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.

It's My Jam: Monthly Poetry Group

 

 

 

Last Friday of the month is for

Monthly Poetry Group to rhyme.

Diane, Mimi, and I take turns,

"Jam" 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.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's My Jam

 

It's become quite complicated,

when jam's the word you use.

Context is required now,

explain so you don't confuse.

 

"In a jam" is a complication,

you don't want to be in.

When it comes to this situation,

it's better to have been.

For me, the worst jam is when,

you're stuck in a small space.

Like people jammed into an elevator,

all going to the same place.

Fin to watch a basketball star,

jam that ball into the net.

And if it happens to win the game,

something fans will not forget.

When musicians jam together,

harmony organically flows.

Sometime from impromptu,

a lovely new song grows.

And don't forget Bob Marley,

he "wanna jam it wit you,"

Dancing to his music is,

the best that we can do.

 

But baking tarts or cookies,

preparing ham or lamb,

don't think I need to tell you that,

food as love remains "my jam."

 

Cannoli Tart

 

Lost in the hyperbole,

is the sweetest jam of all.

Add to peanut butter and,

watch the kids come when you call.

 

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

 

On the Border

Messymimi's Meanderings

 

Cannoli Tart

                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 stick unsalted butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup flour

1 1/2 cups mascarpone

1/2 tsp almond extract

2/3 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup orange marmalade

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

 

1/2 tsp baking cocoa

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp powdered sugar

 

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a springform pan.

*Beat together the butter and vanilla. Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar, salt, and flour. Beat on low just to incorporate, then mix and press together with your hands until it forms a dough.

*Press the dough into the bottom and about 1/3 of the way up the sides of the prepared pan. Bake for 18 - 20 minutes until the crust browns. Cool on the counter for an hour, then place in the refrigerator to cool completely.

*Whisk together the mascarpone, almond extract, 2/3 cup powdered sugar, and orange marmalade until smooth. Mix in the mini chocolate chips and pour into the cooled pie shell. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

*Mix together the baking cocoa, cinnamon, and the remaining powdered sugar. Sprinkle over the top of the pie. 

*Remove the sides of the springform pan to serve. Store any leftovers, covered, in the fridge.

Functional Democracy

I am aware that we have not yet entered the Summer season, but believe me when I tell you that Fall is not all that far away. In case you've been living under a rock, let me be the first to inform you that here in the USA, we have midterm elections in the Fall. And maybe more than they have been in a very long time, these upcoming midterms are slated to be ugly, divisive . . . and critical.

I know that you will see this piece as being biased, and I suppose you'd be right to say so. But please do not judge until you've read the ending. Because although I have my own opinion, pretty clearly expressed here, it's not my point. The point is about all of us, our rights and responsibilities. Most importantly, it's about the fact that maintaining a democracy means that whether you agree with me or not, I value your right to vote according to your own conscience. In fact, I implore you.

In this country, in this moment in history:

we are normalizing lying.

we are normalizing bullying.

we are normalizing blurring the lines between church and state.

we are normalizing putting capitalism over protecting the environment.

we are normalizing allowing others to usurp women's right to drive decisions in matters of our own bodies.

and yet, once citizens are born and living, we are normalizing limiting our obligation to provide food to the elderly and those in desperate circumstances.

Glazed Mango Tart with Pistachios

we are normalizing the idea that the ability to access health care is an option not a right.

and yet we are normalizing being constantly forced to pay for golfing trips.

we are normalizing forcing our military to put on a show because one man wants to honor himself with a parade.

we are normalizing the idea that discrimination is acceptable, pretty much towards every minority in this country, be it religious, sexual orientation, gender or race.

we are normalizing manipulating the tax code to benefit the rich.

we are normalizing (and in some cases even denying) the shooting of our children.

we are normalizing the falsehood that gun safety law protection means doing away with the second amendment.

and yet when it comes to the first amendment, we are normalizing publicly targeting not only certain media outlets, but specific reporters by name.

we are normalizing alienating our global allies.

we are normalizing going from the most influential country in the world to being a laughing stock.

we are normalizing public attacks on our intelligence community.

If this is okay with you, register to vote.

If this is not okay with you, register to vote.

Glazed Mango Tart with Pistachios       
                                    ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 Pillsbury Crescent Roll Sheet
2 ripe mangoes
3 TBSP butter
1 TBSP brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 TBSP apricot jam
1/4 cup unsalted pistachios

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Unroll the crescent roll sheet onto the parchment paper and flatten to about a 14 X 8 rectangle.
*Melt the butter and mix in the brown sugar and cinnamon.
*Skin the mangoes, remove the pits and slice. 
*Using a pastry brush, brush about 1/2 of the butter mixture onto the crescent sheet. Whisk the apricot jam into the remaining butter mixture and set aside.
*Arrange on the mango slices onto the crescent sheet, leaving about 3/4 inch edge. Brush the remaining butter and jam mixture onto the mango. Fold in the edges of the crescent sheet and pinch the corners.
*Bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with the pistachios. Serve warm.