Everywhere the Signs

We, well most of us anyway, try to be optimistic. We look for ways to believe. When things are going well for us, we hope that it will continue. And when things are not going all that great, we hope that they will change, and soon. We even look for signs. 

This is especially true as we head towards a new year, as we did just a week ago. We have come to think, especially through all of the new year cliches, that the first of January is a clean slate, a chance to start over. Whatever had been going on in our lives would miraculously end at 11:59 pm on December 31st and just a minute later, at midnight as the calendar changes from one year to the next, so would our lives change. There is good ahead. Believe it.

This is where I found myself as December was reaching its end. I'd had a tough 3 months. Most of you know that I had a bad (is there a good one?) case of the shingles all through October and November. After one week's break, the first week of December, I went right into 2 weeks of the flu followed by a week of a lasting cough and wheezing. Through it all I put on my traditional Thanksgiving dinner, Chanukah dinner and Christmas dinner. As we headed towards our traditional New Year's Eve appetizer buffet, I looked for everything and anything to call a sign that things were looking up.

Orange Pecan Caramel Corn

Like when, on the day before New Year's Eve when I dared to venture into the grocery store. It was not just the day before New Year's Eve, but the day after a weekend, meaning there was a good chance I'd find many empty shelves, a packed store and long lines.

Yeah, it was busy in there, but they had everything on my list. And they opened a new lane as I got ready to check out. There they were, signs that things were going to be looking up for me.

And then, all the appetizer prep work, cooking and baking I needed to get done on Monday and Tuesday, since the shopping went so quickly, I actually completed on Monday. Another sign.

On Tuesday, although I hadn't thought I'd have time, I made a big batch of Orange Pecan Caramel Corn. It was a risk because we all love my Caramel Corn, and like having it around to snack on while we're watching football on New Year's Day or just sitting by the fire on any cold weekend afternoon in the winter. But I had this idea for an Orange Pecan version that I wanted to try. Not only did I find the time to make it, but it came out great. Another sign. Yes, 2020 is definitely going to be my year. The grocery store, the New Year's Eve prep and the Orange Pecan Caramel Corn all say so. Everywhere the signs.

On New Year's Day I slept in a bit, woke up to have a leisurely cup of coffee and found myself smiling. It's here. This is my year. I've survived the 3 months of illness, the hustle and stress of multiple holidays, and all just a little worse for the wear (OK, completely worn down and exhausted) but I had an event free month ahead of me that would allow me to regain my strength. Starting today. I'd go from a few cups of coffee to Brunch Cocktails to sitting by the fire with a bowl of Orange Pecan Caramel Corn, and finally ending this first day of the rest of my life with a lazy dinner of leftover appetizers. 

So, all signs in my favor as I went to sit down on the couch Wednesday afternoon with my warm fluffy Red Sox throw and a bowl of caramel corn, I was happy. I was confident. I was hopeful and optimistic. 

And then, my butt halfway to the couch, I bumped the bowl . . .

Well hello Karma, didn't see you skulking there in the corner. Caught me counting my chickens, didn't ya?

Orange Pecan Caramel Corn

                                                              ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
3 bags microwave popcorn
1 stick butter
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp orange zest
3 TBSP orange juice
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup pecan halves

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Spray a large tin foil roasting pan and a heat resistant spatula or large metal spoon.
*Pop the popcorn and carefully remove any unpopped seeds before placing the popcorn in the roasting pan. Move to the oven.
*In a medium sized saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Cook, stirring constantly until it comes to a boil. Allow to boil for 3 minutes without stirring, then move from the heat.
*Remove the popcorn from the oven and mix in the pecans.
*To the sauce, add the vanilla, orange zest and orange juice, mix quickly. Add the baking soda and mix until it's fully incorporated.
*Pour the orange caramel sauce over the popcorn and pecans and mix well. Put in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, mix well and return to the oven for 20 more minutes. Repeat for a third time and then remove from oven.

I Love You Tom Steyer but I Cannot Sign Your Petition

I love you Tom Steyer but I cannot sign your impeachment petition.

Every time I see Tom Steyer's commercial (and the CNN "this is an apple" commercials too, btw), I smile. Calm, rational, thoughtful defiance. Amen.

Yes, I love you Tom Steyer. You're making a concerted effort to unite the opposition based on morals and values and ethics. You fear for our country for all of the same reasons I do. In fact, I agree with all of your arguments to the point where I find myself nodding my head so hard it's in jeopardy of falling off my shoulders. And I do desperately want to be able to sign that petition. How sweet it would be to dispatch this level of ineptitude, divisiveness and downright hatred. To stop waking up each day with a feeling of dread and a fear of checking twitter. Or turning on the news.

Caramel Studded Popcorn Treats

Let me just say that I long for the days when there were administrations in power in the United States with which I fundamentally disagreed. This is decidedly not that. Politics was politics and beliefs were beliefs and whatever party was in power was there because of the will of the people. I may not have liked the agenda of the party in the White House, controlling the Senate or the House, but I would defend to the end their right to be there. It's called democracy.

So much for naivete. Exit democracy, enter 2016. Politics became a no-holds-barred dirty fight. He who has the brass knuckles wins. Even if it turns out that it's Putin with the brass knuckles.

As a result, what we've ended up with is a "president" who is not only uninformed about our history and our laws and our system, but he deliberately chooses to be so. He is not just archaic in his views about diversity and dignity and human rights, he's determined to undo equality. He doesn't only disrespect the scientific community and the intelligence community, he's out to discredit them all. He's destroyed longstanding global relationships. He's a bully, an admitted sexual assaulter, a persistent liar, a narcissist and a bigot. Most frightening, he's incapable of self regulation. Actually, even more frightening, he sees no reason to have to exhibit self control. Yes, he is a clear and present danger. As is the House and Senate who not only support him, but look at him with a puppy dog like adoration.

The problem, Tom, is not your rationale. It's your conclusion.

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, I find myself between an impeachment petition and a hard place. 

Don't get me wrong, I don't blame you for putting me in this position. Your heart and your head are both in the right place. Your morals and values are mine, your fear is my terror. 

And yet I cannot sign that petition. Because as bad as this is, as unthinkably harmful this administration's agenda, the damage being done to our reputation, both globally and domestically, I can't support impeachment.

Because what I see as the saving grace of this "presidency" is, in fact, the personality disorders, the ignorance, the absurd lies, the constant and consistent attacks on himself and the incompetent people put into positions of power to carry out this hateful and harmful agenda. The uncanny propensity of our "president" to shoot himself in the foot.

Let me ask you this: if you take Trump and remove the inability to play with others, the insistence on attacking his own allies, the constant torpedoing of his own side, the undermining of his own people, the laughable implausibility, the refusal to learn and grow, what would you have? You'd have an administration not only determined to revert human rights and diversity back to the dark ages, but one with a clear path to do so. 

I love you Tom Steyer, but I cannot sign your impeachment petition. 

Because . . . Pence.

Caramel Studded Popcorn Treats        

                                    ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 stick butter

1 cup mini marshmallows 

1 package Toasted Coconut marshmallows

2 bags (3.29 oz) microwave popcorn, popped

1 box (6 oz) Sugar Babies caramel candies

Directions:

*Spray a large bowl, a spatula and an 8 X 10 baking dish with non-stick spray.

*Sift through the popcorn carefully to remove all remaining seeds.

*Melt the butter with the mini marshmallows and Toasted Coconut marshmallows in a large bowl in the microwave for 2 minutes. Stir. Continue to microwave until all of the marshmallows are completely melted.

*Carefully fold in the popped popcorn, then the candies. Pour into the prepared pan and press evenly into the pan. 

*Allow to set completely. Spray a knife with nonstick spray to cut into squares.