Friday, June 6, 2014

Secret Subject Swap, June 2014

Welcome to another Secret Subject Swap. This week 16 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

Secret Subject Swap, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

My subject is: people tell you you look like a certain celebrity. One day, somebody asks for your autograph and a picture. They’re really excited about it. Do you let them think you’re the real deal, or do you fess up?
It was submitted by elleroy was here.

I know people think I cheat and pick my own prompt each month, but I really don’t. It’s a long and complicated process, assigning prompts, and the longer the Swap goes on the more work it is to assign them. I try to be sure that no one gets the prompt of the person who got theirs, that they don’t get the prompt of the same person theirs came from last month, that they don’t get one to similar to one they’ve recently written about. At this point, my 34th Swap, assigning prompts takes hours.

So it really is a coincidence that not only have I been told that I look like someone famous many times, but I actually was talking about this on my Baking In A Tornado Facebook page about a month ago. I posted an old picture from high school and in the comments there it was, someone had made the connection. Again.

It actually started in high school and the first person to say it was a teacher. I don’t remember how the subject came up, he just came out with it one day in class. “You know you look just like . . . “.  It was embarrassing, as pretty much everything in high school is, to have everyone turn and look at me. But at the time there were lots of “well, now that you mention it”.

I didn’t get it. I really didn’t. I went home and told my mom. Like anyone who knows you really well, has seen you grow and change, knows every nuance of your appearance, who sees not just your looks but your personality in your looks, she saw only the passing resemblance. Like me, it just wasn’t clear.

And I also have to admit that I wasn’t exactly flattered. I mean she is a thing of beauty in her own way, but not really what a teenager would call pretty. At one point in my youth I even wondered if my teacher was insulting me. I mean there were models and movie stars and rock stars and all kinds of people I would love for people to tell me I look like. If I were to be told that I look like someone famous, this was not who I’d like people to think of first. Or second, or third, or fourth . . .

But through the years it did happen. Actually pretty often. Whatever it was, lots of people seemed to see it. Like most people though, I’ve changed my hairstyle, my makeup regime, all kinds of changes come as you mature and it’s been years since I’ve heard the comparison.

Now, of course, as I’ve aged and matured, I can see her classic beauty. I feel the allure of her smile, acknowledge the mesmerizing quality of her look.

If someone were to ask for my autograph and picture would I fess up? No flippin’ way!  Listen, if they’re delusional enough to think that she’s living in the Midwest, baking cookies, writing a blog and stressing about teenagers, I’m certainly not going to chance whacking someone like that over the head with reality. They can have a picture. My pleasure.

In fact, I’ve made up a bunch of them, autograph and all. The picture is from back in high school, when the likeness was most evident. And if you really think I look like her and you want to stick around and chat, I may just tell you what that smile is all about.

Mona Lisa photo for Secret Subject Swap | picture property of www.BakingInATornado.com



Bet you thought I forgot to add something yummy to this post. Nope, it’s here. A side dish I served with dinner:


Sweet Potato Cups with Maple Butter | www.BakingInATornado.com

Sweet Potato Cups with Maple Butter

Here are links to all the other sites now featuring Secret Subject Swaps. Sit back, grab a cup and check them all out. See you there:

PS: A longtime Swap participant didn't think she could join in this month because she was moving. Just 2 days ago she asked for a prompt. So although she didn't sign up in time for the exchange, she IS writing a Subject Swap post today too.  Please check hers out as well:


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




Sweet Potato Cups with Maple Butter
                                                                         ©www.BakingInATornado.com  

Printable Recipe

 
Ingredients, Butter:
1/2 stick butter, softened
1 TBSP maple syrup
1 TBSP brown sugar
 
Ingredients, Sweet Potato Cups:
2 large sweet potatoes
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 TBSP maple syrup
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 egg
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp pepper
3/4 tsp salt

 
Directions:
*Mix together butter ingredients. Roll into 6 balls, wrap individually in plastic wrap, put into sandwich bag and refrigerate for at least an hour (can freeze).
*Grease 9 muffin tins very well. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
*Peel and shred sweet potatoes (I shredded in the food processor). Run your hands through the shreds to be sure there are no big pieces.
*Mix in the rest of the ingredients and, using your hands, form into 9 balls. Place each into a greased muffin tin and pat down.
*Bake for 70 to 75 minutes (don't let the sides burn). Once out of the oven, let sit for 15 minutes. If you try to remove them at this point they'll fall apart.
*Take the butter from the fridge and cut each ball in half.
*Gently remove the sweet potato cups from the muffin tin and place on serving plate. Put a butter half on top of each to serve.

36 comments:

  1. Mona Lisa! I love it!

    Someone once told my mom she looked like young Kathy Bates (before Misery). In middle school, someone told me I looked like Britney Spears (I was wearing pigtails). But the best one I ever heard? When a women in another department told one of my coworkers to tell another coworker (who wasn't a very nice person) that she looked like.... wait for it..... Susan Boyle, The lady then hunted down my coworker and gushed to her about it like it was some kind of compliment. She was deeply offended.

    And I can't wait to try this recipe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HA. I think I'll take Mona Lisa over Susan Boyle. No offense meant to Susan, she just wouldn't be my first choice. . .

      Delete
  2. teachers have to be so careful of what they say to their students, seriously. I would be offended too if I was in high school. Maybe I'm weird, but I don't really see the similarities. anyone with long hair and a smirk could fit that, right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Honestly, I don't think the teacher meant anything by it other than that he saw a similarity, he didn't think about how I'd take it at that age but it sure did stick with me to remember it even now.

      Delete
  3. Ha! I LOVE it! And the suspense was killing me, so great job making us wait for it. A guy at a bus stop who'd just been released from jail once told me I looked like Jill Clayburgh. I immediately thought he'd been in jail too long. Someone else told me I looked like Bette Midler. Uh…thanks? Another told me recently I looked like Drew Barrymore, and my absolute favorite was when my Father In Law said I looked like Mary Louise Parker. I think he needs to get his prescription changed on his glasses, but I certainly appreciated it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So funny how people see different things when they look at us. We spend time cultivating our look, but we have no control over what others see.

      Delete
  4. I LOVE sweet potatoes so these look great, a dessert that I could alter to be a tad healthier :) woo hoo
    Now, Mona Lisa? That's pretty cook, cause everyone knows her.
    My friends say that my younger photos look like Kate Winslet, I do NOT agree but whatever. and every time I do those "what celebrity do you look like" I get Kathy Bates. REALLY
    Dawn
    Spatulas On Parade

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love sweet potatoes too, and especially when paired with maple syrup. Hope you work out a version of this recipe that works for you.

      Delete
  5. I cannot wait to try this recipe :)

    And you had me anticipating who it was going to be. I could see where he got Mona Lisa, just a little though. I don't think I've ever been compared to a celebrity or someone infamous...not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you do try the recipe. Feel free to take a pic of it and post it to my FB wall.

      Delete
  6. Well, at least they said you looked like a beautiful woman!

    I love sweet potato anything! Yams, sweet potato pie, fries, etc. Give it to me all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love sweet potato anything too, that's why I really wanted to do something new with them, and I loved this recipe.

      Delete
  7. Yes! I do see Mona Lisa in that picture, hahaha! Hubs gets told all the time that he looks like Sean Connery---it has become the joke around our house. Both of my girls get the Katherine Heigel comparison all the time. The only comparison I ever got was to a news reporter who was…well, let's just say it was NOT a flattering comparison. Ugh.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, well there's a lot to be said about Mona Lisa references as not being the most flattering either. Now that I've aged and she hasn't, I'm kinda rethinking it, though.

      Delete
  8. Oh my gosh. So classic! It'd be really funny to see if people would actually do that... and then call the nut house, of course. :)

    My mom looks like Jackie Kennedy Onassis... and she know it. LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oooh, lucky mom. I would have loved to have been told I looked like Jackie O.

      Delete
  9. I guess I see Mona Lisa a little - I'm actually thinking you look a little like Elizabeth Taylor in that photo! Yummy recipe!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I LOVE you! Elizabeth Taylor is so much prettier than Mona Lisa.

      Delete
  10. LOVE THIS!!! You are beautiful and so is she!!
    I would take YOUR autograph any day of the week!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Mona Lisa?! Uhh... I just don't see the resemblance. Your smile is WAY more "I'm a troublemaker" than Mona's.... :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yes, I can see the resemblance... I agree with your statement... classic beauty.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I remember your FB post, and I thought (probably commented, too?) that I thought you were much prettier than Miss Mona!
    Those potato cups sound delicious! Maybe Mr "I only eat potatoes when they're French Fries" would like them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, that's why I was a bit insulted in high school, she's not exactly who I was trying to look like back then.
      If you try these Sweet Potato Cups, let me know.

      Delete
  14. I could see that.....a little bit.

    I use to get that I looked like Kelly Osbourne....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So funny how some people see similarities and others just don't see it.

      Delete
  15. I get told all the time I look like . . . someone. Never anyone famous, though. Darn.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I see the resemblance, but in truth, you're much more beautiful.

    These look amazing. I've actually been on a sweet potato kick recently.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for the kind compliment.
      If you like sweet potatoes, these are a little work but well worth it.

      Delete
  17. You do look like the Mona Lisa. And that's a compliment, not just any old compliment, but one from an intellect.

    I once went to an Alanis Morissette concert with a girl who looked exactly like Alanis. After the concert, she signed autographs. She tried to say no, but people kept bugging her so whatevs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the compliment.
      I get why your friend signed those autographs. If someone asked me for Mona Lisa's, I'd SO do it.

      Delete
  18. Sorry, the math doesn't work. 6 butter balls cut in half is 12, but you make only 9 sweet potato cups.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't be sorry, the stick of butter made more than I needed. I froze the rest of the butter balls for another day.

      Delete

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