Secret Subject Swap: Public Gestures

Welcome to the February Secret Subject Swap. This month 15 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are 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 Swap participants.

My subject is: I can’t believe I       and no one realized it was me. I will never tell because they reacted       and I am feeling          .
It was submitted by: Karen of Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

I have done a few of these type posts. The first Secret Subject Swap ever, back in October of 2012, my prompt was “I can’t believe the time I . . .” The resulting post was a humorous look at what happened when I got locked out of my apartment.

I also once wrote a post prompted by "I can't believe I allowed this but . . ." . This piece was more serious, I discussed a choice I made concerning my children and the first time I took them to a funeral.

It seems that every time I get a prompt along these lines I have no problem coming up with another story. I’m not sure what this says about me. I’m not sure I even want to know.

What’s different about today’s prompt is that it takes it all a step further. This time I need to tell a story I haven’t told before, basically because of the reaction to what I’ve done. So in other words, you’re expecting me to embarrass myself. Thanks, Karen!

So I’m going to tell this story. But I hope I can trust you to keep this just between us . . .

This happened many years ago. My kids are in college now and I think at the time they were in first and second grade. I was picking them up after school and the line of cars was a nightmare. One of my biggest pet peeves is people who think the rules are for everyone else. Frequently I’d be in line in my car and some mother arriving late would pull up and try to squeeze her car halfway in between 2 other cars, completely blocking the lane everyone pulls out into once they’ve loaded their kids into their car. Because once I’ve got a car full of cranky, hungry kids, I really want to be trapped in a tin box with them, unable to head home.

Anyway, I’ve got a million stories like that and I bet you do too.

One day I was in the line along the curb with, of course, a car just ahead of me and a car just behind me. The kids were getting out of school, parents who’d already collected their kids were starting to drive out via the lane to my left when suddenly the car behind me starts to honk.

I look in the rearview mirror and there’s a dad in the car. He’s got his kids in there and he’s obviously anxious to get home but he can’t pull out because he’s parked pretty much up against my bumper.

He sees me looking and honks again. Seriously? I’ve got a car in front of me, my kids hadn’t made their way to my car yet, what did he think I was going to do, pull out without my kids to accommodate him? So I sat there and waited for my kids. And he, every now and then would make an exasperated face and honk his horn.

Now here’s the first part I’m a little embarrassed admitting. I was so pissed off at this guy that once my kids did get in the car, I put my left blinker on like I was pulling out, turned my wheel all the way to the left and moved up a bit like I was pulling out, then proceeded to let every single car in the lane beside me go ahead of us. Usually people merge in but no, I let them ALL go first. I let that jerk sit in his tin box with his cranky kids just a bit (OK, a lot) longer than he needed to. Karma’s a bitch, buddy.

Just as the guy looked like he was gonna swallow his damn tongue, just in that moment between honks and before I pulled out, I might have, possibly, maybe, just a little bit, made a hand gesture. I mean yeah, it was THAT finger but it was on the down low, and it was only for a second. People were driving, not looking at me. I’m sure no one noticed.

I got home and went into the kitchen to start making the muffins for breakfast the next morning when I heard brakes screeching out front. I went to the door to find two of my friends, eyes wide and jaws wider, walking into the house.

Mocha Breakfast Muffins

Yup, someone sure did notice. And believe me when I tell you I have never heard the end of that story. Every time one of these two friends do something that surprises me, they always remind me that it’s nothing compared to the time I gave that guy the finger in the school parking lot.
So, I can’t believe I flipped a guy off at my kids’ school and (almost) no one realized it was me. I will never tell because he reacted irrationally even before I resorted to using hand gestures and I am feeling . . . well . . .  just a tad embarrassed.

I’m pretty sure my kids did not see what I did that day. Yet, once or twice I’ve seen one of them raise a certain finger when they thought no one was looking and I do wonder “hmmmm, is that on me?”

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:

Stacy Sews and Schools

The Bergham's Life Chronicles

Spatulas on Parade

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

The Momisodes

Climaxed

Confessions of a part-time working mom

Southern Belle Charm

The Lieber Family

Someone Else's Genius

Evil Joy Speaks

Disneyland in Kentucky

Sparkly Poetic Weirdo
Juicebox Confession

Mocha Breakfast Muffins

                                                                         ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1 stick butter
1 1/2 tsp instant coffee
2 cups flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa
2 tsp powdered French Vanilla creamer
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup baking sugar or colored sugar

Directions:
*Start to melt the butter in a small pan over medium low heat. Once the butter starts melting, mix in the instant coffee. Stir and melt butter completely. Set aside to cool a bit.
*Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place muffin cups in 12 cup tin or spray with non-stick spray.
*Whisk together the flour, baking cocoa, powdered creamer, sugars, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Mix in the mini chocolate chips.
*In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, vanilla, sour cream and milk.
*Pour the melted butter over the flour mixture, then pour the egg mixture into the bowl too.
*Gently stir until just blended. It'll be lumpy, don't over mix.
*Heap the muffin mixture into the muffin cups. Sprinkle with baking sugar. Bake for 20 minutes or until the center springs back to the touch. Cool in muffin tin for 10 minutes before taking out the muffin cups or gently running a knife around the edges and removing the muffins from the pan.

Twenty Treats

Valentine’s Day may be a made up holiday, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take the opportunity to celebrate it, right? I mean flowers, champagne (prosecco for me, thanks), cards from those I love and yummy treats? Yup, I’m in.

And although I’m actually the recipient of some of those treats, you can bet the I make plenty of them too. For me, baking is so many things, not the least of which is an expression of love.

There will be more Valentine’s Day recipes coming up on this blog between now and the 14th, but I thought I’d also do a recap of some that I’ve previously posted. I hope you’ll try some. Well, actually I hope you’ll try them all. ‘Cause nothin’ says lovin’ like adding a little junk to their trunk. That’s my new philosophy. Think it’ll catch on?

Here are some recipes I put together as my recommendations for showing love. From no-bake to baked, lighter to more decadent and everything in between, there’s something here for everyone.

Find the recipes by clicking on the recipe name below:

1)  Cream Cheese Toffee Cake: There’s something about a dense chocolate cake that just epitomizes romance.

2)  Chocolate Raspberry Cake Squares: This is my version of poke cake, squared (in more ways than one).

3)  Dark Chocolate Raspberry Fudge: If you don’t have a heart shaped cookie cutter these are just as delicious in small squares.

4)  Butterfingers Brownies: Butterfingers and Brownies. Need I say more?

5)  White Chocolate Peppermint Cake: This is a dense layer cake infused with alcohol but I also include an alcohol free option.

6)  Red Hot Love Cookies: My newest creation. Add a little heat to your Valentine’s Day celebration.

7)  Peppermint Bark: A no-bake sweet for your sweetheart.

8)  Chocolate Sponge-Cake Cupcakes: These are a little less dense, more like a sponge cake, but all chocolate and full of flavor.

9)  Chocolate Mint Cupcakes: I make a lot of chocolate and mint treats as that’s a favorite in my house. These chocolate mint cupcakes are one of those delicious treats.

10)  Double Chocolate Cheesecake Pie: Dark chocolate crust, dark chocolate cheesecake and a whipped cookies and cream layer. This recipe is decadent.

11)  Fiery Apple Cookie Bars: A surprise ingredient makes these apple cookie bars fiery. Can you guess what it is?

12)  Love of Mint Cake: Another option for those chocolate and mint lovers. This one is sheet cake style.

13)  Strawberry Lemonade Cheesecake Squares: A lemon cookie dough crust with a no-bake strawberry lemonade cheesecake topping. Perfect for any occasion.

14)  Strawberry Cream Cookie Cups and Parfaits: This is two recipes in one. You can make the cookie cups and add the filling and/or use the filling to make beautiful parfaits.

15)  Homemade Hot Fudge: We make this all year round. Choose your ice cream flavor, trickle this warm fudge over the top and everyone gets to add their own toppings.

16)  Cheesecake Filled Strawberries: Beautiful fresh strawberries are one of those classic Valentine’s Day treats. Fill yours with this delicious no-bake cheesecake filling.

17)  Angel Food Trifle: Light, airy and delicious. No bake, easy to put together and beautiful to serve.

18)  Lemonade Mini Cupcakes: I love these little mini pop-in-your-mouth sized cupcakes. The lemonade flavor is a refreshing surprise.

19)  Mint Mousse Brownie Cups: Mini brownie cups with a mint mousse filling.

20)  Chocolate Strawberry Brownie Cake: Two layers of strawberry cake with a brownie layer in between. This cake always impresses.

As always, if you try one of my recipes, you’re welcome to share a picture of it on . And be sure to stop by this blog regularly from now through the 14th for more new recipes, both savory and sweet, perfect for sharing with those you love.

‘Cause, you know, nothin’ says lovin’ like adding a little junk to their trunk. See? It’s catching on already.
                              
*A version of this piece was also published on The Huffington Post Taste as Twenty Treats for your Valentine.
  

A Public Admission: I’m in Love

I’m in love. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I thought I’d be brave and publicly express my feelings. Some people do that easily, naturally, and it’s fun to hear. Me? Not so much. I’m just not comfortable putting it all out there.

There’s diversity in how love comes about. Sometimes it needs to be nurtured, takes time to grow. Sometimes it surprises you, slowly creeps up on you when you least expect it. And sometimes . . . BAM . . . it hits you like a truck.

I’ve fallen in love with boyfriends in my past, and then right back out again. I’ve fallen in love and married. I’ve given birth and fallen instantly in love with that beautiful little being. I’ve watched those children grow, been angry and frustrated, fought battles I’ve won and lost, but always in love.

I fell in love with my first house, then abandoned it when I fell in love with my current home. I’ve traveled to foreign countries and to so many cities here in the states and thought “oh, how I love this place.” I love the beach and always will.

People are different in the ways that they show love. Some are all PDA all over the place and some keep it to themselves. I show it in my eyes, if you saw me in love you’d understand that “starry eyed” is a real thing. My eyes literally light up, they gleam and sparkle.

And, of course, I show love through my baking. “Food is love” is a real thing, as real as it gets in my house. As angry as I can get at one of my children’s behavior, I’ll still head to the kitchen and make their favorite foods.

Red Hot Love Cookies

The love I’m talking about today was instantaneous. One look, just one look was all it took. Did I feel that it was a perfect match? No. Did I know there would be a clash of style? Yes. Sometimes we have expectations when we love; oh, it’s still true love but there are things we’d change. The way one dresses, for instance. And in this case, despite the clash of color, would I have changed a thing? Nope, not for a second.

This love was a gift. All love is, but this one literally was. And I was fearful to touch, that’s how awed I was. But touch I did, and there’s no going back now.

I am in love. I don’t care what clothes I’m buried in, just be sure that when the end comes, this thing goes . . . in whichever direction I’m heading . . . with me!

Red Hot Love Cookies

                                                                        ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1 stick butter, softened                             
1 cup sugar                                              
1 eggs                                           
1 tsp vanilla                          
1 1/3 cups flour                                        
1/3 cup baking cocoa                                
3/4 tsp baking soda                                  
1/4 tsp salt
 
Approximately 10 ounces white chocolate
1 box ( oz) Red Hot candy, crushed
          OPT: crushed peppermints or red colored baking sugar
 
Directions:
*Beat butter just till smooth. Beat in the sugar, egg and vanilla. Mix in flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
*Roll into a log. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
*NOTE: If you’re going to use a heart shaped cookie cutter like I did, make sure the log is close to thick enough to accommodate the size of the heart.
*While the dough is in the fridge, crush the Red Hot Candies.
*Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper,
*Slice log into ¼ inch slices. You can bake these as a circle (they’ll make about 2 dozen) or cut out each circle with a cookie cutter.
*NOTE: If your slices aren’t quite big enough for the cookie cutter, gently flatten them very slightly with the heel of your hand. Adjust your baking time down by a minute if you’ve done this. Also, take the scraps, roll back into a log and refrigerate again to make more cookies.
*Bake for 8 minutes (7 minutes if you’ve flattened them slightly).
*Remove from cookie sheet and allow cookies to cool completely.
*Melt the white chocolate in microwave until completely smooth when mixed. Dip (or paint with a pastry brush) one side of each cookie into the white chocolate and immediately sprinkle with crushed candies. Place on parchment paper in fridge to set.