Ode to Cherry Coke

Last night at dinner with my wife, art flowed through me--A poem to be precise.  I jotted the words down on a napkin.

This is the poem:

Ode to Cherry Coke
by:  Blaine D. Hone

Oh the cherry smoothness
Drink it down like love
Enjoy the taste
Do not haste
And let the flavor love you back.

Thinking of happy times
It takes me to my place
Happiness there
And everywhere
The Cola Cherry makes my day.

It's a guilty pleasure
The fattening suger drink
But love the guilt
Hope it's not spilt
And enjoy the pleasing soda.

I almost died Friday Night

Seriously!  My friend Dennis saved my life.

Dennis and I pulled out of the parking garage at the Triad Centers onto 3rd West Friday after our EMBA classes.  He was maybe a hundred feet in front of me when he pulled up to a stop light in the North bound lane.  By the time I pulled up next to him, the light was just about ready to turn green.  Just like the football star on 'Remember the Titans' who's looking over at his friends when he gets smashed by a car from the crossing lane, I didn't wait to see if the way was clear as I accelerated quickly into the intersection.

The next few things happened almost instantaneously, but I remember them as though they were in slow motion.  First, I thought it odd that Dennis didn't keep driving next to me.  I wondered if my car just accelerated that much faster than his.  For some reason, I felt that maybe something was wrong.  Even so, I determined to continue forward, accelerating as quickly as I had started.  Next, I heard a loud honk from Dennis' car, which was still parked car at the green light.

At this point, I had about a thousand thoughts in a split second.  Was something wrong with his car, and he needed me to help?  Was he honking out of jealousy that my car accelerated so much faster than his?  Do Volkswagens have a naturally 'strong' horn sound. . . cuz, man that was a powerful honk?

Regardless of the thoughts, there was a feeling of immanent danger that came with the honk.  Rather than consider the questions or thoughts swirling around in my head, I chose to follow the prompting to STOP that I felt in my heart.  I slammed on my breaks.  My first thought was to be proud of my car that had accelerated quickly enough to literally have to 'screech' to a stop after accelerating such a short time. My second thought was:  "Holy cow; I could have just died!" as a large BMW came flying through the intersection about a foot in front of my bumper at what had to be about 50 miles per hour.

Like I said, it all happened in a matter of very short moments.  I didn't see the car coming--not even in my periphery--until he was already passing through the place I would have been, had I not stopped immediately.

After the incident, Dennis and I pulled on through the intersection and to the side of the road where I parked my car and went to up to Dennis to tell him how grateful I was for the warning.  He said I looked quite shaken up--which was a very accurate assessment of my condition.

I have a couple thoughts regarding the whole episode.

First, I'm glad to be alive.  With the speed of the passing car that had come from my driver side, I most certainly would have been seriously injured--or worse.

Second, was it something more than the honking of my friend's horn that made me stop?  I reacted immediately, with great urgency.  It's not like me.  My more natural response would have been to look around to see what was going on--or at least to check my rearview mirror before slamming on the breaks as hard as I did.  But, no.  My reaction was with absolute haste and urgency.  I used the word 'prompted' earlier.  I believe this was the right word.  I think a certain spirit of warning attended my actions that night--for which I am extremely grateful.

Finally, what a joy it is to have great friends.  Both literally and metaphorically, good friends can be a powerful source of protection in our lives.  They can see important things to which we, ourselves, may not be giving adequate heed.  They can warn of pending danger in a way that is truly helpful at a very personal level.  Likewise, less savvy friends might miss such opportunities to warn--or worse, may lead us directly into the path of danger.

That night I learned a few great lessons which I hope to always remember.  First, choose and keep great friends.  Second, always heed a warning spirit (or intuitive cognitive response--as it may be termed by less spiritual intellectuals).  Finally, live!  What a fragile, fleeting moment is this life.  It can end at any moment.  Have I done all I should to this point?  Am I doing all I should in this moment?  Is what I am doing now something that will be remembered well by the ones I love?  I hope I'm living the right life.

Icebergs

Notes from one of my classes today:

In a book called Transitions by William Bridges, icebergs are presented as an analogy of changes/transitions in our lives.

Icebergs float because they are less dense than sea water.  (icebergs: 900 kg/cubic meter, sea water: 1025kg/cubic meter).  This density differential results in about 1/8 of the mass of any given iceberg showing above the surface of the water, and 7/8 beneath the surface.

In Transitions, William Bridges posits that "change", the external part of a shift in our lives equates to about 1/8 of the total experience, while "transition", the internal part, is the substantially more significant part of the experience.

The following are the (primarily internal) "Phases of Change" that Bridges describes:
Ending
- disengage
- dismantle
- disidentify
- disenchanted
- disoriented
Neutral Zone
- anxiety up, motivation down
- new weaknesses emerge
- confusion and creativity
New Beginning
- settle in
- sense of security/permanence
- ability to 'move forward'

Transitions happen at many levels (work, personal, children, etc.), and the all three of phases of change are often experienced--to varying degrees--simultaneously.

"Almost anything is easier to get into than out of."  -Agnes Allen

"There's no real beginning, until there is an end."  -Paul Godfrey

"All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter into another."  -Anatole France


Four factors to consider about transitions:
- Endings always come before beginnings
- Endings usually recycle old ending scripts
- There is not a specific timetable for endings
- No two endings are alike. (Your ending is not my ending.)

Four Managing better endings (change):
- identify who will be losing what.
- be specific and detailed about what will be different
- be specific about what is not going to change.  ("
- what is the "causal "chain" of secondary causes.  (If we initiate this change, what are the behaviors/reactions we should expect from people going through the related transition?)
- who will have to let go of what?  peer group? roles? promotions? values? expectations?
- What will be over for everyone?

The first task of change management is to help people understand the desired change and make it happen.

The first task of transition management is to convince people to leave home.

Carpe Diem

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,

Old Time is still a-flying;

And this same flower that smiles today,

Tomorrow will be dying.

- Robert Herrick

Knowing the Truth

Here's the thought I shared in this month's ward (church) newsletter:

--------------------------------------------------------------------

In this generation of information and opinion at the speed of thought, there are countless voices—many of which are rational, logical, and indeed quite convincing. While truth is always supported by logic, what is logically valid is not always intrinsically true. As we consider the many voices that assail the values and beliefs that are at the core of the restored gospel, let us not supplant our Heavenly Father’s divine revelations and manifestations in our day with the wisdom of man—which has always been limited and imperfect.

President Thomas S. Monson has said, “Important to remember is the solemn truth: Obedience to God’s law will bring liberty and eternal life, whereas disobedience will bring captivity and death,” (“Decisions Determine Destiny.” New Era. Nov. 1979, 8).

More recently, he has declared, “To those who humbly seek, there is no need to stumble or falter along the pathway leading to truth. It is well marked by our Heavenly Father. We must first have a desire to know for ourselves. We must study. We must pray. We must do the will of the Father. And then we will know the truth, and the truth will make us free,” (“Great Expectations,” CES fireside for young adults. Jan. 11, 2009).

As we desire to know the truth—in regards to the tumultuous societal issues facing our day or any other matters in our lives—we will find that the simple process of study, prayer, and obedience to our Heavenly Father’s plan will be the means of gaining truth, life, and liberty. While we consider the varying voices around us, let us make a renewed personal effort to study and live God’s law, and seek ever more diligent devotion to it.

Quote of the day

I don't remember the exact quote, but it comes from the ghost of Jacob Marley--(in Dickens' A Christmas Carol).  He is talking to Scrooge, and when Scrooge tells Marley his punishment certainly can't be just because he was such a good business man, Marley retorts:

"Mankind was my business!"

. . . then he goes on, and tells Scrooge (and the rest of us) that mankind is his (and ours) business as well.

If Mankind is my business, why do I spend so much time on business and so little on the "mankind" I care most about?  This thought occurred to me as I drove away from my home and family at 7:00am again this Saturday to my MBA classes.  And for what?  . . .to better my career?  . . . to improve my earning potential?  . . .to be better at business? 

Or. . . is there something deeper to my education?  Maybe my MBA interactions ARE the "business of mankind".  Maybe every day with every person--business or personal--is a day of "the business of mankind."  I think it can be, depending on the way I interact.

When I feel the urge to step out of the mindset of 'the business of mankind', I can do the kindest thing you can imagine.  When I feel anger, and wish to place blame, I can take blame.  When I feel upset, I can use kindness to defuse my own emotions.

It's been said that there are two kinds of truths in the world:  the kind of truth that builds people up, and the kind of truth that tears people down.  May I always be cognizant of the truth I share.

Quote of the day:

"America is at that awkward stage; it's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."


Claire Wolfe

Trust

Today, I heard a great definition of trust:

"If I make myself vulnerable to you, you won't leverage that vulnerability to my disadvantage."

When I heard it, I realized that all the people I don't trust in my life--the reason that I don't trust them is that they do NOT give me the above noted assurance that they wouldn't hurt me if I DID trust them.

So what: 

This thought encourages me to be transparent in my dealings.  When people know what my interests are, they can evaluate for themselves whether or not those interests pose a threat to their own.  More importantly, I should consider other people's interests as they relate to my own--always taking care not to create a disadvantage for someone who's trust I care to earn.\

Glad to be back from China

Things I'm happy to be back for:
- family/friends
- my big SOFT king sized bed
- drinking water right from the faucet

of course, there's plenty of stuff I'll miss like:
- certain unique foods (hot pots, dumplings, beijing duck)
- silk street market shopping
- $0.36 subway rides to anywhere! (although, I'm sure Obama will bring us that soon enough)

good times; noodle salad.

What will be your legacy?

Are you on this planet to do something? Or are you just here for something to do?

- Jim Kouzes

My letter to a friend

Today I had a conversation with a friend who had been to a meeting wherein some of the doctrines of communism seemed to have moved him.

I sent him the following email:


Hey,


I have a communist friend. She's an extraordinary person. We've talked some about her views. Also, on my mission to Lithuania (which was part of the Soviet Union until just 5 years previous to my mission), I had ample opportunity to discuss the doctrines of Communism with some devout believers in it. Some of the doctrines resonate with a strong appeal because many of them are centered on true principles--which is why I think they're so broadly embraced.

Today after our conversation I did a search on lds.org and found an interesting article about communism from President (of the LDS Church) Ezra Taft Benson:


http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=3d7f615b01a6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

The conclusion I drew from the article--which I took as prophetic--is that the overall impact of embracing or empowering communism at any social level will ultimately be detrimental to nations and the Lord's kingdom (and the growth of Christianity).


As for what you felt in the meeting you described--It makes sense that "the counterfeit gospel of the anti-Christ" (as it was described by Elder Romney) would carry with it a spirit of conversion. It's certainly not my place to judge what you felt. And who can doubt that the Lord would, indeed, speak to you to make some personal changes for good--in any meeting. I'm sure you can discern it.

Doubtless the principles of generosity, love, and compassion for our fellow man--as well as focus on giving as opposed to gluttony--ought to always be improved in our personal lives. I am convinced, though, that the institutional implementation of these virtues at a secular social or governmental level (as called for by a communism) will ultimately have an extremely negative social impact. I believe that just as feelings and promptings for improvement are personal--so are generosity, charity, and the other virtues with which the Spirit of God capacitates mankind. They are not meant to be regulated by any social implement.


Food for thought. Thanks for reading. :)

Blaine

What's Wrong With Communism?

Communism introduced into the world a substitute for true religion. It is a counterfeit of the gospel plan. The false prophets of Communism predict a utopian society. This, they proclaim, will only be brought about as capitalism and free enterprise are overthrown, private property abolished, the family as a social unit eliminated, all classes abolished, all governments overthrown, and a communal ownership of property in a classless, stateless society established.

Since 1917 this godless counterfeit to the gospel has made tremendous progress toward its objective of world domination.

Today, we are in a battle for the bodies and souls of man. It is a battle between two opposing systems: freedom and slavery, Christ and anti-Christ. The struggle is more momentous than a decade ago, yet today the conventional wisdom says, “You must learn to live with Communism and to give up your ideas about national sovereignty.” Tell that to the millions—yes, the scores of millions—who have met death or imprisonment under the tyranny of Communism! Such would be the death knell of freedom and all we hold dear. God must ever have a free people to prosper His work and bring about Zion.

. . .

I have seen the Soviet Union, under its godless leaders, spread its ideology throughout the world. Every stratagem is used—trade, war, revolution, violence, hate, detente, and immorality—to accomplish its purposes. Many nations are now under its oppressive control. Over one billion people—one-fourth of the population of the world—have now lost their freedom and are under Communist domination. We seem to forget that the great objective of Communism is still world domination and control, which means the surrender of our freedom—your freedom—our sovereignty.

. . .

The safety of our divinely inspired Constitutional government and the welfare of our Church imperatively demand that Communism shall have no place in America” (signed: Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., David O. McKay, The First Presidency, in Deseret News, 3 July 1936; italics added).

More recently, President Marion G. Romney, in the First Presidency Message in the September 1979 Ensign, wrote: “Communism is Satan’s counterfeit for the gospel plan, and … it is an avowed enemy of the God of the land. Communism is the greatest anti-Christ power in the world today and therefore the greatest menace not only to our peace but to our preservation as a free people. By the extent to which we tolerate it, accommodate ourselves to it, permit ourselves to be encircled by its tentacles and drawn to it, to that extent we forfeit the protection of the God of this land” (p. 5).

The truth is, we have to a great extent accommodated ourselves to Communism—and we have permitted ourselves to become encircled by its tentacles. . . .

Never before has the land of Zion appeared so vulnerable to so powerful an enemy as the Americas do at present. And our vulnerability is directly attributable to our loss of active faith in the God of this land, who has decreed that we must worship Him or be swept off. Too many Americans have lost sight of the truth that God is our source of freedom—the Lawgiver—and that personal righteousness is the most important essential to preserving our freedom. So, I say with all the energy of my soul that unless we as citizens of this nation forsake our sins, political and otherwise, and return to the fundamental principles of Christianity and of constitutional government, we will lose our political liberties, our free institutions, and will stand in jeopardy before God.

No nation which has kept the commandments of God has ever perished, but I say to you that once freedom is lost, only blood—human blood—will win it back.

. . .

My single-minded concern is for the freedom and welfare of my countrymen and my posterity, the freedom of all men.

I testify to you that God’s hand has been in our destiny. I testify that freedom as we know it today is being threatened as never before in our history. I further witness that this land—the Americas—must be protected, its Constitution upheld, for this is a land foreordained to be the Zion of our God. He expects us as members of the Church and bearers of His priesthood to do all we can to preserve our liberty.

May God bless us that, with His help, we will not fail to bring to pass His purposes on earth.


original source:
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=3d7f615b01a6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Don't believe the polls

I heard on the news today that a recent poll revealed that 70% of Utah parents would prefer a new sex ed. curriculum that speaks more to contraceptives, controls, and 'how to' methods as opposed to mentioning anything about abstinence.

I was surprised by the poll results (mostly because the report varied so much from my own perception of what Utah parents' would prefer). I was surprised until at the end of the news story, they mentioned that the poll was called for and funded by the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah. I don't know the association very well. That is, I don't know if they ARE the abortion clinics, or just the funding/advocating arm of them. All I know is that when referring to this group, 'planned parenthood' really seems to mean "let us help you mitigate the consequences of sex in such a way as to alleviate all the responsibilities typically associated to it."

So, I have a few questions:

Is the poll fair? -- It's easy to arrange questions to create results you want. I have no question the poll was 'rigged', and is in no way an accurate portrayal of "Utah parents' preferences" as it purported to be.

It was obvious the newscast was designed to sway listeners to believe that they were certainly in the narrow minority (of 30%) if they supported abstinence. Why is the news reporting supposedly 'empirical data' (if you can call loaded business marketing questions ["the poll"] some kind of empirical polling process). . . why is the news reporting such slanted data as though it has some kind of statistical credence. What is the news channels' interest in supporting the business of abortion clinics?

Anyway, I find it morbidly odd that anyone would support an abortion clinic's advocacy of a new curriculum designed around the ability to generate more business for the clinic.

[quick logic on "more business": students are a great market, getting more of them to simply "mitigate" results--one such option, of course, being their "clinical options"--is a great way to drive business to clinics, offering "education" (which I think "propaganda" is a MUCH better word for it) as a state-instituted level is a PERFECT opportunity to have your marketing funded. . . etc.]

How have we let such advocacy become so powerful? Assume 70% of parents in Utah really would prefer their kids just have sex and abort unwanted pregnancies... (which I really doubt). Certainly there was a time when the majority would have been different. Assuming there really are 70% in this group, where did they come from? Are we all really THAT confused on the societal repercussions of negating the consequences of procreation and devaluing life? Assume I'm right, though, and it's really nowhere near the 70%. . . How and why have we let this group be the one advocated by the newscasts?

Weird.

NOTE: This post is less about my stance on abortion (that's easy: I'm very against it.) This post is more a question about how the media is controlled. It's interesting that such 'left' views are advocated in such a 'right' community as Utah. I'm sure I would find the converse situation as fascinating as this one--maybe less frustrating because I happen to fall into the 'right' category--but just as fascinating, all the same.

random quotes

I heard this quote today:

"All epoch-making revolutionary events have been produced not by the written but by the spoken word."

Is it true?


How about this one?:

"Three things matter in a speech: who says it, how they say it, and what they say. . .in that order"

Doing/Acting

This thought is deeper than I have time to fully articulate, but here's what I've got:

Are you managing the innevitable OR creating meaningful change. I.E. do you simply take what life sends you, and deal with it as it comes, or do you proactively THINK about principles, actions, and results you will command by the circumstances you create in life--then TAKE ACTION towards accomplishing said results?

Are you narrowing the gap between knowing and doing. I.E. do you DO the things you know, or are you just looking at all you could do, saying to yourself, "yeah, I know how to do that", then NOT DOING it? Or are you a man of action?

what's happenin in the life o' Blaine

So, it's been too long since I've posted a blog w/ pics., so here are some pics out of my i-phone of random stuff that I've been up to lately.

This is me riding a rip-stick. It's a pretty sweet little skate-board-y thinger with just two wheels. you have to swivel the wheels back and forth to move on it. But through that motion, you can keep it moving without stepping off to kick. Anyway, I was pretty proud of myself for being able to kinda ride one. I was just chillin all slouched out so that I would look cool when the guy took the pic., but really this pose just makes me look fat. Anyway. I can ride a rip-stick. Cool, eh!

This is a pic. of me working on a demo. of our hot-applied flexible pavement repair material: Nuvo Gap. I was working w/ the DOT in a 4-lane freeway. The traffic control guys just closed down ONE lane, so traffic was going by on BOTH sides. pretty crazy. I guess that's just the way I roll sometimes: CRAZY. ;)

This is me on my new Harley!

Just kidding. As part of a case study my MBA class was working on this summer, went to the Harley Davidson franchise in Lehi, UT. I hopped on one of the bikes they had sitting out in front of the shop. The funny thing is, I thought this was one of the bikes they had for sale, but I found out that it was really just somebody's bike. I guess I was supposed to know by the cool custom paint and stuff. . . All I knew was that it was just Bad-A lookin, and I wanted my pic. on it. Glad I didn't get roughed up by whoever the owner was, but it was pretty funny.

So there you have it. That's some random stuff I've been up to. I'll have to snap some pics of my new car, and get them in here.

All the Lyrics of the Same Song, except the Chorus (which includes the title)

We're talking away
I don't know what I'm to say
I'll say it anyway
Today's another day to find you
Shying away
I'll be coming for your love, OK?

chorus. . .

So needless to say
I'm odds and ends, but that's me
stumbling away
Slowly learning that life is OK.
Say after me
It's no better to be safe than sorry

chorus . . .

Oh the things that you say
Is it life or just a play
my worries away
You're all the things I've got to remember
You're shying away
I'll be coming for you anyway

. . .

Any guesses?

Name that 80's song:

"It's no better to be safe than sorry."

deep. . . . but is it true?

BEWARE of buying from HP

BEWARE of buying form HP

First of all, the quality of the computer I got sucked in exactly the worst way. That thing you always dread happening happened: just a few days after the store’s 90-day money back guarantee expired, the hard drive crashed. Test after test showed it was irreparably defective. And yeah, I’m talking literally less than 2 weeks after the store’s money back guarantee. (I bought the thing 3/13/09 and the hard drive crashed 6/29/09.)

So I try to use HP support to see how to get the warrantee service. After about 2 hours chatting w/ some girl, she determines that I really have a problem that needs fixed. So, I arrange to have a box sent to me so that I can send them my computer. After a few days, the box still isn’t there, so I call back. They didn’t send it because they couldn’t verify my credit card number—in case I take parts off of the laptop to keep or something. . . So when were they going to call and let me know I needed to supply more info.

Anyway, I try again to get a box, and a few days later it comes. So, I ship my computer to them, thinking that it will actually return to me repaired within a couple or few days as they promise. (Shipped it on 7/20/09.) So on 8/3/09, I finally start wondering where the thing has disappeared to, and call in to get some info.

After spending more than FIVE AND A HALF HOURS on the phone with HP waiting for someone to talk with me about when I might get the thing back, they still couldn’t tell me ANYTHING about when I might get my computer back from them. And no, I am NOT exaggerating. I have checked my call log to verify. Call 1: 46 minutes; Call 2: 1 hour 54 minutes (I kid you not); Call 3: I’m on 3 hours 6 minutes and 37 seconds at the moment of this writing. Anyway, the last word I heard is that some case manager (whoever that’s supposed to be) is supposed to get back with me in a day or two. That’s right in 24 to 48 hours, as they articulate it, I should hear from someone about what might be happening with my computer.

In the mean time, wish me luck. . . oh yeah. . . and buyer beware on getting quality products from HP. . . and heaven forbid you get a bum machine. . . you will rue the day you spend 5 hours on the support hotline. Best of luck to you.

p.s. if you can think of any way I can legally make it sting HP for the time it has cost me, let me know before the Christian side of me convinces me not to seek vengeance. ;)

Fazer Pie

When I was living in Lithuania as a missionary, we used to make what we called Fazer Pie. It was made from Fazer milk chocolate (from Finland). I remember the pie being delectably delightful, so I recently tracked down a recipe. I got it from David Beck, who said he got it from Eric Frandsen. Although, I'm quite certain the recipe isn't Frandsen's original, I still appreciate his holding onto it, and being willing to share. Thanks David and Eric.

Last week my lovely wife, Lisa, and I tried making the pie using Dove Milk chocolates (I think the Dove chocolate we used had the word "Silk" on the package somewhere--probably not too important, but it was the "good stuff"). It turned out to be quite delicious. In fact, Lisa said there's nothing that she has had that tastes more like Marie Calendar's Chocolate Satin Pie (Lisa's Fav.) than what we made with the Dove chocolate. So, I'm flattered to have been able to make it for her.

We were eating some of the Dove Chocolate pie w/ my brother, Wade, and I told him I think it would be even better with the original Fazer chocolate we had on the mission. Wade told me how there was this chocolate that he just loved on his mission (in Argentina), but when he came back and tried it several years after the mission, he found it to be really quite nasty. He then told me of his idea that the Lord must bless missionaries to feel that really crappy stuff is great--or delicious--sometimes.

I certainly don't discount the "special taste buds" gift of the Spirit that Wade may have experienced (and I'm sure I experienced it too with that Pork Intestine I somehow managed to gag down--and probably those little sausage pirageliai weren't as good as I remember them); however, I recently went online and ordered two 200-gram bars of Fazer original milk chocolate, ($13 in shipping! ouch!!!). When the chocolate got here and I tried it, I found it to be distinctly delicious--just as I had remembered! I guess Finnish chocolate has a "genuine appeal" to American taste buds (at least mine) as opposed to Argentine chocolate with it's "blessed appeal" for missionaries' taste buds. -ha! :)

Well, as Lisa slept today (she's got something messing w/ her sinuses--poor thing), I went ahead and melted down the chocolate and made the real Fazer Pie. (Except, I can't seem to find the original Fazer Domino cookies we used on the mission, so I had to substitute Oreos. I found out that Fazer sold their Dominos product line, and they are now made by a Finnish company called "LU". Unfortunately, I can't find anyone who has them, online or otherwise. I think, though, that I'd probably actually prefer Oreos in a side-by-side taste test.)

So, anyway. . . here's the recipe and instructions:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fazer Pie

Crust Ingredients:

- 2 boxes Fazer Dominos (substitute 2/3 pack of Oreos), crushed;

- 1/4 cup butter, melted.

Crust Instructions:

- Mix crushed cookies and melted butter together
- press mixture evenly into 10-inch pie pan
- freeze the crust until you put the filling in

Filling Ingredients:
- 2 Fazer original milk chocolate bars (200g each), melted (substitute 400g your favorite milk chocolate)
- 1 to 1 and 1/2 Tablespoons Vanilla
- 1 Tablespoon baking cocoa
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 pint whipping cream


Filling Instructions:
- Separate 2 egg whites (save yolks), and whip until peaks form.
- Whip 1/2 pint whipping cream
- Melt the chocolate
- temper 1 egg and the 2 saved egg yolks with warm chocolate
- add the tempered egg and 2 yolks to the chocolate
- add the vanilla and cocoa to the chocolate/egg mixture
- mix well
- Remove chocolate mixture from heat, and let it cool slightly
- Fold in whipped cream
- Fold in whipped eggs
- combine until it's a uniform color (brown, like pie filling)


Final Instructions:
- Pour cool filling into frozen pie crust
- Freeze for at least 4 hours
- Serve with milk, or with whipped cream on top

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, here are the pictures and details (or hints) on how I went through these steps. Doing everything in order can make it easy to get everything done while concentrating appropriately on each task. Otherwise, you might stress about burning the chocolate and messing up everything else. I'm sure this is all stuff an experienced cook would just do naturally, but I have wasted a lot of good ingredients on messing some of this up. So here's my tips.


First--and quite possibly the very most important step of all--I neatly arranged the ingredients into a photographic little masterpiece.




Actually, here's the real first step: I chopped the cookies to a fine powder.





I used the food processor for the cookie crushing. Goes much quicker, and the results are just as good or better than hand crushing.




Next, I added the melted butter to the crushed cookies, mixed it all up so the cookies were nice and "wet", then I put the butter/cookie mix in the pie pan. I went a little "generous" on the 1/4 cup of butter. I like to be sure to have enough butter to stick the whole crust together.




Don't worry, I washed my hands thoroughly before this.



After some good pressing, I got it looking like a solid cookie crumb pie crust.



After I got it ready, I put it in the freezer to wait until the filling was ready.



The next step was melting the chocolate. Yummmm. Looks SOOO Good!



You gotta be careful that the chocolate is fully melted (without burning it) before adding anything. If you put the cocoa and vanilla in too early, it turns to fudge, and you gotta start over.



While I was waiting for the chocolate to melt, I got the whipped cream and the whipped egg whites ready. On the egg whites, beat them until peaks form. Thinking to myself, "they're both 'whipped' items," I beat the eggs after the whipped cream, but before cleaning off the beaters. They didn't work out. I don't know if it was because I didn't clean the beaters, or because I accidentally dripped in some yolk when separating them, or because I beat them on too high of a speed. . . but for some reason, they didn't whip into peaks on the first try. So, I had to do a second set of egg whites. Again, I'm sure real cooks know how to do this just fine.



Once the chocolate is all melted, you temper the one egg plus two egg yolks. This means you dowse the eggs with some of the warm chocolate, and mix it up in the egg bowl, so that the eggs get warm without cooking right in the mix. I also put the cocoa and the vanilla in with the eggs and mixed up the whole mixture before dumping it in with the chocolate. I'm not sure this is necessary, but it worked for me.




Next, you take the mixture off the heat, and let it cool for a little while. I didn't wait very long--maybe a minute or two. It might be better for it to cool a bit longer than I did, so it doesn't turn the whipped cream and egg whites into soup. But I was afraid of it setting up as chocolate again, so I didn't wait long. I don't know what's best here. Either way, after giving it a second to cool, you fold in the egg whites and whipped cream until it becomes a lighter brown chocolate pie filling-like mixture.


Once you have it all folded in, you pour the mixture into the pie crust.





Keep pouring. . . almost there. . .





That's it. There's your Fazer Pie. Now you just pop it in the fridge (or freezer) for several hours, and serve it up. Between the fridge and freezer, I'm not sure which is best. I put it in the fridge for an hour or two, then put it in the freezer for a few more hours. Like the tradition of cutting the ends off the roast because grandma's pan was too short to fit the whole thing in, I don't know that there's any actual merit to this method.





It's really a rich (and delicious) pie, so serving it with some fresh whipped cream and/or a tall glass of milk is VERY advisable.

Enjoy!