Use Your Words, Valentine Version

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 and all 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 writer will take them. Until now.

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 use them.
I’m usting: Cupid ~ Tylenol ~ breaking ~ bent out of shape ~ caterpillar ~ pole
They were submitted by: The Bergham's Life Chronicles

There’s more than one Cupid. Did you know that? Well think about it. One day a year to do your true work? There’s just no way. You see, Cupid is actually a last name. Each one has their own first name. The story I’m telling today is about poor little Stupid Cupid.

The way it works is this: in the early morning hours of February 14th, each Cupid secures his loin cloth, grabs his bow and joins all his cousins standing in two different lines. In the first he receives his assignment in the form of a picture. Cupids are not given names and locations, just a picture. They have sharply honed Cupid-instincts that lead them where they need to go, and all day to do it. In the second line he takes possession of one single magic arrow.

Now Stupid got his name exactly as you’d think, he earned it. Year after year on that one special day he’s received his assignment, double checked the fit of his attire (things were bad enough, he could not chance a wardrobe malfunction), and headed out. And year after year one thing or another stood in his way. But this was his year, he knew it. This was the year he’d change his name, he even had one picked out: he’d be Qupid Cupid. Perfect.

Tirelessly, endlessly he searched for his mark. He hovered over houses, schools, libraries and office buildings. Towards the middle of the day he could feel he was honing in and followed his Cupid-instincts to a bakery.

Turns out that was not his Cupid-instincts he was following after all. More like his tummy.

Strawberry Cream Cookie Cups & Parfait

As dusk came, then evening and finally night time, Cupid knew he was running out of time. His heart was breaking. Hovering around aimlessly on tired wings he suddenly felt something he had never experienced before. He was in the right place, he just knew it.

“Hmmm” he thought upon entering, “Men’s Club, I wonder what that could be.” He looked around and immediately shut his eyes. “No, no, no, no, no” he repeated to himself over and over again. “This cannot be right”. Clearly, yet again, it wasn’t his Cupid-instincts he was following.

And then he looked up. Straight ahead of him was a stage and on that stage a pole. Wrapped around that pole like a caterpillar was exactly the woman he was seeking.

He carefully removed his arrow and aimed it with precision. His heart swelled. This was the moment he was born for. Cupid would be Stupid no more.

He took a breath in, steadied his hand, and just as his beautiful target twirled, released his precious arrow. Which promptly hit the pole and bent out of shape.

"Guess I’m in the right place after all”, he thought. “I’m gonna need a good strong drink. And Tylenol”.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all who take the time to read Baking In A Tornado. I hope your Cupid isn’t Stupid. Unless you like them that way.

Links to other Use Your Words posts:

Just A Little Nutty

Battered Hope

Juicebox Confession

Black Sheep Mom

Stacy Sews and Schools

Confessions of a part-time working mom

Evil Joy Speaks

Spatulas on Parade

Searching for Sanity

The Bergham's Life Chronicles

FBX Adventures (In Parenting)

Healing Tomato

Dates 2 Diapers 2

Follow me home . . .

Outmanned

 

Strawberry Cream Cookie Cups & Parfait

                                        ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients, cookie cup:
1 stick butter, softened                               
1 stick margarine, softened                          
1 ½ cups brown sugar                              
1 tsp vanilla                                              
1 egg                                                       
1 ¾ cups flour                                            
¼ cup baking cocoa
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
Ingredients, filling:
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup strawberry syrup
1 can Evaporated Milk
1 package instant white chocolate pudding mix
¼ cup strawberry syrup
Ingredients, Parfait:
Whipped cream
Crushed oreos
 
Directions, cookie cup:
*Cream together butter, margarine, brown sugar and vanilla. Beat in the egg.
*Mix in the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
*Refrigerate for one hour up to a day.
*Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 24 muffin cups.
*Take approx. 2 TBSP of cookie dough and flatten with the palms of your hands. Place into each muffin cup and gently pat down into the cup and up the sides (if it gets sticky, wet your fingers).
*Bake for 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely in the muffin tin for 10 minutes, then gently tamp the center partially down with your fingers or the bottom of a wooden spoon. Cool completely, run a knife around the sides and remove.
Directions, filling:
*Wisk the Evaporated Milk, pudding mix, and Strawberry Syrup until completely combined.
*Beat the heavy cream until soft peaks hold. Add 1/3 cup strawberry syrup and continue beating until stiff peaks hold.
*Gently fold the pudding mixture into the whipped cream.
*Pipe or spoon the mixture into the cookie cups.
*Refrigerate until set before serving and store the leftovers in the refrigerator.
Directions, Parfait:
*In a glass cup, layer a handful of crushed oreos, approximately 1/3 cup of strawberry filling, approximately ¼ cup whipped cream. Continue to layer, ending with the whipped cream.
*Refrigerate until serving.