The Rain has to Stop Somewhere

  

It's been raining here. That's an understatement. It's been like build an ark amount of rain. Our sump pump is working overtime. The spot on our lawn where it drains? Let's just say these days it resembles a bird bath. And don't get me started on the subject of my fears that it's become a mosquito breeding ground.

Good news: I don't have to water my outdoor flower pots. Bad news: all those pretty flowers could very well drown.

Every morning, I look out at the skies saying "please don't, please just don't."

Between the rain going on outside and the terrifying political news on the TV inside, it's been tough.

But yesterday was the 4th of July, Independence Day, and we were lucky enough to have a break from the rains. We were able to cook out, eat our ice ceam pie on the front porch hearing the bangs and booms, watching the skies over our neighborhood light up with fireworks.

It was celebratory, but hampered by the fear in the back of my mind that, with the possibility of a dictator taking power and putting a (further) stranglehold on our freedoms, this could be our last celebration of independence, of everything this country was meant to be.

And now, today, well, you know. "Please don't, please just don't."

All of this rain has brought back a memory from when I was little. Something unusual. Unusual to me, at least. 

I was probably around 9 years old and we were visiting my great aunt and uncle in West Palm Beach as we did each winter. I had walked all the way past the fountain and up the long rock driveway to the street. Just as I got there, it had started to rain, a late morning shower. But as I looked to the side, I realized that it wasn't raining. Strange. As far as I could see down one side of the road it was raining. All the way down the other it was dry.

I took a step out of the rain, into the rain, out of the rain. And in that moment, I was visually aware that, of course, the rain has to stop somewhere. I mean it happens all the time when you're in a car driving through the rain, then, if you drive far enough, come out of the storm. But this was different. I was there. Standing in that exact spot where the rain just stopped. 

Under the cloud or out into the sunshine, the choice was mine.

Strawberry Biscoff Ice Cream Pie

So yes, I know that any rain to fall here would eventually stop here. "The sun will come out tomorrow," and all that crap. But I also know that at this moment, somewhere, there is a line. The rain has to stop somewhere. 

And today, boosted by the celebration of Independence Day and all that our freedom means to so many of us, I have hope that wherever that line may be, someone is making the choice to take just one step to the left, out from under that dark cloud and into the sunlight. 

Not just for themself, but for us all. 

Strawberry Biscoff Ice Cream Pie

                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

4 TBSP butter

1 TBSP cookie butter

1 package Biscoff cookies (32 cookies)

2 TBSP sugar

4 cups strawberry ice cream

2 strawberries

1 cup heavy cream

2 TBSP powdered sugar

3 TBSP strawberry syrup

OPT: the 3 remaining cookies and/or sliced strawberries for garnish

Directions:

*Melt the butter and cookie butter in the microwave and set aside.

*Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a deep dish pie plate.

*Crush 25 of the Biscoff cookies into crumbs, then mix with the sugar and melted butter/cookie butter mixture. Press into the bottom and partially up the sides of the pie plate. Bake for 6 minutes, refrigerate to cool completely.

*While the crust is cooling, place the ice cream in a large bowl on the counter for 10 - 15 minutes to soften.

*Chop 4 of the remaining Biscoff cookies into chunks. Hull and chop the strawberries.

*Beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar and strawberry syrup and beat until stiff peaks hold. Reserve about 1/2 cup in the refrigerator for garnish.

*Mix the chopped cookies and strawberries into the softened ice cream, then fold in the remaining whipped cream. Spread into the crust and freeze for 1/2 hour. 

*Top with the reserved whipped cream. garnish with the remaining cookies and or additional strawberries, if desired. Freeze for at least 2 hours (best if frozen overnight) before serving.

Magic: Music Poetry Monday

 

 

Poetry Monday's once a week.

I bet you know which day.

I don't participate every time,

But today I've come out to play.

My friends assign each week a theme,

Music is what they chose.

Now it's up to all of us,

to put our thoughts into prose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Magic

 

Looking at someone's play list,

can really say a lot,

what genre is their favorite,

or which band's currently hot. 

"Tell me what one song you love,"

over coffee, a new friend inquires.

"All-time favorite, number one,

that speaks to you, inspires."

Not sure how to answer him,

Desperado? In You Eyes?

Every Breath You Take? Sweet Dreams?

My hometown's Aerosmith takes the prize?

"Impossible to pick just one,

that's better than the rest."

She stopped, thinking through her point,

about this she would not jest:

"Sometimes when life gets me down,

and I begin to quake,

to the kitchen's where I go,

it's soothing just to bake."

 

 

 

Peanut Butter Brownie Pie

 

 

 

"But in my darkest moments when,

I can't reach any goal.

When, with time, it starts to seem,

that bad luck's on a roll."

"On those rare occasions if,

I feel I've lost control.

When I just can't catch any break,

over time, that takes a toll."

 

"Whenever that should happen,

life has dug me a deep hole,

I know that I can count on this:

music soothes my soul."

 

 

 

Wait!

Read more poetry, 

you're not through.

Some talented writers

are in this crew:

 

On the Border

Messymimi's Meanderings 

Mother Owl 

 

Peanut Butter Brownie Pie        

                                                                                ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups quick oats

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 stick butter, melted

3/4 cup chocolate chips

4 TBSP butter

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

3/4 cup flour

1/4 tsp salt

 

OPT: garnish with mini peanut butter cups, serve with whipped cream or ice cream

Directions:
*Whisk together the quick oats, brown sugar, and 1/4 tsp salt. Mix in the melted butter, then press into and up the sides (just to the rim) of a lightly greased 10 inch pie plate. Refrigerate.

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

*In a large bowl, melt the chocolate chips with the remaining butter and peanut butter until smooth. Whisk in the sugar and set aside to start to cool for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, whisk in the eggs, and finally the flour and the remaining salt.

*Pour into the pie crust and the filling out. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes, until the crust is browned and the filling is set and crusty looking.

*Cool completely before slicing.

*OPT: serve topped with whipped cream or ice cream.

 

Everybody Should Get Stoned

Channeling a little Dylan there I must admit. 

But if you've come here expecting a post about legalizing marijuana, I'm afraid that's not what I'm talking about today. Marijuana does need to be legalized, just so you know where I stand, but that's a post for another day. I hope. I've been begging College Boy to write it for years but so far no luck.

Nor am I referring to the kind of stones that you cast metaphorically, or even the type you actually throw physically, like in the story The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. Although thought provoking, I have to admit that I am still traumatized by that story and I read it about 100 years ago. Feels like yesterday any time I think about it. Gives me the heeby jeebies.

Stone, rock, bigger than a pebble, smaller than a boulder. That kind. Only with a message.

You have probably heard of the Kindness Rocks Project. It started on Cape Cod in my home state of Massachusetts and caught on literally worldwide. It's about inspiration. Rocks are collected, painted pretty colors and designs and a motivating or uplifting message is added. The stones are then left in public places for people to find. College Boy had been out walking and found one with the most simple of messages. He brought it home and left it on my desk in the kitchen. And let me tell you, it works. Because that rock absolutely made me smile.

The next day I was baking,

Lemon Lime Ricotta Cake

when I looked over at the desk and the rock wasn't there. I was a little sad, but figured maybe it had been given to someone else to make their day and remind them to smile. After all, that's the whole point of the project, sharing the love, passing it on. But I have to admit that I was sad to see it go.

Later that day I headed out front to water my plants and guess what I found in the planter? Can you see it there? It wasn't gone, just strategically placed to give me another smile.

The next day I walked out the front door and there on the little decorative display I have out there was the rock. Someone could have taken it, sitting there by my front door, but I know I would have felt as though they needed that "smile" more than I did.

It sat on my desk in the kitchen for a few days and then, when I thought maybe it was done being moved around, there it was out on the back deck.

I have to admit that every time I see that stone, especially when it's not where I expect it to be, it makes me smile. Each time I stumble on it is like seeing it for the first time. It continues to amaze me how a single word painted on a rock can be so effective.

 

I was trying to decide whether, one of these days, I would pass this rock on or paint one of my own to leave somewhere. It may sound selfish, but I've decided to keep mine. After all, it was a gift. From two people, only one of whom I know. 

PS: We all need a little more Baking In A Tornado, right? The BA50 website is featuring one of my recipes today. Stop by and check out July 4th Signature Cocktail: Frozen Berries and Cream!

Lemon Lime Ricotta Cake         
                                    ©www.BakingInATornado.com

 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1 box lemon cake mix
1 cup lemon lime soda
3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp lime zest

15 oz ricotta
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup lemon Greek yogurt
1/2 tsp lime zest

 1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp lime juice
1 TBSP lemon lime soda
3/4 cup powdered sugar

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a bundt pan. 
*Beat the cake mix, 1 cup of lemon lime soda, eggs, oil and 1/2 tsp lime zest. Pour into prepared bundt pan.
*In a separate bowl, whisk together the ricotta, sugar, yogurt and remaining 1/2 tsp lime zest. Carefully pour onto the top of the batter.
*Bake for about 45 minutes or until the center of the top springs back to the touch.
*Cool for about 10 minutes. Remove to serving plate and allow to cool completely.
*Whisk together the lemon juice, lime juice, remaining 1 TBSP of the lemon lime soda and powdered sugar. Drizzle over the cooled cake.
*Store, covered, in the refrigerator.

Inspiration

Is it a bad thing that I start so many posts with an apology? Yeah, probably. Usually it's to all of my readers and in my monthly poetry group posts because . . . well, if you've read them you know why. Today it's to my friend Cathy of the blog Go Mama O.

I'm bad at rules. Just as bad as I am at poetry. About a month ago, on May 31st, to be exact, Cathy tagged me in one of those challenges that go around now and then. This one was her first post of a Three Day Quote Challenge. It wasn't all that complicated really, in her own words, you "just post a favorite quote for 3 consecutive days and nominate three others to do the same!" 

Easy peasy, right? Well, if you know me, you're crossing your arms, shaking your head and rolling your eyes. 

In my defense, there wasn't a time frame specified. Your bad, not mine.

But that's all I've got in my defense. So in the spirit of "better late than never" (maybe I should use that as one of my 3 quotes), I'm doing this post today. And since I can't follow the rules, I'm doing it all at once.

I tried to find quotes that spoke to me, provided inspiration and were from people I knew of. But, as always, when I'm just going through life I can think of a million of them, and when I need one . . . nada. All I could think of was "if you love someone, set them free . . ." Not only is that not the kind of inspiration I wanted to express in this post, but I'd already changed that one to fit my life and made it into a meme for my Facebook page. See:

For my first quote choice, I actually went back to one of my original blog posts, called I Apologize. It's about bullying and where I think it all starts. For that post I made this simple graphic with a quote from Eminem. He says so perfectly exactly how I feel and how I tried to raise my boys.

For my second quote choice I'm inspired by another lesson I've tried to teach my boys and something I myself grapple with, owning my mistakes. I am dismayed at what I'm seeing with frightening frequency in society; the desire to blame the victim, blame upbringing, blame society, blame anyone. Except the person really to blame:

My third quote is less inspiration and more perspective. It's a humorous quote, it's about life, and it reminds me that no matter what's going on, to take a minute and laugh. And then prepare yourself. Because all parents know that Murphy's Law is alive and well.

Oh, and here's one I live by. Not sure who said it first but I do believe that "food is love".

Ranch Chicken and Broccoli Kabobs

I know I'm supposed to nominate three people to take this challenge. Well, I was supposed to a month ago. With interest, that's probably about 300 people by now. Truth is, whenever I nominate people I worry about who I may have left out. So I'm just going to challenge anyone interested, either in blog posts or just in the comments below, tell me what quotes inspire you.

Ranch Chicken and Broccoli Kabobs

                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts halves, cut into bite sized pieces
1 head of broccoli, cut into florets, leaving about an inch of stem on each floret
1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
1/4 cup oil
1 tsp Italian seasoning
3 tsp balsamic vinegar
dash of salt

Directions:
*Place the broccoli florets and the chicken chunks into separate bowls or freezer bags.
*Whisk together the salad dressing, oil, Italian seasoning, balsamic vinegar and salt.
*Add the marinade to the chicken and to the broccoli. Mix to be sure everything is well coated. Refrigerate for a few hours up to a day.
*Skewer the chicken and broccoli. Skewer the broccoli carefully through the stem.
*Spray your cold grill with nonstick spray. Heat the grill to medium. 
*Place the skewers on the grill and turn every 5 minutes until the chicken is completely cooked. It should only take about 15 to 20 minutes.