April: April Word Counters

Counting my words again. 

Today my fellow Word Counters and I are sharing our monthly group post. The bloggers who are joining me this time all picked a number between 12 and 74 and sent it to me. I gave the numbers out as assignments to other bloggers who are then challenged to write something (or a few somethings, as the case may be) using that exact number of words. Today we all share what we came up with. 

I got the number 29. It was submitted by Mimi of MessyMimi's Meanderings.

As I've been doing in these Word Counters posts, I've chosen a theme and am using my word count multiple times in keeping with the theme. This month I've chosen the theme April.

~ Made it through April Fools Day without being made too much of a fool of. Well, tricks aside, not much more than I can normally manage all by myself.

~ Easter was celebrated, lucky you with your chocolate treats and Easter eggs. Passover was in April too, eight days of trying to find new ways to eat tasteless crackers.

~ We all know the saying "April showers bring May flowers" and although I enjoy those flowers, celebrate the return of color in the outdoors, PLEASE stop all the rain!

~ Although I appreciate April weather, it's a month of excessive amounts of laundry. Long sleeves in the morning, short sleeves in the afternoon, back to long sleeves at night.

~ April's National Poetry Month, 
prompting me to say,
celebrate with yummies,
each and every day.
Take my sound advice to
celebrate this way,
family will appreciate,
Nevermore to stray.

Mocha Butterfingers Bread Pudding

~ Tax day tomorrow. We do need to contribute (INCLUDING billion dollar companies) but paycheck withholdings and sales tax on every purchase we make with whatever's left should be enough.

~ What else is April known for? Well in my house it's the return of the dreaded allergies. Which is a price I'll pay for warmer weather and greening grass.

~ Of course with the warmer weather and lighter clothes comes the end of hibernation and the need to either exercise like crazy or buy out the entire spanx department.


~ May Day's almost here, if the rains stop and the flowers start to bloom, who could blame me for dancing around a pole (better than dancing on one, right?).

~ I can't let an April post end without mentioning four twenty. Whether you're for recreational or not, we must legalize medical marijuana nationally. It's the humane thing to do.

Here are links to the other Word Counters posts:
Spatulas on Parade 
Messymimi’s Meanderings 
On the Border 

Mocha Butterfingers Bread Pudding

                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 loaf (16 oz) Italian bread
8 eggs
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup brewed coffee, cooled to room temperature
1/3 cup brown sugar 
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
3/4 cup Butterfingers baking bits (or chopped Butterfingers bars)

Directions:
*Grease an 8 X 11 baking dish.
*Coarsely chop the bread loaf into cubes.
*In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, coffee, brown sugar and salt.
*Add the bread and mix until incorporated, then gently fold in the chocolate chips and Butterfingers baking bits.
*Spread into the prepared dish and cover with tin foil. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to a day.
*An hour before cooking, move baking dish to the counter.
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake, covered, for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 15 minutes. Allow to sit for 10 minutes to set. Slice or spoon out, serving warm.

Independence: Use Your Words

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: independent ~ please ~ tea ~ working 
They were submitted by Jennifer of Sparkly Poetic Weirdo.

                          
Independent. I keep getting stuck on that word so I guess that means I want to talk about it, figure out a way to get my feelings about independence into words. 

I never realized this before, but independent has situational meaning. I'm not just talking about multiple definitions, but it has always had positive associations for me. My point of reference is that of a woman living in a free country and having grown up in some changing times (progress) for women. Independence has always been aspirational, inspirational. But at this moment in time, the connotation, for me, has changed.

Let's start with the dictionary meanings. First is liberated, as in living in a democratic republic, not controlled by another country. My home, Boston, had a little party involving tea, if you recall your history, that had a little something to do with that. It's also the kind of independence we gain personally as we make our own way in the world, begin working and living on our own.

Another definition is being open minded, independent as in able to think things through based on your own morals and values without giving undue purchase to outside influence. This is a form of independence that we are born with, is to some degree knocked out of us (through training and through peer pressure) but which we ultimately come back to as we mature.

A third meaning is self-reliant. This one is very important to me as a woman. There was a time, not so distant, when women couldn't vote, didn't go to college or work, were expected to cook and clean and obey. There is nothing wrong with a couple dividing responsibilities according to any criteria they choose, but that wasn't always a conversation or an agreement. Women were, and still are, stuck in unhappy and often abusive marriages, unable to extricate themselves. This self-sufficient form of independence can be a matter of safety.

It's the final connotation of independent that I grapple with. This final meaning of the word is associated with being separate from others. I'd always thought of this in positive terms, encompassing the other meanings of the word, being free, being open minded and being self-sufficient, not requiring association with others to define self. It also speaks to character. When you are truly independent of others, reaching out is an active choice as opposed to necessity.

But now, at this moment in time, I see this dissociation, this disconnection from others as a threat, to us as individuals but mostly as members of society, it's begetting a collective narcissism.

Before I explain, just let me say that this is not about coronavirus. What I'm talking about here has been in process long before we had even heard of covid-19. We have not had to, and more and more were not, leaving our homes to shop for food, to purchase clothes, to buy cars, to bank, to vote, to eat from a restaurant, to work, even to renew our license. All can be accomplished online and brought right to our doorsteps. Brick and mortar stores were disappearing. Malls, a place that fostered social interaction, were already becoming ghost towns. I can see a time coming when there are no grocery stores, just distribution centers (at least one local chain already has one) from which our only option is to place our orders online and pick them up or have them delivered. I, for one, need to pick out my own proteins and vegetables. Not to mention the threat to creativity. I can't find new foods by going online and typing in "tomato," bringing up canned tomatoes and soups. I want to peruse the aisles, touch and smell vegetables or fruits I'm unfamiliar with, possibly stumble on a product that inspires me. The decreasing ability to interact when shopping (all shopping) feels mechanical, stifling.

Grilled Crispy Cod Sandwich 

Customer service now consists of pressing buttons in a "trained monkey" response to a computer generated voice, which can either result in a satisfactory outcome, or a frustrating failure which we may have no other choice but to live with. We don't have to look someone in the face or even use our voices to communicate and now, more and more, we just plain can't.

This form of independence has manifested itself as a division in our society, feeling very caste-like, there are winners and there are losers. Manners are now as extinct as full sentences. No more "please" and "thank you" because, outside of our personal circles, we no longer have that kind of relationship with each other. The further disconnected we become on a personal level, the less we see each other as having value (or even rights), the more we lose our humanity, our compassion, and, to go back to the meanings of independence, our open mindedness.

Although "independent" has always been a word of strength and of personal growth, we seem to have swung the pendulum too far. I don't advocate going back to being controlled by another country, of being less woke, or of being unable to change our situation based on our needs, but I do believe that this level of independence from our community and our society will not serve us well. Independence can be liberating. It can also be confining.

Humanity is born of engagement. Progress comes from leaning in. We benefit more from alliances than just allegiances.

Here are links to all the other Use Your Words posts:
Spatulas on Parade 
Wandering Web Designer
On the Border  
Part-time Working Hockey Mom 
Sparkly Poetic Weirdo 
Climaxed 
Follow Me Home 

Grilled Cripsy Cod Sandwich      

                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

NOTE: This sandwich can be made quickly using frozen fish sticks and/or pre-made Cole Slaw, but is best made using my Crispy Cod Fingers recipe and my Smoky Slaw recipe.


Ingredients:
1 TBSP butter
2 slices bread
1 slice American cheese
1 slice smoked Provolone cheese 
1 TBSP Thousand Island dressing
1 piece lettuce
3 - 4 hot Crispy Cod Fingers, you can substitute cooked fish sticks
1/4 cup Smoky Slaw, you can substitute any Cole Slaw

Directions:
*Make a grilled cheese: place the cheese slices between the bread slices. In a hot skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Place the sandwich in the pan and cook until the bottom has browned, flip over and cook on the other side.
*Carefully open the sandwich. Spread the Thousand Island dressing on one side, then place the lettuce on the dressing. *Top with the Crispy Cod Fingers, then the Smoky Slaw and finally the top of the sandwich. Cut in half and serve.

Out Like a Lamb: Lambs Poetry

Monthly Poetry Group in our infinite wisdom,
for April, a theme we chose.
Mine's not to reason why, just to do or die,
Meaning talk about lambs in prose.

Out Like a Lamb

"In like a lion, out like a lamb,"
a phrase that we all know.
Evokes gentleness of that lamb,
when we've all had it with snow. 

"Innocent as a lamb," is
something else we tend to say.
When honesty is the personal trait
we're choosing to convey. 

And two shakes of that lamb's tail,
means something done real fast.
Willing to stop and do a thing,
when, the first time, we're asked.

"Gentle as a lamb," conveys
the ability to be tender.
A complement to any and all, 
no matter what your gender.

"As quiet as a lamb" is something
all we mamas pray for.
That our kids show discontent,
somewhat under the decibel of a roar.

Yet another saying of lambs,
is that they're mild and meek.
A lesson we often need to learn,
including in the way we speak.

On the subject of lambs, I admit,
these traits aren't my first thought.
Guess I'm the black sheep of the family,
my tastes are more . . . store bought.

I may be forced to go on the lam,
when I tell my truth to ye.
Mention lamb and what comes to mind?  
Seasoned chops on the grill for me. 

Don't forget the side dish:

Smoky Slaw 

Before you go, click on these links to more poetry from some of my friends:
Dawn of Spatulas on Parade shares Wooly Bully.

Smoky Slaw

                                               ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups green cabbage, shredded
1/4 cup carrots, shredded
1/2 cup red cabbage, shredded
1/4 cup chopped carrots
2 sliced green onions
1/2 red pepper, chopped
1/4 cup smoked bacon bits
1/2 cup Thousand Island dressing
3 TBSP red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp pepper

Directions:
*Put the green cabbage, shredded carrots, red cabbage, chopped carrots, green onions, red pepper and bacon bits in a bowl.
*Whisk together the Thousand Island dressing, red wine vinegar, cumin and pepper, then pour over the vegetables.
*Mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, stirring now and then.