Gerrymandered Domestic Tranquility: Use Your Words

 

 

 

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:  absolute ~ blanket ~ gerrymander ~ steel ~ relief
They were submitted by Diane of On the Border.

 

 

I just want to say, for the record, that this won't be a political post, despite the fact that these words catapult me right into a political mindset.

 

It's not that I don't talk about politics on this blog all the time, you know I do. But I need to lighten it up a bit, for my own sake. 

 

OK, so maybe I just need to get it out of my system, then we'll move on: As we were nearing the midterms, the level of voter suppression (we had an initiative on our ballot in this state that is thinly veiled voter suppression) and gerrymandering became so terrifying, there were days when the news has me feeling like going to bed with a bottle of absolut(e), pulling the blanket over my head, and staying there until Thanksgiving. All members of the cult that the republican party has become belong behind steel bars. I think that day is coming for many of those politicians, and when (if?) right is reestablished over wrong, it will be a relief.

 

Sorry, just felt like that had to be said.

 

Now back to our previously scheduled program . . . a PSA of sorts. About gerrymandering of a different sort, and women's right to control their bodies. And no, I'm not talking politics, I'm talking domestic tranquility. With a little helpful advice to men.

Let me start by saying, no matter what we feel about aging, and how our bodies change, and even some of the ways we can exhibit some level of control over those changes, it is the absolute truth that we're all aging. And as steely as our resolve may be to fight the process, there are some aspects we're going to experience.

So some sage advice to the husbands out there, especially those whose wives do the cooking . . .

 
                       

 

Pear and Feta Bites

. . . there will come a time when you'll notice a redistricting of sorts. In the bedroom. 

 

I'm talking about that dreaded time when women's internal thermometers go on the fritz. You know what I mean (and if you don't yet, you will). It is during that time, in constant search of fleeting relief, that the normal borders of your blanket will be gerrymandered. Redistricted. Continuously. Up, down, up, down, on the bed, off the bed, at the foot of the bed, over your head.  

 

And you have no vote in the matter.

 

So, if you want to keep eating, it is my advice that you allow the rather constant blanket redistricting. Because an exhausted wife benefits no one. So, in support of her, you have a difficult decision to make. Do you want to sleep? Or eat? 

 

 

Here are links to all the other Use Your Words posts:

On the Border 

The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver 

Climaxed

Part-time Working Hockey Mom 

Pear and Feta Bites

                                               ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

1 small red pear

3 TBSP shelled pecans

1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

1 TBSP apricot jam

12 wonton wrappers

 

1 TBSP olive oil

Directions:

*Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease the wells of a 12 count mini muffin pan with non stick spray.

*Core, skin, and chop the pair. Place in a mixing bowl.

*Chop the pecans and add to the bowl along with the feta.

*Add the apricot jam and mix well. 

*Gently press the center of each wonton wrapper into each of the 12 mini muffin wells.

*Divide the filling into the center of the wonton wrappers. For each wonton, dip your finger into water, wet all of the wrapper edges, and pinch the edges in to enclose the filling.

*Spray of brush the tops with olive oil

*Bake for 25 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

Resolve is the Resolution

 

 

 I don't make New Year's resolutions, I've mentioned that before. No reason to promise that on one specific day on the calendar that I'll suddenly do what I haven't done the day before.

 

But I still have resolve. Actually, that's not true, it would be more accurate to say that I'm determined to regain my resolve.

 

I have all but given up, I look around at our current state of division, derision, and I despair. I care about our freedoms, our environment, public health, safety in public places, future generations. I've been bruised and battered by the tone of our politics, the loss of respect, the blatant denials and dishonesty. And it's not getting better, it's getting worse.

 

So much worse that it's killing people. I never thought we could possibly sink this low, that in the United States of America, the sanctity of human life has become collateral damage. 

 

I wrote a post back in March about guns and about my quest to get vaccinated. I called it Just Shoot Me. Please. The day before it was to post, there was a mass shooting in a covid vaccine line in a grocery store in my son's home city, Boulder. I had to frantically change the title and replace the original graphic of my post. It became Vaccination Information Stagnation.

 

 

 

In the ongoing quest to protect society through vaccination, the focus has been on reason. Truth is, reason is not an option. Its foundation is truth and truth no longer exists. I've been railing against it, my poor logical brain cannot fathom the impotence of logic. But I have had to accept that relying on reason is unreasonable.

Perhaps, with the tenets of our religious beliefs still in the forefront of our thoughts, and a fresh new year just days ahead, we can put logic aside (ouch) and appeal to some core beliefs. Getting vaccinated is about compassion, it's about selflessness and respect, it's a tangible embodiment of ministering to others. 

Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

 

 

Food prices are sky high. There are some foods I can't even find at all. And yet, we still find a way to eat. I've become a lot more creative with ingredients and substitutions, all for the greater good. To continue to nourish our bodies.

 

Spicy Grilled Peanut Butter and Bacon Sandwich

 

 

The focus now needs to be on nourishing our communities. We are obliged to see need, protect each other, replace sanctimoniousness with service, focus on the sustenance of humanity.

 

So this year, I resolve to keep trying, to look for other avenues of approach, to appeal to our better angels, to show restraint, to lead by example, to comport myself in a ways that strengthen our ability to recognize truth, restore reason, serve society. 

 

Join me?

Spicy Grilled Peanut Butter & Bacon Sandwich       

                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients (per sandwich): 

2 slices of an Italian loaf, cut 1" thick

1 TBSP creamy peanut butter

2 pieces bacon, cooked

1 TBSP butter

2 tsp pepper jelly

Directions:

*Spread the peanut butter onto on slice of the bread. Cut each piece of bacon in 2 - 3 pieces and place onto the peanut butter. 

*In a small skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Once it's hot, place the bread in the skillet with the peanut butter and bacon up.

*Spread the pepper jelly onto the other slice of bread and place it in the pan on top of the bacon, jelly side down. Press gently.

*Reduce heat just a little and allow the sandwich to cook until the bottom is well browned. Carefully turn the sandwich over and cook the other side. Serve warm.

Optimism, Pounds, and Fools

 

 

It's New Year's Day. 

Perhaps you already know that. 

 

As I contemplated what I might want to publish today, I thought that it should be something that in some way speaks to turning the page on this past devastating year. Most people do (and I always had) looked to each new year with hope. For me, though, it's so much harder now. We will, but don't yet, have a changing of the guard here, so I should be hopeful. But I've learned some very hard truths about us as a country these past 4 years so, I'm indisputably jaded at this point.

However, a depressing post isn't exactly what I had in mind here either.

 

So I went to my go-to inspiration destination, Google. Surely I can find some New Year's words of wisdom there. And, of course, I could. I did. New Year's quotes, that was the place to start. Given the whole "new year, new start" attitude we tend to have on New Year's day, it's not surprising that I had to wade through a large number of sappy uplifting drivel sentiments. 

Too cliche. Too not now. There has to be something someone has said at some point since the dawn of time that speaks to me. Right?

 

The first quote I ran across that I thought was not only meaningful, but timely was one from an American writer named Bill Vaughn. He said: 

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves." 

 

Which makes me a former optimist, but this year a staunch pessimist. And which also makes me wonder if Bill, who died in the 1970s, may have seen trump coming even back then.

Moving on . . .

The second quote, which really made me laugh, though given the age of Covid, I have to admit it was more of a painful cry/laugh, was from Nia Vardalos, a Canadian actress and screenwriter. She said:

 

"My New Year's resolution list usually starts with the desire to lose between 10 and 3,000 pounds." 

 

Since they use the (Canadian) dollar in Canada, it's pretty clear which "pounds" she's referring to. Logically, of course, who makes a resolution hoping to lose money? But on the off chance that there's anyone who does, send them my way.

OK, got off on a tangent there. I'm back . . .

I'm thinking though, that Nia's quote, which we've now confirmed is about weight loss, isn't really conducive to my blog posts in general, but today's specifically, where I . . . you know . . .  share a not so diet friendly recipe.

But then I stumbled on the best quote yet. From James Agate, a British writer in the early 1900s. He said:

New Year's Resolution: To tolerate foods more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time."

Tolerate foods more gladly, hell yeah, that's the quote for me! 

 

And as far as time goes, I completely understand what he's getting at. While many of us are spending quite a bit of time at home, fulfilling our ingredient list can get a little sketchy, and figuring out substitutions can be a time suck. But in the end, the amount of time that it takes to create foods is completely up to you, just choose a recipe that meets your time constraints. Perfect.

 

Everything Brownies

 

Oh, wait!

 

Just put my glasses on (note to self, put in contacts before writing any future blog posts) and it seems that Bill's quote was actually to tolerate fools more gladly. Not foods, fools.

 

Oops. 

 

Never mind. 

Everything Brownies        

                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients: 

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate

1 stick butter

1/2 stick margarine

3/4 tsp vanilla

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

3 eggs

1 cup flour

1 TBSP baking cocoa

2 TBSP caramel bits

2 TBSP toffee baking bits

2 TBSP mini M&Ms

2 TBSP mini chocolate chips

3 TBSP espresso baking chips

3 TBSP butterscotch baking chips

1/4 cup multicolored sprinkles

 

Directions:

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 X 13 pan.

*Melt the butter and margarine with the unsweetened chocolate in the microwave at 20 second intervals until completely smooth when stirred.

*Stir in the vanilla, then the sugar, brown sugar, and eggs, followed by the flour and baking cocoa. 

*Mix together the caramel bits, toffee bits, mini M&Ms, mini chocolate chips, espresso baking chips and butterscotch baking chips, then mix into the batter.

*Pour batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes, sprinkle with the multicolored sprinkles and return to the oven for another 15 minutes.

*Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before cutting.

 

Resolved

I have to admit, I’ve really never been one for New Year’s resolutions. But in my old age, I’ve been blessed with perspective about this whole issue. So this year I’ve decided to try to come up with a few I can live with. Yes, it's only been one day but I'm happy to report, so far so good . . .

Resolved:
1. I will watch more TV. This is a selfless resolution. So many people are making so many shows, I figure if I can do my part to keep them employed, I’m doing a service.

2. I will stop picking up after myself. I’m always arguing with the kids to pick up, but what if I give them this one? I’m trying the “if you can’t beat them, join them” approach and I’m going to have to admit, not only does it cut down on my arguments with the kids, but it’s actually made my life easier.

3. I will spend more time talking about my kids on FB and Twitter. If talking TO them results in blank stares, maybe talking ABOUT them is the way to go. After all, what better way to show them how much I care about them?

4. I will sing more. When my older son was little, he pretty much only cried when I sang. Now both kids cringe and run away when I sing. Clearly I need more practice.

5. I will do better at covering all the food groups:
grains: flour in the crust
fruits and vegetables: strawberries
proteins: cream cheese
dairy: whipped cream for topping
fats: oil in the crust
So Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie works perfectly, right?

Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie

6. I will not hide the toilet paper. There’s only so many times that’s funny.

7. I will let the boys take over the laundry and washing the dishes. I know this is a huge sacrifice but they’ll need to know how to do these things when they’re on their own. So really, I have a responsibility . . .

8. I will not run away from home. I will not run away from home. I will not run away from home. I need a pair of Ruby slippers.

9. I will drink more red wine. It’s been known for some time that red wine can be good for your heart. I also happen to know that it’s good for patience, anxiety and state of mind. And since corking a red and sticking it in the fridge is sacrilege, I promise to be a good Mommy and make all gone.

10. I will stop trying to convince myself that chocolate is not a food group. Because I need to face facts, it is.

So there you go. I know it’s a long list, but I have confidence that I’m up to the challenge.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie
                                      ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients, crust:  
1 1/2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup canola oil
2 TBSP milk

Ingredients, pie:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
3 TBSP sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla
2 quarts strawberries
2/3 cups sugar
3 TBSP cornstarch mixed with 3 TBSP cold water

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Stir all crust ingredients together. Press into the bottom and partially up the sides of a pie plate.
*Bake 12 - 15 minutes.
*Cool.
*Beat cream cheese, vanilla and sugar until smooth. Carefully spread over cooled crust.
*Wash all strawberries, pat dry and cut off leaves.
*Opt: can pick the 4 biggest and arrange them, upside down towards the center of the cream cheese.
*Puree strawberries and add them to a saucepan with the sugar. Simmer.
*Add the cornstarch/water mixture to the saucepan and stir until thick and boiling.
*Turn down the heat and simmer for 2 minutes.
*Cool slightly, then pour over the cream cheese layer.
*Keep refrigerated. Opt: Garnish with whipped cream before serving.

Breakfast for Dinner

Breakfast for dinner. Need I say more?  I don’t think I know a single person who doesn’t love breakfast, but not everyone eats in the morning. Coffee? Yes please, lots. Breakfast? Too early for food.  What to do? Breakfast for dinner, yay!

Berry French Toast Casserole

Breakfast for dinner always reminds me of New Year’s when my kids were little. We’d want to celebrate, but it was tough to find babysitters who could stay till 2am, or who didn’t have plans themselves. We did often get together with other families, but we were always home early, as we all had young kids. It was really fun, a great option for us while our kids were little, but not a celebration on the scale of past New Years.

At that time we were in our first house. The house had a den off of the kitchen that was well used. It also had a large living room off of the dining room that I never did furnish. One year I decided that if we weren’t going to have a major New Year’s Eve celebration, we could have a New Year’s Day party. Perfect. People weren’t working and most had no plans. What to serve? Easy, everyone loves breakfast. I cooked and baked for weeks, set up the food on the dining room table and set up long tables in the unfurnished living room so people could sit and eat. It was an Open House  so no pressure to be there at a designated time, and it frequently went all day (well, till the champagne was gone anyway). Afterwards my closest friends would stay to critique the dishes to see what would make it to the next year. There were years when I had over 40 guests.

So breakfast for dinner is not only a delicious treat but, because I always make a dish from those New Year’s Brunch days, it brings a nostalgic smile to my face. True comfort food, it’s my own inexpensive therapy of sorts.

Setting up for one of the earlier New Year’s brunches

Lately I’ve been going through my kids’ scrapbooks. I kept them diligently for about 6 years then stopped, cramming new pictures into empty sleeves. The pages prod me to remember stories of fun times, of sad times when we had to pull together, uncertain times when we started new chapters, people who’ve moved into and out of our lives. I may be amusing myself at others’ expense, but I’m thoroughly enjoying pulling out naked-first-bath pictures and threatening to put them in the school yearbook. Not really sure if this would be characterized as therapy, or my need for therapy, but it brings a nostalgic smile to my face. Just like having breakfast for dinner.

Berry French Toast
                                      ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:  
12 slices of cinnamon bread (or 2 boxes frozen French toast)
2 cups berries (bigger ones like strawberries need to be sliced)
cream cheese
8 eggs
1 1/3 cups milk
1/4 cup maple syrup
cinnamon for sprinkling on top
Opt: maple syrup for serving

Directions:
*Grease a 9 X 13 glass baking dish.
*Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on one side of all the bread slices. Put 6 into a dish in a single layer, cream cheese facing up.
*Sprinkle with berries, then cover with the other 6 slices, cream cheese facing down.
*Wisk together eggs, milk and maple syrup and carefully pour over top.
*Sprinkle with cinnamon, cover with foil, refrigerate for the day (dinner) or overnight (breakfast).
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 50 minutes. Uncover and cook for 10 more minutes.
*Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before cutting and serving.