Stuck in Podunk

"I have some bad news."

Not the words that anyone wants to hear over the phone and certainly not someone whose family is on the road and driving 10 hours home.

"Just tell me" I said quickly "are the boys OK?"

"The boys are fine. Your car is not."

Honestly, I can live with this.

So started some of the worst and some of the best luck we've had in a while.

I don't know if you remember a piece I wrote in May of 2014 about a travel fiasco Hubs and PurDude had when coming home from a campus visit to Georgia Tech. They ended up having to fly an hour past our state and stay overnight, making it home, exhausted, on college decision day.

Fast forward one year. Pretty much exactly. PurDude has just finished his freshman year and is moving. Some of his belongings are going upstairs to a different room in his frat and others are coming home with him. His electronics don't all fit in his car so I sent Hubs and Collelge Boy on the 10 hour trek in my SUV to help with the heavy lifting and to caravan home. I was actually pretty happy about this, not really wanting PurDude driving that far alone. His BMW is an older car. What if something happens to it far from home?

As the brains of the operation I would coordinate and provide support from Command Central. Aka the couch.

Good plan, right? Everything's copacetic?

 Sparkling Jello Parfait

Not so much. In fact I think it's clear that PurDude and Hubs should never be allowed to travel again. Hell, I'm not even convinced it's safe for them to be in the same room.

But at the time we had no idea what was to come. So Hubs and College Boy took the drive, got PurDude moved upstairs, packed up, walked the campus and College Boy even got dinner at his Holy Grail, White Castle. College Boy's bucket list is . . . well . . . eclectic. But that's a story for another day.

They headed home the next day, calling Control Central every time they stopped since clearly they knew what was good for them.

They were just 5 hours from home when that dreaded call came.

They had stopped for gas and when Hubs pulled up to the pumps he heard a snap and saw smoke. Even Hubs could figure out that this was not good.

Here's where we play bad news/good news.

Bad news: 5 hours from home and my car was disabled. In tiny rural Podunk.
Good news: They were off the road and someplace safe.

Bad news: It was 5:00 pm on a weekday.
Good news: The gas station attendant knew a local tow truck company. Of course he did.

 Bad news: A belt had snapped and even worse, it had snapped because the a/c unit had burned out.
Good news: The tow owner does repairs. Of course he does.

Bad news: My guys were stuck overnight (Where? Who knows? We're still not sure this town is big enough to even have a name).
Good news: Before towing the car, the repair guy was able to locate a new a/c unit. 

Bad news:  He didn't know if he could find the right belt and the nearest dealer was . . . well . . . not near.
Good news:  My guys had PurDude's car in the meantime.

 Bad news: Trying to find a motel in Podunk. Preferably nothing with the name Bates.
Good news: I got nothing.

 Bad news: Not all of PurDude's electronics would fit in his car, which is why Hubs and College Boy went to get him in the first place, so off my car went with PurDude's big screen tv in the back.
Good news: Nope, still nothing.

 Bad news: This was going to be costly. Like ramen soup for the rest of our lives costly.
Good news: Podunk does, in fact, have a motel and it's not called Bates.

Here's where the good luck kicks in. I have to tell you, if you ever get stuck far from home, Podunk is the place and this guy at Starr Towing and Repair is DA MAN. Just after 9:00 am he let us know that he had locked our car in his garage and PurDude's electronics were there and fine, he'd found a cheaper a/c unit for us, had the belt on the way and was pushing all other work aside to get our car done first. The boys should be on their way at around noon.

All good news, right?

Yeah, right up until he gave us a quote: towing, parts, labor, tax . . .

And after I was done having my mini stroke, there was just one more little piece of business.

He doesn't take credit cards.

Say what?

Yeah, you heard me. He doesn't take credit cards.

Who the hell doesn't take credit cards?

Well, this guy.

Hubs doesn't carry checks, our bank doesn't have a Podunk branch and the guy wouldn't take our kids as payment.

Control Central was on the case. I sent Hubs out to find any bank to use our debit card to get cash.

The total was higher than our daily debit limit. Hubs sat at Podunk Bank while I worked with our bank to get the limit raised. A lot. I called Hubs back and told him to try again.

A half hour later I hadn't heard anything so I called Hubs' cell:

Me: Did you get the money?

Hubs: Yes, all set.

Me: Are you walking around with a huge pile of cash? Your wallet making it look like you have a tumor on your ass?

Hubs: Pretty much.

Me: You had to check out of the motel, right? What are you and the boys doing until the car's ready?

Hubs: Touring the Trucking Museum at the World's Largest Truckstop.

Me: Very funny.

Hubs: You think I'm kidding?

Me: How are the boys?

Hubs: Let's just say they've been happier.

A half an hour later I called him again.

Me: Still looking at trucks?
Hubs: No, we've moved on.
Me: What are you doing now?
Hubs: Getting our hair cut.
Me: In Podunk?
Hubs: Hey, we've got time to waste and I'M DESPERATE HERE!
Me: Oops, gotta go. Busy day in Control Center.

It cost us a fortune. It cost us a day. It probably cost me a year or so off my lifespan but I have never been so happy to see 2 cars pull into my driveway in my life.

And when it was over, like any good mom does, I made my family a vacation photo album.

You know, in case we ever forget the time we brought PurDude home and left the contents of our bank account in Podunk.

Sparkling Jello Parfait

                                                                        ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
NOTE: If you choose to use the alcohol in this recipe, it is not appropriate for children. You can easily use ginger ale in the jello and not marinate the fresh fruits to make it child friendly. 
 
Ingredients (makes 4-6 depending on the size of your bowls):
1 box (3 oz) berry blue jello
1 box (3 oz) strawberry jello
1 1/2 cups sparkling wine or ginger ale
½ # strawberries
OPT: 2 TBSP Chambord liqueur
1 pint blueberries
OPT: 1 TBSP white wine
½ cup heavy cream
1 TBSP powdered sugar
½ tsp vanilla
 
Directions:
*Place the sparkling wine or ginger ale, open, on the counter to allow as much fizz as possible to escape.
*Boil ¾ cup of water. Dissolve the strawberry jello in the water, then carefully add ¾ cup of the ginger ale. Pour into 8 X 8 bowl or baking dish. Pop the bubbles with a toothpick and refrigerate.
*Repeat with the berry blue jello, place in a second 8 X 8 bowl or dish and refrigerate.
*Leave the jello in the fridge approximately an hour or until completely set.
*While the jello is in the fridge, clean your berries. Slice the strawberries and mix with the Chambord (if using). Place in fridge. Separately mix the blueberries with the white wine (if using) and place in fridge.
*Beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until stiff peaks hold. Cover and place in fridge.
*When the jello is set, divide the red jello amongst your serving dishes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the blueberries from the liquid and divide over the jello. Cover with a layer of the whipped cream, followed by the blue jello, the drained strawberries and a final layer of whipped cream.

Secret Subject Swap: A Simple Legacy

Welcome to the July Secret Subject Swap. This month 12 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: What legacy do you want to leave behind?
It was submitted by: Dinosaur Superhero Mommy.

I have to admit I'm really not someone who has thoughts about leaving behind some grandiose legacy. I think everyone has interesting stories. I fought through infertility and had my boys against all odds. It's an interesting story but I wouldn't call it my legacy.

I think that some people are destined to do outstanding things for society or in their chosen field. Others of us leave a more personal legacy. What's important to me is that my kids remember those things about me that make me who I am. And, if I'm lucky, remind their kids of these traits with a laugh or a smile. These are not life changing, earth shattering events but a legacy of a life well lived. A life filled with common acts and simple joys.

I want my boys to remember:
*That I believe in honesty.
*That I always try to support them.
*That no matter how it seemed while in the throws of whatever personal strife that I do love them unconditionally.
*That education matters to me. That every morning while they ate breakfast we'd go over their spelling words. And that I was the class mom who came in to school to give those tests every week.
*That when they had reading homework, both boys and I would fit on the giant round chair in my bedroom with our throws and our books.
*That their teachers always chose me as Head Room Mom.
*That when your classes celebrated Thanksgiving and other moms brought in side dishes and paper goods, I was the mom asked to cook the class a turkey.
*That I love the beach.
*That their love of lobster from a very early age came from me.
*That I am in my glory when screaming at the Red Sox on TV.
*That I have a love of dance but ballet has always been a passion.
*That I blasted hard rock from the car radio even when they were little.
*That I love puzzles, especially sudoku.
*That I love to read and mysteries are my absolute favorite.
*That I don't love tear jerkers, either books, movies or shows.
*That there were always baked goods in their home while they were growing up. And their friends are always comfortable enough here to go grab whatever I'd just baked on their way down to the basement.
*That their friends always hung out at our house, that every one of them knew that we sat down as a family for dinner and that 15 minutes before our dinner time anyone here either joined us or was offered a ride home.

Sloppy Joe Casserole

*That we took vacations and came back with sun tans and sand in our luggage.
*That I took them right from their Learner's Permit test to the school parking lot, got out of the driver's seat and into the passenger seat and turned the little red BMW over to them for their very first driver's lesson that very day.
*That I have a very sarcastic sense of humor and taught them that sarcasm from the time they could talk.
*That nothing makes me happier than to make them laugh. To watch them laugh is a joy but to know that their laughter is the result of something I've said or done . . . that's what it's all about for me. Remember that and I'll be well remembered.

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:

Spatulas on Parade

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy
The Momisodes
The Bergham's Life Chronicles

Southern Belle Charm
Confessions of a part-time working mom 
The Lieber Family 
Never Ever Give Up Hope 
Someone Else's Genius 
Climaxed 
Sparkly Poetic Weirdo 

Sloppy Joe Casserole

                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
Loaf of French bread
garlic powder to taste
approximately 4 TBSP butter
 2 # ground beef
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves minced garlic
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp dried mustard
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cumin
8 oz can tomato sauce
6 oz can tomato paste
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 TBSP soy sauce
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
7 slices sharp cheddar cheese
2.8 oz can French Fried Onions

Directions:
*In a large pot on medium heat, cook the ground beef with the green pepper, onion and garlic, stirring until the meat is completely cooked.
*Drain the fat from the beef and return to the pot. Add the oregano, mustard, pepper, cumin, tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well.
*Bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir once or twice while simmering.
*While the Sloppy Joe is cooking, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 X 13 baking dish. Cut your bread in half, butter the inside and sprinkle with garlic powder. Arrange the bread in the bottom of your baking dish, buttered side down. Cut the bread if needed to be sure the entire bottom of the dish is covered.
*Cover the top of the bread with the sharp cheddar slices. Once the Sloppy Joe mixture is done, ladle it over the cheese.
*Crush the French onions with your hands and sprinkle over the top of the casserole. Bake for approximately 35 to 40 minutes or until the bread at the bottom has browned and the entire casserole is hot.

Blog With Friends: Summer Sundae Cake

Today’s post is the next in our series of Blog With Friends theme collaborations. Each month a group of bloggers get together and each publish a project based on a theme. What I love about this partnership is that it’s not bloggers with similar interests or strengths but a diverse group coming up with a variety of posts. In any given month we may have a recipe, sewing tutorial, crafts projects, book review and/or a technology post all related to the theme of the month.

There will be individual project pictures and links to what everyone else has to offer at the end of my post, but here’s a peek at what we all came up with:

This month our theme is Summer and I made a Neapolitan Sundae Cake.

A HUGE thank you to College Boy for making me this GIF. I love it!

Why a cake to represent summer? Try to follow my line of logic here. Well, if you dare.

This recipe came about along the lines of a word association. Summer brought me to ice cream, and ice cream brought me to one often bought for parties when I was a little girl, the neapolitan. Vanilla, chocolate and strawberry all on one plate. For those who can’t decide or something for everyone, perfect for large groups of people. So that was my inspiration.

For this cake I made a basic cake batter and divided it into thirds then adjusted each to include the flavors I was going for, vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, of course.

                        

           vanilla layer 

 

               chocolate layer 

 

 

                 strawberry layer

I could have just done 3 separate round cake layers but decided to go with a bunt cake not only for ease but also because, like the ice cream, I didn’t mind if the layers intertwined.

 out of the oven and ready for decorating

And I kicked it up a notch and made this sundae inspired because . . . well . . . chocolate glaze, chopped nuts sprinkles, whipped cream and cherries. Why not?

 

Neapolitan Sundae Cake

Be sure to visit all of this month's other Blog With Friends projects:

Robin of Someone Else’s Genius shares a jewelry tutorial for her Pineapple Paradise Memory Wire Bracelet.

Rabia of the Lieber Family blog shares a tutorial for a DIY Summer Sit-Upon, a portable padded seat perfect for picnics or ball games.

Melissa of Home on Deranged does the research on summer reading and the technology to do it: Choosing the Right eReader for You.

 Lydia of Cluttered Genius shares Summer Kid Activities, keeping the kids occupied while out of school.

Neapolitan Sundae Cake

                                             ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe 

Ingredients:
1 stick butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
 
1 TBSP chocolate syrup
1 TBSP baking cocoa
 
1/4 cup chopped strawberries
1 TBSP strawberry syrup
½ tsp strawberry extract
 
1/3 cup chocolate chips
2 TBSP heavy cream
1/2 tsp vanilla
¼ cup powdered sugar
 
Cherries
Chopped walnuts
multicolored jimmies (sprinkles)
whipped cream
 
Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
*Grease and flour bunt pan. Beat the softened butter with the sugar. Beat in the eggs, then the vanilla.
*Carefully beat in the flour, baking soda and baking powder.
*Pour 1/3 of the batter into the prepared bunt pan. Using a spatula, even it out as much as possible.
*Divide the rest of the batter evenly into two bowls. To one bowl add the chocolate syrup and baking cocoa. Carefully add this batter on top of the vanilla batter, even it out but don’t press it down into the white batter.
*To the second bowl, add the strawberry syrup, strawberry extract and chopped strawberries. Spread this layer carefully on top of the chocolate layer.
*Bake for 35 – 40 minutes or until the center springs back to the touch. Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove and cool completely.
*Melt the chocolate chips and heavy cream in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. Keep melting at 15 second intervals until smooth. Stir in the vanilla and powdered sugar.
*Immediately pour onto top of and drizzled down the side of cake.
*Garnish the top with the chopped walnuts, sprinkles, whipped cream and cherries.