Well, we were out of our underwear long before noon today. So, now what? After we dropped Mom at work we would have the house to ourselves. So what to do with all this free time? Finn, as always, suggested stripping back down to our skivvies and playing Mario Bro's until our thumbs fall off. While it is always a tempting offer, I had an alternative activity in mind. "How about we make a treat to take to the shop on Saturday?" "We can listen to Rock and Roll records" Finn took a moment to size me up, to see if it was indeed a serious proposal. When he was certain that Mario and Luigi were not invited to our party he agreed. However, with Finn there is always a heavy sigh and specific conditions. "I get to choose the record Dad" and "I will wear your white chef hat". The hat request threw me a little but I was happy to oblige. However, I was fully prepared for his request to choose the album. I had planned for it. You see, I have been trying since birth to groom my boys to be the Metalheads of tomorrow; and they have been denying me this legacy every step of the way. Recently I have taken to creative measures with Finn. Gavin, I have decided, is pretty much lost to pop radio until he inevitably becomes the sulky goth he is destined to be. Really though, I would listen to The Cure and Death in June all day every day if it meant I never had to hear KE$HA ever again. I may never hear Reign in Blood blasting from his headphones, but it could always be worse! With Finn there is still hope. Today while we cooked. I decided to try visualization to sway him over to the dark side. When it was time to start making our treat I chose two records for him to pick from. My thinking is this:
1. Boys like cool looking things.
2. Boys do not like non cool looking things.
3. I will choose a very cool looking Heavy Metal album and a very uncool looking Non-Metal album.
Lightbulb.
Problem solved.
I am a genius!
Since I am not at all above stacking the deck when it comes to serious matters, these were his choices.
and
It was dirty. I know. Don't judge me. But, it worked.
"I don't want to hear that weird lookin' girl dad. I like that creepy one instead"
"Are you sure? It is your choice. Well o.k then."
Let the cooking commence! And by cooking I mean: mixing, measuring and baking. Our recipe for today was a riff on a pretty standard snack mix. The kind that you find yourself stuffing in your mouth, almost without thinking from November all the way through the New Year. Nothing really that spectacular. Tasty yes, challenging no. It is always fun to be in the kitchen with Finn when we make things that he can almost execute all by himself with me coaching. These times are especially awesome when I jazz them up with the kind of air guitar that makes your 4 year old blush because you are that stupid looking. Yes, I am that Dad. No, I do not care.
It was a pretty awesome time in the kitchen. It must have been 15 whole minutes of pure dude bonding! As soon as he finished scooping the last ingredient into the mixing bowl he had the Wii turned on telling me to "turn down this noisy stuff". Point taken, but it will not deter me. I will succeed.
Snack Mix Bloody Snack Mix
Part 1
3Cups Pecans//3 Tbl. Vegetable Oil//1 1/2 Brown Sugar// 1 1/2 Wht. Sugar// 1 1/2 tsp.
Sriracha// 1 1/2 tsp Smoked Salt
Mix all ingredients together. Bake in 325 degree oven aprox. 15 minutes. Stirring occasionally.
Part 2
7 Tbl. Butter// 2 Tbl. Worcestershire// 3 Tbl. Soy Sauce// 1 1/2 Seasoned Salt// 1 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder// 1 1/2 tsp. Onion Powder
5 Cups Corn Chex
5 Cups Rice Chex
1 1/2 Cups Cashews
3 Cups Pretzels
Mix first 6 ingredients together and microwave for 1-1 1/2 minutes until melted. Mix with remaining ingredients and bake in 250 degree oven for 1 hour.
Cereal should be crisp and starting to brown.
Mix part 1 and part 2 together.
Stuff in face with plenty of beer, or juice boxes. Or whatever.
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