Author: hotchaitea

Every Christmas I try my hand at baking gingersnaps. Not just any gingersnaps, the perfect, chewy and soft gingersnaps. This year will be a bit of guessing game since I’m using a new kitchen and oven temperatures vary. Plus this cookie is my most challenging, I don’t know why, it’s my Christmas baking unicorn. All I can say is…

All Systems Go

I checked off all of my supplies and got to work. What could go wrong? Nothing can go wrong. I’m so ready this time. Also, my Mom called she’s coming to visit tomorrow, no pressure. LOL

What Could Go Wrong?

As you can see there’s an important ingredient missing from my picture above. If you guessed, butter, you’re right. It’s still in the FREEZER! No problem, I’ll put it in the microwave to soften it up a bit. I’m right here, what could possibly go wrong?

My butter completely melted, so it had to go back into the freezer. Not worried yet.

When in doubt, Use a Fork.

Once my butter was the right softness I wanted, I moved onto the next step. Cream together butter and sugar…Wait…you need a mixer for that. Okay, not panicking, maybe a little bit panicking. I don’t have a mixer! So, I went for my tried and true mixer replacement, the mighty FORK and BICEP POWER.

It worked! Nice and smooth.

Ready to Roll Out

After my dough chilled in the fridge for 30 minutes, and I had a nice cold beer, I was ready to roll out the dough. I preheated the oven to 350 F.

The first batch it ready to go. In 10 minutes I’ll find out if I succeeded this year.

The First Batch

After waiting 10 minutes, which felt like forever, to find out if my gingersnaps worked out the way I was dreaming of. They better look like the pictures!

Okay, they came out round and they look pretty soft. I waited until they cooled down to taste. I did pretty good. They’re gingery, soft, chewy and not overly sweet.

Yay, me!

But the real test will be MOM…

The Next Day…

My Mom arrived just after noon. We had lunch together, chatted for a bit before we had tea. This was my chance to share the gingersnaps. Will she approve..?

Watch the Video to Find Out

Sharing is Caring

If anyone is interested in the Gingersnaps recipe I used, you can find it here.

Do you find yourself struggling to keep your story on track? Storytelling doesn’t have to be tough. Just remember to plan ahead, remember what you want your audience to learn and keep it simple.

Some how I managed to get my chores done before the end of the weekend. I thought I’d share my favourite bevvy for a lazy Sunday! Join me as I live tweet the steps to making the perfect cup of Chai whenever you’re feeling the urge to relax. Just don’t blame me for any spilled tea.

Just me on a lazy Sunday making a fresh cup of #chai. Join me if you like and we can share some hot tea together #EXSM3989 pic.twitter.com/dLrYakmZXe

— Karen (she/her) (@PRKaren) November 1, 2020

A Story That Keeps you Engaged

Star Trek: The Next Generation is a show that captures your attention and your imagination at the opening credits with one of the most iconic intros of all television history.

How can you not be engaged, interested, and involved when each episode is a stand-alone-story!? Whether it’s Data and his daughter, an encounter with the Borg, or a malfunction in the holodeck there’s always a life lesson for the audience to take home.

A Story that Inspires and Instructs

Star Trek takes place in the future to a time where there’s no poverty, no hunger and no war. Humanity has broken free from the invisible hand of greed, and is now driven by the pursuit of knowledge, exploration and scientific discovery –and of course “The Prime Directive”. People of all races, origins and planets call Earth home. As a person of colour, I could see myself in this show, it gave me hope that maybe the Federation of Planets would be real someday. Perhaps, it will, the show has influenced a lot of present day technological achievements like the ipad, robot intelligence, holographic projection and universal translators – teleportation is still in the works.

A Story that Relates

There is one episode that sticks with me the most, even into adulthood. Captain Jean Luc Picard is transported off the bridge to a planet where he must learn how to communicate with the Captain of an alien ship to save his crew. He discovers the species speak in mythology, and later vows to learn from humanities stories. It’s a subtle reminder to not forget our written history. The storylines and characters are used to teach about complex issues like religion, gender inequality, diversity, freedom and the right to education. All hot button issues to this day.

In closing I leave you with some of the most inspirational moments from the series. Live long and prosper.