The Day After: I Said What?
food February 2nd, 2009Note to self: When you’re hopped up on Benadryl and half asleep during a Super Bowl party wherein your sister-in-law asks you if you could make 150 chocolate-covered strawberries for an event she’s running because she knows you make ’em real good, next time — Just. Say. No.
One hundred and fifty.
Plus a few or twelve carefully planned rejects. You know, for the chef.
So anybody free Saturday?
UPDATE: I finished! And guess what? She gave me not 150 strawberries, but 250! Nearly killed me. If you’d like to see some of my work, click here. I didn’t get all fancy because I realized how many I had to do and sometimes "good enough" is good enough.
Stumble it!
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Kathy, I really feel for you for getting into this. It is obviously more than you can take on yourself. yes, I am actually offering my services. Pardon? Oh, heavens no, not that!! Taste tester!!!! Yes, I am a very qualified, unbiased and experienced taste tester.
You see, I absolutely love strawberries and chocolate (dark, please) and I would be willing to stick it out to the bitter end in order to assure you get the best 150 chocolate-covered strawberries possible. I’ll test and test until we find the best. Now, what’s the address?
Matt’s last blog post..Top Droppers Day
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:29 pm
I don’t think you can be held responsible for that commitment. Just tell her you were on drugs at the time, and maybe she’ll let you out of it.
Or, give her a bowl of melted chocolate and a big box of strawberries and tell her it’s more fun for everyone to dip his/her own! 🙂
They do look good, though.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Sorry you are still under the weather.
But it’s chocolate covewed strawbewies !
(Drool)
They will be perfect after the sandwich Ronald will be having tomorrow.
Stupid Groundhog ! Deserves it for making us go to six more weeks of winter !
Jaffer’s last blog post..Mellow Yellow Monday #4: Bedspread
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:16 pm
LOL sounds like things I get roped into, except I don’t even like chocolate and when asked I usually shudder so they kind of edge away and go “Oh.”
Have fun, I’d offer to help, but no one lives remotely close to me ever.
SewDucky’s last blog post..Yay!!
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:26 pm
I can’t imagine I would like chocolate covered strawberries but, to be fair, I’ve never had them so who knows? I think it’s obligatory to make at least a dozen rejects, maybe more. Even to taste them as you’re making them. You know, when the chocolate is all drippy and yummy!
Babs – beetle’s last blog post..My 70’s Perm Disaster
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:01 pm
During a New Year;’s Party one year a neighbor exclaimed in a loud alcohol fueld voice “I’m going to run every day next year!” Then I heard a voice. that sounded suspiciously like my own alcohol fueled voice say, “If you wake me up I’ll run too!”
The party continued until the wee hours, and the next morning at 6:00 AM My neighbor RANG the bell!
Out of revenge I woke him up the next morning and we continued for nine months, until he got married, starting exercising other muscles, and refused to answer the door anymore.
Dan Brantley’s last blog post..Can You Find The Labels?
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Go cough on her…..
Just don’t cough on the berries.
😉
Hope you’re feeling better soon. And remember the extra berries will give you much-needed vitamins. We just won’t talk about the chocolate.
Maureen’s last blog post..Crap, Another Vow Broken
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Chocolate covered strawberries? Mmm! I had some once. I think.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:54 pm
If you were closer just a tad closer instead of clear across the country and across the border I would so be there helping out!! You must always remember that when you are hopped up on cough meds 150 and 50 and 1 all sound the same and seem like a breeze! This is why when you are sick, take your meds and plunk yourself in front of the tv! Do not talk on the phone and if anyone in your presents asks you a question just blow your nose as the question starts every time!! Never even give them a chance to get to the end of the question with asking them to repeat as you repeat the blow… It will make them leave you alone fast and you will get better faster without having to help anyone do anything!! LoL
The Mind of a Mom’s last blog post..Sing it loud!
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Kathy…you know it’s not nice to tease……!
Angi’s last blog post..Monday Brain Mush
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:32 am
With this order, you are now officially in the catering business.
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:57 am
If I lived closer I would certainly help you. I’m sensitive to strawberries, so I wouldn’t be sampling them! 😉
Carol’s last blog post..Pentimento Top Entrecard Droppers January 2009
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:25 am
If you really aren’t up to it, grab a tissue and give her a call back to discuss your project. In between sneezing and blowing and sniffling and snot slurping ask her if she wants all dark chocolate, all milk chocolate or 1/2 and 1/2. Get all the details. Be sure to stop often to sneeze, blow, sniffle and snot slurp while you pretend to take down her ‘order’.
If she has any common sense at all she won’t want to subject her guests to germ laden food and won’t be able to get off the phone fast enough and tell you how she decided to go with cream puffs from Sams Club.
Lola’s last blog post..What Were You Thinking?/Now We Know
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:30 am
Oh I never agree to ANYTHING while on Benadryl!!
meleah rebeccah’s last blog post..I *Heart* The Internet
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:37 am
Love those rejects!
peace,
mike
livelife365
Mike Foster’s last blog post..Me And My Modem
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:16 am
What a mess you get yourself into! I would NEVER have to worry about doing something like that because I never cook, bake or stay in the kitchen more than 10 minutes–that’s my limit. I’m a total kitchen klutz!
Karen, author of “My Funny Dad, Harry”’s last blog post..Harry and Brookside Park, Now The Cleveland Zoo
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:04 am
Matt — So it sounds like you just might be interested, eh? I do love the dark chocolate ones, but have you ever had the milk chocolate? Equally yummy! Thank you for offering your taste-testing services, but would I have any to give her when we’re done?
MaryLou — Oooo! Good idea! I have to admit, that’s how I eat a lot of them when I make ’em. God, I’m pathetic. Can’t even wait five minutes for the chocolate to harden. I’m hopeless.
Jaffer — Today’s the day! I feel human again! It only took a week. I’m with you. When did the groundhog get to be such an authority? I choose to ignore him this year. I’ve had enough of winter. Seriously.
SewDucky — Wait a minute. Huh? You don’t like chocolate? I’m sorry, you must have been passed over for that gene. Actually, you’re really lucky. I would have such a smaller behind if I didn’t like chocolate. Now that I think about it, you’ve been blessed.
Babs beetle — Oh, go out and make them right now! Do you have the brand “Baker’s Chocolate” in your neck of the woods? That’s what I use. Melt, dunk, done.
Dan Brantley — Har! Yeah, never agree to anything unless you have all your faculties. And a committee of people to vote yea or nay. And then you should have a grace period to back out. We need help to protect us from ourselves.
Maureen — Yes, I’m feeling much better. Woke up today feeling pretty refreshed compared to the last five days. I hope you’re over your cold, as well. I always tell myself I’m eating healthy when I shovel a half dozen chocolate-encased berries in my mouth. Mmmmm!
Jay — They can be messy, but so worth it. Mouth is watering right now. Also, if you make them and bring them to a party, people think you slaved all day. But they’re so easy to make. Of course, I’ve never tried 150. We’ll see how good the last twenty or so look.
The Mind of a Mom — Seriously. I thought nothing of it and I’m planning it out in my head how I’m going to do it. I really don’t have enough room in my fridge for the hardening-up process. It’s going to be a slow process. Two trays in, wait. Package them. Another two trays in. Wait. Oh, what have I done?
Angi — Sorry! But I highly recommend buying some Baker’s Chocolate and berries and going to town. So easy to make — in small batches!
PaulsHealthBlog.com — Got that right. Maybe I should make up a business card to keep with them where they’re going. Could be a nice little side business.
Carol — Oh, but they don’t have to be strawberries. I know someone who makes chocolate-covered grapes! Pick a fruit and dip!
Lola — Funny! I can’t feign sickness now. I went and got healthy! I’m dug in.
meleah rebeccah — And now I know for next time.
Mike Foster — My rejects usually are the giant, freak strawberries, ones that look out of place with the rest. Oh, man, how I could go for a plate of them right now!
Karen — I’m the same way, which is why these desserts are perfect for me. They look like I slaved over them, but they don’t require cooking and I can’t really screw them up. Which is what got me into this pickle in the first place.
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:24 am
150? From my prior knowledge, that’s a big number. I’m free Saturday. I would be DEEE-lighted to help out. As long as I can eat some. So, what time do you want me to come over?
Oh, and when she asked, I’m pretty sure you heard ‘Would you like to EAT 150 chocolate covered strawberries?’ Then you, being so happy someone offered you that, said yes. It was only later when you realized that she asked you to make them and not eat them.
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:43 am
I’m with Regan. Except, I will simply eat some while giving you all moral support…
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:54 am
yes, they do look good!
What’s the occasion?
storybeader’s last blog post..Giveaway – John Wright original artwork
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:29 am
That is a lot of dipping. I find that things like that often sound fun until the light of day when I realize what I have committed to. I would help, but I would bring the snorting, sniffling, etc that Lola said your sister won’t want.
Anne’s last blog post..Random Thoughts
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:37 am
Our Mom would be happy to help (test) too! The strawberries are wonderful right now – she’ll even bring the berries!!
Sniffie and the Florida Furkids
Sniffie and the Florida Furkids’s last blog post..Tattletail Tuesday – Sniffie
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 am
This is why I consider it very lucky that I am not good at making sweets and such.
Oh my I do wish you the best of luck. I also hope you are feeling better soon.
Wow that’s a lot of strawberries. and Babs how could you not like chocolate covered strawberries? Oh you really must try them!
Get better soon Kathy!:-)
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:53 am
I think I’m the only woman in the Western world who doesn’t like chocolate covered strawberries. Separately, they’re both wonderful, but I’m just not interested in them together.
Once people find out you have a “specialty” you get stuck making it for every occasion. I would be happy to come and help, if I wasn’t a few hundred miles away!
absepa’s last blog post..Notes from the State of Emergency
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:27 am
Can you volunteer to do half?
I’d be dangerous if left unsupervised with chocolate to dip things in. I have a hard time not using the chocolate fountain at the local hotel breakfast buffet like a water fountain
Shieldmaiden96’s last blog post..Getting all up in it
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:29 am
My mother made a tray full of chocolate covered strawberries for Boxing Day (day after xmas) to bring to a friends house. When she got there she handed the tray to the host, which then proceeded to slip and drop the whole tray of them on the floor… So make sure you carry them to the counter and don’t hand them over to someone on their 4th glass of champagne.
LindaF’s last blog post..Mailboxes are like a box of chocolate…
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:02 am
I’m not a chocolate covered strawberry fan either. When I do strawberries at a party, I put out bowls of whipped cream, sour cream and brown sugar. Take the strawberry, dip it in the white stuff of your choice, roll it in brown sugar and eat. Yum! No hours of prep work there. I also do strawberry cake, a strawberry glaze pie, and when I am short of time, a quickie strawberry angel food cake creation using a bakery cake. (takes 10 minutes)
The one most requested? the Strawberry glaze pie that takes forever to make, of course.
shadowsrider’s last blog post..Today my Grail is BACON!
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:07 am
Chocolate-covered strawberries have never appealed to me. Benadryl, on the other hand, is delicious. Maybe you can slip your SIL some Benadryl-covered strawberries, and she’ll forget all about it.
JD at I Do Things’s last blog post..I Hate Moths so you don’t have to
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:10 am
I pretty much like any fruit dipped in chocolate… what’s not to like- healthy snack covered in molten chocolate goodness. Mmm, makes me want to have some right now! Are you planning on going all fancy and decorating them with little tuxes?
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:35 am
I don’t know if we have ‘Bakers Chocolate’ but I think, if I were going to do it, it would have to be Cadbury Bournville Chocolate – Yummie! Now I want some hahaha! As soon as strawberries are in the shops we will give it a go!
Babs – beetle’s last blog post..My 70’s Perm Disaster
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:36 pm
I have a word for you: SUBCONTRACTOR!
Of Course, that also means no taste testing, but who cares?! oh wait, you do. Never mind!
Chris Casey’s last blog post..My 11th Commandment: Don’t let your kids play with Automatic rifles!
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Sorry, I’m all booked up. What were you thinking? Bwahahahahaha.
Have a great day. 🙂
Comedy Plus’s last blog post..Father Donovan
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Well that sounds like it was tough to make all those 150 chocolate covered strawberry’s. I hope everyone recognized your hard efforts, because most of the time they don’t 🙁
Boris Said’s last blog post..Boris Said Daytona 500
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Chocolate covered strawberies are so good. I like the dark chocolate, which is loaded with antioxidents. So, these berries then are health food, equivalent to a soy and wheat grass smoothie.
Joe’s last blog post..Bruce Springsteen, just another yappy jerk
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Hope you’re feeling better soon, Kathy. With enough Benedryl, you might not even realize you’ve made 150 chocolate covered strawberries….
Or you might be lying face down in the bowl of chocolate asleep…
Could go either way.
Jenn Thorson’s last blog post..Office Pranks, Pens, and the Shrinkwrap Trap
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:46 pm
lol nicely done. I’m afraid I won’t be available but believe me I know I’m missing out. If yours looks anything like the one in the photo I’d probably eat all of them.
fragileheart’s last blog post..Why I love CMF Ads
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:34 pm
hi Kathy,
Just to clarify, is the picture of one of your past creations? They look awesome. The little white drizzle stripe is a very nice touch! BTW, your little morsels look perfect for a Grammys party. Aren’t the Grammys this Sunday? Could you make another 150 while you’re at it? 🙂
~ Steve, aka the loved-the-SuperBowl trade show guru
Trade Show Guru’s last blog post..Trade Show Zombies
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:24 pm
There’s your out. Drug addled committments are not enforcable and can be considered invalid due to incapacity of the person making the committment. The same is to be said for holding people accountable for blog comments when they are “under the influence” and not in full control of their faculties.
Oh, I had a healthy dose of versaid today, so my comment is not my fault.
Lee’s last blog post..Who’s Driving the Bus?
February 4th, 2009 at 6:01 am
Regan — I don’t know. I suspect you can’t get your mother to drive you here at 5AM. I don’t mess around. I’m startin’ early! Funny, yeah, I might have thought she asked if I wanted to eat that many, because you know I totally could.
BabaBooey — So I’ll be like Lucy in the candy factory episode and you’ll keep up with me?
storybeader — That one in the picture isn’t a creation of mine, but mine do look that good. The occasion is a health screening event at a church (February is heart month).
Anne — Yes, I’ll be a dipping fiend! The thing is you can’t melt too much chocolate in the microwave at once, or it’ll burn. I may have to break out my mom’s double boiler pots and melt it low and slow.
Sniffie and the Florida Furkids — I figure I might have to buy my own stash of berries. Say, one for every ten of the good ones. Can’t wait now! I could eat a bowl of delicious, sweet strawberries right now.
Shinade — Well, it’s the only thing I’m good at in the kitchen. You’re right, though. If I was any better at cooking, I’d be in trouble. I feel just about 100% now, thanks!
absepa — Wow! That’s interesting. I bet you’ll think I’m weird for never having eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my whole life. Those two things together never appealed to me.
Shieldmaiden96 — Oh, wait. I thought you said can YOU volunteer to do half. Dammit. I once walked up to a chocolate fountain at a wedding with an empty coffee cup, hoping to fill it with chocolate. The lady tending the fountain wouldn’t let me. I was just trying to be efficient. Geesh.
LindaF — Oh, man. What a shame. I would have cried on the spot. I plan on securing mine in tightly-covered containers, stacked and tied. Of course, that won’t prevent a drop disaster. I don’t want to know if it happens. Better to remember them as the pretty little things they were when they left my house.
shadowsrider — Oh, that mixture sounds delicious! Yeah, I bet the glazed pie is a lot of work, and it probably looks so pretty. If you are crazy enough to make it again, please send me a picture!
JD at I Do Things — Ha! Yeah, my little benedryl capsules happened to be pink and white. They’d make fine “sprinkles.” Of course, everyone would be stoned afterwards. Probably a bad thing.
Singular Girl — Seriously. Almost anything, fruit or not, is great in a blanket of chocolate. I’ve never tried to fancify my strawberries, but I might put little white lines on them like the picture in the post. Should be easy enough.
Babs beetle — Yes, get the Cadbury and melt, melt, melt! I’ve heard it’s a good cure for the common cold.
Chris Casey — So far, only my niece could realistically help me, but I really do plan to start them at 5AM. I just have to keep the cats at bay because I’m pretty sure they’re going to want to help. And I’m pretty sure nobody will appreciate cat hair as an extra little something on their berries.
Comedy Plus — At the time I thought, “piece of cake.” And then I woke up the next day and thought “Hmmm. I’m an idiot.”
Boris Said — They’ll be so pretty and tasty. Every time I’ve made them, people think a professional did them, which cracks me up because I’m totally inept in the kitchen.
Joe — You’re right about the dark chocolate. In fact, my SIL asked me to make ONLY the dark chocolate ones because they’re for a health event.
Jenn Thorson — I love winding up with extra melted chocolate when I’m done. I melt cubes of it in a coffee cup and sometimes sprinkle in chopped up peanuts. It’s really good! Yeah, a could see a face plant in my future.
fragileheart — I’m actually getting excited about it. I want to try my hand at putting white icing decorations on them. Not tuxedos, but something fancy nonetheless. I’ll post pictures back here of some of my masterpieces, assuming they look like masterpieces.
Loved the Super Bowl Trade Show Guru Steve — Nope, it’s not. But mine do look really pretty like that one and always get grabbed up at potluck parties. It’s my little secret. Make the best-looking stuff and make everyone think I slaved over it.
Lee — Ha! And it’s the same thing with getting married, right? It doesn’t count when you commit under the influence!
February 4th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Ohhh man! I would so love to help on that project. Like everyone else however, I would end up drastically slowing down the process by eating the majority of the strawberries and the chocolate.
I hope you feel better soon.
Ken @ Dad to Two’s last blog post..If I Could Put Time in a Bottle…
February 4th, 2009 at 8:06 am
awwww what a good sister you are…stopping by from EC to say hi
georgie’s last blog post..Beans
February 4th, 2009 at 9:57 am
I SO can relate to getting into this type of obligation! I have been known to do the very same thing, and I don’t even need to be hopped up on anything…
February 4th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Found you through Entrecard.
I have to say, I fear fruit a little. But fruit dipped in chocolate by a half comatose sarcastic professor? I would definitely eat that.
Keli’s last blog post..Ring Ring
February 4th, 2009 at 11:16 am
hi Kathy,
How did we go from chocolate-covered strawberries to getting married under the influence? (see your reply to Lee above) Is there an old post here that I should be reading? 🙂
~ Steve, the puzzled trade show guru
Trade Show Guru’s last blog post..Trade Show Zombies
February 4th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
If delivering them didn’t involve a seven hour round trip I would SO help you out with this. Seriously. I made fudge last weekend…I have chocolate skillz. Though apparently not enough patience to wait for soft ball stage without jacking up the burner until I had some toasted black sugar chips to pick out of it. (It still tasted good. Swear.)
Shieldmaiden96’s last blog post..Getting all up in it
February 4th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Yum! Yum! Yum! I can’t help you out there, but maybe a local store makes them, hopefully not as good as you. And why do I say that? Because when she realizes how very “ordinary” your desserts are, she’ll never ask you again!
Matt Keegan’s last blog post..Should You Stock Up On Groceries In Advance Of Inflation?
February 4th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Awh I’m sure they’ll turn out gorgeous. Post pictures anyway even if *you* don’t think they look like masterpieces.
fragileheart’s last blog post..Absence makes the heart
February 4th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Uhm, ahem, honey, I’d lock myself in a closet if I’d taken benadryl and was likely to end up with that kind of mess…
Benadryl, locked door, a guard dog outside, and DON’T TALK TO ANYBODY….
Maitri, shaking her head sadly…
February 5th, 2009 at 12:32 am
How much liquor did youhave before that one?
Grandy’s last blog post..WTF Wednesday
February 5th, 2009 at 8:21 am
Oh do I know that problem when I was taking Chemo last year the first time they gave me Benadryl I was in a beautiful stupor thinking everything was beautiful. wow I loved it and I would have said yes to anything…and remember I’m 62..and probably would have danced on tables..and I’m not exaggerating. I was shocked at the feeling and thought wow I can see why people take drugs…
So don’t fret your sister in law will understand..oh and I love chocolate dipped strawberries we do them here…
Blessings and this was a great story..
Dorothy from grammology
grammology.com
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