Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Five Things

My friend Sarah, who writes at The Sadder But Wiser Girl tagged me in this “Five Things” game that’s chasing bloggers around the playground. So I’m “it” and before I can tag someone else, I have to come up with 5 responses in each of 7 categories. I think there should only be five categories, but you’ll notice nobody asked me.

Before I proceed, let’s just get the legalities out of the way:

I’m obliged to advise you of the risk involved in accepting the veracity of the intellectual property divulged herein. All due diligence was exercised in the investigation of the facts as put forth. Previous to publication, confirmation protocol was expeditiously executed not just to the normal standard of care but with every reasonable precaution. Although in its entirety the document is accepted as factually accurate, the author assumes no responsibility for the individual components.

Five Things | graphic designed by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics



Five things I have a passion for:
*Baking. But not the cleaning up afterwards part. If anyone knows how to reconcile this issue, please let me know. It’s possible that a reward will be offered.
*The Red Sox. Unconditional love. I got this from my Grandpa and grew up waiting for my turn at his Box Seats.
*Ballet. I love(d) to do it (poorly) and I love to watch it, which I do quite well. My Mom nurtured this love so I’ve personally seen on the stage: the Bolshoi, Nureyev, and Baryshnikov.
*My kids. Yes, I complain about them. OK, a lot. But just like any other Mom I adore them, plain and simple.
*Music. In the car. Loud. Bet you thought I was gonna say “writing”.
. . . and the ocean, and skiing, and lobster and cocktail hour and Sudoku and reading and Secret Subject Swaps and . . . that’s about 5, right?

Five things I’d like to do before I die:
*Sleep. And I mean like all night long. Until the morning.
*Eat a dessert without someone sticking their fork onto my plate.


Mint Mousse Brownie Cups | www.BakingInATornado.com
Mint Mousse Brownie Cups


*Finish an entire sentence BEFORE they start texting again.
*See my blog be successful.
*See my sons as happy adults. Successful and happy, but happy first and foremost.

Five things I say a lot:
*Don’t eat that until I’ve taken  a picture of it.
*Is it time for school yet?
*Stop that.
*I need a drink.
*Love you like crazy.

Five books I’ve read lately:
I love my Kindly. And I read a lot. I mostly read to be entertained so my choices tend to be light reading. I especially love mysteries and do have favorite authors whose books I devour as soon as I can get my hands on them.

Being such a voracious reader, I download Kindle books from the library. But my library card just expired. No warning, nothing. Just went to get a book online and “that card has expired”. And you can’t renew online or over the phone. I have to drive down there. So in answer to what books I’ve read lately? None. Thank you very much Public Library. If it wasn’t for the blogs I read I’d probably be shaking and jonesing by now.

Five favorite movies:
*Dirty Dancing. I love dance. Especially ballet, but all dance. And, of course, “nobody puts Baby in a corner”.
*Wizard of Oz. Because I’m often feeling like “we’re not in Kansas anymore”.
*Rain Man. I can’t remember anything. He remembers everything. A match made in heaven.
*The video of my older son’s birth. Because seeing it is so much better than feeling it.
*I’d like to say the video of my younger son’s birth, but SOMEONE taped over it. And it wasn’t me.

Five places I’d love to travel:
I’ve traveled quite a bit, in the US and internationally so I have no regrets, but here’s my list:
*The Greek Isles. I bet it’s just spectacular.
*The Pyramids. The history is fascinating.
*I’ve already been to Hong Kong but that was when it was under British rule. Now that it’s Chinese, I’d like to see how it’s different (or the same).
*I’ve also been to Israel. But it’s a work in progress, probably more than most countries so I’d love to go back.
* Back in time to when I knew everything . . . something . . . anything.

Stacy Sews and Schools

I have my own rules for tagging: play along if you like but being tagged is a compliment not an obligation.

Anyone who’s not tagged here who wants to give this a try, please do and say I tagged you, I won’t say any different.

 Baking In A Tornado signature | Graphic designed by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

Mint Mousse Brownie Cups
                                         ©www.BakingInATornado.com
                                                                       

Ingredients, Brownie Cups:
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 stick margarine
1 stick butter
3/4 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 cup flour

Ingredients, Mint Mousse:
1 cups plus 1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup mint chocolate chips
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 TBSP sugar
1/4 tsp mint extract
green food coloring

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 24 muffin tins.
*In a microwave, melt together the unsweetened chocolate, margarine and butter for one minute, stir, then continue in 10 second intervals until completely smooth.
*Stir in the vanilla. Once incorporated, stir in the sugar, then the eggs and last the flour.
*Pour into the muffin tins and bake for 10 to 13 minutes. The outside should be set. The center won't be fully set but should not be wet. 
*Remove from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes.
*Gently tamp down and up sides to form cups with the bottom of a wooden spoon. If any of the center is still runny, scoop it out. Run knife carefully around edges. NOTE: If you do this step too soon the bottom will be too wet.
*Cool completely then remove from muffin tins.
*In a microwave safe bowl, mix 1/2 cup cream and both chocolate chips. Microwave for 45 seconds, stir and continue in 10 second intervals until it's smooth. Cool to room temperature.
*In a separate bowl, beat 1 cup of cream with the sugar and the mint extract until stiff peaks form. Move about 1/4 cup of whipped cram to a separate bowl and add a little green food coloring.
*Gently fold the remaining whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Pipe or spoon into the brownie cups. Top with a dollop of the green whipped cream.
*Store in the refrigerator.


43 comments:

  1. I love learning facts about bloggers I respect and admire. But that was a whole lotta legalize there at the beginning. I feel smarter just having read all that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do like this challenge, it does give us a chance to learn a few things about each other.

      Delete
  2. I love that you've seen so many awesome dancers. My little sisters were ballerinas so I spent a lot of my younger years at competitions watching the future Margot Fonteyns. I still love watching dancing, I'm just glad I'm not forced to deal with a heap of insecure teenagers for the privilege. And I'm sorry but I have no idea how to do cooking without the mess. Except for when I bake with my big sister because then I get to enlist my brother in law for cleaning up duties. My sister and I even call him Belvedere.

    ReplyDelete
  3. WOW!! You have seen and been and done!! Way to go, you!!
    My oldest daughter has kitchen duty. I can bake away and not have to worry about clean up! ;)
    THANK YOU for tagging me!!!!! You are awesome!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So as thanks for tagging you, you'll be sending me your daughter for kitchen duty?

      Delete
  4. OOH!! And here is a link to the top 100 free Kindle books! ;)

    http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Kindle-Store-eBooks/zgbs/digital-text/154606011/ref=zg_bs_fvp_p_f_154606011?_encoding=UTF8&tf=1

    ReplyDelete
  5. I learn something new everyday. I never knew you were so into dance, especially ballet. Also, you can spew legalize at a moment's notice.

    I'm honored, thanks for tagging me. As soon as I'm through my Road to Arizona series, I will do this!

    -The Insomniacs Dream

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love games like this because it gives your followers a chance to get to know you better. You want to see the Greek Isles? I went to Hydra--one of the prettiest places on earth. Danced, broke plates, drank too much Ouzo, rode donkeys, kissed a handsome young man who couldn't speak a word of English....drank too much---oh wait, did I already say that?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Loving this Karen! I too enjoy baking but hate cleaning. I loathe the dishes, but I will happily clean my precious kitchen aid mixer. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the 5 things you say a lot :) And who taped over your son's birth?! Are they still alive? Cuz I woulda killed them.
    Thank you for thinking of me, my wheels are turning....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My husband taped over it, and I had to let him live or try to deal with these 2 kids alone! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

      Delete
  9. Someone taped over your youngest son's birth? Oops ... LOL
    xoxo

    ¤´¨)
    ¸.•*´
    (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
    Raising-Reagan.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I may have said a little more than "oops" at the time!

      Delete
  10. Hey there - your blog IS successful!!! I love ballet too and greatly enjoyed learning a bit more about you. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Monica. Sometimes it's hard to let go of the private pieces, but this was the perfect time to admit a few things about myself.

      Delete
  11. I think it's every mom's wish to eat without someone sticking a fork in their plate or grabbing food....if only. I can so see the passion for your boys...even when you complain/joke about them... besides it prepares me for when Dino is older.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We all love our kids even when they're driving us nuts, right? Right?

      Delete
  12. So sweet (or brave!) of you to share so much of your personal side with us! It was great to learn more about you, Sweetness!
    You already know how much I need a plate full of those brownies in front of me! I'm a bit mint obsessed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I actually made this with my older son in mind. He's chocolate/mint obsessed.

      Delete
  13. We know more about you every day! In fact, we have some things in common -

    Don’t eat that until I’ve taken a picture of it - I do that all the time!
    Greek Isles and Pyramids - me too, want to visit them.
    See my blog be successful - I'm hoping for that too.
    I need a drink - yes, daily!

    And I am sure I would love your baking!

    Phil
    www.blog.theregularguynyc.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's one of the best things about doing a post like this one, finding out what you have in common with your blogging friends.

      Delete
  14. I could pretty much copy your Things I Say a Lot.

    And though I'm not a Red Sox fan by birth, I did marry into Red Sox Nation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red Sox nation is happy to have you, by birth or by conversion.

      Delete
  15. I love learning new things about people. I am so sorry I didn't get back to you about being "tagged" in this. I am so carzy overwhelmed these days that going through my email inbox (personal, not work) has become a To Do once a week. What the heck!? 20 days until school starts. 20 days until school starts. Say it with me!
    Vicky
    http://thepursuitofnormal.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Some great articles there. I love my kindle too; I now can't imagine life without it.

    As for the clearing up after baking? Is it maybe worth teaching kids the value of domesticity? ;-) Only joking no pleasure without pain and all that, BTW I meant the baking. (And maybe child birth judging on your video comments although I wouldn't know much about that).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tried many times over the years to get my kids to help in the kitchen, but if I can get them to clean up after themselves I figure I'm ahead. They're very willing to be my "taste testers" though.

      Delete
  17. Wow, the things you discover in the world of food blogs. Stop that, I need a drink and don't eat that until I take a picture... that sounds just like someone in this house! No names mentioned..lol My girls have requested I make your brownie cups, so I will attempt to make them look as pretty as the ones you made. Maybe then they will help clean up...HA.. that was funny!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's funny how many people I'm hearing from who say a lot of the same things in their house that I say in mine.

      I hope your girls love the Brownie Cups as much as my boys do.

      Delete
  18. It was nice to find out more about you. Don't eat that until I take a picture of that is heard a lot in my house as well.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Cool post and I learned some things about you. I like the "five things" idea. And these wonderful dessert cups here OH MY, yes please :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Yes, please" is what my kids said before they devoured them all!

      Delete
  20. My kids love mint chocolate anything - these look so yummy! Saw you over on Spatulas on Parade :)

    Hope you can come over and link up to Super Sunday at Who Needs a Cape!!! And while you are there don't forget to sign up for the lunch box give away!!! http://whoneedsacape.com/2013/08/super-sunday-link-party-10/

    ReplyDelete
  21. I adore you. We have much in common.

    Dirty Dancing ♡

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You'll have to do more of these type posts so I can learn more about what we have in common!

      Delete

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