Wednesday's Random Dozen

If it's Wednesday, then it's Bible Study morning, Youth Group night -- and time to join Lid at 2nd Cup of Coffee for a Random Dozen!

1. Please share one middle school memory. It can be good, bad, ugly, funny. Pictures or words, I don't care, just share.

Last week almost all of us admitted how excruciatingly painful middle school (or junior high, in my case) was. So of course this week, Lid wants us to peel back our fingernails and SHARE a memory from those blasted blessed days. (I think she just wants to see who her real blog friends are that will keep coming back for more torture!)

Well, this is actually a good memory. And it's the start of my word geekiness. My eighth grade teacher (named Miss Gross, and she was 4'11 in all directions and as sweet as can be!) was huge on grammar. We diagrammed sentences almost the entire year. That was unusual even for my day - no one diagrammed sentences any more. Our final exam was to diagram a 100-word sentence! We turned our paper sideways and had to plan really carefully to get it to fit. I think I got a 98 or something. I loved it, and I learned more in English that year than any other year until 11th grade English when I had a phenomenal teacher who focused on literature and writing.

2. What's your favorite Beatles song?

I'm a nerd, but I just love When I'm Sixty-Four.

3. If I asked you to describe your most comfortable outfit, what would it be?

Denim shorts with some side elastic, a scoop-necked shirt, and flip-flops in the summer. In the winter, jeans, fleece sweatshirt, and slip-on mules.

4. Would you rather host a party or be a guest?

Host. I love it and it gives me something to focus on besides small talk, which I'm not very good at.

5. Do you think we will move completely from traditional books to digital ones, and if we do, are you OK with that?

I don't think so. At least I hope not. There's nothing like the smell and feel of a crisp new book. And the warm look of a bookcase filled with well-loved volumes!

6. Do you learn best by reading, listening or experiencing?

Experiencing. In nursing school we could have several lectures and read all sorts of stuff about a certain disease or surgery, and I'd be confused. I'd have one patient with it and it would click.

7. If you are (or when you were) single, what is the kiss of death for you concerning the opposite sex? (That is, what is one trait or behavior or habit or anything at all that immediately turns you off from considering that person a potential match for you?)

Well, there were obvious requirements like being a believer and having my values. But if we're talking shallow things? Greased hair (either unwashed or from product) or being short. I'm 5' 10" and really wanted someone at least as tall as I was.

8. Snacks. Salty or sweet?

Salty. I love chocolate, but to eat in large quantities - because isn't that what you do with snacks?! - salty is better. Homemade popcorn (not microwaved) is my favorite.

9. Look around you in a four foot radius. What object is around you that you didn't realize was there or forgot was there? How long has it been there?

My mom's recipe boxes. They've been sitting here for a year and a week.

10. What is your favorite Tom Cruise movie?

I'm not a Tom Cruise fan, but I loved A Few Good Men. And Top Gun.

11. You buy a bottle of shampoo and discover that you don't like what it does to your hair at all. What do you do with that full bottle?

Either toss it or give it to my man.

12. Your favorite Fall comfort food? (Last week it was beverage.)

I love making this in the fall:

APPLE-WALNUT BUNDT CAKE
3 cups flour
1 3/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 c. vegetable oil
1/2 c. apple juice
2 tsp. vanilla
3 large eggs
3 med. Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples, peeled & chopped
1 c. walnuts, coarsely chopped
1 c. golden raisins.

Preheat oven to 350. Grease & flour a 10-inch Bundt pan. Place all ingredients except apples, walnuts, & raisins in large bowl. Beat at low speed until well-mixed, constantly scraping bowl with spatula. Increase to medium speed & beat 2 minutes, occasionally scraping bowl. Stir in fruit & nuts. Spoon into pan. Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes or until it tests clean. Cool in pan on wire rack. Remove from pan & cool completely. Sprinkle with pwodered sugar to serve.
[NOTE: Can wrap well & freeze up to 1 month.]

And don't let the long list of ingredients intimidate you. This is really a simple recipe. Almost everything gets dumped into one bowl at the beginning, you mix it a bit, and then you add the rest. I love to take this up to the church for the staff to nibble on throughout the day. It makes a great dessert or even a breakfast cake. Enjoy!



Go see some more random folks over at 2nd Cup of Coffee.

And be sure to enter my giveaway this week for Randy Alcorn's new book If God is Good!