Today’s post is a monthly writing challenge. If you’re new here, this is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once. All of the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the recipient will take them. Until now.
At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featuring this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them.
I’m using: Strawberries and Cream ~ queue ~ hoist ~ all white ~ lawn ~ hawk
They were submitted by Shannon of Confessions of a part time working mom.
It's no secret that I'm a summer person. And although it officially starts with Memorial Day, for me the proof that it's truly here comes in the days following Independence Day, while I'm clearing the last of the fireworks from my lawn so we don't run over them with the lawnmower and just getting the last of the cordite smell out of my nose.
I have to admit, and I have many times, that being a summer girl is way more of a challenge having grown up on the East Coast by oceans and now living in the land locked Midwest. I grew up driving an hour or so on weekends to beaches on Cape Cod or Plum Island. Less often I could be found by a lake, but cold water to swim in was a must.
When I moved to the Midwest no one had to tell me that other than vacations that required 2 planes, I was out of luck in the ocean realm. But when I called the parks department my first week here to ask which of these many lakes have beaches on them and they laughed, well, that was a low blow.
When the boys were younger we belonged to a pool. It was our only option, so we took it. Now it's not worth joining considering the boys are so busy with their own schedules. Especially since one's a Head Lifeguard at a city pool. But not belonging is making me desperate. Plunging many rungs down the ladder from the ocean life but unwilling to give up completely, it seems I've been reduced to embarrassing myself and the boys with my new plan, sitting in an Intex Swim Center Family Lounge Pool on the back lawn.
But not so fast. Apparently it's out of stock. If I want this baby, I've got to join the queue. Now I've hit rock bottom. I may have to lower the tub 2 floors down onto the lawn and hoist the damn thing back up at bath time. Yeah, desperate has new meaning.
Even the inability to submerse myself has not changed the fact that I love summer. Ah, wearing all white, flip flops and tank tops, being able to buy fresh plump strawberries to create new recipes:
Strawberry Topped Brownie Bites
At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featuring this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them.
I’m using: Strawberries and Cream ~ queue ~ hoist ~ all white ~ lawn ~ hawk
They were submitted by Shannon of Confessions of a part time working mom.
It's no secret that I'm a summer person. And although it officially starts with Memorial Day, for me the proof that it's truly here comes in the days following Independence Day, while I'm clearing the last of the fireworks from my lawn so we don't run over them with the lawnmower and just getting the last of the cordite smell out of my nose.
I have to admit, and I have many times, that being a summer girl is way more of a challenge having grown up on the East Coast by oceans and now living in the land locked Midwest. I grew up driving an hour or so on weekends to beaches on Cape Cod or Plum Island. Less often I could be found by a lake, but cold water to swim in was a must.
When I moved to the Midwest no one had to tell me that other than vacations that required 2 planes, I was out of luck in the ocean realm. But when I called the parks department my first week here to ask which of these many lakes have beaches on them and they laughed, well, that was a low blow.
When the boys were younger we belonged to a pool. It was our only option, so we took it. Now it's not worth joining considering the boys are so busy with their own schedules. Especially since one's a Head Lifeguard at a city pool. But not belonging is making me desperate. Plunging many rungs down the ladder from the ocean life but unwilling to give up completely, it seems I've been reduced to embarrassing myself and the boys with my new plan, sitting in an Intex Swim Center Family Lounge Pool on the back lawn.
Even the inability to submerse myself has not changed the fact that I love summer. Ah, wearing all white, flip flops and tank tops, being able to buy fresh plump strawberries to create new recipes:
And evenings, when it starts to cool down just a bit, there's nothing like sitting on the back deck, drinking a favorite summer cocktail I developed a few years ago, my Strawberries and Cream Cocktail:
And watching our friends the hawks, who build their nests and raise their young in the woods behind our house and even get comfortable enough with us to come visit.
And watching our friends the hawks, who build their nests and raise their young in the woods behind our house and even get comfortable enough with us to come visit.
Yeah, I'm a summer girl all the way. Even the Midwest can't break me of that. Pass me a cocktail and lets go lower that tub. I'm in need of a swim.
Here are links to all the other Use Your Words posts:
Southern Belle Charm
Not That Sarah Michelle
Spatulas on Parade
Dinosaur Superhero Mommy
My Brain on Kids
The Bergham Chronicles
Never Ever Give Up Hope
Confessions of a part time working mom
The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver
Molly Ritterbeck
Climaxed
When I Grow Up
Sparkly Poetic Weirdo
On the Border
Strawberry Topped Brownie Bites
©www.BakingInATornado.com
Ingredients:
1 stick butter
1/2 stick margarine
4 oz unsweetened chocolate
3/4 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs, room temperature
1 1/4 cups flour
18 strawberries
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 TBSP raspberry flavored liqueur
2 tsp strawberry extract
Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 36 mini muffin cups with nonstick spray.
*In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter, margarine and chocolate until completely smooth. Mix in the vanilla, then sugar and salt. Mix in the eggs and finally the flour.
*Drop the batter by heaping TBSP into the prepared muffin cups. Bake for 15 minutes or until the top springs back to the touch.
*While the brownie bites are baking wash, hull and half the strawberries.
*Once the brownie bites are done, remove from oven and immediately press a strawberry half into the top of each one. Run a knife gently around just the top of each bite and then allow to set for 5 to 10 minutes.
*Once they have set, gently run the knife around the bites and carefully remove from the tins. Allow to cool completely.
*Whisk together the powdered sugar, raspberry liqueur and strawberry extract. Drizzle over the brownie bites.
*Store, covered, in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature for serving.
1/2 stick margarine
4 oz unsweetened chocolate
3/4 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs, room temperature
1 1/4 cups flour
18 strawberries
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 TBSP raspberry flavored liqueur
2 tsp strawberry extract
Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 36 mini muffin cups with nonstick spray.
*In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter, margarine and chocolate until completely smooth. Mix in the vanilla, then sugar and salt. Mix in the eggs and finally the flour.
*Drop the batter by heaping TBSP into the prepared muffin cups. Bake for 15 minutes or until the top springs back to the touch.
*While the brownie bites are baking wash, hull and half the strawberries.
*Once the brownie bites are done, remove from oven and immediately press a strawberry half into the top of each one. Run a knife gently around just the top of each bite and then allow to set for 5 to 10 minutes.
*Once they have set, gently run the knife around the bites and carefully remove from the tins. Allow to cool completely.
*Whisk together the powdered sugar, raspberry liqueur and strawberry extract. Drizzle over the brownie bites.
*Store, covered, in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature for serving.
