Grand Marnier Cake

While living in Istanbul and watching BBC television, I learned about true cooking.  I don't know if I had ever talked about my mother's cooking.  To quickly recap: it was horrible and I believe that she enjoyed torturing us.  This would include her sibling and their children as well. Which is the reason why as of today, moving forward in my life, I decided to learn how to cook the right way.  For all our survive.

Now I know that some of us are not baking masters however we would contribute something to the Thanksgiving or the Christmas dinner dessert table. So here is another simple recipe for you.

Preheat the over @ 325 degrees.

In a nice size mixing bowl:

1 box of Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix 

3 eggs (as stated on the back of the cake box)

1 cup of water (as stated on the back of the cake box)

1/4 cup of olive oil (do not use cooking oil as the back of the cake box says)

1/4 cup of Grand Marnier

1 orange which you will shave the outside skin to into the cake mix, then that orange cut in half and squeeze it like you are making fresh orange juice. You want the pulp from that and about a 1/3 of the juice from that one orange to go into the mix. 

Mix well.  

I am suggesting that you use a bundt cake pan for this cake.  Butter and flour well in the event that you do not have a can of Pam baking spray.

For those of you who like walnuts, you can add 1/4 cup of walnuts please make sure that you crush real well before adding to the mixture.

The cake should take about 20 to 25 minutes to bake.  If you check it the first time that top of the cake looks somewhat wet, give it a slight shake and if the top of the cake move keeps it in the oven for another 7 or 8 minutes.   To see if the cake is completely done: use the knife check.  That's taking the knife poking it through the cake and taking it out to make sure that the cake is done all the way through.  If the knife comes out clean then the cake is done.  Let it cake cool off in the pan for about 20 minutes before putting it on a plate.  

For the icing combine 1/4 cup of powder sugar and 1 teaspoon of nutmeg.  Stir well and then shift it lightly over the cake.

And there you have it everyone.  A simple cake that even the non-baker can make.

Enjoy!!

A Hedgehog's Dilemma

Now some of y'all already know that I favorite hobby is to watch Korean soap operas on Dramafever. Y'all there have been times where I have called either Asia or Glenna crying after watching one of them. They be laughing at me and I tell them watching the  Korean soaps  while going thru perimenopause is a very strong roller coaster that sometimes I can not control. Though getting through my emotions all in one sitting can be and has been very healthy for me for the past year.

At this time I was doing a marathon and I was watching a show by the name of Murphy's Law of Love, and right way I knew that I was watching my life story in Taiwanese and how absolutely interesting and funny it. (My very own shade!  Love It!)

So I get to episode 17 where the heroine meets up with her ex-boyfriend and he tells her about what he needed to do take control of his life after their breakup. First, you got to watch the show to understand where it was coming from and second, I wish I was with her sharing that bottle of Kurt Champagne after her had just been dumped (the 1st episode).  Cause we could have ordered a 2nd and 3rd bottle on his ass. She and I would have drank that second bottle of Kurt and used the first to crack his damn head in!

Back to episode 17, she started to talk about the"Hedgehog's Dilemma."  Yeap, y'all heard what the hell I just said, the Hedgehog's Dilemma. It is a metaphor using hedgehogs to describe how we human try to take control over a situation or relationship (yea, situation because some of y'all do not like to use the word "relationship" with the specific other!) when trying to stay close to one another to keep warm during the winter. (It is amazing how we, some of us, would have a freak for the summer and get rid of them when September comes and then, by November we are scouting for a new body to stay warm with. What was wrong with Summer? Wasn't she okay?)

Back to hedgehogs, see hedgehogs can not get too close to each other with hurting one and another with their spines. (See I didn't know this because had I did when I needed to my ass scratch, I don't think I would have not mind a prick or two back there.) (Yeah I am a freak but let's not tell everybody!)

The hedgehogs would have to suffer many wounds before they can finally find the distance that is comfortable for the two of them to keep each other warm without hurting one another any further.  It is called a space heater, y'all!  Buy one!!!

Look, come those cold nights, for those of us who are single, we yearn to be with someone whom we first really like, second really want to be with, and third really enjoy being with that person,   But may I make a suggestion? Buy a body pillow from Walmart! Save yourself a lot of stress if you don't like any one for now (speaking in long period) or for the time being (meaning like yesterday).

I think for some of us, it is really hard to get next to some one that we are interested in for whatever reason, and at the same time it is difficult for some of us to let some one in who is interested in us to come into their comfort zone. And for many of us sleeping with any one just for the fun of it is not something that most would do.  Yes most of us would do and you know who you are.  Or maybe it is because you do want a warm body to be close with, you are just choosing to wait to be with some one of the same mind as you.  I am not judging and I am encouraging it!

For me right now it is too damn hot to be talking getting cozy with someone.   I am dying for a pitcher of lemonade, for real y'all! Besides I think Texas doesn't understand what winter is since it is since in the 80s and 90s. And since I don't have fall for the time being, I am glad that we have pillows!! We should really make use of them. Or at least buy an electric blanket for the winter!  I am going to Toys R Us and find me a big ass stuff dog to be my pillow.  Or a pony. (Only some of y'all would get it!)

November All Ready!!!

Happy All Saint's Day Everyone!!! (November 1st!!)

To those of you who do not celebrate the whole Halloween thing and those of you who did too much trick-n-treating last night.  Isn't it nice that we can be a devil or a witch on one day and the following we can go to Saint Peter and ask him to forgive us provide that he gets the Heavenly Father permission first of course?

But okay, okay reality is now starting to stink in for some of us who start planning for the Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner, Christmas vacation, etc.  I am already planning my holiday liquor in Milwaukee with Asia and Sam.  I would start practicing now but I need to focus on school. (Haha haha I think this is why I started drinking in the first place! I started school back in 2008 and haven't stopped drinking since then!)

(Leave me to my denial please!)

Okay, so I got a few dates to bring to the surface for November before Thanksgiving Day.

So November 1st is also National Calzone Day, no Ilantian should be safe on this day.

November 2nd is Traffic Director Day - there is such a job?!

November 3rd - National Men Make Dinner Day!  No BBQ is allowed, so get your ass in the kitchen and make sure you clean up your mess!

November 5th - National Donut Day. A day where police offer everywhere does not have to feel guilty about having a donut or 2 or 4  or 7.

November 6th - Daylight Saving Time. I am already losing sleep!!

November 8th - Nation Harvey Wallbanger Day.  This is a drink, right? Because I am all for having another drinking holiday.

November 11th - National Sundae Day.  This is not good for those of us who are latoast intolerant with dairy!

November 12th - National Pizza with the Works Except for Anchovies Day! Y'all is by y'all selves on with this one!

November 19th - National Monopoly Day. Isn't Time Warren already doing that to us monthly?

November 24th - Thanksgiving Day!! So this is the official day where those of us who have to diet for some time start to put that weight back on. We continue with the weight gaining until Christmas more or less. There would be leftover from Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner if your cousins or Uncle Joe has not eaten you out of house and home.

After Thanksgiving, it is time to pull all the decorations out to doll up the house for Christmas. It also means it is time to spend that secret savings account that you open earlier this year to do your Christmas shopping. Which bring us to. . . . . . .

November 25th - Black Friday and November 28th - Cyber Monday.  Shopping spree for everyone!! Mama needs a brand new flat screen television. This is the start for most us when we become broke.

November 30th - Stay Home Because You're Well Day.  Yeah, it is called playing hooky, damn it!!

Oh yeah, let me not forget the most important date for this month - November 8th, which is Election Day!  Despite all the negativity in the media these days, I am looking at both candidates' background for experiences.

Can I vote for Jose Cuervo instead?