Open Sesame
I was trying to open a box of cereal. The direction on top of the box said: to open slide finger under arrows to left and right. To close, push tab under here. There were four arrows showing the way. My finger didn’t fit under the tab. The box tore, so forget keeping it closed.
Inside the box was the bag with the cereal. The cereal guys must have thought if I got the box open, I should be smart enough to open the inner bag.
I tried to pull it open. It wouldn’t pull. I went for the kitchen scissors. Wouldn’t cut. (Then I remembered I had cut some carpet with them, and they wouldn’t cut anything anymore.)
I tried to pull it with my teeth (smart move) but couldn’t tear it.
I was so frustrated by then, I just said out loud, "Open Sesame.!" I had recently read a piece about The Arabian Nights. Alibaba and the forty thieves must have still been in the back of my mind.
.Alibaba was a poor woodcutter. He heard the thieves, forty in all, boasting about their treasure in a cave. The cave could only be opened by the magic words, "Open Sesame" and closed by the magic command of "Close Sesame. " So one day when he knew the thieves were not there, he went to the cave, said, "Open Sesame", and sure enought the cave opened. He took some of the treasure, closed the cave, and the thieves were not the wiser. And the story continues.
Sometimes I think it takes magic to open anc close some of the packages that come into my kitchen:
Besides the cereal boxes, some of my unfavorite things to open are;
,:
the dog food bag. The string either breaks off in midstream or won’t pull at all.
This one usually gets the knife or the scissors, whenever I get a new pair.
the bathroom disinfectant. The "push down and turn toward arrow " means several tries. After sore fingers and a red palm, it finally gives up and opens.
cheese. The ones with the zipper are the best. Otherwise, I have to start the "pull here with the trusty scissors or a knife. Then try to get the little plastic rails to connect.
jars. Especially pickle jars. They go through everything from a hot water bath, to banging on the lid. After it takes its raps, it gets covered with a towel, held against the belly, twist and finally open. I don’t eat too many pickles. Too much work.


After opening, there is the job of keeping things closed. Pickle jars are good. Crackers, cookies, and pasta are bad..
I’m not too good at making sure the sleeves of the crackers and cookies are air-tight.
Too many times I have stale crackers and soggy cookies. I hate when that happens.
My pasta does not have a tab to keep the box closed. The pasta guys must just trust you to have enough sense to store it right side up right side up after opening. When in a hurry, taking it out of the cupboard upside down, gives you pasta all over the floor. I hate when that happens, too.
I have hesitated to complain about the things I can’t open or keep closed . I don’t hear anyone else complaining, so maybe I am the only one that needs magic to open and close.
On the other hand if opening my new jar of Jif is my biggest complaint, I’m having a good day.
As long as the peanut butter jar is open—
Peanut Butter Swirl Bars
you will need:
½ cup crunchy peanut butter (or creamy)
13 cup softened butter
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 t vanilla
1 cup flour
1 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1 package (12 oz) semi-sweet real chocolate morsels
In large bowl, beat until creamy the peanut butter, butter, and sugars
beat in eggs and vanilla
Mix baking powder, salt and flour.
Blend into peanut butter mixture
Spread in greased 9x13 baking pan
sprinkle chocolate morsels over top
Put in 350 degree oven for five minutes
remove from oven and run knife through to marbleize
Bake for 30 more minutes
These bars are worth the effort
Enjoy