Secret Subject Swap: Straws and Balls and Weenies

Welcome to the March Secret Subject Swap. This month 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. Read through mine and at the bottom you’ll find links to all of today’s other Secret Subject participants.

My subject is: Think of eleven uses for a drinking straw - except drinking!
It was submitted by: Shannon of My Brain on Kids.

Now I love you Shannon, after all these years I think you know I do. And you also know I think you're one of the funniest writers in the blogosphere. I don't pretend to understand how your brain works, if I did I'd probably steal your thoughts and be better at it myself (did I really put that in writing?) but really? Eleven? What kind of a number is eleven? You really couldn't have a little sympathy and let me stop at ten?

And uses for a drinking straw? Who do you think I am? McGyver? Yeah, I've heard of McGyver. From my grandma . . .

OK, this is supposed to be a challenge and a challenge it is. So I'm going to come up with eleven uses for drinking straws if it kills me.

Well:

1) You could use them to poke your balls and weenies. You know, in case you're out of toothpicks.

 

Fruited BBQ Meatballs, Crockpot or Stove Top

2) We've all had them. Blogging emergencies. Inspiration hits, laptop is sitting there and open, but your nails are wet. Good thing you've got your trusty friend Mr. Straw.

3) Laundry is never fun. But admit it, there are certain items we sometimes don't even want to touch. Like the underwear that's been sitting under your kid's bed for who knows how long.

4) Don't cry over spilled milk. Quick, grab those straws and contain it.

5) Emergency. You're all out of chopsticks!

6) Men: having a hard time keeping that lovely {{gag}} man-bun in place? Straw to the rescue.

7) Women: want to gouge your eyes out after seeing yet another man bun? Straw to the rescue.

What? you thought I was going to show you a picture of that?

8) You could . . . no . . . that one might be illegal.

9) "Touch your candy? No, I did not lay a single finger on your candy. And honestly, I'm offended that you'd accuse me."

10) Sitting on the couch feeling guilty for skipping the gym this morning? No problem, you can make your own barbells.

11) And finally, since it's an election year, it doesn't make sense to leave out . . .

 . . . the straw pole. Get it? No? Well blame Shannon. Told you she should have put me out of my misery at ten.

Now that, my friends, was a challenge. What would you have come up with?

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:

The Bergham Chronicles 

The Diary of an Alzheimer's Caregiver 

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

 Southern Belle Charm
Not That Sarah Michelle
My Brain on Kids 
The Lieber Family Blog 
Never Ever Give Up Hope 
Someone Else's Genius 
Confessions of a part time working mom 
Spatulas on Parade 
The Angrivated Mom 
Climaxed 

Fruited BBQ Meatballs, Crockpot or Stove Top

                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe 

NOTE: This recipe can be served as an appetizer or as a main course.
 
Ingredients (makes about 40):
1 1/2 cups apricot jam
1 (18 oz) bottle BBQ sauce
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup dried apricots
2# lean ground beef
1 egg
3 TBSP dried minced onion
2 TBSP season salt

Directions:
*Chop the dried apricots and cranberries into very small pieces.
*In crockpot on high or in a pot on the stove on medium, mix the apricot jam and the BBQ sauce and allow the jam to melt into the sauce. Stir now and then.
*In a bowl, mix the ground beef, egg, minced onion, season salt and chopped fruits. It's best to mix with your hands and don't over mix.
*Form the meat mixture into approximately 1 inch balls. Gently drop the meatballs into the sauce. Reduce heat to low for crockpot or medium low for a pot on the stove.
*STOVE: allow meatballs to simmer in the sauce for 1/3 hour, then gently move the meatballs in the bottom of the pot to the top and those that were on the top to the bottom. Simmer another 1/2 hour or until all the meatballs are fully cooked.
*CROCKPOT: allow the meatballs to simmer for 2 hours, gently move them around in the crockpot so those on the bottom move to the top. Simmer 2 more hours, m,ove the meatballs around again, then simmer up to 2 more hours or until the meatballs are fully cooked.