The Principal's Office

I don't love going to the principal's office at Daughter Judy's school. He's just too darned cute, in a sweet and goofy kind of way, and it's extremely distracting watching his lanky figure lean against, oh, basically anything in that office of his. Plus, I know he has a tattoo under his shirtsleeve, and well, it's just completely inappropriate for me to even think like that. Nevertheless, D.J. is on internet lockdown for a week 'cause several times recently, I found myself face-to-face with that cute married-with-newborn-boy/girl-twins principal guy.

I mean, her continuous and impressive straight-A average notwithstanding, I'm trying to nip in the bud her becoming a...mean girl. Darn! I barely understand what went down at her school, with this girl and that boy, despite a lengthy cell phone conversation with the principal the other night. Locked in my own bathroom, at least I wasn't looking at his lanky figure lean against...

Middle school psyche is very complicated, I guess, but from now on, chez moi, they'll be no more Clique books, US magazine's "Who Wore it Best," or Disney's Zoey 101 (at least Raven had magical powers, though my once preferred Hillary Duff is totally off my list for recently dissing Faye Dunaway's looks. Talk about a mean, not-too-bright girl!).

Tomorrow is day three at baking and pastry arts. Must remember to get up early, bring calculator, embed my name somehow on my baking tools—someone already picked up my new rubber spatula—and try not to be a mean girl myself.

P.S. I sent D.J. off this a.m. with an entire Old-Fashioned Apple Crumb Cake*, recipe courtesy of Hay Day Country Market Cookbook, made especially for the super cool family that takes care of D.J. more times than I can count. They're hosting her almost every Friday night for the duration of my Saturday program. Hollah!

I actually made two of these crazily delicious golden cakes last night, so D.J. and I could enjoy as well, though I have a serious problem with my willpower when one is around; 'twas part of my downfall that night not so long ago when I tried to get something going with one of my exes.

Here's a link to the recipe, which claims to be adapted from the original Hay Day recipe, but it is exactly the same, though cut in half (the original makes two cakes), and specifies what kind of egg and apple to use (I use any kind). Also, I don't use nuts in my topping as D.J. used to be allergic, but it is still amazing. Like the inside of a homemade Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tart, if you can remember or imagine that.

Note: Do not think that by adding more butter to the topping, it will be better—obviously I've tried this—because then it's too heavy, and sinks to the bottom of the cake. Best to keep the whole thing nice and light!

Recipe pdf link: www.lexingtonfarmersmarket.org/Recipes/Recipes07/WhatsForDinner/apple%20crumbcake2.pdf