Thursday 17 January 2013

The Ma'am Controversy

What you talking 'bout Willis?

Let me 'splain.

There seems to be some confusion up here about the word "Ma'am". People seem to think its an insult, being the opposite of "Miss".  I overheard a co-worker say she feels old when someone calls her "Ma'am".  I can see where they might be confused. But it ain't so.


Naw.

"Ma'am" is a designation of  respect, and when used in a certain tone of voice, among friends, it is a term of endearment.

Now, if I were to get short and snippy, and THEN refer to you as "Ma'am", thats an insult but not the kind you think it is. I'm trying to insult you while still remaining within the limits of polite society. I'm not calling you old, but a witch.

Even though you might be.

But thats not the everyday usage.

In the everyday sense, the word "Ma'am" does not convey age, but authority, position, rank or simply respect.

It's not a four letter word. Except technically.

It's not "Yes Miss", until you reach a certain age or can no longer deny your "wrinkleyness". Its "Ma'am", as soon as someone feels the urge to show you respect, whether it be a child or a customer-service oriented cashier.

I've been called "yes ma'am", since I was around eleven or twelve.

AND I LIKE IT!

And if you don't, well, maybe you should spend some time down in God's Country....

You know, down below the Mason-Dixon line :)






(I see I'm not alone. Check out this cute t-shirt.)




Friday 4 January 2013

Cooking Through Christmas

I bought this awesome Christmas themed cookbook from Taste of Home for $10.

They are a ton of great recipes...some new takes on old favorites and others new altogether to me. I've compiled a list of recipes I want to try. I've numbered them and plan on testing as many as I can. I've chosen the first one: Date Swirl Cookies! The recipe follows below. If you'd like to pick the next one I test be the first to comment with a number from 1-329. There are a few other recipes I will post but you can chose the next to be made.

I didn't get a picture because they flew off the table at work.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups pitted dates, chopped
3/4 cup sugar, divided
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
2 cupss all purpouse flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Instructions:

In a saucepan, combine dates, 1/4 cup sugar, water, nuts and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirr constantly until thick. Let cool.

Beat butter, brown sugar, egg , egg and remaining sugar. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Chil for half hour.

Roll dough on a floured surface into a 1/4 in thick rectangle. Spread with date mixture. Start at the long end and roll up like a jelly roll.

Wrap with waxed paper, chill for at least 4 hours.

Remove paper and slice (1/8-1/4 inch). Place on a greased baking sheet, around 2 inches apart.

Bake 375F for 8 minutes. Cool on a wire rack

Made 3-4 dozen.

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes for Breast Cancer Awarness

We had a "Pink" themed bake sale at work. The money raised went to a breast cancer patient. We also had a dress down day where we could wear jeans and pink for $5 and that money also goes along to the patient.

I made these pink lemondae cupcakes from a lemon sponge cake recipe and topped them with sprinkles, almond crunch and toasted coconut chips (Dang brand, I think you can get them at Wally World. They are super yummy!)