Friday, May 13, 2016

Use Your Words: Change is a Chocolate Cake

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.

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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: monthly ~ conditional ~ abuse ~ law ~ abolish ~ stamina

They were submitted by: Never Ever Give Up Hope.

I love these monthly challenges. I sometimes am stumped by the prompts, but I always come up with a post and, more importantly, pushes me to write differently than I normally would.

Sometimes the words form the post. Sometimes I have something I want to say and work to incorporate the words. Either way it's keeping me thinking on another level than when I just write without the addition of the challenge.

Today I'm letting the words take the lead. They're leading me in the direction of an issue that's been on everyone's mind lately, the election. It's funny because I read these words to College Boy, who's very involved in the process and climate surrounding the current political cycle. I told him that I bet he could use these words in an article in a hot minute. He smiled and said he could probably do it in a sentence.

Yeah, I may need a little more than a sentence, but then I tend to be wordy in general.

I've written a few general pieces about politics. Back in March I wrote The American Revolution, Circa 2016 about the message voters are trying to express. My April Fools post was a more humorous piece, Down the Drain.

Although I try to keep the political commentary to a minimum, I didn't start this blog to keep quiet. I've taken some abuse on FB, which isn't why I started that either. When one candidate made comments that led to rally participants physically attacking verbal protesters, I stated that I was embarrassed that other countries were seeing this kind of aggressive rhetoric from a political frontrunner. I was told I was unpatriotic. My pride in our country, my gratitude in being able to live this way is not conditional upon my agreeing with the words or actions of those running for office.

What we need is change. I do believe that both Trump and Sanders are the embodiment of the electorate's determination to see that happen. But I also think change can be scary to some. In this case, to those in power in both parties. That doesn't make it wrong.

Change is like a thick. rich, dense chocolate cake. You can eat vanilla cake forever. But you'll never know what you're missing out by not trying chocolate. And don't forget the Mocha frosting and fresh berries.


Flourless Chocolate Cake with Mocha Frosting: A thick, dense cake made with dark chocolate, topped with a light mocha frosting and fresh berries | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #cake #chocolate

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Mocha Frosting


Flourless Chocolate Cake with Mocha Frosting: A thick, dense cake made with dark chocolate, topped with a light mocha frosting and fresh berries | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #cake #chocolate

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Mocha Frosting: A thick, dense cake made with dark chocolate, topped with a light mocha frosting and fresh berries | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #cake #chocolate

There are some practices we need to abolish. All easier said than done, but all necessary to make the electorate feel as though we are part of the process and that our vote counts. Because I believe that change is better than apathy. And that's what I see coming if there isn't change.

We need to do away with Super Delegates and Undeclared Delegates. This will be difficult to do because they are practices of the parties themselves and not subject to any law. The parties and the party establishment are free to do as they please. Which seems, at this point, to be whatever it takes to be sure that they sway elections in any way they choose.

We need to change the broken infrastructure of the voting process. Hundreds of thousands of people were registered but turned away in more than one state due to errors. College Boy feels that elections should not be day long but week long. This makes a lot of sense to me and allows time for errors to be corrected.

And we need to abolish the Electoral College. This system was set up in the Constitution and I understand why. But times have changed and a system set up to ensure fair representation is now antiquated. One vote per person. That's what will work in today's society. And the consequences of not making changes that we all see as fair is apathy. Especially from our youngest citizens. As the mom of two young voters, this is what I fear the most.

I truly hope that our youth are able to effect change, that they have not just the stamina and the determination to bring about change, but the maturity to do it in a civilized manor. 




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Flourless Chocolate Cake with Mocha Frosting
                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
6 oz dark chocolate chips
1 1/2 sticks butter
3/4 cup sugar 
2 TBSP brown sugar 
3/4 cup baking cocoa (more for dusting pan)

1 1/2 tsp vanilla
5 eggs

1/2 cup heavy cream
1  TBSP sugar
2 TBSP coffee 
2 TBSP chocolate syrup

6 oz fresh berries of your choice, rinsed and dried

Directions:
*In a microwave safe bowl, melt the dark chocolate chips with the butter until completely smooth when stirred. Set aside and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
*Grease a 9 inch round cake pan and dust with baking cocoa. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
*Beat the sugar, brown sugar, baking cocoa and vanilla into the melted chocolate. Last, beat in the eggs.
*Pour evenly into the prepared cake pan. Bake for 38 - 42 minutes or until the center is set.
*Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes in the cake pan. Carefully run a knife around the edges and a spatula underneath before removing. Cool completely before frosting.
*Beat the heavy cream and sugar until soft peaks form. Beat in the  coffee and chocolate syrup until stiff peaks hold.
*Spread the frosting over the cooled cake. Top with the berries. 

26 comments:

  1. Let them eat cake! When I was a kid I worked in a fancypants French restaurant and its signature dessert was flourless chocolate truffle cake. We would all sneak pieces when no one was watching. Best cake ever and now I'm checking my pantry to make this! Politics are scary right now, go you for being brave!

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  2. I love your take on this, and I agree---a week would be nice for the voting process so that no one is turned away and errors can be fixed in a timely fashion.

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    1. We have to do something. The only thing I know for sure is that this process is just angering people.

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  3. Yum. I am all for changes. Just next election. I'm hoping if Trump gets elected, the EC will save us. Basically, I'm trying not to lose hope. I'm still in shock that Donald Trump is running, and winning.

    Now... About this cake... There is coffee in it. Hubba Hubba. This no flour thing is blowing my mind a bit. My only dilemma is the heavy cream. Can I substitute it for something? Almond milk?!

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    1. I don't think the almond milk will whip. But honestly, just make the cake and serve it with fresh berries and it will be delish.

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  4. I do hope this doesn't seem rude. I do not mean any disrespect.

    It has always troubled me that a country so passionate and proud of their democratic system has such an outdated electoral process.
    One vote per person is not only the law in Australia, it is mandatory.
    Democracy, after all, speaks for the majority of the people.
    How can a system that does not hear all voices call itself fair?

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    Replies
    1. No, I completely agree that one vote per person is the only fair way to elect a president.

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  5. As uncomfortable as change is for many, I welcome it with everything I've got. As my father-in-law often said "One thing is for sure, if things don't change, they will stay the same." And I am ready for change in many arenas. Great job with the prompt Karen

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    Replies
    1. I agree with your father in law. Growth requires change.

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  6. As a non-American I can't be called unpatriotic, so I'll go ahead and say it: I don't think Trump is that kind of change a yummy chocolate cake like yours can bring to people. I want the cake, but not the Trump!
    A country's leader is supposed to be a role model. Everybody can change things - it takes a smart person to change them for the better!

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    Replies
    1. I completely agree, Trump is not the change we need, he's the signal of how desperately we all want change.

      Delete
  7. Hand me the plate and a fork, walk away and no one gets hurt. Seriously, I want this cake right about NOW. All the political crap that happens each election makes me want to scream at times. I think the mud slinging gets out of hand, the lies are so apparent and the nuts come out of the wood work making both parties look bad.

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    Replies
    1. I completely agree with you on the election. Let's get a couple of forks and share that cake. Chocolate makes everything better.

      Delete
  8. That wasn't an easy prompt. You nailed it. but now, who should take the cake? I remember, when I lived in Arkansas (Bill Clinton was the governor at the time), that Hillary Clinton fought the "first ladies make cookies and stay home" stereotype. Now that this election season is so ground breaking in so many ways, I'd like to know who is going to take that delicious chocolate cake for the voters. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. I think the cake should go to the voters. Guess I better make a few more.

      Delete
  9. I am super passionate about politics and have had some similar run-ins myself with people on facebook through commenting on my personal page. This election cycle has been nastier than I remember the last few being, and I think that speaks a lot to the fear of change you mentioned. I completely agree with you about super delegates also! Great thoughts.

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    Replies
    1. I have to agree with you, Jenniy, people tend to get aggressive when fearful. But there's also a number of people who honestly just feel as though our votes don't count. I'd rather have change than continue feeling as though my vote is meaningless.

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  10. I couldn't agree more. The voting process is in shambles and people feel as if they are not being heard. There have been the same old cronies in office making the rules for far to long. It's time to get younger people in there with some fresh ideas. Like week-long voting. See how sensible that is? Simple, easy, and efficient. Why can't these grown men understand its broken? Maybe because a broken system benefits them.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, that's exactly why, it's all about them. I was sick listening to Donna Brazille explain why she earned the right to be a super delegate and SHOULD have her vote count more than the rest of us. How arrogant. College Boy has it right. Week long voting and one vote per person.

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  11. I love this post without even so cleverly using your words because it just rings of optimism in this very divisive political season. College boy can vote by mail and then have lots of time to get his vote in. Here in Oregon we only have vote by mail and almost everyone loves it. I miss the voting booth but if it means more people vote, I am on board.

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    Replies
    1. I actually do vote by mail. I had no idea that there were places where you can only vote by mail, but it makes a lot of sense to me.

      Delete
  12. lots of clever ideas and totally understand your POV. That EC really is confusing and crazy, so hard to explain to kids. Because of social media, each election it gets crazier. When I was a kid, I don't remember all this nonsense.

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    1. I have to admit that I never really understood how absurd our system is until my kids were old enough to really get involved. Now I wonder why I hadn't been questioning it all along.

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  13. Get that cake in my belly NOW!!! It looks so darn good and I'm a terrible baker...sighs longingly at the cake...

    Even though I am not fond of Trump, I think he's better than Hilary. It seems that he's going to win and I hope he makes the changes we all need.

    ReplyDelete

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