Friday, December 11, 2020

Inevitable Inevitability: Use Your Words

Use Your Words, a multiblogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

 
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.


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: base ~ executive ~ pants ~ spotlight ~ venture. They were submitted by Rena of The Wandering Web Designer.
 
I was going to make it stop.  
 
I had made an executive decision. It was a risky venture, but it had its base in love. 
 
Let me just say here that I'd made executive decisions before. Many, copious, countless, innumerable decisions, bless my executive heart. They didn't always go well, as you may have guessed. It's my fault, I'd made a mistake, raised them to think they had choices. My bad.
 
This time I was determined. I'd try everything. I was flying by the seat of my pants, throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what would stick (and, believe me, if throwing actual spaghetti had a prayer of working, I would have done that as well). I wasn't just relying on the decision alone, hell no, I was calling in the reinforcements. There would be an all out campaign involving reasoning, begging, endless persistence, sleep deprivation (OK, maybe not that one, but you get the idea), and yes {{sigh}} I was not ashamed to resort to bribery.

Starting with food, of course. I had brought out the hit list of favorite recipes, like Baked Hot Wings, Baby Backs, Fiery Shrimp, and even Crusted Prime Rib. You read that right, I was at the Prime Rib level of desperate (yes, that's a thing). And there were some new recipes to share too, ones I'd developed while he was gone, spotlighting his favorites, like marrying his love for THE Best Pumpkin Pie with his love for coffee, resulting in my Espresso Pumpkin Pie.

Breakfasts too, like my new Canadian Bacon French Toast, and these Hint of Vanilla Everything Bagels:


Hint of Vanilla Everything Bagel, a hint of vanilla in the dough, homemade everything seasoning on top, preps in 10 minutes, bakes in 25!| Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #bake

Hint of Vanilla Everything Bagels
Hint of Vanilla Everything Bagel, a hint of vanilla in the dough, homemade everything seasoning on top, preps in 10 minutes, bakes in 25!| Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #bake


But, as with pretty much all of my executive decisions when it comes to my stubborn, headstrong boys (who, admittedly are now actually adults) inevitability inevitably inevits (yeah, I may have just made that word up, but it fits, right?).


One week ago, I had depleted my repertoire of machinations (damn, I need to expand my supply of mom tactics) and the time had come. The ski mountains were calling. Well, as was work and responsibilities. My youngest packed up his car, some meals and supplies I'd put together for him, and once again headed to Colorado.
 
Yes, there were tears, and yes, I waited until he was gone (well, mostly). There may have been some shameless hanging onto his shirt as he dragged me with him towards the door, but no need to dwell on that. Now there's a lot of woeful looking at the empty room he'd inhabited, and the spot in the garage where I'd gotten used to seeing his car, and that forlorn looking (although that might just be me projecting) empty chair at the dinner table.
 
Each member of my family is a big presence in our home. Conversely, they leave a large whole when they're gone. But I don't want you to think that I'm spending each day focused on his absence. I in general, but especially in this era of Covid, am cognizant of, and actively appreciate, how very lucky I had been, not only to have had his presence at my table for Thanksgiving, but in this house for an entire month.
 
We are the Blessings. And I am counting mine.


Here are links to all the other Use Your Words posts:
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Hint of Vanilla Everything Bagels
                                               ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Ingredients:
3 tsp sesame seeds
3 tsp poppy seeds
2 1/4 tsp dried minced onion
2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp Kosher salt

1 1/4 cups flour, divided
2 1/2 tsp baking powder, divided
1 tsp salt, divided
1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
2 tsp butter, melted

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
*Mix together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, minced onion, garlic salt and Kosher salt. Set aside.
*Whisk 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt, then spread onto a kneading surface.
*In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt, then mix in the Greek yogurt. Turn out onto a kneading surface and knead for 5 minutes (will be sticky).
*Divide the dough into quarters and roll each quarter out to about a 9 inch log. Make each into a circle with a hollow center, press the ends to seal, and place on the prepared baking sheet
*Gently brush the tops of the bagels with the melted butter, then sprinkle with some of the seasoning. Store the remaining seasoning into a jar for use another time.
*Bake for about 25 minutes, the tops will be browned. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before serving.

 

18 comments:

  1. I'm glad you got to see your son for Thanksgiving----being able to spend time with our children nowadays is truly a blessing!

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  2. It sucks! I know because as you know I just did it too! I wish they could live close, but when they are home all is right with the world for just a little bit. Hopefully, next year will be different.

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    Replies
    1. Exactly, all was right with the world for just a little bit!

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  3. It stinks that good things have to come to an end!

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    1. I agree, but I can't tell you how good that month was for me emotionally, and how lucky I know I am.

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  4. You definitely ARE the Blessings in so many lives! Sadly all your amazing work didn’t....work.
    But you’ve convinced ME to move in!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, you are more than welcome. I'd wait until after January 20th (our inauguration day) if I were you though!

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  5. I'm sorry he left (but we knew we would). One day I may face that heartbreak, too, as Vermont seems to be calling my son. Right now he only lives 20 minutes away from us, so....as a native New York City person I am intrigued by your recipe. I'm not sure I would use vanilla yogurt but I have seen plain yogurt in certain recipes. I have no patience for sticky dough, so may run this one past the family cook aka hubbie, and see what the verdict is. I miss having fresh baked bagels! Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I've made bagels with plain Greek yogurt and also with mix-ins in the dough. You and the family cook should definitely try it.
      And I have to say, as a place to visit (once it's safe) Vermont is just as wonderful a state as Colorado.

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  6. My words are a jumbled mess in my head and trying to come out my mouth..........just saying
    My eldest livesl 20 minutes away and that feels too far

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    1. Before he moved 8 hours away and after he was in college 9 hours away, he lived 25 minutes away for a year and I loved it!

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  7. Sorry he couldn't stay and do his work online from your home. It would have been ideal, at least for you.

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    1. I know. But the truth is I never would have been ready for him to go. I was very lucky to have had him for a month.

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  8. You have no idea how happy it makes me that you got to see him...especially given the uncertainty this year has brought. Your love for him and missing him is just proof-positive that you're an amazing mom!

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  9. Glad you were bring out some of the favorites. Chicken wings sound great right about now.

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    Replies
    1. It really was fun bringing out all of his old favorites. And I sent him home with lots of them too.

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