It's a Mystery: Word Counters

 

Counting my words again. 

Today my fellow Word Counters and I are sharing our monthly group post. Each month one group member picks  a number between 12 and 50. All participating bloggers are then challenged to write something (or a few somethings, as the case may be) using that exact number of words. Today we all share what we came up with. 

 This month's number is 24. 
It was chosen by Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings.

As I've been doing in these Word Counters posts, I've chosen a theme and am using my word count multiple times in keeping with the theme. This month I've chosen the theme It's a Mystery.  

 

~ I often mention what I'm reading and watching, you probably already know that my favorite genre is mystery, fact (mostly television) or fiction (books). 

 

~ Why the long term love of mystery? I think it's engaging because it's more interactive, a challenge to figure it out before the ending.

~ But it's genesis, the very first books I can remember loving, owning, and reading entirely (multiple times) were two series: Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys.

~ And televsion shows? A friend actually called me to express his sympathy when Raymond Burr died. Can you guess what my favorite show was?

~ As I age, though, mystery has morphed from enjoying figuring out "who done it," to more of a lifestyle. One I'm decidedly NOT embracing.

~ Who put the canned mandarin oranges in the silverware drawer? And who preheated the oven on a hot day for a no bake pie?

 

Mandarin Pineapple Refrigerator Pie

 

~ Who forgot to buy the main casserole ingredient? Who preheated the oven, then didn't put dinner in? And why is dinner now sandwiches? Again.

 

~ Who has never used (and has no idea how to) the television recorder, yet recorded the shopping channel in the middle of the night?

 

~ Just wait until I get my hands on whoever left my glasses out on the back deck. Overnight. And in the rain, no less?

 

~ Perhaps the underlying reason why I'm not enjoying this new mystery lifestyle revolves around the ending. Everyone knows "who done it." And it's me.

Here are links to the other Word Counters posts:

On the Border 

Messymimi’s Meanderings 

Mandarin Pineapple Refrigerator Pie        
                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup orange juice

1 box (3 oz) pineapple jello mix

1 can (11 oz) mandarin oranges

1 can (15 oz) pineapple chunks

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 TBSP brown sugar

4 TBSP milk

1/2 cup heavy cream

3 TBSP powdered sugar

6 oz cream cheese, room temperature

 

OPT: whipped cream for garnish

Directions:

*Heat 1/2 cup orange juice in the microwave for about 1 minute or until hot. Whisk the pineapple jello mix into the orange juice and set aside.

*Drain the mandarin oranges and the pineapple chunks. Set aside about 1/3 cup of each for the garnish, and gently pat the rest dry. Cut the pineapple chunks in half.

*Grease a 9 inch pie plate. Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and milk. Pat into and partially up the sides of the greased pie plate.

*Whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar and whip until stiff peaks hold.

*In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with the jello and orange juice mixture. Once smooth, gently mix in the mandarin oranges and pineapple chunks, then fold in the whipped cream. 

*Pour into the crust and refrigerate for at least an hour. Garnish with the reserved 1/3 cup each of mandarin oranges and pineapple chunks, and whipped cream, if desired. Store, covered with plastic wrap, in the refrigerator.