Nineteen Little Monkeys: 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 share what we all came up with.

 This month's number is 19. 
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 to take my cue from the number Mimi chose, 19, and its current significance in this country. 

Nineteen Little Monkeys (The Devils Go Down to Georgia)

~ Nineteen little monkeys,

not right in the head,

knew they lost, so tried to cheat,

but Georgia saw red.

~ Nineteen little monkeys,

not right in the head,

conspired together to act on the,

lies that they had spread.

~ Nineteen little monkeys,

not right in the head,

instead of treason, red. white and blue 

you should have bled.

~ Nineteen little monkeys,

not right in the head,

forced to show up in Georgia, take

a picture they'd dread.

~ Nineteen little monkeys,

not right in the head,

few afraid of court so took,

a deal. Guilty, they plead.

~ Nineteen little monkeys,

not right in the head.

Karma is a bitch, they say,

let's talk about what's ahead.

~ Nineteen little monkeys,

not right in the head,

no more desserts for you,

soon it'll be gruel and bread.

Caramel Apple Peanut Butter Bars

~ Nineteen little monkeys,

not right in the head,

forget those billable hours, you'll

make license plates for pennies instead.

~ Nineteen little monkeys,

not right in the head,

especially in the showers best,

be careful how you tread.

~ Nineteen little monkeys,

not right in the head,

guess you'll soon be sleeping on,

a hard steel bunk bed.

~ Nineteen little monkeys,

not right in the head,

hope you like your new roommate,

soon you will be wed.

Here are links to the other Word Counters posts:

On the Border 

Messymimi’s Meanderings 

Caramel Apple Peanut Butter Bars         
                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 stick margarine, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter

1 3/4 cups flour

1/4 tsp salt

6 (about 3.5 oz total) Snickers fun sized candy

1/2 Honeycrisp apple

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

2/3 cup apple or caramel apple flavored breakfast cereal

Directions:

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

*Cream the margarine and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and peanut butter. Mix in the flour and salt to form a dough. Press into the bottom and about halfway up the sides of the prepared baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, but leave the oven on.

*While the crust is in the oven, cut each candy into 5 slices. Peel, core, and chop the apple into small pieces.

*Sprinkle the chopped candy over the crust, followed by the chopped apple, then the cereal. Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the entire top.

*Bake for about 35 minutes, until browned and bubbly. Cool on the counter for 1/2 hour, then refrigerate to cool completely before cutting.

Free Speech, Expensive Lies

 

I honestly never, in this country, thought I would say this, but I am so damn sick of hearing about free speech. Especially in defense of the indefensible. And I don't mean just mean legally, although that is what has become the issue, but morally as well. 

But then morals seem to have gone the way of the dinosaurs, extinct. Or maybe the way of bigfoot, just really, really good at hiding.

Here's the thing, free speech is a right. And a privilege. It is not an excuse. It was never meant to be a green light to deliberately harm others. You cannot just say anything, any time and any place. Ask E. Jean Carroll.

There is a line, and you cannot cross it. If you do, there are consequences (I refer you, again, to E. Jean Carroll). But unfortunately, so many lies have been told, and so publicly, with consequences that either never come, or are so slow in coming that they are after the intended harm has successfully been done, that the flood gates have opened and the lies are flowing.

But, it seems, we are all about to learn a valuable lesson about what is and isn't free speech. Or bear witness to those who use free speech as a pretext to harming others (or harming all of us) learning what we already know.

'Cause it turns out all speech is not free. Some can end up being rather costly.

 

And the ability, both morally and legally, to discern between what is and isn't free speech can really be described in one word: maturity.

Since, apparently, a great number of our politicians never achieved that skill, I guess we need to lay it out for them. To avoid jeopardy, legal and/or financial, I thought I'd give the members of a certain political party cult, a quick tutorial. A list of a few infractions they haven't tried but, as they continue to push the confines of the absurd, could well be contemplating:

~ You cannot hide in a congressional bathroom stall, jump out and yell "boo," as people unzip.

~ You cannot walk into a busy restaurant and yell "cockroach." 

~ You cannot tell a flight attendant that you're thinking of hijacking the plane.

~ You cannot chop down your neighbor's tree and tell him that George Washington did it.

~ You cannot tell someone with allergies that there are no peanuts in that cake.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Cake

~ You cannot walk into a colleague's office with a gun and say you're the police requiring a strip search.

~ You cannot walk into an operating room with a knife and say you're a surgeon.

~ You cannot commandeer someone's car, no matter how important you tell them your business is.

Not to end on a negative note, here is something you can say: you can stand up in a court of law and say "I plead guilty." 

{{hint, hint}}

Peanut Butter & Jelly Cake         

                                                                                      ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

6 TBSP crunchy peanut butter

2 TBSP oil

1/3 cup strawberry preserves

1 box strawberry cake mix

1 cup milk

4 eggs

1 1/3 cups powdered sugar

2 TBSP peanut butter

5 tsp milk

2 TBSP strawberry preserves

OPT: peanuts for topping

Directions:
*Grease and flour a bundt pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

*Whisk together 6 TBSP of the peanut butter, the oil, and 1/3 cup of the strawberry preserves. Add the cake mix, 1 cup of the milk, and the eggs. Beat for 2 minutes.

*Pour evenly into the prepared pan and bake for about 35 minutes, until the top springs back to the touch.

*Allow the cake to sit in the pan for 10 minutes before running a knife around the edges and removing. Cool to room temperature, then place in the refrigerator until cooled completely.

*Whisk together the remaining peanut butter, the remaining milk, and 2/3 cup of the powdered sugar (it will be thick), Drizzle over the top and partially down the sides of the cake. Return to the fridge.

*Whisk together the remaining strawberry preserves, 5 tsp water, and the remaining powdered sugar (this will be thinner). Drizzle over the top and down the sides of the cake. Top with peanuts if desired. Refrigerate to set before slicing.

*Store leftovers in the fridge, bring just barely up to room temperature to serve.

Relationships in Motion: 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:  hammer ~ relationship ~ soldier ~ cantankerous ~ simplistic ~ hope 

They were submitted by Jenniy of Climaxed.

                          
A lot of people are bringing the hammer down on relationships. And, actually, I get it. There often comes a time when you just have to accept that it isn't working, when you feel that the energy you've invested is not reciprocated.

Not that relationships are ever perfectly balanced. They can't be. But when they work, both parties have to feel that they are valued, that when they are the one in need, that connection will come through. Provide that little jolt of sugar needed to feed your soul.

Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Cookies

I understand that maintenance is required. And it's incumbent on me to be proactive in providing it when I see the signs. In general, I try to give, not just when I'm asked, I acknowledge that reaching out in need can be hard to do, but to be open to perceiving a need, and just jump in. Because there are times when anyone can be impatient, cantankerous, just won't budge. And when it's me, reciprocation allows us both to move forward, soldier on. When one party takes their foot off the gas, someone's got to provide the propulsion.

I also just have to say here, that I'm not a person who walks around with my hand out. I try, as much as I can, to be independent, not a needy person. So when I do reach out, I mean it. I know this seems simplistic, but for me, a healthy balance follows along the lines of "The Golden Rule." I expect offered to me the same level of support I myself try to offer.

And I hope that I've got enough money in that relationship bank to have earned whatever it is that I need.

Sometimes, though, it turns out that I don't. And in those times, a lot of introspection is required. Is this worth the amount of effort I expend? If the result is that I have nothing to depend on, it's just not healthy for me.

That's pretty much where I am now. If I need you to step on the gas, hit the road running, firing on all cylinders? It's not the time for your tires to be flat, your battery running low, for all you have to offer is just idling at the curb.

As hard as it may be to let go of a relationship in which time and energy have been invested, memories abound, dependence, and yes, even love are components, I now understand that I need to move on.

Because there are things I need from this relationship, and going places is one of them.

So I'm just going to have to look for a new car. 

 

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

 

Climaxed

The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver 

On the Border 

 

Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Cookies

                                               ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

6 TBSP butter, softened

4 oz cream cheese, softened

2 TBSP crunchy peanut butter

1 egg

1 cup flour

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup mini Reese's cups, quartered

1/4 cup Reese's pieces, halved

1/8 cup cream cheese baking chips

Directions:
*Beat the butter, cream cheese, and peanut butter, then beat in the egg. Slowly beat in the flour and powdered sugar. Mix in the Reese's cups, Reese's pieces, and cream cheese baking chips. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour.

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

*Roll dough into 24 balls. Place on the baking sheets and flatten slightly.

*Bake for 15 minutes. Cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet before removing to cool completely.

 

Team Desserts: Secret Subject Swap

 

 

 

 

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This month 4 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: Turkey or ham? Why?
It was submitted by: Rena of The Diary of an Alzheimer's Caregiver.

You know what my answer to turkey or ham is? Dessert.

 

Of course I'll get to that, but, since you asked, let's start with the meal. I assume you're talking about Christmas, because Thanksgiving is turkey, always turkey.

 

Coming from a Jewish home, we don't really celebrate Christmas. Well, we do in that we have the ski mountains to ourselves, followed by having the Chinese restaurants to ourselves. Well worth celebrating.

 

But, since I now live in the flat Midwest, have no family (nor ski mountain) nearby, I actually do a big dinner on Christmas day. We're here together, there's a fire in the fireplace, sports on TV, and cocktails flowing. Perfect for a big formal dinner.

 

I have to mention here that although I'm Jewish, we're not kosher. Phew, since our favorite food, a no-no, is lobster. So it's not that we didn't eat a ham sandwich or have pepperoni on our pizza, but I have to admit I don't think my mom ever made a ham. So it's not surprising that I never had either. For many people, well me anyway, we tend to at least start off making the foods we remember from our childhood. Especially when those foods hold traditional family holiday significance.

Over the years though, we've created some of our own traditions as a family. There's a lot I do that's just like my mom did, but some things have evolved. Like, I love my Mom's cornbread and cracker stuffing, but Hubs grew up with sausage stuffing. So on Thanksgiving, I make my version of Mom's cornbread stuffing, Fall Harvest Stuffing. And on Christmas, I make my version of a sausage stuffing. Nothing at all like what Hubs grew up with, but everything's better when you add Grand Marnier, right?

And then there's the ham.

 

When the boys were little, I had a friend (ironically, she was also raised Jewish), who, around holiday time, was looking for a specific brand and type of ham. I know it was spiral sliced, I think it was a honey ham, and I can't remember the brand. Anyway, we did find it, and our family were her guests when she served it. It was really good.

 

The next year I bought one and gave it a try. I heated it low and slow with a glaze I'd come up with, I'm sure it was a typical mustard, maple, orange glaze. We had it for dinner, and then the leftovers went on for miles. I served it, I think over a year's time, in many ways: soups, sandwiches, casseroles, you name it.

 

And as much as we enjoyed it, I haven't thought to do it again.

 

So for the most part, our family tradition is a turkey for Thanksgiving, Crusted Prime Rib (and Latkes, of course) for Hanukkah, another turkey on Christmas day, and an appetizer buffet for New Year's Eve.

But truly, it's all about the desserts. 

 

(Rustic) Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles

My mom is the queen of desserts. Family dinners, extended family holidays, big get togethers, we all brought something of our choosing. But Mom, she was always assigned dessert. 

 

And wow, did she do dessert, and not just one, a whole assortment. There were pies, some fruit, some chocolate, made completely from scratch. And on top of that, there was always a cookie tray, full of dessert bars and all different kinds of cookies. Mom made sure to include everyone's favorites. 

So it shouldn't be any big surprise that, although I put a lot of time and effort into a traditional holiday meal, it's the desserts that have the most meaning for me. It's where I get to show my creativity, touch, as my mom did, on everyone's flavor pairing favorites, and express my own version of "food is love."

Just like mom.

 

 

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:

The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver 

Climaxed

Part-time Working Hockey Mom 

(Rustic) Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles        

                                                                                      ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
24 sandwich cookies

2 oz cream cheese

1/3 cup Nutella

1 cup creamy peanut butter 

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 oz chocolate almond bark

2 oz semi sweet chocolate

3 oz chocolate almond bark

36 peanut halves

Directions:
*In a food processor, blend the sandwich cookies, cream cheese, Nutella, peanut butter and powdered sugar until the cookies are broken up and the mixture is grainy.

*Place a piece of plastic wrap flat into the bottom and up the sides of an 8 X 8 pan. Lightly grease the bottom, and press the peant butter mixture firmly into the pan, evening out the top.

*Melt 1 oz chocolate almond bark and spread evenly over the peanut butter mixture in the pan. Refrigerate 1 hour.

*Using the plastic wrap, remove the truffles from the pan. Move to a cutting board, trim off the rounded edges, and cut into 36 squares.

*Place a lightly greased cooking rack onto a piece of wax paper. Arrange the truffle squares, leaving space between each, onto the cooling rack.

*Melt the semisweet chocolate with the remaining chocolate bark. Dollop onto the truffles, top each with a peanut half. Remove the truffles from the cooling rack and place onto parchment paper in the refrigerator. Once set, move to a closed container. Store in the refrigerator.

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.