Friday, April 15, 2016

Use Your Words: Social Experiment

Today’s post is a monthly writing challenge. If you’re new here, this is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once. All of the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the recipient will take them. Until now.

Use Your Words | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics



At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featuring this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them.
I’m using: umbrella ~ drawer ~ easier said than done ~ refrigerated ~ precious ~ cut short 

They were submitted by: Tamara of Confessions of a part time working mom.

I've mentioned before that these word assignments hit me differently each month. Some months they quickly gel together in my mind and the post writes itself. Other months I look at them expecting them to speak to me, close the draft, come back another day and look at them expecting them to speak to me, close the draft and come back another day right up until a few days before posting, when panic hits.

This was one of those months where we were heading towards panic. It has nothing to do with the words, it's definitely me, in this case part of it was that I really wanted to do something different with my words. The other part was my creative process was not processing. And like most things, when I try to force it I end up drawing a complete blank. Just like, when trying to create a new recipe, coming up with absurd ideas that my kids nix just with an eye roll. Like . . . well, lets not go there. We'll just keep posting the successes and leave it at that.


Mint Lovers' Cookies, a lightly mint flavored cookie with bold mint add-in ingredients. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado,com | #recipe #cookies #mint

Mint Lovers' Cookies

So back to the words. We're getting close to posting day and I'm not sure what to do. But that's OK because I had an ace up my sleeve. I had thought, from the time I started this challenge, that if I ever couldn't use my words, I'd just . . . used my words. I would, over the next few days, now and then just casually slide a word into our everyday conversations. Could be fun. Could be funny. There was also, of course, the chance I could end up committed. 

In a strange coincidence, Tamara, whose words I'm actually using today, was in this same last-minute situation last month with the words she'd been assigned and she suggested the exact same thing. In a FB conversation she said to me "I think I should start a conversation with you . . . using my words . . . "  

In the end she didn't, but I am!

Here's how it went down, how I smooth-as-silk slid my words into casual conversations with my family members. 

Hubs is lost in the grocery store. If I send him out for one thing it can take up to 4 phone calls for him to find it. He went to get an ingredient I needed the other day and I actually showed him the empty package before he went so he'd know what it looks like. Two phone calls later he'd found it and asked if I needed anything else at the grocery store. 
Me: Yes, an umbrella.
Hubs: Are you sure? I didn't see any here.
Me: Check the refrigerated section. 
That kept him busy for a while.

Later in the day, College Boy was looking for the cookies (that his brother had finished). 
College Boy: Where are the rest of those cookies. I know there were a few left.
Me: Last time I saw them they were in the junk drawer
And he really did look. Because treats do get hidden around here.

Turns out, when you live in a house full of men, there are precious few chances to use the word precious.

College Boy has been my baking muse since he moved back in. It's been so much fun to bring his thoughts to life. He's helped me out so many times taking a partial idea I may have and pulling it together with just the right added ingredient. One of his brainstorms was my PB Cup and Oreo Cookies. Recently he came to me with a new idea for a cookie I'm calling Mint Lovers' Cookies.
Me: That's too much like the PB Cup and Oreo Cookies, we need something unique. What kind of muse are you?
College Boy: This is a great idea, different enough and we all love chocolate and mint.
Me: (standing straight, putting my hand over my heart and bowing my head): Can we have a moment's silence for a muse's life cut short
College Boy (walking away): Fine, no more ideas for you.
Me (chasing after him in a panic holding up two wooden spoons): Wait, wait, I've got the paddles, set the defibrillator to 120 joules . . . we can save him . . . don't leave me! 
Full disclosure: From the fact that I'm posting the recipe today, I'm going to have to admit that even though this cookie is a lot like the other, we all loved it.

Mint Lovers' Cookies, a lightly mint flavored cookie with bold mint add-in ingredients. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado,com | #recipe #cookies #mint


So there are my words. All used, and that was easier said than done. Now I'm off to explain to my family that they were the guinea pigs in my social experiment. That should go over well . . .


Links to the other Use Your Words posts:


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Mint Lovers' Cookies
                                                                        ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1 stick butter, softened
1 stick margarine, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp mint extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup mint oreos, chopped (about 12 cookies) 
1 cup (about 5 oz) Andes mints, quartered 

Directions:
*Cream butter, margarine and sugars until smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
*Starting on the lowest speed until incorporated, beat in the flour, baking soda and salt. Mix in the chopped oreos and the mints.
*Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour or up to a day.
*Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper.
*Roll dough into approximately 1 inch balls. Place on prepared baking sheets.
*Bake for 9 - 12 minutes or until they start to brown. Leave on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes before removing them to cool completely.

20 comments:

  1. WHEN are you going to stop sending that man to the grocery store?

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  2. Well done!. This recipe sounds very minty indeed.

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    Replies
    1. College Boy would have me make everything mint and chocolate if it were up to him!

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  3. Baaahahahaaaahaa! You did great! Go look for the umbrella in frozen aisle! Well played, Karen, and you're welcome, glad you had such a *special* time with my words!

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    Replies
    1. In the end it all worked out. When it comes to these challenges, one way or the other it always does.

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  4. Your hilarious, every time i read your post i crack up. I will have to remember the umbrella the next time my husband calls me for the tenth time. Your killing me with those cookies, they look delicious.

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    Replies
    1. Love that I can make you laugh. Sorry about the cookies. NOT.

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  5. I think College Boy made a good call there.
    Did your husband ever find the umbrella? I'm picturing a dishevelled man, still wandering the refrigerated section.

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  6. These cookies. Oh em gee. My mouth is watering. Perfect use of your words. Thank you for the much needed laughs.

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    Replies
    1. So happy to have amused you. I know how badly you need a laugh right now.

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  7. Love how you used the family as an experiment. Tell me, did it go over as well as expected?
    Cookies look great. Betting the Grands will love them too.........

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    Replies
    1. I gotta say, pretty much nothing I do surprises them any more. Not sure if that's good or bad. I'll let you know when I figure it out.

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  8. Heehee! Well done. And let us know how that goes . . .

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, I'm gonna say that this particular group of people have got my number!

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  9. I love how you used your words, but your poor guys. LOL
    And hey, cookies are a precious commodity around here! Love this I may give it a go. But may I ask, why butter AND margarine and not all butter?

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    Replies
    1. I like the flavor of butter but the properties of margarine so I always use both. You can definitely use all butter or even all margarine, whatever you prefer for your cookies.

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  10. Great job. I never would have thought to use my words in casual conversation.

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    Replies
    1. It actually was a fun challenge, trying to work them in.

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