be sure you take a pic for me.

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  8. I can relate to a lot of the grumpy stuff you have listed here---not sure what that says about me. Just yesterday I made a triple batch of my infamous brownies as a thank you gift to my neighbor. I have been making these things for over 30 years. They tasted like a DRY CAKE yesterday! I was furious and didn't have anymore ingredients to whip up a new batch, so I had to give my poor friend my sawdust brownies. I have no clue what happened there. And the contact thing---happens ALL THE TIME. I hardly wear them anymore because I kept scratching my cornea so badly and I was tired of getting lectured by my doctor about it. Okay, rant over. The cornish hens look good----haven't had those in years!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It always amazes me when I make a recipe for the bazillionth time and it doesn't come out.
      I think I would have soaked the brownies in alcohol. You know, to moisten them a bit, LOL!

      Delete
  9. You know you could have given the grumpy words to someone else and no one would ever know - but you didn't. I think that speaks volumes about the kind of decent person you are!
    Grocery shopping and you will never be friends, right? Now it's the poor contact lenses' fault.
    I love to have the house to myself!
    Oh, and the blinding sunlight that makes it almost impossible to type? Remember the baseball post I wrote at a Starbucks on Victoria island during our trip? I was wearing sunglasses while blogging, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to see what I was writing. Your scenario out on the deck still sounds perfect!

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    Replies
    1. I cannot wait to get back onto that deck, I've SO had enough of this winter. Laptop or not, I don't even care!

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  10. The Cornish hens look delicious and the writing fabulous as always!!! Pinned it to attempt I have a feeling it won't turn out nearly as pretty as yours!

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    Replies
    1. It will, pinky promise. They're actually really easy to make.

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  11. Seriously laughing right now! I call my husband Grumpy Cat. To his face. Almost daily.

    Fight for your right, girl!

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    Replies
    1. That's hysterical. I think maybe those words were meant for you then. . .

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  12. Hahaha, back to back "grumpy"... that would make me grumpy! Love your use of the words!

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    Replies
    1. I think I should be about done with "grumpy" now. I'm maxed out!

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  13. LoL!!! You gotta fight...for your right....to nottttttt use grumpy, cat, or grumpy cat!

    Sorry, I had to be the one to do that.

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  14. Ohh what a great post. ❤

    I also enjoy having home alone time but I rarely get it. Seriously like maybe once a year it happens.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I think I like it so much because it happens so rarely.

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