I am an emotional baker. Nervous, happy, sad, worried, elated- whatever the emotion, I head to my Kitchenaid. I began this blog a few years ago and have noted how quickly the seasons change. Nevertheless, the kids are fairly independent, leaving me with a little extra time on my hands. I thought about training for a marathon, but my treadmill is broken. . .
Showing posts with label scotcheroos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scotcheroos. Show all posts
Friday, November 18, 2011
Drumstick Scotcheroos
There’s been some Mama Bear heartache over the past couple of days, but as I keep watch on Y when he doesn’t know I’m looking, I think he’s doing okay. Over the years as my boys have had their struggles, especially in sports, I wait and wonder if I will see my DNA emerge. Y handled the disappointment of being cut with class and dignity. I would have been psychotically destructive. :)
Last year during football season, Y had a JV game against a team we thought would be a tough opponent. With the score of 27-0 after the first quarter, we realized all the talent for the opposing team was at the Varsity level. That was great news for us as we assumed it would mean some time for our #20 (Y). We waited and waited…and waited. Finally with 8:36 left in the fourth quarter, we get to see Y warm up his quarterback (2nd string) on the sidelines. This is the quarterback Y says he makes look good in practice with his amazing one-handed leaping catches that get replayed in the kitchen after practice. #12 (the quarterback) was sent into the game. Y held the football, waiting to be sent in as his receiver. Unfortunately the first string receivers were still getting all the reps. That’s it. That’s how the game ended. #20 never left the sidelines.
I became frustrated with the coaching staff, or rather those who deemed themselves such. Was it really that hard to rotate some kids in and give them an opportunity, essentially thank them for working hard in practice every day? Especially with a score like 27-0? I tried to distract myself with household business as I waited for Y to come home. As I saw the lights of his car slowly coming down the driveway, I seemed to become increasingly angry at the entire football program. How dare they ask me to volunteer and do my part when they can’t even rotate my kid into the ball game! It was raw Mama Bear anger!
Y comes into the kitchen. At my husband’s encouragement, I try to play it cool… I fail… It went something like this:
I asked Y if he wanted to go hit something.
He said no.
“Throw something? “
He said “No.”
“Slit someone’s tires?”
He said “No.”
“Make someone poisonous brownies?”
He said “No.”
I said “You’re not angry?”
He said “No.” Then he added, “It sucked not getting an opportunity. But I’m not angry, Mom. But if it would make you feel better, you can make cookies.”
And so I did. . .
This morning as I woke up early- 5:30 and failed in my attempt to fall back asleep. I wondered what Y’s course forward would be. He will meet all academic graduation requirements at the end of the first semester. His plan is to try and find a job and work full time until college in the fall. I’m just wondering what opportunities lay ahead for him. I hope his course forward brings him continued joy in the journey. Nevertheless, with my own angst filled energy at 6:00am, I headed to the kitchen to make one of his favorite treats—Thanksgiving style.
Drumstick Scotcheroos
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
6 cups rice krispies
____
1+ cup choc. Chips
1+ cup butterscotch chips
Over medium heat, dissolve sugar into corn syrup. Remove from heat as it begins to boil. Stir in peanut butter. Add rice krispies and stir. Pam hands thoroughly and form rice krispy mixture into drumsticks. Melt chips on low stirring constantly. With a small spoon, cover the “drum” of the stick in chocolate. Let set.
If you have helpers, and the opportunity to make place cards for your Thanksgiving dinner this year, you can mark the drumstick with a guest’s name.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Scotcheroos
This time of year, I am typically very reflective. The kids are all back to school; I am left with the quiet of the house. Today, my thoughts keep turning to where I was a year ago. I often wonder if I’ve learned everything I was supposed to from the experience. Truly, a lot of baking was my therapy and distraction a year ago. This is my journal entry from January 2010:
“On New Year’s Eve, Bren had a final check on his shoulder following his eventual season ending injury in week 4 of his senior high school football season. He had a somewhat serious brachial plexus injury (nerves in his neck). B had been wondering whether trying to walk on as a wide receiver somewhere next year (fall 2010) was even going to be a possibility. He received great news that the nerves carrying vital messages from his brain to his arm and shoulder seemed to all be firing. He was told that he still needed to continue to rebuild strength, but through diligence, he would return to full use and ability. Thus he is tentatively cleared to play football next fall. However, his hip had been bugging him whenever he played basketball hard for 45 or more minutes- constant running. Since he decided not to play high school basketball this year, the pain was not daily- more like weekly, or so. His orthopedic x-rayed his hip. At the bottom of the screen, there was a questionable mass near the center of his femur. They x-rayed the femur and saw a large tumor. “(To be continued. . .)
A tumor is an abnormal growth. So, on a night of much worldwide celebration, we were somber with the news acquired through an x-ray. However, we were grateful to have our good friends visiting. We were able to focus less on the day’s news and more on a simple game of cards.
This New Year’s I made my family one of Y’s favorite treats. I was first introduced to them by my husband’s aunt at a simple a summer BBQ, and was reacquainted when my sister-in-law brought us a plate as she had requested the recipe at the BBQ. They are quick and simple, and rich with chocolate indulgence as I have bumped up the amounts from the original recipe.
Scotcheroos
6 cups Rice Krispies
1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup+ semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup+ butterscotch chips
Over medium heat, dissolve sugar into corn syrup. Remove from heat as it begins to boil. Stir in peanut butter. Add rice krispies and stir. Press into greased 9x13 or 10x15 pan. Melt chips on low stirring constantly. Spread over rice krispy base. Let stand until set. (I often fast forward this part by putting them in the freezer.)
The boys were playing volleyball and games with friends celebrating 2011. I enjoyed a quiet evening at home, watching a basketball game I had taped, grateful for an uneventful New Year’s Eve.
“On New Year’s Eve, Bren had a final check on his shoulder following his eventual season ending injury in week 4 of his senior high school football season. He had a somewhat serious brachial plexus injury (nerves in his neck). B had been wondering whether trying to walk on as a wide receiver somewhere next year (fall 2010) was even going to be a possibility. He received great news that the nerves carrying vital messages from his brain to his arm and shoulder seemed to all be firing. He was told that he still needed to continue to rebuild strength, but through diligence, he would return to full use and ability. Thus he is tentatively cleared to play football next fall. However, his hip had been bugging him whenever he played basketball hard for 45 or more minutes- constant running. Since he decided not to play high school basketball this year, the pain was not daily- more like weekly, or so. His orthopedic x-rayed his hip. At the bottom of the screen, there was a questionable mass near the center of his femur. They x-rayed the femur and saw a large tumor. “(To be continued. . .)
A tumor is an abnormal growth. So, on a night of much worldwide celebration, we were somber with the news acquired through an x-ray. However, we were grateful to have our good friends visiting. We were able to focus less on the day’s news and more on a simple game of cards.
This New Year’s I made my family one of Y’s favorite treats. I was first introduced to them by my husband’s aunt at a simple a summer BBQ, and was reacquainted when my sister-in-law brought us a plate as she had requested the recipe at the BBQ. They are quick and simple, and rich with chocolate indulgence as I have bumped up the amounts from the original recipe.
Scotcheroos
6 cups Rice Krispies
1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup+ semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup+ butterscotch chips
Over medium heat, dissolve sugar into corn syrup. Remove from heat as it begins to boil. Stir in peanut butter. Add rice krispies and stir. Press into greased 9x13 or 10x15 pan. Melt chips on low stirring constantly. Spread over rice krispy base. Let stand until set. (I often fast forward this part by putting them in the freezer.)
The boys were playing volleyball and games with friends celebrating 2011. I enjoyed a quiet evening at home, watching a basketball game I had taped, grateful for an uneventful New Year’s Eve.
Labels:
brachial plexus injury,
dessert,
football,
new years eve,
reflective,
scotcheroos,
tumor
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