Friday, May 5, 2017

Identifying Characteristic: Secret Subject Swap

Welcome a Secret Subject Swap. This month 12 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. 

Secret Subject Swap, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


My subject is: If there would be only one characteristic you would want others to know you by, what would it be and why?
It was submitted by: Jenn of Sparkly Poetic Weirdo.


Well, I'm not going to go with impatient, although there's a good chance that's what the end result will be. 

Generous is a way I wouldn't mind being remembered. Much of what I do for others is usually in response their need. Therefore it's rare that others not involved in the situation are even aware of it. And that's exactly how it should be. 

Humble? Nope. This one's just not me. I'm constantly trying to convince my kids of my greatness. The more it doesn't work, the harder I try, sort of like a challenge. I'm pretty sure this leaves me off the humble list.

Bravery takes so many of forms. Although a recurring theme in raising my boys was "conquer your fears", I wouldn't call myself particularly brave. And yet I've been through IVF. Multiple times. I've parasailed. Without screaming. I even try new recipe ideas, even with my picky eaters. Although admittedly the dessert ones never seem to be a problem.

Spring Snack Cakes, raspberry frosting between most layers springtime colored cake. Fun and festive. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #cake #bake

Spring Snack Cakes

Spring Snack Cakes, raspberry frosting between most layers springtime colored cake. Fun and festive. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #cake #bake


But bravery? True bravery, putting yourself on the line in the way our troops do? No, I'm not even in the ballpark.

I think I'm going to have to go with honest. Yes, it's probably one of the characteristics many people would choose, a value most moral people work towards achieving. Honestly (get it??) though, it's not easy. There's so much thought that goes into honesty, it's a characteristic that can easily harm if not weighed thoughtfully. And although from the time my boys were born I stressed the value of being a person of their word, the nuances of honesty are difficult to teach. They come with maturity but even now in my . . . ahem . . . more mature years, there are times when I still struggle with circumstances in which honesty needs to be tempered with kindness.

It's a thin line between truth and partial truth when someone's feelings are at risk. Tact is a skill. Balancing tact with honesty takes not just thought but caring and concern.

Yet if you do not use truth as your go-to, you leave yourself open to being a person who is thought of as dishonest. This is such a difficult concept with children. I always told my boys that they lose trust when they lie. A lie is not just an untruth, it makes you a liar. Believability is a necessity in any successful relationship.

So for me, I don't just want to be remembered as an honest person, but as someone able to skillfully discern when truth matters and when a partial truth is more compassionate. Someone who is wise in her use of honesty.

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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Spring Snack Cakes
                                                              ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp lemon extract
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp red food coloring
1/2 tsp blue food coloring
3/4 tsp green food  coloring

3/4 stick butter, softened
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam
2 TBSP milk
6 drops red food coloring
3 cups powdered sugar
multicolored sprinkles

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 12 X 17 half sheet pan and a 9 X 13 quarter sheet pan.
*Cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs, milk, 1 1/2 tsp vanilla and lemon extract.
*Starting at your lowest speed, beat in the flour, salt and baking powder just until incorporated, then increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes.
*Remove 1 3/4 cups of the batter to another bowl. To the original bowl of batter, add 1 tsp of red food coloring and 1/2 tsp of blue food coloring. Spread into the larger baking pan.
*To the remaining batter, add 3/4 tsp of green food coloring. Spread into the smaller baking pan.
*Bake for about 20 minutes or until the center of the cakes spring back to the touch. Remove from oven and cool both cakes completely.
*Using a 3 inch round cookie cutter, cut 12 circles out of the purple cake. Using a 1 inch round cookie cutter, cut 12 smaller circles out of the remaining purple cake. Remove with a spatula. Place the larger cake circles on a serving plate, set the small ones aside.
*Beat the remaining 3/4 stick of butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the jam, milk and 6 drops of red food coloring. On the lowest setting at first, beat in the powdered sugar.
*Place the frosting into a pastry bag or large plastic bag and snip the corner. Using about half of the frosting, pipe onto the larger purple cake rounds. Top with some multicolored sprinkles.
*Using a 2 inch round cookie cutter, cut 12 circles out of the green cake. Place on top of the cakes on your serving plate. Push down gently. Top with about 3/4 of the remaining frosting, then the smallest purple cake circles, the remaining frosting, and finally a few more sprinkles.

18 comments:

  1. You broke this down nicely. Honesty certainly is a good trait to be remembered for -- what a great subject to discuss.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, great subject, and harder to pick just one than I thought.

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  2. Honesty is huge! I've tried to teach my kids that even after you've apologized for something that wasn't true, you've still got to win back the trust. And some people won't give you that chance.

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    Replies
    1. I remember telling my kids "before you do or say anything, think about it. If you're going to want to lie it, it's probably not a good idea."

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  3. Honesty is an honorable trait to have. I'd also say you have patience, judging by the creation of these gorgeous cakes and how labor- intensive I imagine them to be.

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    Replies
    1. I'm probably the most impatient person around. Maybe these cakes are proof that I'm finally gaining some patience.

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  4. Honesty truly is the best policy - especially for me, someone who has the worst poker face in the known universe. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

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  5. You are all of that and more! I am so thankful for the day that I met you!

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  6. You are so much more, I won't go into all the great qualities I think you could be known for....And can't wait to try the cookies.

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  7. Now I can hear Billy Joel singing...

    "Honesty is such a lonely word
    Everyone is so untrue.."

    You're right, there is such a fine line between being totally honest and being mindful of other people's feelings. I think if you manage to balance both and "package" the truth nicely, so that the recipient can digest it easier, you can make a difference in their lives!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a balancing act for sure, and a concept that comes with maturity.

      Delete
  8. Honesty is so brave sometimes, too, when it comes to societal issues, and I sure you will be remembered for that kind of honesty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never thought of it that way but it's true, sometimes honesty does take bravery.

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  9. Honesty is bravery. Being brave enough to be honest is hard but needed sometimes.
    Now...these little cakes!! YUM

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You must try these little cakes. So cute and so yummy.

      Delete

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