Choc and Awe

I've been reading about military tactics. It's interesting - the various ways people choose to conduct wars. It's interesting - how similar it is to how people choose to handle conflict in relationships.
 

Shock and Awe: One party uses their overwhelming power and knowledge of battle in a display of dominant force (shock) with the intention of paralysing their adversary and destroying their will to fight (awe).

Blitzkrieg: One party uses their overwhelming artillery to break down the enemy with force and speed. The use of constant motion keeps their enemy off balance and unable to respond effectively.

Fabian Strategy: One party avoids assault in favour of wearing down their opponent. The enemy is harassed through mini-battles designed to cause attrition, affect morale and eradicate the will to fight.
 

I've been trying to decide which tactic appears most fair. Yes I know, all is fair in love and war. Only it's not, is it. It's not fair when someone overwhelms, or steamrolls, or demoralises.

In a way, I prefer Mutual Assured Destruction: A situation in which the full-scale use of weapons of mass destruction by the two opposing sides would effectively result in the complete, utter and irrevocable annihilation of both.

If both parties have everything to lose maybe they'll both back off. No one wins. But no one loses either. 

xx

J

RED VELVET CUPCAKES

 Cupcake

250g Flour
2T Cocoa
2t Baking powder
1/2t Baking soda
100g Butter
200g Caster sugar
2t Vanilla essence
2 Eggs
3/4c Buttermilk
1t White wine vinegar
Red food colouring

Mix flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda. Separately cream butter and sugar. Once pale add vanilla and red food colouring. Be careful here the stuff is seriously potent. Add 1 drop at a time. I think I ended up using about 1t. Slowly alternate adding the dry ingredients and eggs until everything is combined. Beat in the buttermilk and vinegar. Fill muffin/cupcake tin with cupcake wrappers and fill up halfway with the mixture. Bake at 325F for 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely before putting on icing. I got about 24 cupcakes out of the mixture.

Icing
 

500g Icing sugar
125g Cream cheese
125g Butter
1T Lemon juice

Mix cream cheese and butter. Add lemon juice and mix. Add icing and process until smooth.

BOOZY TRUFFLES

250g Bournville
55g Butter
2/3c Cream
3T Whisky
Cocoa to dust

Melt all the ingredients in a bowl over a pot of simmering water. Pour into a shallow dish and chill. Roll spoons of it into balls very quickly, roll in cocoa and chill until ready. Of course you can use brandy instead of whiskey if that's your preference. Or brandy essence, if you don't do booze. In which case don't forget to rename them to Boozy-Essency Truffles.