Friday, June 20, 2014

Fly on the Wall, June 2014

Welcome to a Fly on the Wall group post. Today 14 bloggers are inviting 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 my house.

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

Me: Sorry your pancakes are a little burnt, I had to leave them in the pan longer than I would have liked, I needed to get a good picture.
PurDude (formerly called High School Senior on this blog): If “a picture’s worth a thousand words”, why doesn’t that picture show burnt pancakes?
Me: Well, that’s pretty ungrateful. I may never make you pancakes again.
PurDude: What are you going to do then, burn my bowl of cereal?



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


PurDude: What’s for dinner?
Me: Chicken.
PurDude: I don’t think so.
So  I may be a little slow on the uptake, but I’m not sure what to say to that.


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


College Boy comes home from school, empties out his storage trunk and I’m about to take it down to the storage room when he asks me not to. Against my better judgment I leave it there. A week later:
Me: You need to pick up the miss in your room so it can get cleaned.
College Boy: It’s picked up.
Me: No, I mean put all of your clothes away and get rid of the mess on your desk and dresser.
He opens the trunk and in two seconds has thrown all his clothes and the mess from both his desk and dresser into the trunk and shut it again.
Aaaaah, now I get it.


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


I’m sitting on the couch reading a blog and leaving a comment. Some people, in order to keep spam off of their blog, use captcha. Sometimes it’s in the form of random letters and numbers that you have to type in correctly and sometimes it’s a simple math equation you have to answer.
So I typed in my comment and this blog had a simple math equation: 8 – 4 = _. I typed in my answer, hit “enter” and got an error message “your captcha response was incorrect. If you choose to leave a comment, click “back” and answer correctly”. Yikes. I covertly checked around the room to be sure no one saw that I got 8 – 4 wrong and tried another answer.
Phew, glad no one’s gonna know that happened.


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


All moms know that when trying to put the cookies into the cookie jar, if one doesn’t fit it’s their parental responsibility to just eat the cookie and fit the rest in.
And if it happens that . . . say . . . 5 or 6 cookies don’t fit?
Lets just say that it seems that I’m up to the challenge.

Patriotic Pavlova | recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert

 
Patriotic Pavlova

Patriotic Pavlova | recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert


Meringues going into the oven


Patriotic Pavlova | recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert

Patriotic Pavlova, assembled



This is the kind of conversation that makes me crazy:
PurDude had his final grades posted into his online grade book. I checked his transcript, curious as to what his class rank was. He had been in the top ten, and in the top 5% but last semester of senior year he didn’t take a full schedule and I wanted to see where he ended. I jumped onto the calculator and figured it out.
Me to Hubs: I checked PurDude’s final class ranking and he ended in the top 6 percent.
Hubs: What was his rank?
Me: 32 out of 563.
Hubs: That’s great, it puts him in the top 3 or 4 percent.
Me: Ummmmm, actually it puts him in the top 6 percent. Like I just said.
Helllllooooo? Anybody there?

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


Here’s another one that makes me crazy:
Hubs car was leaking. I noticed it when he pulled out of the garage. When I spoke to him he said that he had it checked out, knew what was leaking and it wouldn’t be any problem. I’m pretty sure that’s not true and suggested a second opinion.
A few times I asked him about it again but he insisted that there was no rush in getting the car fixed, he’d take it down when he got a chance.
One day he comes home from work:
Hubs: Something’s wrong with the car. I think it’s the battery or alternator. A big red light went on in the car and I smelled smoke.
Me: I’m not surprised, the car has been leaking. I’m pretty sure it’s not a good idea to ignore that for any length of time.
Hubs: It’s not that, it’s not even leaking any more. I think it’s the battery or alternator.
Me: Or maybe it’s not leaking because it’s all out of whatever was leaking and that’s why you smell smoke.
Helllllooooo? Anybody there?

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


I posted this pic on the Baking In A Tornado Facebook page. PurDude went out with friends on a Saturday night. I have no idea where this came from but he decided to leave it in the den for me to find Sunday morning. Yes it’s cute, but when I came down the stairs half asleep, it did scare the cr@p out of me.

Snake on a Chair | picture taken by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com


It was suggested on said FB page that I get my son back.
The next morning he may have had a surprise when, half asleep, he pulled back the shower curtain.
But I cannot confirm or deny.

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


I had been bugging PurDude to mow the lawn. He usually waits until it’s dark, but on this day we were expecting storms and our yard was already looking like a jungle. I finally got him to go mow. While he was out there, the tornado sirens went off. I went out to talk to him but he actually hadn’t heard them with the mower going and his earbuds in. He stopped the mower and started to come in the house.
Me (looking around): No, keep mowing.
PurDude: You don’t think I should come in?
Me: Nah, I’ll stay out here with you and watch the sky to make sure you’re OK.
Meanwhile the phone rings. Hubs isn’t expected home for hours but he’s calling to say he’s on his way.
Hubs: I’m almost home, get the cars in the garage and everyone get ready to hit the basement.
Me: I’ve got PurDude outside mowing.
Hubs: MOWING?????
Me: Yeah, the sky’s not really all that black and there’s no lightening or hail or anything. I’m out here with him, any tornado would have to go through me to get to him.
Hubs: Are you crazy?
Me: Probably, but on the plus side, the lawn is looking good.
Hubs drives up, gets out of the car, rolls his eyes and goes in the house.
I just don’t understand why EVERYONE in this house is always rolling their eyes at me.


Be sure to click on the links below for a peek into some other homes:




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






Patriotic Pavlova
                                        ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients, meringues:
1 TBSP cornstarch + ½ tsp, divided
6 large egg whites, divided
½ tsp cream of tarter, divided
1 ½ cups sugar, divided
¼ cup strawberry nesquick (25% less sugar) powder
¼ tsp strawberry extract
3 drops red food coloring
½ tsp vanilla
4 drops blue food coloring
 
Ingredients, berries:
6 ounces of fresh blueberries, cleaned
1/2 lb fresh strawberries, cleaned, hulled and sliced
 
Ingredients, whipped cream:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 TBSP sugar
½ tsp vanilla
 
Directions:
*Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
*Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit your baking sheet. On one corner of the parchment draw a 7 inch square using a pencil and ruler. In another corner, make a 7 inch circle (I traced a 7 inch bowl). Turn the parchment upside down onto your baking sheet so the food will not end up on the pencil marks. Spread the cornstarch over the square and circle to help your pavlova release once done. Remove any excess, be sure you can still see your shape outlines.
*Beat 3 egg whites with ¼ tsp cream of tartar until soft peaks form. While continuing to beat, a little at a time, add the nesquick, sugar and salt, then the red food coloring and strawberry extract. Continue beating until stiff peaks start to hold. Sprinkle ¼ tsp cornstarch over the meringue and continue to beat until the peaks will hold their shape. Place into pastry bag or use a resealable gallon bag.
*In a clean dry bowl, make the meringue again using vanilla instead of strawberry extract and nesquick and using blue food coloring instead of red. Put the blue meringue into a separate piping bag.
* Snip the corners of the bags. Pipe the red meringue in a square on your parchment paper using one you drew as a guide. Go over the edges with more of the meringue so the edges are higher than the center. You can use a knife to move the meringue around as well. Pipe the blue meringue into a circle on your parchment paper using the circle template you used as a guide. Build up the side on the circle like you did on the square.
*Bake for about 45 minutes. The outside should be firm if you touch it gently and it should just barely start to brown.
*Shut off the oven and allow the meringues to sit inside for another ½ hour. Remove and allow to cool completely.
*Beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Beat in the sugar, then the vanilla and continue beating until stiff peaks hold.
*Assemble only when ready to serve.
*Carefully run a spatula under the meringues. They will crack in places. Place the square meringue on a serving platter, Fill with half of the whipped cream and top with blueberries. Gently top with the round meringue, the rest of the whipped cream and the strawberries.

50 comments:

  1. It sounds like your guys have the same "selective hearing" mine do. Makes me crazy!!!
    Luscious dessert - really, really nice. The possibilities...it would be perfect for any holiday color theme.

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    1. Thanks, Lorinda. I have to admit (perhaps you could tell) this was my very first Pavlova.

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  2. ROFL! Thank you for making my day a little better :)

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    1. I'm so glad you were amused. Makes me smile to know I made someone laugh!

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  3. Replies
    1. Yeah, I'm guessing Moms of teens who read this are all nodding their heads!

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  4. This looks and sounds fantastic my friend!! Sharing on my page! I love the use of Nesquik!!

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  5. I could dive right into that dessert. Head first.

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  6. Sounds like you live in an entertaining home. This post brought me back to my teenage years - my sister used to make us laugh with by making exactly the same expression your snake is wearing! And I made pavlova for the one and only time when I was in high school. I might have to try your recipe now though!

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    1. This was my first Pavlova. I have to admit that I don't like how the meringue cracks when putting it together, but it was SO delicious I guess I'm going to have to just deal with it.

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  7. Apparently you have been living in my house and writing about it. So nice to know that teen boys and husbands are the same everywhere! I would have had a heart attack over the snake on the chair - can't be held responsible for what might have happened to the kids after that :) I'm going to try your Pavlova FOR SURE!

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    1. I'm going to guess that those of us with teenagers (and with husbands) have more similarities in our lives than we realize!

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  8. I had the same problem with the cookies yesterday- 3 would NOT fit in the jar no matter what I tried. Sounds like the transcript typist can't do math any better than 8-4=? Loved your smiles today - brings back so many memories of my teenagers!

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    1. So glad to have started your weekend with a smile. And to have a friend in the whole "cookies don't fit so you gotta eat them" issue!

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  9. I always love your Fly posts and this one was no different. I can completly relate to being unheard. Also the eye roll. I feel like my little family spends a lot of time rolling their eyes at me. :)

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    1. Yes, all I can tell you is to get used to that eyeroll thing, it's not going to end any time soon.

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  10. That recipe looks amazing! I completely agree with you - parents HAVE to eat enough cookies to make them fit in the jar! Great post!

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    1. Thanks, I love these Fly on the Wall posts, I think they're fun to write and fun to read. I laughed through all of yours!

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  11. Husbands - can't live with 'em, can't kill 'em without looking at jail time. Mine has selective hearing, too. Funny how that reminds me of my dad...

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  12. I do the exact same thing with the cookie jar. Well, even if there is still plenty of room in the cookie jar, I STILL eat like…um….six. Just don't tell anyone I said that!

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  13. I don't know why anyone would roll their eyes at you either. I mean, everything you said makes perfect sense to ME....

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    1. Yeah, I mean, if something is leaking, something is leaking, and if it's oil, you'd better check it out. Now!

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    2. My thoughts exactly. Don't even want to tell you what it cost to fix the car because of ignoring the leak . . .

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  14. I have yet to meet a man who doesn't have selective hearing. I swear it's a genetic trait straight from the days of Adam & Eve.

    Your pavlova would make an amazing treat for the 4th of July. I just glanced at the ingredient list and about fell off of my chair when I saw Nestle Quick. I don't think I've had it in 35 years. Time to flash back!

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    1. Yes, I definitely made the Pavlova with 4th of July in mind. So funny about the Quick, I bought some to make a recipe that called for it and have been playing with it in recipes of my own ever since.

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  15. I always love Fly on the Wall posts! And of course you and your family didn't disappoint once again. The humongous snake on the recliner was awesome!!

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    1. I actually thought the snake was pretty cool once my heart calmed down to a normal beat. And if you like the snake, you should see the banana . . .

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  16. I like the one about the cookies not fitting in the container. I like the idea of just eating them, I would be up to the challenge too. Great post!

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  17. And you the reason I stopped baking cookies, if they don't all fit, eat them...does not sit well with my "healthy" eating plan. LOL
    Mowed yard, child sucked up in a tornado...now that's a news story for ya.

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    1. I hear you on the cookie thing. Actually, around here if I don't get one when I'm putting them away then I'm out of luck. Those kids can hoover up snacks like I never would have believed if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

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  18. You know I think men are somewhat strange when it comes to numbers. They make us believe they're so good at mental arithmetic when in reality it's all just wishful thinking. Your brilliant son is in the top 5.68383659!

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  19. This is lovely! I have never made a Pavlova. Just shared, now it am pinning!

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    1. I'd never made one before either. I don't love how it looks when it cracks apart when assembling but it's meringue so there's nothing (at least nothing I could find) to do about it. But it sure was delicious. I'd definitely do it again.

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  20. Have I mentioned that I love your family?! I love your family! I laughed at every one of these!

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    1. I can't say that I found the humor in all of these stories at the time, but they do get a little funnier in retrospect.

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    2. That's exactly what I say about mine! Sigh.

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    3. LOL, that's kinda what I like about these Fly on the Wall posts. They let me look back and laugh at it all.

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  21. I always have to come back and read your posts, Karen, because I get fixated on the gorgeous food. I mean FIXATED!

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    Replies
    1. This one sure was a winner around here, I have to admit.

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  22. After reading this it makes me wonder how you ladies put up with us as I see myself in some of these.

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  23. That pavlova looks damn delicious! Ha! That's funny about your hubby and math. Though, I have to admit that it's just the opposite in our household. My kids know not to approach me with math homework! lol Ah...I'm so bummed that I blew it this go round for Fly On the Wall. I'm sorry! I wanna play next month if you'll have me. So much fun reading these, it would be fun doing one.

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    1. These posts really are fun to write, mine almost write themselves. If you want to join in, shoot me an email, I'll let you know the schedule for July and see if it works for you.

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