Secret Subject Swap: Looking Back While Moving Forward

Welcome a Secret Subject Swap. This month 13 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: How was 2016 and what do you hope for in 2017?
It was submitted by: Sarah of Not That Sarah Michelle.
                      

Like all years, 2016 had its highs and lows. In the public arena it was a staggering year of losses: David Bowie, Gwen Ifill, Janet Reno, Leonard Cohen, Gene Wilder . . . too many to mention. And in my private world, suicide hit close to home and sent me reeling.

It was a year of hope as well. Breast cancer hit my family hard and sent me flying home on a few days' notice. Through this frightening time I was reminded of the old adage "actions speak louder than words." I witnessed the most amazing example of acceptance, determination, positivity, and grace.

I don't think I have to tell anyone that this was the year of a pivotal presidential election. I saw swastikas, the KKK and bigotry yanked out of the closet and welcomed into the mainstream. But I also saw an older Jewish man very successfully connect with many of our youth and welcome them into the process.

On a personal note, I saw my older son work through some very difficult decisions in terms of voting decisions. I commend him for going out to meet Bernie (after the primary), hearing him out, speaking to him and to other people at the rally. I am in awe of how much maturity it took for him to decide whether or not he could vote, and to finally make what he considered a bad choice, but for all the right reasons. 

And, despite all of my encouragement I had to accept, even respect, that my younger son found himself incapable of voting in the very first election for which he was eligible.

Peppermint Chocolate Holiday Cookies

2016 was the year that the day to day plight of being African American collided with the consciousness of all Americans. Black Lives Matter and not just to black people. As a result we are finally in the infancy of seeing our police force being held accountable for the actions of those who do not belong on the job. But just as we acknowledge we need to hold those who choose this career to a higher bar, we need to acknowledge that the majority of officers do their job well and deserve our respect. 2016 was the year that we saw our police become targets. Police must be respectful. But they are human beings too and must be respected.

The radicalization of the youth of this planet by Isis resulted in violence beyond comprehension. Uncivilized behavior has made inroads into our civilization. As a mother I am just as concerned with the psychological aspect of the recruitment of our collective youth not just in this country but in the world. I am especially concerned because I do believe that hatred that has moved out of the closet and into the mainstream in this country and is what fuels this fire. I fear we are setting a terrifying example for the next generation through the normalization of bigoted and divisive vitriol. And through the unprecedented autonomy and lack of accountability associated with our president-elect.

I always look forward to the Olympics and this year I think we all needed the break. But it ended with a scandal that was a true black eye to America. We must be better than this, all of us, including our youth as they go out in the world as representatives of our country.

Through all the good and the bad of 2016, I hold great hope for 2017. I see people reaching out to each other in meaningful ways. I see our youth questioning the path ahead. I see strides being made to combat cancer and Alzheimer's. I see discussion aimed towards removing the stigma from mental health issues and treat them with the same vigor with which we fight physical illness. I see the strength of the internet and social media in connecting us globally and in providing information not as easily available in the past. I see empowerment. I see hope. I am confident that I will see peace. And healing.

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:


Not That Sarah Michelle
The Bergham Chronicles 
Spatulas on Parade
The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver
The Lieber Family Blog 
Dinosaur Superhero Mommy
Never Ever Give Up Hope 
Simply Shannon 
A Little Piece of Peace 
Confessions of a part time working mom 
The Angrivated Mom Blog 
Climaxed 

Peppermint Chocolate Holiday Cookies

                                   ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

 
Ingredients (makes about 4 1/2 dozen cookies):
1 stick butter, softened
1 stick margarine, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
1/4 tsp peppermint extract 
2 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup Peppermint Oreos (about 9 cookies), crushed
1 cup Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses (about 30 candies), chopped
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper.
*Cream butter, margarine and sugars until smooth. Beat in the eggs and peppermint extract.
*Starting on the lowest speed until incorporated, beat in the flour, baking soda and salt. Mix in the crushed Oreos, chopped candies and mini chocolate chips.
*Using wet hands, roll dough into 1 inch balls. Place on Baking sheets. NOTE: cookies will spread.
*Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until they start to brown. Leave on the cookie sheets for 2 minutes before removing.

The Rules of Holiday Shopping

It's the holiday season. Yeah, I know you know. But stick with me, I've got some sage words to share. Strategies to get you through the season unscathed. Well, maybe minimally scathed. And if you don't want to take my advice, that's fine. Stick around. There's chocolate . . .

Mile High Triple Chocolate Pie

I know we all most of us try to be civil. Considerate even. And in general that is the way to go, especially if we want to look ourselves in the mirror or set good examples for our children. Well pay attention kids, this is a life lesson you may as well learn early. 

This time of year, all bets are off. You heard me. Anarchy. Every woman for herself. Shopping is not a luxury it's a blood sport and you may as well be ready.

I'm not talking about the online portion of the shopping experience, I'm referring to people like me who like to touch and hold and inspect an item before committing.

For those of you, like me, in the stores this time of year, here are the rules of defensive shopping, tried and true. They are in effect from the day after Thanksgiving through the day after Christmas.

1) Red lights are for whimps. Do you want to get to the store or not?

2) If someone is heading to a parking space with their blinker on, that space is not theirs. Possession is 9/10 of the law. The space belongs to he who takes possession of it first.

3) No carts left in the store? No problem. Find one that's sitting by someone engrossed in examining an item. Don't make any quick moves, walk up to that thing like a boss and smoothly push it away.

     3B) Do not empty that cart first, this is a big mistake and could, in some instances, cause you bodily harm. Wait until you are out of sight, then one by one nonchalantly place items on shelves as you walk through the store.

4) Wear an entire bottle of Axe cologne. Use the body spray too. Crowds will part for you like the Red Sea.

5) An item, especially if it's on sale and/or the last one, does not belong to the person holding it, it belongs to the person who pays for it. Grab and run, my friends, grab and run.

6) Cut in line. Be smart about it. Slip gently between two people saying to no one in particular: "there you are, thanks for holding a spot for me." Immediately start chatting to the person behind you. Don't stop, don't even take a breath, until you're at the head of the line. They can't say anything if they can't get a word in.

     6B) Another option for cutting in line: crawl to a spot near the front of the line between two people with a small item cupped in your hand. Pat the floor and look around then, while standing, say "there it is, phew, thought I'd lost it". Voila, there you are.  

     6C) This one's my favorite: bump your cart firmly into the last person in line. As they all fall like dominoes, shake your head and "tsk, tsk" your way past them all to the head of the line.

7) Whatever you do, do not allow the person waiting on you at the register or answering your question at the courtesy desk to answer the store phone. They will be on there helping someone else for hours. Accidentally hit that phone out of their hand with the unwieldy pile of items you're holding.

8) Wear a baseball cap and pay for your purchases with cash. It's harder to put up posters banning you from the store without your security picture and name.

Good luck with your shopping, everyone.

Oh, and just as an added suggestion, an aside if you will, for those of you who follow my rules, if you happen to find yourself in the post office this holiday season, do not look at the "wanted" posters. Turns out it's true that what you don't know won't hurt you.

Mile High Triple Chocolate Pie

                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1 package chocolate filled Oreo cookies, finely crushed
4 TBSP butter, melted

3 1/2 cups heavy cream, divided
1 bag (12 oz) Hershey's Kisses, unwrapped
1 pkg (9 oz) chocolate wafer cookies, finely crushed

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup white chocolate liqueur

OPT: chocolate syrup and whipped cream for garnish

Directions:
*Mix together the Oreo crumbs and the melted butter.
*Grease a 9 inch springform pan. Press the oreo crumb and butter mixture into the bottom and partially up the sides of the pan.
*Place the Hershey's Kisses in a microwave safe bowl with 1 cup of the heavy cream. Melt in the microwave until completely smooth. Mix in the crushed wafer cookies.
*In a separate bowl whip the remaining heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar and the liqueur. Continue to whip until stiff peaks hold.
*Fold into the Hershey's Kisses/crushed cookie mixture. Pour this filling into the prepared crust. Refrigerate until completely set, at least 4 hours.
*To serve, release the pie from the springform pan. OPT: garnish with chocolate syrup and whipped cream.

Intolerant of Tolerance

I hate the word "tolerance". No, it's not lost on me the irony of using "hate" to describe my feelings toward "tolerance." But despite the word being used as a positive attribute, something to aspire to, there is, hiding there beneath the surface, a level of hate. Dislike or disapproval at the very least.

We hear a lot about tolerance these days. Always in the context of how we view each other, react to each other, negotiate our lives in our neighborhoods, cities, states, country, globally. We're all here together, the same and different. What are we going to do about it? Accept? Reject? Tolerate?

To me, "tolerance" is just such a condescending word. Arrogant. It implies the right to judge, find distasteful or subpar, but allow anyway. Subpar? Distasteful? These are sentiments appropriate to a different kind of experience or a new flavor, but not to the core beliefs or lifestyles of other human beings.

Don't like chocolate {{gasp}}, pistachios {{double gasp}}, we have every right to decide to tolerate these flavors or avoid them.

Don't like Jews? Gays? Hispanics? Do we really think we have the right to decide whether or not we are "willing to allow"? Not so much. At least I hope not.

Cannoli Wontons

It's not enough to be tolerant. It's not enough to begrudgingly accept each other with an attitude of indulgence. We cannot just abide differences from the lofty stance of giving permission. It does not move humanity forward, it's actually insidious. It allows us to hide under the veil of complacency.

It would be wonderful if we could truly embrace each other, respect each other, learn from each other, utopian and idealistic as that may be. Clearly as a society we are clearly not there yet. Maybe never. Ultimately we must come to accept each others' inalienable right to breathe. Can we just start there? I'm disheartened to have to say that it seems to be coming down to just that. The future of our country depends on it. The future of our planet depends on it. Dire? Overly dramatic? I'm going to have to let you be the judge.

And yet, despite my distaste for both the word and the sentiment, given the direction in which I see our society currently heading, I would gratefully accept a climate of tolerance. 

Because the only thing worse is intolerance.

Cannoli Wontons

                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
2 TBSP sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 TBSP butter
24 wonton shells
1 1/2 cup ricotta
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
2 TBSP Egg Nog
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1/3 cup chopped unsalted pistachios

Directions:
*Grease two 12 cup muffin tins. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
*Mix together the 2 TBSP sugar and 1/4 tsp cinnamon and set aside. Melt the butter.
*Gently press the wonton shells into the muffin tin cups. Lightly brush the melted butter into the shells. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and sugar mixture.
*Bake for 8 minutes until the cups start to brown. Remove from oven, cool completely, remove cups from the pan. You can store these in a sealed container.
*Whisk together the ricotta, powdered sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and Egg Nog. Mix in the mini chocolate chips. Place into a pastry bag and refrigerate until ready to serve.
*To serve, pipe the filling evenly into the shells. Sprinkle with the chopped pistachios.