Ban Balance Sheet

 

Inflation has hit the Constitution. What was once the Bill of Rights is now chump change. Devalued. Deliberately.

And as if that's not enough, its rights and protections have been compromised by those exact people we put in charge of safeguarding what is at the very core of our system.

We all know that the preamble to the constitution specifically states that we are all created equal, and that we all have the unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Further, and this is critical, that our government was created with the clear mandate of protecting those rights. 

That is no longer what's happening here. Our government is now in the business of targeting segments of our society to deny their right to life (women medically unable to sustain pregnancies), limit their liberties (abortion, gender affirming care), and pursuit of happiness (allowing businesses to discriminate, limiting access to information in schools). Acting in clear opposition to their directive. Overstepped their bounds. By a lot.

Although this desecration of our rights, this dismantling of freedom, started with an orange man, and is now lead by the orange state, it's sweeping through this country like a contagion.

 Orange Quick Rolls (no yeast)

 

To better view the direction in which we've headed, to more clearly see the juxtaposition between freedom and authoritarianism, I've prepared a ban balance sheet. Some instances are federal, others are sweeping through the states:

~ Banned: teachers saying "gay."

  Not banned: politicians lying in office.

~ Banned: dressing in drag in public (ie: wearing a dress, wig, jewelry, and makeup). 

  Not banned: wearing speedos in public.

~ Banned: forgiveness of student loans.

  Not banned: companies owned by members of congress took $14 million in Covid relief funds.

~ Banned: women's reproductive rights (abortion),

 Not banned: men's reproductive "rights" (Viagra).

~ Banned: crossing state lines for an abortion.

  Not banned: shipping immigrants across state lines.

~ Banned: access to books.

  Not banned: access to guns (conceal carry).

~ Banned: affirmative action from leveling the playing field for disenfranchised minorities.

  Not banned: whitewashing slavery. 

~ Banned: offering water to citizens standing in line in the hot sun waiting to vote.

  Not banned: armed random people monitoring ballot boxes.

We're the ATM, this is all supported with our taxes. So, profit, loss, or break even, what is the return on our investment?

Supreme Court approval rating: 40%

Americans who support some further level of gun control: about 87%

Americans who support abortion: about 62%

Americans who support LGBTQ+ rights: about 80%

Let's be realistic. The goal is not an untenable nirvana. For a balanced, effective government, when it comes to legislation, we will all sometimes fall into the minority, and other times find ourselves in the majority. Negotiating towards balance is required to make a diverse nation like ours function.

But the clear majority of Americans disapproving of the self-serving choices of politicians over the best interest of our citizens diminishes all that the constitution sets out to ensure.  

Our government is no longer paying dividends, and we are not invested in our own future.

Orange Quick Rolls (no yeast)         

                                                                                      ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 2/3 cups flour

3 tsp baking powder

1 1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp orange zest

1 1/3 cups orange Greek yogurt

1 TBSP orange juice

1 TBSP sesame seeds

Directions:

*Cover the bottom of a baking pan with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

*Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Flour a kneading surface with 1/3 cup of this mixture.

*Whisk the orange zest into the remaining flour, then mix in the yogurt. Turn out onto the floured kneading surface and knead for 5 minutes. It will come together as a dough, but will be sticky.

*Divide the dough into quarters, then each quarter in half. Roll into balls and place in the baking pan.

*Brush the tops of the rolls with the orange juice, and sprinkle with the sesame seeds.

*Bake for 25 minutes. Serve warm.

 

The Ban, the Bill, and the Clowns

 

I sometimes wonder if a clown car pulls up to the capitol each weekday and all the members of the house majority pile out.

Apparently not. It seems that about a dozen far-right Freedom Caucus buffoons have commissioned a car of their own.

Let the day at the circus begin. Because one car or two, a circus is exactly what they've turned the house of representatives into.

Exhibit one. An incident from just one month ago:

The back story:

The whole issue started to come to light at the end of 2022, when an international study showed that gas stoves emit pollutants that can damage our lungs and increase the risk of, and exacerbate, childhood asthma.

The Consumer Protection Safety Commission (enacted by congress in 1972 but run as an independent agency), admits to have been considering action, but clarifies that any regulations would only apply to new products. 

Some states have banned the installation of gas stoves, but in new homes only. The CPSC has specifically stated that they are not "coming for anyone's gas stoves." When asked, a White House spokesperson stated that Biden does not support banning gas stoves. 

Facts aside (as usual), the republicans went wild. Angry speeches included fiery rants the likes of: the dems want to take away your kitchens! They're coming for your stoves! Even your appliances aren't safe!

Children are dying at alarming rates due to gun violence, but . . . priorities. Fearful that the American people are on the brink of a severely limited edible future consisting of cold salads for dinner and no bake desserts, the House went right to work. 

Jelled Strawberry Tarts

So . . . 

The Consumer Protection Safety Commission is not the federal government and has suggested no bans. And the White House has specifically stated that the president is not in favor of a ban. But you can never be too careful when it comes to the protection of our children appliances. The house republicans drafted a bill.

The "Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act," would block the federal government from banning gas stoves.

Because our great country needs to protect the rights of trans citizens gas stoves to exist. And be free. What does that look like, anyway, free gas stoves? If they're not happy with their current situation, can they, like, consider employment elsewhere? Form a union? Demand days off, maybe?

 

Since the republicans control the house, you'd expect the bill to pass easily, right?

Not so fast. Remember that second clown car?

About a dozen republicans blocked the bill from advancing.

Why? 

Just a week before, the house speaker entered into a deal with the President to raise the debt ceiling. As has always been done in the past, it was necessary to allow the United States to pay our bills, not default, not crash our economy, and not drastically lower our credit rating.

And for brokering that deal, the speaker had to be punished.

So they stopped the bill.

That would block the ban.

That wasn't happening anyway.

Send in the clowns? They're already here.

Jelled Strawberry Tarts         

                                                                                      ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
9 mini graham cracker pie crusts

1 box (3 oz) strawberry jello mix

4 strawberries

1 container (5.3 oz) strawberry yogurt

OPT: whipped cream and/or additional strawberries for serving

Directions:
*Dissolve the jello powder in 1 cup boiling water. Set aside.

*Core and chop 3 of the strawberries. Place in the bottom of the pie crusts. Add 1 TBSP of the jello to each, set aside the remaining jello and refrigerate the crusts for 20 minutes.

*Remove the crusts from the refrigerator. Whisk the yogurt into the reserved jello. Core, chop, and mix in the remaining strawberry. 

*Pour evenly into the crusts and refrigerate again for at least 45 minutes.

*OPT: garnish with whipped cream and/or additional strawberries for serving.

Consumables

 

It's the 4th of July, Independence Day, a day to celebrate our freedoms, show our patriotism, acknowledge our country's forefathers for the wisdom of the Constitution. And in the past I've not only enjoyed the cookouts and the firewrks and the celebrations (OK, and the cockails), feeling as though I have a place at the table (so to speak). This country was built on the idea of no taxation without representation (hello, Boston Tea Party). And the representation? Well, I have a vote.

So what's on my mind? 

Consumables.

No, not edibles. Although edibles are consumable, not all consumables are edible. It's the non-edible consumables that have me concerned.

Did you follow that?

Consumables have been on a lot of our minds lately, since the beginning of Covid, really. 

It started with the great toilet paper debacle of 2020, and went on from there. Food prices have, in many cases doubled. Some I can't even find any more. And the sizes of the bags and cans have decreased (wreaking havoc on recipes that call for a can of something, btw), as the prices increase.

Raspberry Lime Slice and Bake Cookies

And along with the loss of quantity has gone quality. Those items we'd not thought of as consumables, but durables, are no more. When our fairly new dishwasher died, the installers of the new one told us that they are now only made to last a few years. Same with our fridge. We have one in the basement that's from the 1970s, yet the newer one in our kitchen has been replaced twice. Include electronics in that category too, TVs, cell phones . . .

But what has me most concerned on this 4th of July is the latest to go into that consumable category, newly considered disposable.

Me.

All of us, really.

Face it, with gerrymandering there now is taxation without representation.

With both our judicial branch and our legislative branch going rogue, voting and mandating their own personal agenda without regard to the will of the overwhelming majority of the people, our humanity has been compromised. In the current climate in this country, I no longer feel valued, or even safe, as a Jew, as a woman, as a citizen.

Our voice, our vote, is not a seat at the table, but a means to an end. Election. And once that is achieved, we are discarded.

Consumables.

Raspberry Lime Slice and Bake Cookies       

                                                                                      ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 stick butter, room temperature

1/2 stick margarine, room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp lime zest

1 egg, room temperature

2 1/4 cups flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

4 oz raspberries, chopped

Directions:
*Cream the butter, margarine, sugar, and lime zest, then beat in the egg.

*Starting on a low setting until incorporated, beat in the flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix in the raspberries.

*Flour your hands and roll the dough into a log, enclose in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.

*Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cover baking sheets in parchment paper.

*Slice the dough into about 1/2 inch slices.

*Bake for 12 - 14 minutes, until they start to brown. Leave on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes before removing to cool completely.

 

Seeing Red: Monthly Poetry Group

 

 

Last Friday of the month is for

Monthly Poetry Group to rhyme.

Diane, Mimi, and I take turns,

Flags is the theme this time.

 

As usual, today I'll try,

a poem to write . . . or fudge.

Whether I'm successful or not,

you get to be the judge.  

 

Seeing Red

Flags are flying everywhere,

they're loyalty on display,

Country, college, favorite teams,

solidarity with loved ones, gay.

Rev your engines, hit the gas,

when it's speed that we embrace.

Faster, faster, 'til we see,

checkered flags that end the race. 

And when I'm at a cookout,

trying everything's a feat.

But I throw in the white flag when 

there's no more I can eat. 

 

Pineapple Jalapeno Cole Slaw

Morals and values at issue,

our politics are a disgrace.

Our freedom is in jeopardy,

unless we win this race.

'Cause though they aren't physical, 

I see red flags everywhere.

They signify grave danger, 

unless we vote with care.

 

Before you go, stop by these blogs for more poetry:

 

 

Unhelpful by Diane of  On the Border and Messymimi's Meanderings

 

  

Pineapple Jalapeno Cole Slaw

                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 bag (16 oz) tricolor cole slaw mix

1\4 of a red onion, finely chopped

1 jalapeno pepper

1 can (8 oz) pineapple tidbits

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

3 TBSP honey

3 tsp pepper jelly

Directions:

*Place the cole slaw mix in a large bowl with the red onion. Set aside.

*Cut the top off of the jalapeno, then cut in half, remove the seeds and chop into small pieces. Add them to the bowl with the cole slaw mix.

*Drain the pineapple tidbits, reserving the juice. Slice the tidbits in half and place on paper towels to continue to drain.

*Whisk together the apple cider vinegar, the reserved pineapple juice, the honey, and the pepper jelly. Pour into the bowl with the cole slaw and mix well.

*Gently mix in the pineapple tidbits. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour, gently stirring once or twice. 

*Keep leftovers covered in the refrigerator.

 

Absolutes

 

Absolutes. 

Clear, unequivocal, immovable and inflexible. They are the foundation, serve to define the boundaries and provide structure.

I play Sudoku. Well, I play a lot of games, mostly word games. I post my results to my Baking In A Tornado FB page twice a day, and anyone who chooses to share adds their results to the threads.

Sudoku is different. This is one I just play myself, don't share anywhere. It's fun for analytical, organized, left-brained me. There is a daily game option, and every morning I get to see what the game has in store for me, sometimes they're difficult, sometimes not so much, but I let them choose. 

And then I play until I get it, until I win that day's game.

BUT, the only way to win is to accept the absolutes.

They are the rules, of course, and there are a few of them. The first is your roadmap and the second is your mandate. You can look at them as limitations. But they also provide structure, without those clearly defined parameters, there would be chaos, no hints, no clues, no direction. You're given a board with numbers already in some of the spaces. You cannot change them. And only one number will be correct for each open space. Figure it out.

In this current social climate of blurring the lines, fighting the rules, cheating to win or blaming the game, all of that falls on deaf (since games don't have any) ears. You can take it to the Supreme Court if you want (who knows what kinds of cases they'd be willing to hear these days), but it will change nothing. The rules are the rules. The absolutes are clearly defined and if your goal is to win, they must be respected.

If you want to play, you choose between winning and spinning (your wheels).

 

As we all light our grills this 4th of July, prepare to feast and to celebrate with friends and family, I hope we all take the time to think. 

Grilled Apricot Mustard Pork

Not just about food and fireworks, or even independence, but what the loss of independence, the fall into autocracy, really means. And not just for us, but all who came before us, those who have, and who continue to fight for our freedoms. 

Freedom is the game, and it's a democratic republic for the win. The only way to play is if we, as a country, can get back to respecting the absolutes.

"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness . .  ." 

    ~ Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, 1776

"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." 

    ~ First Amendment to the Constitution, James Madison, lead author, 1791

" . . . that these dead shall not have died in vain . . . that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." 

    ~ Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln, 1863

That's where we need to start. Absolutely.

Grilled Apricot Mustard Pork         

                                                                                      ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 approximately 2# pork tenderloin

1/4 cup apricot preserves

1 TBSP sweet hot mustard

3 TBSP stone ground mustard 

2 TBSP white wine

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp cumin

Directions:
*Rinse the pork tenderloin, pat dry, trim and cut into approximately 3/4 inch medallions. Place into a gallon sized plastic bag.

*Whisk together the apricot preserves, both mustards, wine, salt, pepper, and cumin. Pour into the bag and manipulate to be sure all of the meat is covered. Seal and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, up to a day.

*Place the medallions onto a grill, heated to medium. Discard any remaining marinade in the bag. 

*NOTE: pork needs to be cooked to at least 145 degrees. How long your medallions take to cook will depend on the heat of your grill and the thickness of your slices.

*Cook for about 7 minutes, flip over, and cook another approximately 7 minutes. Continue cooking if the 145 degree minimum heat has not been achieved.

Party Matters: Secret Subject Swap

 

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This month 3 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. Read through mine and at the bottom you’ll find links to all of today’s other Secret Subject participants.

 

My subject is: This country has been through a lot in the last few years. What is one thing that you think is the worst that has happened and why, and one thing that gives you hope for the future? 
It was submitted by: Rena of The Diary of an Alzheimer's Caregiver.

 

 

Under normal circumstances, this question would be overwhelming. I mean, to say this country has been through a lot doesn't do justice to the level of damage done here. Number one has to be the deaths, many senseless, from Covid. Beyond that is the complete chaos, the loss of any moral compass, the manipulation of our court system, the lying, cheating, stealing. . . And as each day finds us hitting a new low, yes, trying to choose just one instance would be overwhelming. 

 

But through the past few years, I've addressed a lot of what has been going on. I've talked about the deep depths to which the republican party has fallen (and continues to fall) and my frustration at the lack of definitive action by the democratic party. I've made the case for the democrats effectively being enablers through their hand wringing and pearl clutching instead of using the tools in their arsenal to staunch some of the blood flow. 

In order to refrain from making the same points over and over again, I'm going to tell you that honestly, what I think is one of the worst things that has happened is the loss of the republican party.

I'm not conservative in my beliefs in general, but I value a conservative voice in our politics. I think one of the healthiest things our democracy has benefited from is our two party system. It is a system of checks and balances, one that requires open minds, a platform for multiple views, an ability to negotiate, and the respect for opposing views and those who have them, productive discourse.

 

And friendships on both sides of the aisle. 

 

Politicians able to leave the debate on the floor and share a dinner or watching a game together, buddies with a mutual respect and in many instances, genuine friendships.

 

 

Apple Cinnamon Buddy Snacks

 

All of that is gone. And this is a profound loss. It was all necessary for a functioning democratic government. But there is no longer a viable republican party. There is only carnage, a battlefield of lies (even those that result in death are continuing to be disseminated), gerrymandering, changing of rules, bigotry, and hatred. The republican party no longer exists. And those true conservatives out there, the voices we desperately need to hear, are either leaving politics or being voted out.

We need, yes, need, a viable, rational conservative party in this country.

 

 

You probably think that the one thing that gives me hope is the midterms. You'd be wrong. Even though the results of the midterms do show that there are many people in this country who will not (or will no longer) align themselves with a party of lies, death, cheating, bigotry and deceit, too many of those elections were won by far right candidates with nothing to offer but robotic recitation of the party line. And of the rest, too many were far too close. 

 

What I once thought was a small, maybe 10% of the population, is now . . . still . . . despite everything that has happened, more like 45% of us. So no, sitting there with my heart in my throat through the midterms is not what gives me hope.

 

What gives me hope is our youth. Yes, there are young vehement Christian nationalists, Nazis, haters, but as opposed to the older generation, I see far more good, acceptance, rationality in our youth. I see they espouse less bigotry, accept their black and brown, LGBTQ+, Jewish and Muslim, disabled and mentally challenged societal brothers and sisters. Science matters, marijuana has healing properties, clean air and water take precedence over greed.

I grew up hearing, from my grandparents, my parents, and even have said it myself, that we hope to create a world, a country, a life, where our children have it better than we did.

We have failed. Dismally. Embarrassingly.

 

We now are in the position of looking to our children to save our planet, our society, our country.

And they have given me reason to hope that they will.

 

 

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

Climaxed 

The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver 

 

Apple Cinnamon Buddy Snacks        

                                                                    ©www.BakingInATornado.com

 
Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

6 cup Apple Chex cereal

4 cups Cinnamon Chex cereal

1/2 stick butter, softened

1/2 cup cookie butter (speculoos)

1/4 cup caramel baking bits

1 cup cream cheese baking chips

2 cups powdered sugar

3/4 tsp apple pie seasoning

Directions:
*Mix together the Apple Chex and the Cinnamon Chex. Set aside.

*Place the butter, cookie butter, caramel baking bits and cream cheese flavored baking chips into a large bowl. Microwave for 40 seconds. Stir. Continue to microwave and stir at 20 second intervals until the butter, cookie butter, and cream cheese baking bits are completely smooth (the caramel baking bits will be coated but not melted).

*Add the cereals to the bowl and gently stir to coat. Pour into a large sealable plastic storage bag.
*Mix together the powdered sugar and apple pie seasoning, add to the bag with the cereal, seal, and gently shake the beg to coat all of the cereal with the powdered sugar.
*Spread out onto a large piece of parchment paper for about 30 minutes. Store in a sealed container at room temperature.