All Aboard

There’s a Virtual Blog Tour (ie: game of tag) that’s been going around for a while now. I’ve been hiding behind the smart kid in front of me who raises his hand before the teacher can even get the question out, hoping that I won’t be called on. ‘Cause this tour is about sharing your writing process and honestly, I haven’t done my homework, I don’t know any of the answers and, yikes, there really isn’t much rhyme nor reason to what goes on in MY head.

A week ago my name got called. And let me tell you I was so stunned and honored by who called it that I sat down to write this right away. You see, not only are you asked to answer a few questions about your writing process, but then you name some of your favorite bloggers to jump on board this Virtual Blog Tour train too. The person who named me? She’s an author. Yes, a real author, one who’s published many books and is currently writing one in my favorite genre: mystery. Thank you Diane of On the Alberta/Montana Border for picking me as one of your favorite bloggers. Just call me Casey Jones because now I am SO riding this train!

Here are the questions I need to answer and remember, I did warn you about this part:

1. What are you working on?
Staying alive. Literally. I started baking to relieve stress and when that wasn’t enough, I started blogging to vent. But now as my kids transition into the next chapter of their lives, I’ll be transitioning into the next chapter of writing. I’m not sure yet where that will take me but I’ve started a book. A number of friends strongly encouraged me, after reading my post Fairy Tale, to write a book of them. I have to admit that it’s not going well. I wrote a few then edit, edit, edit, edit and now they’re all down to about 2 words each. I think this Fall when the boys start school I’ll go back to taking the book seriously.

2. How does your work differ from others in its genre?
I don’t really have a genre. When I started this blog I said that I wouldn’t spend money on it nor make money from it. So far I’ve stuck to that. It’s incredibly freeing. I don’t owe anyone anything so I write what I want. I’ve done heart-wrenchingly honest and downright silly. I’ve written factual accounts of my struggles and pure fiction. I make my own graphics for my posts and add recipes. I don’t fit in with the humor writers nor the foodies. I’m a genre of my own.

3. Why do you write/create what you do?
I’m just trying to amuse myself. That’s the honest truth. If others find me funny or sometimes thought provoking, that’s a bonus; the cherry on the sundae so to speak.

4. How does your writing/creative process work?
Move along, folks, nothing to see here. Perhaps a Neuropsychologist could help sort it out. . . I’ll put it on the calendar.
A thought comes to me, usually in the shower. I always open a document (after drying off, of course) and throw the thought in there. Sometimes it grows to a full post, sometimes it goes out with the bathwater.

Hazelnut Coffee Pancakes with Berry Syrup

And here is what I dread about being tagged. I’m supposed to name some of my favorite bloggers and I have about 4786 of them (not that I counted). So here’s what I did: I talked to my boys and they came up with a brilliant plan; put all of the names into a sorting hat (think Hogwarts) and the boys would each pick two. Here’s who they picked:

~Follow me home . . .

Michele was my very first blog friend. She’s intelligent and funny and her posts never disappoint. When she writes I can’t get there fast enough, it’s that simple. She left blogging for a while and it left me with a bad case of withdrawal, but she’s coming back and I couldn’t be happier.

~The Momisodes

Sarah is real and it shows in her writing. She’s all about personal growth and she’s been generous enough to share her experiences and honest enough not to sugar-coat them.

~Stacy Sews and Schools

Stacy taught me a valuable life lesson; you can have little in common with someone but if you’re open to getting to know them anyway, your life can be vastly enriched. Stacy’s the kind of friend everyone should have.

~Confessions of a part-time working mom

Tamara is the embodiment of why the interwebs and the blogosphere have so much value. She lives in another country and yet we’re friends. Last December, Tamara gave me a gift unlike any other. She gathered 25 of my blogging friends and scheduled a post a day to honor me. I still can’t believe it and remain unable to put what this means to me into words.

As always, when I tag you it’s a compliment not an obligation.

To the other 4782 of my blogging friends, and I hope you know who you are: I value our friendship, I respect your voice and if I had all the time in the world, I’d have listed every one of you. Forgive me, it was the luck of the sorting-hat draw.

 

 

 

Hazelnut Coffee Pancakes with Berry Syrup

                                                                              ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients, Berry Syrup:
1 # mixed berries of your choice, larger ones chopped
2 TBSP sugar
2 tsp corn starch
2 tsp water
1 cup maple Maple syrup, room temperature
 
Ingerdients, Pancakes:
1 cup flour
2 TBSP sugar
2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp cinnamon
OPT: ½ cup mini chocolate chips
¾ cup brewed Hazelnut flavored Coffee
¼ cup Hazelnut flavored creamer
1 egg
3 TBSP oil
Butter for cooking pancakes
 
Directions:
*Put the berries and sugar into a pan and allow to sit for an hour so juice starts to form. Turn stove on to medium. Stirring often, heat the berries. Many of them will beak up as you stir.
*In a small bowl, whisk the corn starch and water together. Once the berries get hot, add this mixture to the berries. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil. Allow to boil for one minute, then add the maple syrup.
*Continue heating and stirring until the whole mixture is hot. Remove to another burner and just keep warm.
*In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, other 2 TBSP sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and mini chocolate chips.
*In a small bowl, whisk together the coffee, creamer, egg and oil. Mix into the dry ingredients just until incorporated.
*For each batch, heat one TBSP butter in a large frying pan or on a griddle over medium heat. When hot, pour batter into the pan, allowing space between pancakes. How much batter you use per pancake will depend on the size pancakes you make. Allow to cook until bubbles form. Flip and cook until the bottom starts to brown. You may need to turn the heat down a bit as they brown.
*Serve with the Berry Syrup. NOTE: Store leftover syrup, covered, in the fridge for up to 5 days. Watch for another upcoming recipe using this syrup.