>When life hands you lemons, make lemon bars.

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>Baking is one of my favorite stress relievers. I enjoy the simplicity of following a recipe and enjoying the results. My family life and my professional life are both complex, and baking, like gardening, provides a necessary balance.
I baked a disastrous batch of lemon bars long, long ago, and the trauma was enough for me to swear off trying again for decades. I tried again last night: successfully! Here’s the recipe, from the same Cookie Book as the Cranberry Hootycreek Cookies:

Lemon Bars
from the 2007 we energies cookie book
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter, melted
4 eggs (or 1 cup egg substitute)
2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup lemon juice from concentrate
Powdered sugar for topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In medium bowl, combine 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Blend in melted butter. Press dough into bottom of ungreased 13X9X2 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden.

In a large bowl, beat eggs until light. In a separate bowl, combine sugar, baking powder, and remaining 1/4 cup of flour. Stir sugar mixture into the eggs. Mix in lemon juice. Pour over prepared crust. Bake an additional 30 minutes or until filling is set. Cool.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar before cutting into bars. Makes 2-3 dozen.

Notes:

  • I put much too much powdered sugar on top. Next time I’ll be more sparing with the topping. Husband scraped his off. Amigo didn’t mind, though.
  • These are rather rich, too, courtesy of the eggs. A small bar is a good serving.
  • They’re delicious with coffee. Was there any doubt?
  • Share the story of my lemon bar trauma? Maybe, but I’d rather bake.

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>What’s on the City Council Agenda for tonight?

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>No, don’t answer that.

When someone has a beef with the mayor and takes it out on the City Council with a gun, that’s not right.
Tragedy is like a pebble dropped in a pool of water. Its concentric rings represent the victims at many levels.
Those killed and those injured are the water immediately displaced as the pebble falls.
Those present are the first and closest ring.
Those responding are another layer of that first ring.
Family and friends of the victim.
Neighbors and local people, their confidence shaken.
Those within hearing distance of the sirens, knowing it’s bad enough to rate the national news.
People in similar arenas begin to feel vulnerable, changing the way other City Councils and municipal groups do their business.
And it all comes down to one overwrought person, with or without a history of violence, overreacting to a perceived injustice and taking “justice” his own way.
And the impact, the sadness, spreads. No current can ever fully wash it away.

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>Primarily a toss-up: heads or hearts?

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Nina put it very well at Voted off the Island. To steal her phrase, should I vote with my head or my heart? The field is narrower, but no easier, now that Edwards has dropped out. I’m still undecided between Obama and Clinton.
I’ve been excited by Barack Obama since I heard (well, read) his speech at the last Democratic convention. He really took Illinois by storm. He’s making contacts and learning the ropes in the Senate. He has the potential to be a coalition builder and work across the aisle with his Republican colleagues, a skill that will be handy in passing legislation that supports his agenda. He reminds me a little of Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, and I’ve admired and supported Russ for a long time.
Hillary Clinton caught my attention in 1992 when her husband first ran for president. I supported him and I thought highly of Hillary. I read her autobiography when it came out and was again favorably impressed. This is one intelligent woman. She could beat the heck out of me at Trivial Pursuit, and as I rarely lose, that’s saying something!
Barack Obama understands regular, common, ordinary people. He wasn’t born into riches, and he was born into a challenge: dealing with race. He has a lot of courage and strength and is handling his freshman term in the Senate well.
Hillary Clinton was a staunch conservative in her childhood and went on to lead her college chapter of the Republican Party, resigning from that office to become a registered Democrat when she felt the other party was no longer aligned with her ideals. She has dealt with many prejudices because of her gender. Make no mistake about it, she has faced a lot of adversity that comes with being a strong, intelligent, articulate woman.
I still don’t know exactly which way to vote come February 19. I’m sure the candidates’ ads will run here, but that’s not the best source of information. I respect both front-runners’ intelligence and integrity, their knowledge and their grit.
I think I’ll do a little more research. This is going to be a very difficult and important decision.

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>Random Encounters of the Educational Kind

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>I was making copies in the school office and gathering my things to go back to my room when I saw a woman come in holding an animal in a blanket. The secretaries and others gathered around, so they must have known her. She started unwrapping the blanket, and as I thought oh, no, here go my allergies the cutest little baby wallaby poked its adorable head out to say hello. At first glance I thought it was a llama, but at second glance there was no doubt. If it wasn’t a wallby, it was a kangaroo, and those aren’t very likely in this area!

Two kids came in from recess today and showed me bruises they’d gotten in an encounter with another classmate. They also mentioned a number of times when their “friend” had bullied kids verbally, teasing them and putting them down. I took my concern to the principal after school and we’ll deal with it. ASAP, if not sooner.

I was teaching math (trying) when one student kept getting out of her seat, coming up to me, and tapping my arm to ask for help. I continually sent her back to her seat, but she didn’t stop. finally, I simply ignored her completely unless she was in her seat with her hand up. She just couldn’t master the concept that there are lots of kids in the class, and she can’t have one on one with the teacher in mid-lesson.

Can my students be “Wordless” on Wednesday? Just once? Please? I just checked the calendar, and the full moon isn’t due for two weeks. So what’s with the constant talk-talk-talka-talka-talktalktalktalktalk?!!!

I’d pound my head on the wall in frustration, but the only thing I’d accomplish would be a sore head. I think I’ll have some M&Ms instead.

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>Notes to self as family brings in the germs

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>Amigo was mildly ill last week. Now Husband is down for the count with similar symptoms: cough, cold, achiness, exhaustion. At school, one student was out sick today and two others should have stayed home.
At times like this, all of my germ-phobic tendencies start shouting at me.
No, don’t touch that kid’s computer mouse!
What do you think you’re doing, testing the keyboard connections yourself?
Now you’re headed for touching your nose — uh-uh! No, no, no!
Wash your hands.
Don’t touch that kid’s pencil. Use your own to revise and make notes on his paper.
Wash your hands.
The doorknob? Germ factory!
Wash your hands.

After school I went to the quickie pharmacy-convenience store and stocked up on all the goodies that Husband had requested. Cold/flu meds in both non-drowsy and drowsy, cough drops, Nyquil (by brand name, not generic, must be cherry flavor) and more. I spent $50.
Oh, okay, I also bought enough Valentine pencils for my entire class, anti-snore strips for me, and two paperback books. Note to self: always have a good stock of reading material on hand in case of sick day for yourself or as caretaker.
I made a trip to the grocery store on Sunday to buy lemon tea and honey for Husband’s sore throat, so Husband already had good hot beverages available. Note to self: start keeping this in stock as part of the standard pantry supplies.
And…I bought two different kinds of hand sanitizer. One is a nice lavendar scented bottle that I can keep in my desk; the other is a small purse-sized spray to carry with me in my, well, in my purse. Note to self; good move. “Be prepared” is the Girl Scout motto.
On that note, it’s time to pack tomorrow’s lunch with my daily orange. The vitamin C can only help.

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>Random Thoughts on Super Bowl Monday

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>My excuse for Starbucks this morning went something like this: I’d sure like to get a New York Times to see their sports section, so I might as well buy one where I can get coffee.

Wouldn’t it have been fun to substitute signals in case the Pats were somehow still stealing? I suggest dropping in an occasional sign from American Sign Language saying something like, “Haha, you just wasted your time and your video. I just finger spelled my college fight song.”

How about Bill Belichek leaving the field before the Giants could take their final knee? Poor sportsmanship, cluelessness, or did he just decide “Oh, well, now I can wash that filthy sweatshirt I’ve been wearing superstitiously all season. Might as well get at it right away.”

Does anyone feel sympathy for the eldest Manning brother, Cooper, the one who no longer plays football? I kept wondering if he was in the skybox with Peyton, but the cameras were sticking with Big Brother Quarterback watching Little Brother Quarterback.

What’s it like to be Mom Manning in a household with that much testosterone? Or is she just kind of like Wisconsin women, who know football and cheer as loudly as the men?

Did anyone notice if Jessica Simpson showed up? Did she know Tony Romo wasn’t on the field? And in the same category, did anyone blame Giselle for distracting Tom Brady?

In our household, Bridgestone won the Most Creative Commercials award. Coke came a close second with its runaway (flyaway?) balloons. Gotta love it when Charlie Brown actually wins one!

La Petite had friends over to her humble apartment to watch the game. She and her roommate decorated in Green and Gold, complete with G-Force signs and Title Towels. Up until kick-off, they pretended their favorite NFC team was playing.

And last but not least, I predict the Packers and the Giants will meet again next year. They’re both too good to stay home post-season. No predictions on the outcome or the score, but you know which colors will adorn my fireplace mantle. My Christmas tree. My husband’s feet.

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>Random Thoughts on a Snowy Saturday

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>Amigo is again feeling under the weather. We went to the Saturday morning clinic and found out that his ears are not infected, but quite plugged up and filled with fluid. Prescription: Lots of fluids, OTC pain reliever, and a vaporizer. He’s curled up on the couch right now in the “humidified” den watching TV.
We ended up watching SpongeBob Squarepants by the process of elimination. The Weather Channel was interesting for a while (it’s been a fascinating winter if you’re interested in weather or climate trends), but after we’d watched three “locals on the eights” we lost interest. After all, how many times can we see a prediction for 50% chance of a half inch of snow when we’ve already been out on snow-slicked roads that have at least an inch or more accumulation? Now we’re watching the snow fall (it’s really pretty if you’re indoors) and surfing the channels.
CNN was our next stop. On a weekend that is often fluff and football, they had to cover a story of a police officer’s murder in New Orleans. How sad! New Orleans PD doesn’t need any more tragedy. My sympathies to the family and force.
He wanted to watch Dora or Diego. Look, kid, you’re 16! give me a break! No kiddy cartoons while I’m in the room, at least!So we eventually ended up on SpongeBob. At least this is a cartoon with humor I can appreciate.
I had a random dream last night. It was a convoluted series of events involving people in my life both current and past, eventually ending up with my laptop being stolen while the case was left behind. Husband’s response: “You really want a new laptop, don’t you? Your case is still perfectly good, but the computer inside it is obsolete.”
Well, he’s right, but it’s a want, not a need. I can rationalize all the good reasons for a new laptop except the price. We really don’t need a new laptop. It would be convenient, useful, and all kinds of handy, especially if we outfit it with Amigo’s adaptive software. But no, it’s not a need. Yet.
Maybe Husband is demonstrating his sensitivity in understanding my dream. His fortune cookie yesterday told him to get in touch with his “feminine side.” What could I say? “Honey, PMS stinks. Here, have some chocolate.”
And on the feminine side — I entered a handful of Bloggy Giveaways and actually won a prize! It’s a lovely handmade bag from C at MamaSaidSew! There were many, many prizes, but I only entered those that I felt were of value to me or my friends/family. In this case, it’s definitely something I wouldn’t make myself. I can’t sew worth a darn, no pun intended. Thanks, C! I feel lucky.
Maybe I should go buy a lottery ticket. A win would fund my new laptop…

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>Making the healthier easier

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>It’s a little like Supermom meeting her Kryptonite: time. If time is money and money is time, families rarely have enough of either.
Healthy Living vs. Easy Living is like that; it’s easier said than done.
Last night, even though I’d vowed to cook from scratch more often, even though I’d declared I would make more nutritious and low fat suppers, and even though there was a package of tilapia in the freezer, I gave in to my exhaustion and threw a package of breaded chicken patties in the oven instead. Oh, it was was easy, but it was a guilt trip in the making, so I ate a homemade cookie for dessert to make me feel better.
When Parent Bloggers Network announced their blog blast this week on the topic of healthier living, I thought about posts I’ve already written in the first month of this brand new year. SMART goals. Locavore food choices. “Me” time. Even safety on the ice! Well, sort of.
The most likely way to encourage me to cook and eat healthier is to make it easy. Despite having tilapia in the freezer and knowing it doesn’t take long to cook, I didn’t do it. I wimped out, as my kids would say, based on the time and energy necessary to make healthy side dishes. With that experience in mind, here’s my plan.
*Keep healthy sides around as well as healthy, easy-to-cook lean meats and fish.
*Plan ahead more often.
*Bake (Homemade bread! Good cookies! Yum!) on weekends to prepare sides and healthier snacks in advance.
*Cook vegetables for the adults, even though the teen often refuses to eat them. He might grow up and eat healthy some time. A mom can dream!
*Check out the site Parent Bloggers Network suggested, Kroger online, for recipes, guidelines, safe preparation habits, and more.

This blog blast was suggested by the Parent Bloggers Network and Kroger online.

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>Because "Hootycreek" is so fun to say

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I received a collection of cookie recipes for Christmas, and this one looked good. It had some of my favorite ingredients (dried cranberries, oatmeal, chocolate) and had a cute name.

Cranberry Hootycreek Cookies
from the 2007 we energies cookie book

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg (or 1/4 cup egg substitute)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup uncooked quick oats (or old-fashioned)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup white chocolate chips (see below)
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, cream butter; beat in egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine flour, oats, baking soda, salt and sugars; gradually blend into butter mixture. Stir in cranberries, chips and pecans. Drop heaping teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges start to brown. Cool on wire racks. Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

I didn’t have the white chocolate chips called for, so I substituted semi-sweet morsels and topped the cookies with the last of the chocolate brown jimmies from the annual family cookie-decorating experience. They turned out absolutely delicious. I’ll put white chocolate chips on my next shopping list; I can’t wait to try the original version!
But what is a hootycreek, anyway?

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>But will it grow?

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>Winter, lovely winter. The snow softly drifting across the yard, the sounds of power snowblowers muffled by the television news announcing school closings (in my dreams, at least), and the crashing of icicles falling from the eaves.
Or the dripping of icicles from the eaves followed by the vision of puddles frozen solid on the steps and front porch, making getting to the school bus a dangerous escapade.
After Amigo survived the adventure mentioned above, I made my way back to the garage to look for rock salt or other ice-melting compounds. I was fairly certain we had run out after the last storm, so when I dug into a big bucket of sand and lo and behold, found a familiar looking white bag with red lettering. I dug in my mittened hands, grabbed a fistful, and scattered it all over the front porch and steps.
Later that day, I emailed Husband at work and asked him if we had a bucket we could keep on the front porch with a little rock salt in it. He said sure, but we were out of the stuff, so he’d stop on the way home and stock up. Until then, I should use the biodegradable kitty litter that would absorb excess moisture and provide some texture to the ice, giving us a little traction in the process.
Out of it? I replied. Then what’s in the bag that’s on top of the gray sand bucket?
He didn’t know. Neither did I.
After school, I checked on the front porch so that Amigo could get in the house without slipping. What was this stuff? It looked like — birdseed? Curiosity got the best of me, and I went looking in the garage. With the benefit of wakefulness and a full day’s worth of caffeine, I took a good look at the white bag with red print. Then I laughed out loud.
It was lawn fertilizer — an old bag of a product we don’t even use any more.
That’s what happens when I try to be efficient pre-caffeine on an early Monday morning.

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