Homer Did It: 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 30. It was chosen by Me!

 

 

 

 

 

Most often with these Word Counters posts, I choose a theme and use my word count multiple times in keeping with the theme. This month I'm doing it a little differently, I'm telling a true story, it's a mystery. Don't worry, I'll let you know who-done-it.

~ One year ago, almost to the day, I wrote this Word Counters post: It's A Mystery. I talked, as I often do, about my love of mystery shows and novels.

 

~ I also lamented about how, as I age, there's little mystery to the homespun who-done-its around here. It's me. Today I'm sharing a story, about a recent mystery. 

 

~ I wake up earlier in the morning than I'd like to. There are things I do every morning, to open up the house and prepare for the day. First, coffee.

 

~ This day, I grabbed my coffee and started my daily routine. In the hallway, I opened the window, in the den, unplugged my laptop, in the office, opened the blinds.

~ Started a wash in the laundry room, then into the kitchen, to prep food for recipes I'd make later. Needed a sip of coffee, of course, but it was gone!

Martini Chicken

 

~ Gone? No way! I looked everywhere in that kitchen, but it was nowhere. Alright, retrace my steps. The hallway? No coffee. The laundry room? No coffee. The office? No coffee.

~ As I was leaving the office, I walked by Homer. Yes, Simpson. Although I can't claim him as a dependent on my taxes, he resides here, a squatter of sorts.

 

~When the boys were younger (a lot), they went through a Simpsons phase. But then don't we all? Somehow, at some point, they ended up with a blow-up Homer.

 

~ Was it maybe a freebee associated with a Simpsons movie? Anyway, the boys put him in the office on a counter stool, and there he's resided. For like fifteen years. 

~ Was Homer in a bad mood? Woke up on the wrong side of the chair, thought he'd enjoy watching my frantic search?

Or, like me, maybe Homer just needed coffee.

 

 

Here are links to the 

other Word Counters posts:

On the Border 

Messymimi’s Meanderings 

Martini Chicken        
                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

1 box (12 oz) rigatoni

1 TBSP olive oil 

2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, chopped

1/4 cup onion, chopped

3/4 tsp salt 

1/2 tsp pepper 

3 TBSP gin

2 TBSP vermouth (can substitute dry white wine)

1/3 cup lemon lime soda

1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk 

1/2 tsp lemon zest

1 cup pimento stuffed green olives, drained

 

Directions:

*In a large pot, cook the rigatoni to al dente. Drain and keep warm.

*Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and the onion, sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Cook and stir until the chicken is cooked through.

*Once the chicken is cooked, add the gin, vermouth, and soda to the pan. Bring to a boil and allow to boil for 2 minutes.

*Add the evaporated milk and lemon zest. Return to a boil, lower the heat slightly and simmer, stirring gently, for 5 minutes. Add the pasta and olives. Gently stir for 1 more minute.