Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Hell if I Know

It has come to my attention that am the authority on pretty much nothing. It's actually quite a shock, realizing this. Entering parenthood with puffed up chest and all the confidence in the world, I thought I'd be up to the challenge of some simple explanations. I mean, they're kids, how hard can it be? And in the age of the internet, basically anything can be answered with a minutes on google. But there's nothing that deflates that ego as quickly as having kids. Because no one can ask the unanswerable quite like our little darlings. 

And somehow, saying "hell if I know" to everything just doesn't seem to meet the good parenting smell test. Crap. OK, truth be told I have plenty of answers. Pretty much every time. But It's a possibility that most of them will get me a visit from Child Protective Services.

1. Why does daddy like peas?
~ Answer: Hold on a second, let me google that.

2. Why do those birds keep pooping on our deck?
~ Answer: Because they hate us.

3. Why do you keep bringing lilacs in the house when they make daddy sneeze?
~ Answer: Dad sneezing for a week is a price I'm willing to pay for beauty.

4.Why is milk white?
~ Answer: If I look like a farmer, clearly I need to reassess my wardrobe. 

8. You call chicken "chicken", why don't you call steak "cow"?
~ Answer: I will if you want me to.

Hell if I Know, kids have questions, we don't have answers | www.BakingInATornado.com | #funny #laugh #parenting



6. Why do you yell at the TV? Can they hear you?
~ Answer: Yes. Yes, they can.

7. Why don't we live in Florida?
~ Answer: Because they refuse to move Florida to the middle of the Midwest.

8. Why did you tell daddy the guy next door is a jerk? 
~ Answer: Because he leaves dog shit on our lawn.

9. Why don't dogs talk?
~ Answer: Maybe they do, just not when you're around.

10. They're fruit, why can't I have Red, White and Blueberry Bars or lunch?
~ Answer: Oh hell, go ahead if it'll buy me a few minutes of peace. May as well pass me one too.


Frozen Red, White and Blueberry Bars, a refreshing frozen dessert perfect for Memorial Day, Independence Day or any hot summer night | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert #berries

Frozen Red, White and Blueberry Bars
Frozen Red, White and Blueberry Bars, a refreshing frozen dessert perfect for Memorial Day, Independence Day or any hot summer night | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert #berries

And it doesn't end there either. The older my kids get, the less capable I am of coming up with appropriate answers. Although, at this point I'm just gonna let it fly. Because the older they get the better that visit from Child Protective Services starts to look.

1. If no one else is on the road, why do I have to I use my blinker?
~ Answer: Because the one time you don't a cop will appear out of thin air.

2. How stupid is my mowing the lawn when we both know the grass is just going to grow right back? 
~ Answer: How stupid is my buying food when I'm just going to have to do it again next week?

3. Why dirty a plate when I can just stand here and eat the cake right off the platter?
~ Answer: Why dirty a platter when I can just not make a cake?

4. Why should I have to take the final? I have an "A", if I skip the final I'll still pass with a "C". So why put myself through all that stress?
~ Answer: Would you like my answers in alphabetical order, or in order of importance?


5. Why do I need to call when I can just send you a quick text?
~ Answer: Because every now and then I need to hear your voice, dammit.

Nailed it!


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






Frozen Red, White and Blueberry Bars
    ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
  
NOTE: I used a chocolate crust, but if you want to keep more to the red, white and blue coloring, you can substitute Golden Oreo Thins for the Double Chocolate cookies.

Ingredients:
6 TBSP butter, melted
1 1/2 packages Chips Ahoy Double Chocolate Thins cookies (about 42 cookies)
2 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese, room temperature.
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
2 cups fresh fruit, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries
1 1/2 cup heavy cream
3 TBSP powdered sugar

OPT: additional berries for decoration

Directions:
*Grease a 9 X 13 baking dish.
*Crush the cookies in a food processor until they are fine crumbs.
*Move to a bowl, mix in the melted butter and pat firmly into the bottom of your baking dish. Refrigerate.
*Hull and chop the strawberries. Cut the raspberries in half. Leave the blueberries whole.
*Beat the cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Carefully fold in the fresh berries. Set aside.
*Beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar and beat until stiff peaks hold. Fold half of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture. Spread into the prepared crust.
*Top with the remaining whipped cream. Freeze for 3 - 4 hours. Move to the fridge about 30 minutes before serving, decorate with berries, cut into squares and serve.

Friday, May 26, 2017

Mom's Cooking: Funny Friday

Today’s post is this month’s Funny Friday, a regular feature published on the last Friday of every month. Funny Friday is a collaborative project. Each month one of the participants submits a picture, then we all write 5 captions or thoughts inspired by that month’s picture. Links to the other bloggers’ posts are below, click on them and see what they’ve come up with. I hope we bring a smile to your face as you start your weekend.

Funny Friday:a multi-blogger challenge, one picture, five Captions,  | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

 Here’s today’s picture. It was submitted by Karen of Bookworm in the Kitchen.

Funny Friday picture challenge, one picture 5 captions. | Picture by Karen of Bookworm in the Kitchen | www.BakingInATornado.com | #humor #funny



1. AJ to firefighter: Just heading to McDonald's. This thing can make it through the drive through, right?

2. AJ to his mom: If you're cooking again tonight, maybe I'll just move this thing into our driveway. Save some time.

3. AJ to firefighter: Where's the GPS?

4. Firefighter to AJ: I'm gonna need to see your license and registration.

5. AJ to firefighter: You're going to have to get in on the other side, this seat is taken.

 And now for something yummy: 


Pizza Brunch Scones, light and flaky savory scones infused with pizza ingredients. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #cook
Pizza Brunch Scones
Pizza Brunch Scones, light and flaky savory scones infused with pizza ingredients. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #cook



Click on the links below and let some other bloggers make you smile:

Spatulas on Parade 
The Bergham Chronicles

Southern Belle Charm
Bookworm in the Kitchen
  

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





Pizza Brunch Scones
                                                   ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Ingredients:
3 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 TBSP baking powder
1 stick butter, sliced
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup grated parmesan
1/2 cup chopped pepperoni
1/4 of a red pepper, chopped
2 eggs
2/3 cup milk, divided
2 TBSP marinara sauce

2 TBSP butter, melted
1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 cup Homemade Marinara Sauce

Directions:
*Place parchment paper onto a baking sheet.
*Add the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, Italian seasoning  1/2 tsp garlic powder and 1 stick of sliced butter into a food processor. Pulse a few times until crumbly. Move to a bowl. 
*Gently mix in the mozzarella, parmesan, pepperoni and red pepper.
*In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, 1/3 cup of milk and 2 TBSP marinara sauce. Add to the dry ingredients and stir. Add as much of the rest of the milk as you need just until the dough comes together. You want it moist but not wet.
*Turn the dough onto a floured counter, flour your hands and knead just a few times just until the dough holds together.
*Move to the baking sheet and gently form into a rectangle approximately 8 1/2 inches by 6 inches. Cut the width in half and the length into 3 equal pieces so you end up with 6 rectangles. Cut each into 2 triangles. Gently move the pieces apart a bit.
*Place the baking sheet into the refrigerator for 1/2 hour.
*Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
*Mix the 2 TBSP melted butter with the remaining 1/2 tsp garlic powder. Brush onto the scones. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Serve warm with warm marinara sauce for dipping.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

It's 4 am, Do You Know Where Your Brain Is?

I may have mentioned a time or two ten that I'm struggling with the signs and symptoms of getting old as dirt further up on the maturity spectrum. I've written Take That Hot Flashes, Bah Humbug, and I Smell Smoke, to name a few. But this latest challenge, well, it's beyond frustrating.

I usually fall asleep at around 1 am and stay asleep till morning. I figure I've earned this right. Between pregnancy, then young kids, then teens not yet home I've had my share of not sleeping soundly. I've paid my dues, this is my time, sleep is mine. NOT.

You see, I used to be able to hold my water. OK, fine, TMI, I get it. But I so long for those days. Other than when I was pregnant, I always slept through the night without being woken by my bladder. Let me just say here and now that I miss those days. Because it appears that my bladder has declared war. This must be one hell of a vendetta because reveille at 4 am seems to be the battle strategy. 

Once I've fallen out of the bed tangled up in the covers, zig zagged to the bathroom, banged into a wall or two, missed the light switch and am finally back in bed I do not fall back asleep. That damn brain that lets me down every time I'm writing and need a word is suddenly on stimulants.


It's 4 AM, Do You Know Where Your Brain Is?, a humorous look at middle of the night thoughts | www.BakingInATornado.com | #humor #funny #MyGraphics


What earth shattering, life altering, highly consequential thoughts go through my brain at 4 am?

~ I better check social media. I've been asleep for 3 hours, what if someone's looking for me? What if someone's talking to me? What if something really important is going on. I better check. I'm missing something, I can tell.

~ I could go for a donut.
 
~ The whole idea of a colonoscopy is bad enough. You could not pay me enough to have it done on live TV. Or could you? Hmmm, I wonder how much "enough" is . . .

~ Did I leave the light on in the den? Wait, did I turn the oven off after dinner? I hope I closed the slider in the kitchen. I forgot to check and see if the garage door is down. Last time College Boy left it up everything was stolen out of our cars. I should go check. Shouldn't I go check? Screw it.

~ I need something to make for dinner tonight. Something quick and easy since I'll probably be exhausted from this whole lack-of-sleep thing. I have leftover Turkey Cutlets with Raspberry Sauce, I can do something interesting with them. I know, sandwiches. I need to remember this idea in the morning . . . I need to remember this idea in the morning . . . I need to . . . I could go for a donut.

Breaded Turkey Cutlet Grilled Cheese, a smoky grilled cheese sandwich made with a breaded pan fried turkey cutlet and accented with sauteed vegetables | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #turkey #sandwich

Breaded Turkey Cutlet Grilled Cheese


~ I wonder if Frito-Lay is working on dustless Cheetos. 'Cause all that orange cheetos dust really makes the whole eating-in-bed thing a problem. I should write them a letter. There's missed sales here. They'll thank me.

~ I put the trash out at the curb before I went to bed. But dammit, it's Tuesday. Our trash guy comes on Thursday. Why the hell did I put the trash out on Tuesday? 

~Who decides what the citizens of a country are called? We are Americans, there are Koreans, Cubans, Indians, Lithuanians. Why aren't Irish Irelandans, the Dutch Netherlandans, the French Franceans, the Israelis Israelians?  

~ I hear something up in the attic. Do I hear something up in the attic? What if it's a mouse. Or a raccoon. What if it eats a hole in the wall and gets into the house. I should wake Hubs up. He needs to go check the attic. Oh, what if it's a bat? It could get stuck in my hair. And bite my neck. I'll be a vampire. Then I'll never sleep again.

~ I could go for a donut. Do vampires like donuts?
 
~ I need to get back to sleep. Maybe I should count sheep. No, it's a new day in America. Maybe I can count how many people the president has picked fights with on twitter. That should do it:

Nordstrom's
Mexico
Canada
North Korea
Angela Merkel
Hillary Clinton
Neil Young
Barack Obama
The intelligence community
Muslims
Journalists
Bernie Sanders
Jeb Bush
SNL 
Meryl Streep
Megyn Kelly
China
Macy's 
Whoopie Goldberg
MLB
Mitt Romney 


ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ


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






Breaded Turkey Cutlet Grilled Cheese         
                                    ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients (makes about 3 sandwiches):
1 # turkey cutlets 
1 egg
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
6 TBSP butter, divided
2 TBSP olive oil

1/4 onion, sliced thin
1/2 green pepper, sliced thin
6 - 8 mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
garlic powder to taste
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 TBSP balsamic vinegar

6 slices bread
3 slices smoked provolone cheese 

Directions:
*Prepare the turkey cutlets, without the sauce, as per this recipe: Turkey Cutlets with Raspberry Sauce. Set aside and keep warm.
*To the same large frying pan, melt 1 TBSP butter and add the onion, green pepper and mushrooms. Sprinkle with garlic powder to taste. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables start to soften.
*Add the Worcerstershire sauce and balsamic vinegar. Cook and stir until the vegetables are completely soft. Set aside.
*While the vegetables are cooking, use the remaining butter, the slices of bread and the provolone cheese to make 3 grilled cheese sandwiches. 
*While still hot, carefully open the sandwiches. Place one to two turkey cutlets and 1/3 of the vegetable mixture into each sandwich. Close the sandwiches back up, slice and serve.

Friday, May 19, 2017

Knock, Knock : Fly on the Wall

Welcome to a monthly Fly on the Wall group post. Today 9 bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around my house. At the end of my post you’ll find links to this month’s other participants’ posts.

Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

We had lost internet. It had been spotty for days and then one morning I came down and the modem had gone dark. Hubs called the cable company and they were sending out a technician that morning between 8am and 10am. Normally that would be way too early for me but NO INTERNET!

Of course since I jumped in the shower so early, he didn't come until 9:30am. It took an hour and a half but when he left we had internet. And a new modem, a new box on the house and multiple new cables in the basement. 

When he left I checked my email and saw that, when setting up the appointment that morning, the cable company sent me an email about the appointment. Which I couldn't read or respond to at the time because I DIDN'T HAVE INTERNET. Duh!

Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


I was trying a new recipe for dinner. I hate when I get no feedback, which happens more than I'd like to admit.

Good news: They ate it all.
Bad news: Don't know if they liked it or were just that hungry. 

I was glad I'd made a big batch because it was Monday and I had a busy day on Friday, I could just serve these leftovers. And then my oldest walked into the kitchen, snatched the leftovers, said a quick "thanks" and walked out of the house.

Good news: He liked it.
Bad news: Seems I'll be cooking on Friday after all.

Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Hubs was at work last week when I called him on the phone. 

Me: The kitchen is screeching.
Hubs: What? I can't hear you.
Me (yelling): The kitchen is screeching.
Hubs: What? What is that noise?
Me (yelling and enunciating) The. Kitchen. Is Screeching.
Hubs: The kitchen? That awful noise is in the kitchen?
Me: Yes. Do something.
Hubs: Where in the kitchen is the noise coming from? Fire alarm? Smoke alarm? CO detector? House alarm? 
Me: It's not coming from any of the alarms or from the appliances. FIX IT!

Just then I move the trash bag, which I had taken out of the compacter, to look closer at the microwave and the screeching stops.

Me: Well, I guess it was the trash that was screeching. Looks like it's done now. I think I'll put the bag under the neighbor's deck in case it decides to protest again. 

It's then that Hubs realizes what the screeching was. The alarm for the sump pump had died this week. He disconnected the wires and threw it in the kitchen trash. Guess it had one last gasp of life in it.

Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

Me: I have so much to do around the house, can you do me a favor and just go put gas in my car?
College Boy: Sure. It's a gorgeous day, I think I'll put the top down.
Me: I don't have a convertible.
College Boy: Won't stop me . . .


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


I was going to the grocery store and was aware that although I usually plan ahead, I had nothing for dinner that night. No problem, I'd find something.

While shopping I found a whole chicken on sale that I picked up and figured I'd roast a chicken for dinner. Then, as I was leaving I saw they had rotisserie cooked chickens. I don't usually buy them since they're now more the size of a Cornish Hen, hardly enough to serve 3 people, and I knew College Boy would be home for dinner. They had a larger sized one, though, and I grabbed it figuring I'd put the uncooked chicken in the freezer and serve the rotisserie chicken.

Later that day College Boy walked into the kitchen.

College Boy: What's for dinner?
Me: I bought a rotisserie chicken.
College Boy: Oh good, I like those. I like your roasted chicken better, though.

Now most people would smile, feeling complimented. Me? Spent the whole rest of the day thinking "crap, wonder what it is that he wants."



Chicken with Rice Dinner Casserole. Boneless chicken breasts, vegetables and rice cook in the oven in a flavorful broth | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dinner #chicken

Chicken With Rice Dinner Casserole
Chicken with Rice Dinner Casserole. Boneless chicken breasts, vegetables and rice cook in the oven in a flavorful broth | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dinner #chicken


College Boy: Hey Mom, there's a pretty cool show on just after midnight tonight. Want to watch it with me?
Hubs (laughing): She's not up at midnight.
Me: Yes I am, I'm always up at midnight.
Hubs: Not that I see.
Me: Well I'm not surprised since you're asleep by 10:30 pm.

Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks but I learned something new this past month. 

If you think that you broke your thumb, it's smart to fill a bag with ice to keep on the thumb to try to keep the swelling down.

BUT, as the ice starts to melt, you may not want to open the bag and squeeze it to let the air out. 

'Cause, you know, chances are you're going to end up soaked.



Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

College Boy and I have similar political views and agree with each other about 90% of the time. Hubs, on the other hand, is the complete opposite.

College Boy: Did you hear Alex Jones lost his custody battle?
Me: No, but he's offensive, I'm glad he did.
College Boy (to Hubs): Dad, do you know who Alex Jones is? 
Hubs: No, never heard of him.
College Boy: He runs a sight called infowars. He's a far right conspiracy theorist.
Me (to Hubs): Yeah, he's an idiot. You'd like him . . . 

Lucky for me Hubs can take a joke.

 Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

We have a portico type thing outside our front door. One day I looked up and it looked like hornets were starting a nest there. Hubs was outside so I went to talk to him.

Me (pointing): Look up there, looks like the beginnings of a hornets' nest. And there's actually a hornet on it. 
Hubs: Oh, you're right.
Me: You better knock that down before we can't use the front door.
Hubs: Ummm, anyone near here is gonna get stung. 
Me (turning and running away): Oh, you're right, give me a minute to get in the house.
Hubs: Well, looks like we know which one of us is expendable. 
{{At least I think that's what he was saying. I was in the house with the doors locked, just in case, before he finished his sentence.}}

Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

Hubs was going out to run a quick errand one night after dinner and I asked him to pick a few things up for me at the grocery store. When he got back, he realized that he had locked the door between the house and the garage and didn't have his key with him, so he knocked at the door.


Me (calling out to him without opening the door): Who's there?
Hubs: Who do you think?
Me (singing): I hear you knocking . . . but you can't come in.
Hubs: OK, I'll just sit out here and eat these groceries.
Me (opening the door): Damn! You got me.

Now click on the links below for a peek into some other homes:

Menopausal Mother 
Searching for Sanity 
Eileen's Perpetually Busy 
Spatulas on Parade 
A Little Piece of Peace 
Never Ever Give Up Hope 
Bookworm in the Kitchen 
Not That Sarah Michelle

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





Chicken with Rice Dinner Casserole
                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
 
Ingredients:
1 cup uncooked long grain rice
1/2 cup sliced almonds, divided
1 can (14.5 oz) vegetable broth
1 package dry onion soup mix
1/2 red pepper, cleaned and chopped
1 green onion, cleaned and chopped
4 oz mushrooms, cleaned and sliced 
3 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, each cut in thirds
salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika to taste
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar
1/2 of a 2.8 oz can french fried onion rings
Directions:
*Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9 X 13 baking dish with non-stick spray.
*Mix together the rice and 1/4 cup of the almonds and sprinkle evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
*Mix together the vegetable broth, onion soup mix, red pepper, green onion and mushrooms. Pour over the rice and almonds.
*Season the chicken pieces on both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place onto the top of the other ingredients. Sprinkle with paprika. 
*Cover with tin foil and bake for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, mix together the sharp cheddar, the other 1/4 cup of almonds and the french fried onion rings.
*After 45 minutes, remove from oven but leave the oven on. Carefully remove the foil. Sprinkle the cheddar mixture over the top of the casserole and return to the oven, uncovered for another 30 minutes.
 

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Don't EVER Say

Don't EVER say that nothing more could possibly go wrong.

Apparently if you dare to say those words, they actually work as a cosmic magnet, attracting "worse" like telemarketers to a land line. 

You know that book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst? Just call me Alexander. Or maybe Alexander's supremely unlucky cousin.

I recently spent an entire day learning about saying that nothing more could possibly go wrong. And learning it the hard way. But then the hard way is sort of my M.O. If the FBI ever puts out a wanted poster for me (it could happen) I'm sure it would include that telling personality trait.


Don't EVER Say: a day long lesson learned in asking what more could possibly go wrong. | www.BakingInATornado.com | #funny #laugh #MyGraphics



It started out as what should have been a great day. PurDude was coming home from college. I've mentioned before that he has a summer internship 15 hours from here so instead of having him home for 12 - 14 weeks, he'd be here for 10 measly days. I was going to take full advantage of them, starting with him flying in on a Sunday in time to have dinner with the family. I had everything ready and couldn't have been more excited. 

But I woke up to this on the ceiling of my bedroom. It had been pouring for days but we'd replaced our roof around 5 years ago. Omen? I don't believe in omens. Make that I didn't believe in omens.

Don't EVER Say: a day long lesson learned in asking what more could possibly go wrong. | www.BakingInATornado.com | #funny #laugh #MyGraphics


It's an hour and a half drive to the hotel where I pay for PurDude to park his car whenever he flies out. They shuttle him to the airport. But this time they told him there would not be a shuttle for 40 minutes. They guarantee no more than 30 minutes and it never takes even that long but this time it would and he was stuck.

It's a very small airport so he always gets through check-in and security quickly. He stood in line to check his bag and when he got to the head of the line was told he arrived at the head of the line 42 minutes before flight and they only check bags until 45 minutes before flight. They refused to take his bag and booked him on a flight 5 hours later. I fully believe United could have easily taken his bag and most likely just stole his seat without paying him to give it up. There was more proof of this later.

I admit it. I was furious. I stewed (and tweeted and sent angry emails) all day. And I had all day, he'd now be coming in at 10:30 pm.

At 1:00 pm I sat down to watch the Red Sox. Nope, they're not showing the game here.

At 5:30 I decided to watch the Celtics in game 4 of the play offs with the Washington Nationals. They came out strong in the first half. The second half? Let's just say it got to the point where I couldn't watch any more.

At 6:30 I sat down to dinner without my youngest son.

At 9:30 we headed to the airport. Hubs missed the cut-off and we had a lovely scenic trip of downtown. Turns out it's actually a less enjoyable drive when you're grinding your teeth down to stumps.

At 10:30 I got my arms around that boy. I finally had him. Nothing more could possibly go wrong. Ding. PurDude gets a text that his luggage had arrived on an earlier flight, to see the baggage room attendant for it. 

SO, that flight they insisted they couldn't get his bag on? His suitcase came in on that flight. Yes, they had flat out lied and stolen his seat.

Determined not to have a stroke, we went to the baggage room. Closed. Sign on the window said to see a gate agent. There were none, all stations closed. So as flyers from his flight gathered their luggage off the turnstile and left, we stood there looking through the window of the baggage room at his suitcase. 

Just as we were about to leave someone came and opened the door. We were finally headed home. Nothing more could possibly . . . Hubs missed his exit ramp on the way home but who cares. We took the next exit.

It was hot in the house when we got home. College Boy asked me to put the a/c on. I didn't want to since it's early May and would cool off quite a bit overnight, but I looked at the thermostat and it was 81 degrees in the house so I agreed. I turned the thermostat to "cool", pressed "done" . . .

. . . and the house went black.

Not the neighbors, just us. Of course.

Hubs checked the electrical panel and the a/c breaker had tripped. It also tripped the full house breaker. Hubs could not get that full house one switched over and I was concerned, not wanting him to do further damage by forcing it. 

Worried about the freezers and the sump pump, we decided to bite the bullet and call one of the 24 hour electrician services. It would cost a fortune, we knew, but felt we had no choice. At least there are 24/7 electricians, we were actually feeling fortunate for that.

Au contraire, you desperate naive people (us). 24/7 means there's an answering machine on that line letting you know what their business hours are. And I should know, we tried out this theory 8 times.

I need a drink. I even have Frozen Mai Tais in the freezer. But, of course, I'm afraid to open the freezer, not wanting to let any cold air out. In fact, between the fridge and freezer in the kitchen, fridge and freezer in the basement and the freestanding freezer in the basement, I could stand to lose over $1000 worth of food.

So instead we went to bed. Well, most of us. Hubs would spend a miserable night babysitting the sump pump. And if things got worse there would be a bucket brigade in the middle of the night.  What fun that would be.

And before I went to bed I had to shut down my laptop. I had been leaving it on and plugged in because it no longer takes a charge and the last few times I shut it off I had a really hard time getting it to come back up again. So I shut it down and gave it a little kiss. I'm afraid this may be goodbye. 

 
Frozen Mai Tai, a refreshing summer cocktail. The flavors of a Mai Tai blended and frozen. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #drink #cocktail

Frozen Mai Tai
Frozen Mai Tai, a refreshing summer cocktail. The flavors of a Mai Tai blended and frozen. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #drink #cocktail


After a fitful night I woke up at 8:00 am ready to call electricians. My cell phone? Dead. Of course. This time I knew what more could go wrong. We could have no phone to call for help. And I couldn't charge it in the car because the garage door is electric.

Fortunately Hubs' cell worked. And he actually found an electrician to come out. Who, in 3 seconds (but in all fairness on the third try), yanked that whole house fuse over and there was light.

They checked the a/c, which is 20 years old and was definitely not working correctly. So I know what's going to happen next, thousands of dollars for a new a/c unit.

The good news? While waiting for the electrician to arrive, I read a magazine. The glossy hold-in-your-hand kind. Cover to cover. And it was quite enjoyable.

And that next night I would have my whole family at the dinner table no matter what. After all, nothing more could possibly go wrong.

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Frozen Mai Tai         
                                    ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients (makes 4 drinks):
4 cups orange sherbet
1 TBSP sweetened coconut flakes
1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple, undrained
1/3 cup spiced rum
1/4 cup coconut rum
1/2 cup orange liqueur
4 tsp grenadine

OPT: fresh pineapple chunks, orange slices and/or maraschino cherries

Directions:
*Place the sherbet, coconut, pineapple, rums and liqueur into a blender. Blend until well mixed. Place in the freezer for one hour.
*To serve, divide into 4 glasses and drizzle a tsp of grenadine on the top of each drink.
*OPT: Can garnish with fresh pineapple chunks, orange slices and.or maraschino cherries.