Friday, August 8, 2014

Secret Subject Swap, August 2014

Welcome to another Secret Subject Swap. This week 14 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 | graphic designed by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics



My subject is: Write a poem using exactly 14 words (“the”, “a”, “I”, “is”, “and”, “or”, “if”, “are”, “it”, “so”, “because”, “you”, “me”, “my”, “but”, & “an” don’t count towards the 14 words). It was submitted by The Bergham's Life Chronicles.

When I first saw this prompt I knew I was in big trouble. I mean I’ve written poems before for this blog and let me just say that . . . well . . . I suck at it. Words I Never Want To Say Again, Ode To A Reader, It's Been Quite A Ride, and Things To Do On A Rainy Day (written “Cat in the Hat” style) are more apt to make it into my Hall of Shame than any Hall of Fame.

So I knew the poem part would be a challenge, but the number of words? Holy bang-your-head-up-against-the-wall hell, that was hard. First I had to decide what I wanted the poem to be about and write it. Then I had to count the words and subtract for the allowed words, then edit, count words, subtract, edit, count, subtract, edit, count, add more words ‘cause I edited too much. This went on for quite some time. Longer than I’d like to admit, actually. It’s possible I’m not the brightest bulb.

Sadly, ultimately, all I could come up with was something like this (I know you’re counting words so I highlighted the “free” ones in color):

The fourteen
is thirteen
if twelve
are eleven,
so ten
is nine
because eight
and seven
are six
or five.
I four
my three,
if you two
a one.

Unfortunately that’s really not much of a poem. Evidence of those deceased brain cells maybe, but not really a poem.

One Strawberry Lemonade Cheesecake Square later and there’s a little sugar running through my veins. Let’s give this another try.


Strawberry Lemonade Cheesecake Squares | recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert

Strawberry Lemonade Cheesecake Squares


Apparently there was a brain cell or two left getting lonely up there in my skull because I actually wrote another one. And don’t look now (well, go ahead, I’ll let you look) it actually makes sense. No more though, I think ALL of those pesky brain cells are officially deceased. Rest in peace.

Take two:

When I look into their eyes,
even a passing glimpse,
I see:
My past.
Our present.
Their future.

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



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Strawberry Lemonade Cheesecake Squares 
                                                                      ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1 sugar cookie dough: you can use a packet mix, your own recipe, or use this recipe: http://www.bakinginatornado.com/2012/09/read-this_3.html
3 oz LemonHead candies, crushed
OPT: yellow food coloring
 
12 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup Strawberry Lemonade Powdered Drink Mix (sugar added)
1 ½ cups heavy cream
3 TBSP powdered sugar
½ # strawberries, rinsed, hulled and chopped
 
½ cup heavy cream
1 TBSP powdered sugar
 
Directions:
*Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9 X 13 pan.
*Make the sugar cookie dough. Mix in the crushed candy and food coloring (if using).
*Press the dough into the bottom and part way up the sides of your greased pan.
*Bake for approximately 12 minutes or until it’s just starting to brown. Cool on the counter for ½ hour, then move to fridge and cool completely.
*Beat cream cheese with Strawberry Lemonade Drink Mix.
*In another bowl, beat 1 ½ cups heavy cream and powdered sugar until soft peaks form.  Beat in cream cheese mixture. Mix in the fresh strawberries and pour into the crust.
*Beat ½ cup heavy cream with 1 TBSP powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Pipe onto the Strawberry Lemonade Squares.
*Refrigerate at least an hour before slicing and serving.

42 comments:

  1. Beautiful 2nd poem.
    Sending you GINORMOUS HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  2. I had no idea you were such a poet, Karen! :-) And these Strawberry Lemonade Cheesecake Squares are right down my alley...I call it Delicious Alley! :-)

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    Replies
    1. I'm a poet and I don't even know it. Neither does anyone else who's read my poems, LOL!

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  3. I really LIKE the second poem! 14 words? That's worse than a haiku! Well done :)

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    1. Yes, it was much harder than I thought it would be because of the word count, but I do admit I'm happy with how it came out.

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  4. I love it and you did a great job!!! Poems scare me ... maybe I should make myself try more! And I'm so making this to eat this weekend! Thanks for all you do on the Swap - you're amazing!

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    1. I think you should absolutely try a poem. Truth is it was very challenging but I actually feel like I conquered it!

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  5. I don't think I would fair much better...I'd send you some brain cells, but mine are not perfect...so that wouldn't help

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  6. Okay, your second poem made me cry. Dang it woman.
    Cookie dough as a base for cheesecake; YUM. I pinned that baby. <3

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    Replies
    1. You make that cheesecake and I bet it brings A home for a visit. Just sayin'.

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  7. Me? I think that dessert is poetic!

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  8. Pinned and shared. Now may I have one?! Yummy and beautiful job Karen!

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    Replies
    1. Wish I had one left to give you, these were gone in a heartbeat.

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  9. That dessert looks delish. And I liked both poems the first one was clever but the second one was sweet :)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for liking both of my attempts at poetry. The first one was silly but the second one was heartfelt.

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  10. #1: I think there is a Math Equation in there somewhere...

    #2: Quite simply... Very Nice, short, but oh so sweet.

    Enjoyed. Happy Friday, Slu

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  11. These are both marvelous! Loved the first one. Loved the second! I'd say there are a few unacknowledged genius brain cells in there somewhere . . . :)

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  12. Thank God you got this prompt and not me. Poetry and I are not friends. ha. But, you definitely nailed that second one and with all the changes in your life right now, it's more than fitting.

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    Replies
    1. I bet you could have done a great job. Poetry and I are not friends either but I'm gonna call this particular battle a win.

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  13. Love the last poem and the recipe looks yummy!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. I wasn't sure I'd be able to get it done but I'm glad to have managed something.

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  14. Strawberries and cream cheese? Yes, please! Two of my favorite treats combined into one yum dessert :)

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    Replies
    1. Yes, mine too. And don't forget the lemonade, totally kicks the whole thing up a notch.

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  15. I think both poems are kind of brilliant. And cheesecake anything - yum!

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  16. My son said "we must make these" Sounds good

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  17. Great job because that would have been hard as hell!!!!

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    Replies
    1. It really was a tough challenge but it was also fun, especially once I figured it out.

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  18. I think that's a damn good poem. Much better than the number fun, but what a truth. I'm assuming you're talking about your kids. And the cheesecake squares totes looks yummy. I think I gained a glorious pound looking at it.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, definitely talking about the kids. I struggled but I did OK in the end.

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  19. You did AMAZING! Both take one and take two were GENIUS and BRILLIANT!!! Love love love love love love!!!! This dessert, no so genius, it is going to make me gain five million pounds. I must eat it. Regularly. Frequently. I am going to recruit Molly to help me make it pronto!

    You really did my prompt justice! Thank you for that! Love love love!!!

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    Replies
    1. In the end I loved the prompt, thinking outside my comfort zone is one of the reasons I love this challenge.
      If you guys make this recipe, let me know what you think!

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  20. Yikes, what a tough challenge! And you did it twice!
    P.S. Your cheesecake squares look like the kind of challenge I prefer :)

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    Replies
    1. I have to admit that I was up to the challenge of making those cheesecake squares and all the kids were up to the challenge of finishing them off!

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  21. Karen, you are so creative. Great job. I know I could not have done this challenge.

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    Replies
    1. I'm so glad I got this prompt. It really helped me to push myself to be more creative than I thought I could be.

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