Friday, February 16, 2018

Bootleggers and Bootlickers: Fly on the Wall

Welcome to a monthly Fly on the Wall group post. Today 5 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


College Boy is a grown man, and he's certainly not a picky eater like he was growing up. But he still really does not like fruits or vegetables and he's not a fan of soups or stews. He was home the other day at dinner time (coincidence? I think not) and wanted to know what I was serving.

College Boy: What ya making for dinner tonight Mom?
Me: I'm trying out a new recipe.
College Boy: Well aren't you lucky, your favorite taste tester is here. What are you making?
College Boy: Vegetable?
Me: Yes.
College Boy: Soup?
Me: Yes.
College Boy: You hate me.


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



We were talking over dinner about alcohol (don't ask me why) and prohibition.

College Boy (to me): If you'd been around then you'd have been brewing your own moonshine.
Me: I'm sure I would have.
Hubs: Well, it runs in Mom's family.
College Boy: Oh yeah, your grandmother made moonshine.
Me: No, my Great Grandmother did.
Hubs: Yeah, she was a bootlicker.
Me: Excuse me?
Hubs: You know, she was a bootlicker. What do you call it?
Me: Bootlegger.
Hubs: Oh yeah, that. 



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


You've heard those jokes about how many (insert group of people here) does it take to change a light bulb, right?

Here's a new one: how many Blessings does it take to turn on a TV?

I was sitting on the couch with my laptop on my lap, typing. College Boy was standing at the kitchen counter in the room behind me.

College Boy: Can you turn on the TV?
Me (reaching towards but not touching the coffee table beside me): Can you get me the remote?
College Boy: You're closer.

Neither of us move. Just then Hubs comes up from the basement.

Me (to Hubs, just as he gets to the coffee table): Can you hand me the remote?

Hubs picks up the remote and holds it out towards me but just out of my reach.

Me (to College Boy): Can you get the remote from Dad?
College Boy: You're closer.

Hubs hands me the remote and I turn on the TV. So how many Blessings does it take to turn on a TV? Three. And it's a damn good thing the answer wasn't 4, because PurDude won't be here until May.



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


Contrary to popular belief, I don't bake every day. When there were gaggles of hungry teenagers hanging out here every day, I could have. Now, though, I bake once or twice a week. I try to have something home baked in the house most days for dessert or for when we have company, expected or not. But it's not a law or anything, having to have fresh baked goods at all times.

College Boy walked in the other day in the middle of the afternoon.

College Boy (looking around): What did you bake today?
Me: Nothing.
College Boy: Should I call an ambulance?



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



Second verse, same as the first . . .

Same day, after dinner:

Hubs: What did you bake today?
Me: Nothing.
Hubs (laughing, checking the counter): No, really.
Me: Nothing.
Hubs (looking in the pantry): OK, I'll find it.
Me: {{blink, blink}}
Hubs (opening the fridge): Is this, like, a game or something?
Me (spoken only in my head}}: He'll figure it out.
Hubs: Nothing? Really? Are you OK? Should I call the doctor?



Toffee S’more Refrigerator Bars, chocolate, whipped marshmallow, caramel and toffee crunch blend together in the refrigerator to make these easy and delicious dessert bars. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert
Toffee S'more Refrigerator Bars


PurDude has always been a man of few words, but last month I couldn't blame him. He was sick. Really, really sick. I think he had the flu and I was terrified, that flu has killed many kids and he was too far away for me to really know what was going on with him. I told him what signs not to ignore, when to get immediately to a hospital. I did want to keep on top of what was happening but couldn't call him, not wanting to wake him and he really could not talk.

Each day I sent him a text "better, same or worse" and I would get a one word answer. At first, day after day it was "same". Finally, I started getting "better".

Once he was well enough to go to class, I texted him:

Me: How are you feeling today?
PurDude: Better.Me: Most of the issues with this flu were when people started to get better and then relapse. If you start feeling worse again, get help.
PurDude: Alright.
Me: If you're better, you can stop answering in just one word.
PurDude: OK.
Me: Seriously?
PurDude: Yup.
Me: I'm getting less worried and more pissed off.
PurDude: Sorry.
Me: Is there a "middle finger" emoji? Asking for a friend.


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


When the boys are home they raid my pantry and food disappears. No problem, I expect it and there's plenty. Sometimes, though, they hit up some of my other supplies.

One morning I went to do a load of laundry but couldn't. Went to take a shower so I could go buy more detergent and couldn't do that either. Frustrated, I texted College Boy.

Me: Do you need any laundry detergent?
College Boy: No.
Me: Need any soap?
College Boy: No, are you going to the store?
Me: No. What I am going to do is change the locks and write you out of my will.



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


Hubs: There's no beer in the basement fridge, I see you have a few up here, OK if I drink them.
Me: I need them, they go into the Crockpot Beef Chili I'm making for dinner.
Hubs: Well, I'll just drink the beer, then you don't have to put it in the chili, it'll mix up in my stomach.

I don't say a work, walk over to the liquor cabinet and pour a shot of Patron.

Hubs: What are you doing?
Me: I think the chili needs some tequila to mix with in my stomach.


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

Along those same lines, a few weekends ago there were some pretty big sports events going on. Not only was it Super Bowl Sunday, but the day before Purdue basketball was going for a record 19th win in a row.

Often, for sports weekends I make a batch of my Caramel Corn for snacking. I had made a big batch that Friday. Saturday, at around lunch time, Hubs came into the kitchen and I was eating it out of the container.

Hubs: Leave some for me.
Me: I can't. I can't stop. It's addicting.
Hubs: I'm going to have to hide it.
Me (handing him the tin): Yes, please hide it.

Hubs sits down at the counter with the tin and starts eating.

Me: What are you doing?
Hubs: Hiding it. In my stomach.

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


We had to buy a new washing machine, ours was leaking. I had a load of laundry in the new machine and it was finishing just as College Boy walked into the house.

College Boy: Choco-Taco.
Me: Huh?
College Boy: What's that music?
Me: That's our new washing machine. It plays music when the laundry's done.
College Boy: Oh, I thought you'd bought an ice cream truck.

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

Menopausal Mother 
Never Ever Give Up Hope 
Bookworm in the Kitchen 
Spatulas on Parade 
Go Mama O



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Toffee S'more Refrigerator Bars
                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Ingredients:
1 box chocolate graham crackers
2 cups heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

1/2 cup corn syrup
1/2 stick butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup toffee baking chips

OPT: whipped cream for serving

Directions:
*Beat the heavy cream and vanilla until soft peaks form. Add the marshmallow creme and beat until stiff peaks hold. Mix in the mini chocolate chips.
*Heat the corn syrup, butter, brown sugar and vanilla in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes. Stir and microwave for another 2 minutes. Stir and set aside.
*Place a single layer of chocolate graham crackers into the bottom of a 9 X 13 baking dish. Break the cookies into whatever size pieces you need to cover the bottom of the dish.
*Spread 1/2 of the whipped cream mixture onto the graham crackers. Follow with another layer of chocolate graham crackers, the remaining whipped cream mixture, then a final layer of chocolate graham crackers.
*Pour the corn syrup mixture over the top. Sprinkle with the toffee chips. Cover tightly and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.
*OPT: top with whipped cream for serving.

12 comments:

  1. Loved the "bootlicker" comment! Man, those recipes sound delicious. I would hide your creations in my stomach too. Wow, clicked through and read the blog post about your Bobe - what a history, what a character! I got a little choked up reading it. I have so much love & respect for my own grandparents and the generation before theirs. They grew up in such a different time. Recordings of loved one's stories are just so precious. My dad had a recording of me interviewing my grandpa about his time in WWII for a class project, and I just cried listening to it...it was just so nice to hear their voices again. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stories are great, but there's something so wonderful about actually hearing that voice again. Even if it does make us cry.

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  2. So many funny nuggets in this fly post---the ice cream truck, the beer comment from your hubs, and OMG the remote thing---Hubs and I argue over who has to get up and get the remote---we use a dog-in-the-lap-can't-move excuse not too rise from the couch. Is it any wonder that we're always eager to coax the dogs onto our laps now? :)

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  3. Your house is always so funny. I guess it's actually you that sees the humor and expresses it so well on here. I am definitely not a baker. I would love to learn how to make my own dinner rolls or bread or something. I have never tried because of fear! I keep buying active yeast and then have to throw it away because it gets old.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha, I don't do yeast either. Yeast and I have a longstanding battle and I always lose.

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  4. No bootlickers in my family. But plenty of people would love that wonderful dessert. Oh, I need some chocolate liquor to mix into my stomach. Laughing! Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. After the day I had today I think I need a few shots of Patron to mix in my stomach!

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  5. Y'all have the funniest conversations. Unlike my house, where it's "how do you feel today? Did you eat lunch? sigh........maybe someday we can talk again

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You will. It's been such a tough road for such a long time but you'll get there again.

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  6. I want my washer to play music!
    Oh and my new nickname for you is Mrs Bootlicker! ROTFL
    SpatulasOnParade

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I want my washer to move the clothes over to the dryer by itself. Just sayin'.

      Delete

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