Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Conference Chaos

My last blog was chock full of whining and complaining about the perils of parent-teacher conferences. Unless you work in a school, you have no idea what crazy things they do to teachers.  They are all consuming like a grease fire in a donut shop. 

Mmmmm....donuts. 

Conferences affect every aspect of our lives. Take, for instance, the fact that I haven't put my clean clothes away for two weeks. Laundry plummets on the list of to-dos.  I'm a working girl, people, and I teach first grade.  You don't arrive home at the end of the work day clean as a whistle or smelling like a peach.  We do a lot of laundry around here.  Our spare bedroom looks like a scene from Hoarders. Now, I'm not a tall girl, but this pile and I are seeing eye-to-eye.  And I'm fairly sure the pile really does have eyes.  The dog won't even go in there anymore.  Thank goodness there is a door.  May it always remain closed.       

Speaking of what's behind closed doors, I'm reading Twilight.

Again.

I need some way to wind down after a twelve hour day. In stressful situations, I reread - it's just one of the things I turn to.  When Mr. B had to be taken to the emergency room a few years ago, I took a Harry Potter with me.  There's just something super comforting to me about a book I've already read - very much like an old friend.  I'm not sure I'm a Twi-hard  like most tweens, but I do have nearly enough pimples to rationalize owning a copy.  Your average junior high kid is taller than me and my pile, anyway.  Don't even ask me how many times I've read Twilight, or Harry Potter for that matter.  You'd probably stop reading this blog and sever ties completely. How do you spell nerd again? Oh, that's right... J-E-N-N-I-F-E-R.

Besides staying up way later than necessary to read a sci-fi book for middles schoolers, I also tend to begin tasks that take more time than I have available.  Yesterday was a friend/colleague's birthday and I wanted to make cupcakes.  Yes, it was late. Yes, I should have just gone to bed.  But what anxiety is there in that?   

Frosted Pineapple Ladies

1 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 t. baking soda
1 1/2 t. Ener-G Egg Replacer (or 1 T. ground flax meal)
2 T. water
1 t. vanilla
1 c. crushed pineapple

Mix flour, sugar, and baking soda together in a bowl.  In a small dish, whisk together the egg replacer (or flax) with the 2 T. of water.  Add the pineapple, vanilla and egg mixture to the bowl.  Stir until well-mixed. 

Pour into a lined cupcake tin.  Fill fairly full - these cupcakes don't rise too much.  Bake at 350* for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

You can also make a cake in an 8x8.  Just make sure to spray the dish or line the bottom with wax paper.  These little ladies are STICKY. Bake for around 40 minutes.   

Pineapple Frosting
Beat together:
2 T. Earth Balance (vegetable margarine)
2 T. shortening
1 c. powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla
1/4 c. vegan cream cheese

When I say beat it together - let your mixer run til it smokes.  Once the ingredients are well incorporated, add 2 T. of drained, crushed pineapple. 

Ice cupcakes after they have cooled completely, then refrigerate.   

Mr. B didn't think these were all that spectacular, but I got much better reviews when I took some to school.  The birthday girl loved them. 

BONUS: I had readily available vegan treats to stress-eat before, during, and after the parents started rolling in.  

So who needs Xanax? Not me! I've got clean clothes, cupcakes and Edward Cullen.

Happy conferencing!

1 comment:

  1. I am so glad you posted this recipe!! These are awesome!!!! Made your cherry cookies and my family loves them!!

    ReplyDelete