better just seen: a poem

 you taught her to talk less
 better seen and not heard
 you went so far as to tell her
 that people would take her more seriously
 if she spoke less
 because it would imply that any time she does talk
 it must be important
 for her to break her silence
 it’s always the quiet ones
 who are perceived as smart
 and as having things worth saying
 yet somehow
 ever since you’ve told her this
 the pen hasn’t left her hand 
Photo by lascot studio on Pexels.com

Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients:

-3 cups flour

-1 1/2 tsp baking soda

-1/4 tsp salt

-1 TBS ginger

-1 1/3 tsp cinnamon

-1/4 tsp cloves

-6 TBS unsalted butter

-3/4 cup brown sugar (can be light or dark, up to you!)

-1 egg

-1/2 cup molasses

-2 tsp vanilla

Recipe Instructions:

-In a bowl, whisk together 3 cups flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 TBS ginger, 1 1/3 tsp cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp cloves until it’s all blended together very well.

-In another bowl, cream together 6 TBS unsalted butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, and 1 egg.

-Add in 1/2 cup molasses and 2 tsp vanilla and stir very well.

-Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until blended and smooth.

-Divide dough in half, then wrap each half in plastic and let stand at room temperature for 2-8 hours.

-Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a couple of pans with wax paper.

-Roll out the dough with flour and cut cookies about 1/4 inch thick.

-Bake 1 pan at a time for 7-10 mins, depending on how soft or how crunch you want the cookies to by.

-Let stand and firm enough to move to a drying rack.

-Enjoy! 🙂

Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:

-1 1/2 cups flour

-1/2 cup unsalted butter

-1 cup peanut butter

-1/2 cup light brown sugar

-1/2 cup white sugar

-1 tsp vanilla

-1 egg

-1/4 tsp baking soda

-1/2 tsp salt

Recipe Instructions:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a pan with wax paper.

-Whisk 1 1/2 cups flour with 1/4 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp salt.

-Cream together 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, and 1/2 cut white sugar.

-Add 1 cup of peanut butter to the sugar mixture and mix until well combined.

-Mix in 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla.

-Slowly add in flour and beat until incorporated.

-Roll out cookies into balls and flatten them by criss crossing a fork on each one.

-Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-12 mins.

-Let cool.

-Enjoy! 🙂

Molasses Cookies

Ingredients:

-1 cup flour

-1 tsp baking soda

-1 tsp ground cinnamon

-1/4 tsp ground cloves

-1/2 tsp ground ginger

-1/4 tsp salt

-4 TBS unsalted butter, melted

-1/4 cup light brown sugar (plus more for rolling the cookies)

-1 large egg yolk

-3 TBS molasses

Recipe Instructions:

-Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a pan with wax paper.

-In a blow, whisk together 1 cup flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground cloves, 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1/4 tsp salt, and set aside.

-In another bowl, stir together 1/4 cup light brown sugar and 4 TBS melted unsalted butter.

-Combine the two mixtures and stir until fully incorporated.

-Add in 1 egg yolk and 3 TBS molasses. Stir until combined.

-Chill for 15 mins.

-After chilling, scoop out 10-12 balls of cookie dough and roll it in the sugar or sprinkles. Then, place on the lined pan and bake for 8-10 mins. The cookies should crack.

-Let cool.

-Enjoy! 🙂

manipulation: a poem

 it happens in phases
 first they’ll pretend to be your friend
 and they’ll compliment you
 and flatter you
 so that you let your guard down
 until they peel back enough layers
 that they find the pink in your flesh 
 then they bite
 and they rip
 and they smile
 as they pick your skin out of their teeth
 and they ask you
 what’s wrong?
 and you give them a cup of your blood to drink 
 then your skeleton stiffens 
 and you claw free
 there’s some back and forth
 an apology with far too many “you” words
 and things seem temporarily normal 
 before the chaos leaks back in 
 insanity repeats itself
 but now new phases are slowly introduced
 the compliments return
 but strictly in front of those jealous of you
 insincere or not
 (though they are)
 it makes no difference
 they’ll ensure you have no real allies
 while they praise your work ethic 
 and tell you how nice your hair looks
 when you can’t remember the last time you washed it
 they’ll seek out whoever remains in your corner
 and try to turn you against them
 since their other tactics didn’t work on everyone
 they’ll work to obliterate every lifeline
 and they’ll wait until you have no one left
 to stop the phase of insincere compliments
 they’ll tear you down 
 both behind your back and in front of everyone
 they’ll diminish every accomplishment of yours
 and your one defense
 is being better than them in everything you
 think, say, and do
 and let your work speak for itself
 because it won’t even be a comparison 
 after they’ve spent all their energy on you
 instead of channeling their energy
 towards improving themselves  
Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com

Chocolate, Banana, and Peanut Butter Mug Cake

Ingredients:

-1 overripe banana

-1 egg

-1 TBS peanut butter

-1/2 tsp vanilla

-2 TBS Greek yogurt

-3 TBS flour

-1/4 tsp baking soda

-1 TBS cocoa powder

Recipe Instructions:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a mug.

-Mash one over ripe banana in the mug.

-Add in one egg, 1 TBS peanut butter, 2 TBS Greek yogurt, and mix it all up super well.

-Add 3 TBS flour and 1 TBS cocoa powder. Stir!

-Bake in the mug at 350 degrees for 35 mins.

-Enjoy! 🙂

Photo by Alexander Ant on Pexels.com

Mini Cherry Coke Cake

Cake Ingredients:

-4 TBS Coke, or any brand of cola

–4 TBS cherry pie filling

-6 TBS flour

-4 TBS white sugar

-1 TBS chocolate chips

-1 pinch baking soda

-1 sprinkle of salt

-1/4 cup chocolate milk

-1/4 cup melted butter

-1/2 tsp vanilla

Topping Ingredients:

-5 TBS Coke, or any brand cola

-2 TBS white sugar

-2 TBS light brown sugar

-1 TBS chocolate chips

-1 TBS rum (the alcohol cooks out)

Recipe Instructions:

-Boil 4 TBS coke and 4 TBS cherry pie filling. Let stand for 30 mins.

-In a bowl, combine 6 TBS flour, 4 TBS white sugar, 1 TBS chocolate chips, 1 pinch baking soda, and a sprinkle of salt.

-In a separate bowl, combine 1/4 cup chocolate milk, 1/4 cup melted butter, and 2 tsp vanilla.

-Stir wet bowl into dry ingredients until just combined.

-Fold in the cherry coke mixture.

-Spray your mini crock pot and pour in the batter.

-Pour 5 TBS Coke, 2 TBS white sugar, and 2 TBS light brown sugar into a souce pan and heat until sugar dissolves.

-Remove from heat and pour in 1 TBS chocolate and 1 TBS rum. Stir until smooth.

-Pour the mixture over the batter and do not stir.

-Cook on low for 4-5 hours.

-Enjoy! 🙂

I HIGHLY recommend serving this warm in a bowl with vanilla ice cream on top. ❤

If you want to make this in a regular crock pot, just quadruple all the measurements.