The Camping Story

When I go camping, I plan it out for days, weeks, months. I am insanely obsessive and I think subconsciously I worry that an asteroid is going to hit the super market before I purchase all the necessities for the trip. So, if we are camping on Friday I usually start packing things on Monday..and throughout the week. I make several lists, throw them away, lose them and then make more lists.

You know, for someone who was the president of the Green Club I am not really living up to the title.

The closer it gets to Saturday (The day we are scheduled to leave for camping) the more compulsive I get. I am stressed out trying to scramble in finishing my weeks worth of school studies, making more lists....  and of course it so happens that a band called Captain May I decided to schedule themselves to perform on Friday and Saturday. SERIOUSLY? A Little background info: my sister and I enjoy dancing (dancing consists of framing our face and jumping up and down) to this band. I am adding this to the schedule of upcoming events. My stress level has risen a notch. Friday night is here and I am throwing sleeping bags and blankets on the living room floor... trying to decide what to wear to the band. Black leggings and an over sized shirt because there is no way at this point I am feeling the dress up look. The little one is going to go over to the sister-in-laws house for the night.

Quote me.. I told the Beau: "I will only be out till around 11" We stayed until they shut the place down. 1:30AM I got home.

This is the story of our Memorial Weekend Camping Trip. The early start was delayed by me groaning and cursing Captain May I for playing this weekend. (of course I was forced to go out. didn't have a choice.) The Beau is packing everything away trying to stay in good spirits while I crawl to the shower.

Finally we are all packed and off we are to grab the Little One. (Don't worry.. its not a home alone type of story) As we are driving.. It starts to rain. Ah, bugger. Usually isn't the weather report person wrong? Why not this weekend?!

After an hour or so of driving the rain has lightened up a little bit and we are at the camping destination. Though I'd rather sit in the truck and watch Beau put up the tent, I feel a twinge of guilt. Curse guilty feelings. Picture this: Three awkwardly dressed individuals trying to put up a tent in the rain. I applaud our effort. No one yelled at anyone. In fact, everyone pitched in and did their best. Or mostly waited for orders from the Beau because putting up a tent in the rain sucks and all your smart brain cells deplete. (Or may because I onlyb had 4 hours of sleep?) Or possibly because a few camps away I hear some kid playing their recorder. This isn't friggen music class. I'll hot cross bun you!

The rain went away and we went bike riding, fishing, and a hike. I am not sure why, but we always ended up eating around 4:30. We are not 80 years old... I am not sure why we always ate so early. For whatever reason why - it was good because it started to rain again. We have my sister's twin mattress for the Little One and a queen one for us. All cozy laying down telling lame ghosts stories. (I kind of scared myself.. shhhh) It is probably around 1am and we  are awakened by a kid screaming. I have heard night terrors and screaming before. This was full on "I do not want to be camping screaming" It  was probably the same family who brought the recorder. Finally, it is silent and we are all asleep when probably 15 minutes later we woken up by an amazing strike of lighting . of course then followed by a thundering boom. The Little One is awake and asks if a tree is going to fall on us. I reassure her that a tree will not fall on us.. then immediately roll over and whisper to Beau "It won't..right?" The rain is falling from the sky like we were in a drought and this is what we have all prayed for. Slowly, I feel my back starting to feel b.u.m.p.y. the air mattress is slowly deflated. Are you kidding me? Is this a John Candy film? Next a racoon is going to charge through the tent. Good grief! We are rolling and tossing, next thing Little One is scootching herself onto the deflated mattress next to us. Notice how none of us had enough energy to go lay on the perfectly inflated other mattress. We were exhausted and decided that the ground was the least of our issues. I would like everyone to know I slept on the ground. *bows* We awake in the morning to standing water all around our campsite. Mud everywhere. We go to shower and afterwards walk outside back to our campsite and are welcomed with rain again. The rain eventually cleared up, we went on another hike, checked the weather report (more rain and hail), walked back to our muddy campsite and decided since we all are still in good spirits...we should go home.

Notice The muddy feet...

Conclusion: We were rained out but since we suffered through this, I think we are capable for another camping trip... I think...

Next Story to Come:

Valley Fair Amusement Park. Who Pukes First?

My Blah Post

My brain is in a disray with school work and the thoughts of passing or not passing.  I am happy for friends that are graduating with their degree but also jealous because my journey is still at the beginning. My current class I am taking is ethics. I for one do not think that it is ethical for students to stay up late and study. I believe we log it all in our short term memory and forget it after the class.

America, we are naive and fat and totally an ethical debate.

Sometimes I feel like I want to encourage the stereotype. I am okay with it. I would like to sit on a couch, eating all the time, watching t.v. and sleeping. The gaining weight is the only one that is going my way and I just blame that on stress from school. It is an excuse.. like when you are pregnant and say you are eating for two. I did it. So did you. Don't deny it. I'll accept you.

 Sorry Folks, this is my blog for today. A bit

Incoherent and maybe just a start

of senile ramblings 

Short, depressing, I guess you could

call it a

 blah Post

The Sisterhood of Traveling Cookies

My sister and I discussed baking cookies and what day would work for us to bake cookies together. The only day that would work for both of us was on a Friday. The Little One had dance practice so we would go over to her house after practice. We are never busy on Fridays. Usually we bum around and watch movies. The one Friday we put on the calendar to bake cookies... is the day when there is a dance to chaperon and a play to attend. Of course! Doesn't this always happen?
Sister had all the ingredients ready and out. Husband was prepared to take flight upon pre-heat of oven. The kids have disappeared. We were ready. It was 6:30.

No Bakes 

The Sister started off with making the No Bake cookies. It specifically said to drop the cookies QUICKLY. She was under some pressure. They turned out looking good and tasting yummy.



Sugar Cookies - not using cookie cutters. They had to be pushed down with a glass. Sister was pushing them down with the glass. At some point I put some in the oven and forgot to push the cookies down with the glass. They cooked like balls. Keep in mind we are battling with three kids and their drama of coming in the kitchen sometimes wanting to help or tattle on someone for whatever reason. Also, there is a dog involved with the chaos.

The kids did an awesome job frosting the cookies and a superb job making a mess with sprinkles and frosting. These grandparents best appreciate the love and sweat (literally sweat) put into these cookies.

Almond bark pretzels. It is 8:00. The most tedious holiday cookie out there. It feels like it is midnight. You know when you get giggly and laugh at everything but are probably borderline crazy? That how the Sister and I were at this point in the baking process. If her neighbors dropped into the house and saw us in the kitchen they might be inclined to institutionalized us or ask if we were sober (There was no alcohol in the making of the baking process.)

I do not think we talked in our 'normal' voice at all after 7:30.

It is around 9pm. We gave up on the pretzel cookies. The Sister started packaging the sticks in pretty wrapping and pipe cleaners. It is going to be the new big packaging trend. Pipe Cleaners.

Meanwhile, the last of the pretzels, we were glancing at on the stove. They were not hardening. Several times we touched the stove. Actually, It was probably eight times or more... one would tap it and then the other would tap. Is it hot?

In our defense the stove WAS off and it was not that warm. At this point we have lost track of t.i.m.e.

The kids have decided to play nice with each other as we are cleaning up a mess that seemed entirely too large for what our cookie outcome was.

Why do children always start a BRAND NEW game right before it is time to leave and seem to be playing so pleasantly with each other. That is a question for the philosophers of our time. Everything was cleaned up. I, of course, forgot the tins for the cookies.... but.. I think in the end, it all worked out.

If you were the DJ in our evening it would have started off with Christmas music, Linkin Park, They're Coming to Take me Away, Silent film music, and then ending with a chorus of Hallelujah. 

I am done baking cookies!

The No Bakes were the easiest

I might try my hand at them

at my home.

MIGHT.

Otherwise, this marks the end of cookie baking season for Captain Sera.

Fourth Batch

I decided to pre-make the batch for chocolate chip cookies. I did not have anymore salt. Who runs out of salt? It comes in a huge box. I really thought of leaving it out of the batch. I googled what salt does and I guess salt adds flavor to the batch. I had just enough left in my salt shaker to be able to add it to the batch. I have before added too much salt to sugar cookies and that did not seem to make it flavorful....
I was definitely getting burned out from baking cookies. I wish I could have a teaspoon of baking passion that chefs seem to have in abundance.

I left for work dreading the fact that I would have to go home and bake another set of cookies. Where did the Christmas spirit go? The spirit left and was replaced with a mom who needs to open up a bottle of wine.....

I blame it all on the fact that  I do not have state of art kitchen. This is exactly the reason why....

Look how festive these cookies are! The cookies turned out looking delicious.

BUT

I cannot take credit for baking these cookies.....

On the fourth day of baking cookies, Santa delivered me an amazing good looking elf...

My beau baked the entire batch of cookies. It was the best feeling to come home and not have to bake the cookies that night. I just ate them. I firmly believe now that this is how all holiday baking should be. The mother has someone else bake the cookies and when they are all finished (the cooking mess should be cleaned up along with freshly baked cookies finished) she can just sit down and eat them. Isn't this what our kids do? They are onto Something....

                                 

Thank you for baking the cookies

(Just to clarify, that is my beau.. my arms are not that hairy....)

Tomorrows post will detail

 traveling to my sister's house.

 We baked cookies there. 



Third Batch

I can hear the music playing while I am making the fudge. It's the classic 'dun dun dun' cliffhanger tune where you don't know what will happen until after the commercial break, possibly not until the next week the show airs, or after the holiday season - which brings me to a heated rant about television shows and their holiday breaks. *ahem* Greys Anatomy and Private Practice.. *ahem*... In another post, in another post.....

I added all of the ingredients. It was so simple to add everything together. How can a recipe supposedly easy turn out to be the most challenging experience I would deal with? Melting the chocolate and adding the milk - effortless!

So now that I have added everything together all I need to do is put it in the buttered pan and according to my mother, let it sit and harden.

I let it sit for an hour! I turned down the house heat. I put it in the fridge and finally cut through it. The top layer seems to be harden but underneath when you lift it with a fork the fudge clings to the fork. I suppose I could take it off the fork and form it like play dough. Did I not butter the pan enough?

Alas, you do not need to wait until next week, or after the holidays to find out the end results. I do not think the fudge was a success. I am going to keep it in the fridge overnight in hopes of salvaging some of the chocolate. Otherwise, I am going to be eating a lot of fudge for a while. Too bad my sob t.v. shows are not playing to compliment the fudge....

On the third day of a cookie disaster

Santa has left me high and dry.

Send the elf UPS express please.

 tomorrows menu is chocolate chip cookies...

Bring it on.





Second Batch

I was thinking that if I made the batter before the Little One's swim lessons and work then I would be one step ahead of the cooking game. I did not fit into the equation that a sinus infection would flare up, the Little One would be crabby, and it would be much later when we arrive home.

Did that derail me from cranking that oven on? Not one bit, fellow readers. Ignoring orders from my Beau to go to bed early. I popped an Advil and started rolling out balls for peanut butter blossoms and peanut butter cookies. 

Rolled and Prepped!

I remembered the eggs and all the other ingredients (See First Batch).

First step when making blossoms or anything requiring to unwrap a large amount of candy is to hire someone to unwrap each individual Hershey's kiss.

I ate some...

Second step is to get the lap top in the kitchen and turn on some CSI. It really helps the time go along. Note that the Christmas music has been turned off. Third step is to try and find ways to improve your baking experience. I rolled out each ball and put them on wax paper so they were prepped and ready for oven (see photo above). Overall, I shaved a good 5.5 minutes off of my time from last night. I am going to take some Sudafed and not forget to turn the oven off.

On the second day of

cookie making Santa

 still has not

delivered me an elf...

Blossoms!

Peanut Butter

I am caught up on CSI NY and Vegas

You see that one blossom that has a messed up Hershey? Spoiler Alert: It does not make the freezer bag. I ate it. 

Tomorrow night will be the dreaded

... fudge....

First Batch

Baking cookies. In our minds we pretend that putting the batter together and the entire baking process will be a filled night of happiness and joy. As if we were in our own Christmas movie special.

I am going to share my first cookie night of the holiday season of 2011.

I started the baking spirit after dinner, as my Little One quickly goes AWOL to watch a movie. I am one down and solo in the help department. There goes the family togetherness night. I kept moving along thinking positive. I started off with putting together oatmeal cookies. My wonderful mixer has the batter all finished. I have my wire racks out, the ove-heated, and the Christmas music is blaring. I put the first dozen in the oven. My sister calls me and we chatted on the phone about our days. I was looking at my batter and happened to glance at my recipe.

 I forgot the eggs.

Clear and loud it is heard, "OH SHIT! I FORGOT THE EGGS!" I am sure my sister had to pull the phone away from her ear, not to mention my Little One was in clear ear shot. I am wondering if I will get a call from the school tomorrow....

Who forgets the eggs in cookies???

a main ingredient....



I scrambled about what I should do to my sister who I was still on the phone with. We both had no idea what eggs actually do in the batter. What their job is. I am hoping that someone will read this story, google the answer and post it for me - because all the energy I have is quickly deflating.

I looked into the oven, the cookies were not forming. I made a quick decision to put the oven cookies back into the main batter. The main batter now had the proper amount of eggs. It all sounded like a grand idea in my head. The oatmeal cookies turned out well enough that the Little One tested the cookies and ate two of them. Accomplished.
So, what possessed me to put green and red M&Ms in the oatmeal batter? I wanted to see if it would work. I poured the entire bag in.. all in or nothing! Right? Delusion has set in.
The cookies were not working (of course..)! I told my Beau to call his mother and ask her what was wrong. Of course that would way too much work to physically talk on the phone and ask for help. It was not like I told him to ask for directions!
Instead he looks the recipe up on the Internet. (I wonder why I did not do that in the first place...?) I turned down the heat and they turned out okay.
I do have to say I burned the second to last batch of cookies because I forgot to put on the timer. The way I see it, if you do not burn some cookies or burn yourself, and  are sweating hot - are you really baking?
So, the first set of Christmas Cookies are finished. I wonder what the rest of the week will entail!

The burned batch...

 The batter, finally almost done.

I think I might have had a bit to many m&ms

The GRAND finale! End results: Plain Oatmeal over on far left,

burned cookies in the middle, 'good' cookies scattered...

Ready for freezing. Which one will you get?

Second Batch

 soon to come.....

 unless cookie

 nervous break down

 happens.

I need some elves.