First Steps

Alright folks, I see we're going to have to do this the hard way. I appreciate the silent nods of approval and the raised fists of solidarity that I can only imagine are being cast toward the screen, however, I can't help but notice the radio silence on skill offerings. Not a problem. I can seduce you later. In the meantime, out of the public eye, one lone hero has emerged from the shadows to participate in this process of mutual growth. That hero?

I made a gif. Is that a skill?

Sara has graciously offered to share her paleo-cooking and urban foraging skills in exchange for an extra pair of eyes to go over an article she's going to submit about her personal story with the paleo diet (an excellent read, by the way, which I'll hopefully be able share when it's published!). We haven't had a chance to get together yet but I'm certain that the experience will be nourishing on numerous platforms.

In the past week or so, I've been working on that whole goal-setting thing. In a nutshell, what I want comes down to this: To be self-sufficient (including financially), more fit, and good at stuff. Is there a particular culture where vagueness is prized? Perhaps I should consider joining it. 

For the good at stuff bit, I started making a list of specific skills or tasks that I wanted to be able to complete. I feel like an appropriate place to start from that list is to create a customized blog design. Presumably for this blog. But we'll see. I haven't really taken any strides with that one, besides writing it on my freshly inaugurated "Goal Board".

In regards to fitness, I slapped down a goal of losing 5lbs. As I've already said to some of you in person, this is not because I'm particularly interested in losing any weight. I've been stable since high school minus one chubby sausage-bread-and-yogourt-filled year in Germany, so I've never really felt a strong desire to mess with that consistency. However, since (let's be honest) I don't plan to make many (or any) changes to my dietary habits, losing 5lbs becomes a measurable benchmark that is only surmountable by increased fat-burning activities! So I've created a bit of an exercise schedule for myself. Thus far, I've kept to it about 50% of the time. It's a start.

Finally, in terms of self-sufficiency, the main goal for now is this: GET A JOB. I've certainly been working the hardest at making this goal, yet it's probably the goal that I spent the least time setting. I could probably stand to clarify the terms of this prize and lay out the pathway to it, because evidently, I haven't had much luck so far. However, I'm still hoping to hear back from some promising applications. If you or anyone you know would like to hire me, do drop a line! I get shit done. 

Until next time, folks!

The Resurrection

Two years ago, I started this blog because I lacked practical skills. I thought that public documentation of this would perhaps motivate me to become better at things on my own, or failing that, that someone might at least come along and suggest a skill for me to acquire in order to have something to work towards. I was hoping to be held brutally accountable for any such utterance that suggested a target of personal growth.

Well, I never seemed to figure out what 'things' I wanted to be better at, and I never gave anyone a reason to engage with the project on a level deeper than "occasional skimming", so obviously, none of my goals ever came to fruition. Now, two years later, I've officially graduated and discarded the "I'm too busy with school" excuse for not learning anything independently, and as I'm searching for careers with a shopping cart full of soft skills and empty basket of technical proficiencies, it saddens me to recognize that I saw this train wreck coming with plenty of time to reroute the tracks. I definitely could have been a whiz at something by now.

Le sigh. Yet, here we are.

So I'm thinking it's time to try this again. I'm in a similar position to where I was the first time around: defeated, lost, and almost entirely lacking in money and resources. However, where I once had upcoming semesters and perceived future learning experiences, I now have nothing but space and time spread out before me, waiting to be filled with adventure and learning. I haven't just been twiddling my thumbs - I recently started doing yoga on YouTube and  signed up for some Skillshare classes on basic entrepreneurialism. Given everything else I've seen, it seems like it should be possible to learn absolutely flipping anything on the Internet. Piece of cake.

But, ACCOUNTABILITY. It'll be all about picking something manageable (and ideally transferable) and committing myself to achieving a specific, concrete goal. (Please note the irony in this vague generalization.)

To avoid becoming a total web-hermit and double the accountability, however, the most excellent manifestation of this endeavor would be if someone (like YOU!) were willing to teach me one of their own skills. I am eager and open to trade. I can currently offer baking, academic paper writing, and basic recorder and bass guitar. My offerings will increase as yours do.

That being said, I think it's far and away past time that I start taking a little more responsibility for myself. If you won't make these connections with me, then so help me, I will force myself upon you. But gently. And with compassion. You'll like it.

And so, it is with lingering hesitation but no clear intention that I now conclude this entry, already feeling pressured by this public declaration in spite of the fact that I have not yet offered any apparent plan of action.

Let's call that Week 2.

Adventures in Muffin-Making

So, I think I've established myself as a pretty good muffin-maker. Many muffins have I marvelously made from scratch over the years and there's definitely been more hits than misses. As a result, I feel that the risk of total failure is pretty low. However, be that as it may, I'm never quite sure what I'm getting into when I start throwing things into a bowl. This time was no different.

The story behind this recipe all started last year when my mom received a $24 box of hot chocolate from her employer, who said that it was just the most magnificent thing ever and she simply had to try it. It was Thomas Haas Aztec Chili Hot Chocolate, and the instructions called for a half cup of the mixture and a half cup of homogenized milk. Needless to say, it was barely liquid, uncomfortably spicy, and no one was very impressed. But my mom didn't want to waste it or admit to her boss that she hated it, so it sat around in the cupboard for a few months before she gave it to me for baking.

One of the first recipes I posted on here was for my Chuckleberry Chili muffins, which were my first attempt at baking with the chocolate-chili combo. Those were delish, but needed some revision so I tried to build this recipe somewhat off of that. Please note that I don't measure anything properly so the ingredients are mostly guesswork.

HOT COCOA CRAN-CHILI SPICE MUFFINS

2 cups flour

1.5 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup Thomas Haas Aztec Hot Chocolate

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

dash of salt

1/2 tsp powdered cloves

*Optional 1/2 cup cocoa powder, not used in this recipe but would have made it better, IMHO

1 egg

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/8 cup chili oil

1/2 cup chopped cranberries (or more, depending on your preference)

a bit of maple syrup or brown sugar to sweeten

a bit of cinnamon

Ok. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Start by whipping out your cranberries. I had mine in the freezer beforehand, because I find it much easier to cut them into smaller pieces when they're good and firm. Just chop them in half, or thirds if you get some enormous cran-mutation. Dump those in a bowl, drizzle them with a bit of maple syrup or a tablespoon or so of brown sugar to sweeten them up a bit and mix in a bit of sassy cinnamon. Put them to the side for now.

In a large bowl, dump in all the ingredients from the first section: Your flour, your sugar, your unconventional hot chocolate mixture, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cloves. Combine. If you actually use the Thomas Haas mix (and you could definitely do this without) it should look something like a Shake and Bake mix with the little flecks of chocolate, etc. Don't be alarmed. This is normal. Also add the optional 1/2 cup of cocoa powder at this point if you're looking for something more chocolatey. The chocolateyness is minimal otherwise.

Now it's time to turn your Shake and Bake into a bowl of cement. Do this by adding the egg, milk, vegetable and chili oil. If you want less of a spicy aftertaste, go for less chili oil. Mix thoroughly, with passion. At this point you should be ready to add your saucy, sassy cinnamon cranberries. Toss those little minxes in! Give 'em a good stir! Lose them in that yummy, cementy, quicksand-like substance!

Your oven should be ready by now so just go on ahead and grease up a muffin pan (should make about 12) and slip them in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until ready. Just keep an eye on them, will you?

The results look something like banana muffins, but nothing could be farther from the truth. When you bite in, it's a cakey, spicy, chocolatey, cranberry sensation, and definitely a good way to use up some crappy hot chocolate. Not the best muffins I've ever made, but definitely among the most interesting!