Writing Exercise: Moving Day

Looking for a new home is always so trying. There’s the children: they’re so sensitive to anything the littlest bit different. Pets can be a pain, dogs barking at new noises, cats hissing at new people. They’re all so easily disturbed. It’s really very sad.

Even adults have a hard time coping. ‘What’s that noise?’ ‘Where did I put the box of china?’ ‘When did this get moved?’ It just never ends. It’s almost not worth finding a new home.

But once they moved the graveyard I didn’t have much of a choice. This house looks nice…

Geek Grub: Innkeeper's meat and potatoes

Get a real inn-style meal without spending the gold pieces!

You want HOW much for trail rations?!

You'll need:
1 cup of milk
 4 7/8 ounces instant potato mix
1/2 lb ground beef
2 cups shredded or sliced cheddar cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese (optional)
1/4 cup butter
1 tsb Garlic
Dash of salt
Dash of pepper

1. Salt and Pepper beef. Cook in non-stick pan on stove top until brown, then drain off the fat.

2. Make mashed potatoes according to package. Add milk, garlic, and mozzarella if you're using it, and stir until creamy.

3. Layer time! In a baking dish make the following layers: one inch potatoes, all the beef, half the cheddar, the rest of the potatoes, and lastly, the rest of cheese.

Tasty, tasty murder.

4. Bake at 350 until the cheese melts and the potatoes start to turn golden brown. usually between 10-20 minutes.

5. Let sit for five minutes and eat.

6. Defeat the orks.

He looks hungry!

Geek Grub: Easy cheesy chicken pizza

Another family favorite, easy to make, even easier to eat one handed.

YOU'LL NEED
2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt
Garlic
Pepper
1 can of refrigerated pizza dough
Olive Oil
Shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic on chicken breasts and bake at 350 for 25 minutes until cooked through. ALTERNATIVE SPICES: Lemon pepper. Lemon Juice. Lime Juice. Poultry seasoning, Cajun seasoning. This really works with almost any spice.

Except this. Do not do this.

2. Pre-bake dough, if the can instructs you to. Otherwise, unroll dough on baking sheet, and smear a bit of olive oil all over the surface, and sprinkle some garlic on it too.

3. Chop up the chicken into itty-bitty pieces. I use scissors to make it easier.

Safety first!

4. Put chicken on pizza crust. Cover with shredded cheese. Bake according to can.

5. Let cool and enjoy.

Unless you're this guy.

The (Job) Hunter Games: One Month

It's been one month since my internship at the law firm ended. In that time I've applied for over 35 jobs, had two interviews (one with the County, one with a local school district), and a few small pet sitting things. I've eaten into my saving set aside specifically for the purpose, but I'm not out of money just yet.

I've learned to cook, bake, and scrape together a good meal with stuff around the house. I've worked on a few writing projects, cleaned a bit, and lost a little weight due to not wasting money on snacks and fast food.  I read books on how to interview, write a resume, and a cover letter; I have a few more checked out on screenwriting. If it wasn't for the money issue, I'd be perfectly happy to be a homemaker.

I feel ambition-less. You can only clean, cook, apply for jobs, and write so much before you run into a wall. Or at least, I can only do those things so much. I feel guilty when I see my fiancee go to work, and I'm at home doing so very little. I always try to have something to show him when he arrives: a newly-cleaned spot, a home-cooked meal, a blog post or youtube video. Anything to show I'm not just sitting here, being lazy while he works.

Guilty. That's how I feel. He's working and I'm here...doing this. This week I've got a pet and house sitting gig: the money is paying for our Christmas presents to the rest of the family. At least I can do that much.

He knows how I feel, and we're talking about it. But nothing is going to make me fell better. Not until I start bringing in income again. I've been the financial head of the family since my Dad died in 2009. I've had a job since the age of 16. I'm over the novelty of time off. I want to work again.

For today, it's back to applying, reading up on how to better present my resume, and pet-sitting with two adorable huskies. Maybe I'll even do a little more writing. 

Geek Grub: Easy Reese's Fudge

This is a chocolaty, peanut buttery delight forged in the fires of Sugar Rush's deepest candy caves.

You'll need
1 package of chocolate chips (12 oz)
1 jar peanut butter
2 sticks of butter
2 cups of powdered sugar
A big ol' nonstick pan
1 of those huge Reese's Peanut Butter Candy Bars. (4oz picture, but use the biggest one you can find)

Manna from heaven!

Break up the bar in squares and put it into a pan. Add the chocolate chips, butter, and and the peanut butter.

Melt over low heat while STIRRING CONSTANTLY. Fullmetal Alchemist will still be on Netflix when you're done. Trust me.

See? He'll hang around.

When it's smooth, turn off the heat and add the powdered sugar. Mix it until everything is smooth and chocolaty. Mm-mm.

Refrigerate until firm (30 mins to an hour). If you wanna put it into a baking dish to serve, that's cool too. Frankly, I just put the pan outside, since I live in Michigan, and fridge shelf space is at a premium. 

Another fine day in the U.P.

Then you cut that chocolaty goodness (with the blunt side of a butter knife so your pan isn't wrecked) AND EAT UNTIL THE DIABEETUS COMES.

You'll know.

Geek Grub: Peanut Butter Crunchies

Another classic create 'n crunch while you mow down Goblins (or Vampires, or space marines, or whatever). They're a bit hit with my friends and family, and SUPER easy and cheap.

YOU NEED:
1 cup of creamy peanut butter
1 cup of corn syrup
1 cup of sugar
6 cups of Corn Flakes OR Rice Krispies OR Cocoa Krispies. Whatever your cereal preference/availability may be.

Age restrictions may apply.

1. Mix sugar and corn syrup in a pot, and bring to a boil. 

2. While it's heating up, put the cereal into a glass baking dish. 

3. Turn off the heat, and mix in the peanut butter until melted. 

4. CAREFULLY pour mix over cereal and stir in.

5. Clean up spilled cereal. YOU WEREN'T CAREFUL ENOUGH!

6. Once they're hardened, slice and serve. Or eat in warm gobby handfuls, whatever floats your boat. Who am I to judge? They're delicious either way.

Geek Grub: Easy Cheesy Potatoes

Here's a modified recipe that's easy, quick, and can be made with stuff on hand. Perfect for those Sunday Afternoon Gaming Sessions that need something more hearty than pizza and pop. Original unaltered recipe is here.

Just remember this on those extra-long dungeon crawls...

Easy Cheesy Potatoes

• 5 potatoes, peeled and sliced OR 2 cans of pre-sliced potatoes
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cheddar cheese soup
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• Olive Oil (to grease baking dish.)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x9-inch baking dish with olive oil. 
2. Layer the potatoes into the prepared baking dish. Mix together the soup, milk, garlic, pepper, and melted butter in pan until thoroughly combined; pour the mixture over the potatoes.
3. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven on a lower rack until the potatoes are tender, about 1 hour.