3.27.2012
Seriously Amazing Chocolate Peanut Butter Icing
I made some chocolate-peanut-butter-oatmeal-graham-butterscotch-chip cookies the other day, but decided they needed a little extra sweetness since I had used very little sugar and the natural peanut butter didn't add any extra sugar.
Enter: Seriously amazing chocoate peanut butter icing. So not healthy, but *totally* worth the calories. If I didn't share it, it would be utter proof in my hatred for humanity. So here it is:
In a mixing bowl (I find a hand-held mixer works better for this, but standing is okay too), cream 1/3ish C Vegetable shortening, a splash of vanilla, 3-5 teaspoons of milk, and a few tablespoons of peanut butter (I use Natural Chunky).
Slowly add heaping tablespoons of confectioners sugar until you reach a happy consistency and sweetness. (I used about a cup). Toss in about a teaspoon of cocoa powder (I used less since I wanted just a subtle cocoa taste). If you want your icing to crust nicely, add a little meringue powder.
Once the icing is smooth, beat for an addition 20-30 seconds. Add a pinch of salt if it's too sweet for your liking. This makes a small batch of icing (About 1 1/3 C).
Enter: Seriously amazing chocoate peanut butter icing. So not healthy, but *totally* worth the calories. If I didn't share it, it would be utter proof in my hatred for humanity. So here it is:
In a mixing bowl (I find a hand-held mixer works better for this, but standing is okay too), cream 1/3ish C Vegetable shortening, a splash of vanilla, 3-5 teaspoons of milk, and a few tablespoons of peanut butter (I use Natural Chunky).
Slowly add heaping tablespoons of confectioners sugar until you reach a happy consistency and sweetness. (I used about a cup). Toss in about a teaspoon of cocoa powder (I used less since I wanted just a subtle cocoa taste). If you want your icing to crust nicely, add a little meringue powder.
Once the icing is smooth, beat for an addition 20-30 seconds. Add a pinch of salt if it's too sweet for your liking. This makes a small batch of icing (About 1 1/3 C).
3.26.2012
A "Cure" for a Case of the Mondays
Here. Read the worst poem I have ever laid eyes upon:
Death!
Plop.
The barges down in the river flop.
Flop, plop.
Above, beneath.
From the slimy branches the grey drips drop,
As they scraggle black on the thin grey sky,
Where the black cloud rack-hackles drizzle and fly
To the oozy waters, that lounge and flop
On the black scrag piles, where the loose cords plop,
As the raw wind whines in the thin tree-top.
Plop, plop.
And scudding by
The boatmen call out hoy! and hey!
All is running water and sky,
And my head shrieks -- "Stop,"
And my heart Shrieks -- "Die"
My thought is running out of my head;
My love is running out of my heart,
My soul runs after, and leaves me as dead,
For my life runs after to catch them -- and fled
They all are every one! -- and I stand, and start,
At the water that oozes up, plop and plop,
On the barges that flop
And dizzy me dead.
I might reel and drop.
Plop.
Dead.
And the shrill wind whines in the thin tree-top
Flop, plop.
A curse on him.
Ugh! yet I knew -- I knew --
If a woman is false can a friend be true?
It was only a lie from beginning to end --
My Devil -- My "Friend"
I had trusted the whole of my living to!
Ugh; and I knew!
Ugh!
So what do I care,
And my head is empty as air --
I can do,
I can dare,
(Plop, plop
The barges flop
Drip drop.)
I can dare! I can dare!
And let myself all run away with my head
And stop.
Drop.
Dead.
Plop, flop.
Plop.
("A Tragedy" by Theophilus Marzials)
Death!
Plop.
The barges down in the river flop.
Flop, plop.
Above, beneath.
From the slimy branches the grey drips drop,
As they scraggle black on the thin grey sky,
Where the black cloud rack-hackles drizzle and fly
To the oozy waters, that lounge and flop
On the black scrag piles, where the loose cords plop,
As the raw wind whines in the thin tree-top.
Plop, plop.
And scudding by
The boatmen call out hoy! and hey!
All is running water and sky,
And my head shrieks -- "Stop,"
And my heart Shrieks -- "Die"
My thought is running out of my head;
My love is running out of my heart,
My soul runs after, and leaves me as dead,
For my life runs after to catch them -- and fled
They all are every one! -- and I stand, and start,
At the water that oozes up, plop and plop,
On the barges that flop
And dizzy me dead.
I might reel and drop.
Plop.
Dead.
And the shrill wind whines in the thin tree-top
Flop, plop.
A curse on him.
Ugh! yet I knew -- I knew --
If a woman is false can a friend be true?
It was only a lie from beginning to end --
My Devil -- My "Friend"
I had trusted the whole of my living to!
Ugh; and I knew!
Ugh!
So what do I care,
And my head is empty as air --
I can do,
I can dare,
(Plop, plop
The barges flop
Drip drop.)
I can dare! I can dare!
And let myself all run away with my head
And stop.
Drop.
Dead.
Plop, flop.
Plop.
("A Tragedy" by Theophilus Marzials)
3.24.2012
The Rocks, err... Flowers... Cry Out
Luke 19:40 contains the frequently quoted "if these [followers] would keep quiet, even the rocks will cry out!" After a trip to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. yesterday, I am convinced that nature DOES cry out as testament to the glory of God:
3.20.2012
Letting Your Yes Be Yes
This morning on Today Ann Curry briefly interviewed Kirk Cameron, and part of the interview centered around his comments regarding homosexuality on Piers Morgan's show. At one point, she asked him, "Why do you make these comments when you know people will have this type of negative reaction?" I was deeply impressed by his response. He stated that he was surprised BY people's surprise since his public stance hasn't changed for fifteen years, among other things.
His gracious response to the criticism reminded me of 1 Peter 3:15: "In your hearts, Honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." Regardless of his positions, I admire this man for his steadfastness in his faith and for clearly, but respectfully pointing to the source of his faith. He isn't apologetic, but he also isn't "Bible bashing."
I was also reminded of Matthew 5:37: "Simply let your 'yes' be 'yes' and your 'no' be 'no'..." Authenticity can be difficult, particularly when you know what you believe is unpopular, but what a beautiful characteristic it is. When I speak with someone I know is genuine, I know they are going to be straight with me. Whether or not you agree with him, it is undeniably admirable that Kirk Cameron doesn't change his stance on what he believes based on what is popular or when the cameras are off.
His gracious response to the criticism reminded me of 1 Peter 3:15: "In your hearts, Honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." Regardless of his positions, I admire this man for his steadfastness in his faith and for clearly, but respectfully pointing to the source of his faith. He isn't apologetic, but he also isn't "Bible bashing."
I was also reminded of Matthew 5:37: "Simply let your 'yes' be 'yes' and your 'no' be 'no'..." Authenticity can be difficult, particularly when you know what you believe is unpopular, but what a beautiful characteristic it is. When I speak with someone I know is genuine, I know they are going to be straight with me. Whether or not you agree with him, it is undeniably admirable that Kirk Cameron doesn't change his stance on what he believes based on what is popular or when the cameras are off.
3.19.2012
Cure for a Case of the Mondays
This came up on StumbleUpon and I got a huge kick out of it. It was a snippet of a text conversation:
Person 1: "Dude, that party was wicked."
Person 2: "You were drunk outta your mind."
Person 1: "I was not drunk!"
Person 2: "Dude! You were cutting pineapples yelling SPONGEBOB I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE."
Person 1: "Dude, that party was wicked."
Person 2: "You were drunk outta your mind."
Person 1: "I was not drunk!"
Person 2: "Dude! You were cutting pineapples yelling SPONGEBOB I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE."
3.15.2012
3.14.2012
The One About Food
Here's a snapshot of the successful experiments that have kept our tummies happy over the past week. We'll start off with baked, breaded shrimp on pasta with a lumpier than usual Parmesan cream sauce:
Trader Joe's always put me in a creative mood, and yesterday was no exception. The result turned out to be an open-faced sandwich with shredded chicken, caramelized onions and apples, and cheddar cheese on a slice of cornbread. In the future, I'll try a different type of bread, I think, but we were quite happy with how it turned out!
With a surplus of oatmeal and totally running out of snacks for the husband's lunch, Oatmeal Coconut Butterscotch Cookies were the solution:
"Any dinner requests?"
"Nah, whatever's fine."
"Well I need ideas. Give me an idea."
"I don't know if it would work or not, but I've always thought a burger would taste good on a biscuit."
It did :-) I based these on Alton Brown's Southern Biscuit recipe with couple of changes (including whole wheat flour). The one pictured was a turkey burger, and behind it was some leftover Italian chicken reheated with a BBQ-esque sauce-- both with cheddar cheese and caramelized onions.
Finally, homemade baked potato chips made with olive oil, garlic powder, sea salt, and cumin.
Trader Joe's always put me in a creative mood, and yesterday was no exception. The result turned out to be an open-faced sandwich with shredded chicken, caramelized onions and apples, and cheddar cheese on a slice of cornbread. In the future, I'll try a different type of bread, I think, but we were quite happy with how it turned out!
With a surplus of oatmeal and totally running out of snacks for the husband's lunch, Oatmeal Coconut Butterscotch Cookies were the solution:
"Any dinner requests?"
"Nah, whatever's fine."
"Well I need ideas. Give me an idea."
"I don't know if it would work or not, but I've always thought a burger would taste good on a biscuit."
It did :-) I based these on Alton Brown's Southern Biscuit recipe with couple of changes (including whole wheat flour). The one pictured was a turkey burger, and behind it was some leftover Italian chicken reheated with a BBQ-esque sauce-- both with cheddar cheese and caramelized onions.
Finally, homemade baked potato chips made with olive oil, garlic powder, sea salt, and cumin.
3.12.2012
3.08.2012
3.07.2012
The Greatest Love?
In watching the Today show segment this morning about the woman from Kentucky who protected her kids by laying on them as shelter while their house was being torn apart from a tornado, one of the hosts began the segment by saying, "There is no greater love than the love a mother has for her children." The comment instantly struck me and 1 John 3:16 came to mind:
"By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us."
I do not want to diminish the incredible story of this mother's selfless protection of her children and the sacrifice she made, but I think it is such a beautiful, though incomplete, picture of what Christ has done for us. The only way we can truly know what love is comes from Christ shielding Himself over us and being beaten and torn instead of us. Although this incredible woman covered her children with her body to protect them from the violent crumbling around them, Christ did that to save our souls from eternal death. A song inspired by the same verse puts it so wonderfully and fully:
By this we know love: that He laid down His life,
God's very own Son came from Heaven to die
Suspended He hung as He shed His own blood
What grace in His pardon- by THIS we know love
"By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us."
I do not want to diminish the incredible story of this mother's selfless protection of her children and the sacrifice she made, but I think it is such a beautiful, though incomplete, picture of what Christ has done for us. The only way we can truly know what love is comes from Christ shielding Himself over us and being beaten and torn instead of us. Although this incredible woman covered her children with her body to protect them from the violent crumbling around them, Christ did that to save our souls from eternal death. A song inspired by the same verse puts it so wonderfully and fully:
By this we know love: that He laid down His life,
God's very own Son came from Heaven to die
Suspended He hung as He shed His own blood
What grace in His pardon- by THIS we know love
3.06.2012
Our Roles Before the Holy One
What motivates you to pray? Why do you spend time in the Word? Do you desire to be a better friend? Do you feel weary? Do you want to be a better witness to those around you? Do you want to be able to encourage your spouse or children more effectively?
What roles compel you to spend time with the Almighty One?
We live in a culture obsessesed with labels. "What do you do?" is usually the first question you are asked when you meet someone, as if that is a tell-all for who you really are. Since June, I have struggled with the answer to that question. "Well, uh, I was a public school fourth, fifth, and sixth grade music teacher until this past summer when I resigned in order to be a better wife and to open a homeschool music program, but that hasn't quite started up yet, and in the mean time, I work part time as my church's co-director of Children's Ministries, and I am hoping to starting a cake business sometime down the road." I am fairly certain that the inquirer hadn't been fully prepared for all of.... That.
But what do your roles say about who you are? They describe what you DO- lawyer, teacher, mom, pharmacist, unemployed- but not who you truly are as a person. It's a convenient way to classify, but those roles change over time. It is so engrained in us- so defining- that it permeates everything we do. This includes how we approach the Holy One who is limitless in His person.
When we approach time with God in order to be a better _______________, we complicate the pure, simple, joy-filled relationship He desires to have with us. Remember Mary and Martha? Martha was so caught up in her role as hostess and friend that she missed the point that Jesus simply desired to spend time with her-- simply as Martha. No complex agenda or goal or outcome. Just because He loved her and wanted to express it. When you talk to the Father, is your primary motive to grow in certain areas or is it just to come, with simple, childlike faith and be in awe of who He is?
What roles compel you to spend time with the Almighty One?
We live in a culture obsessesed with labels. "What do you do?" is usually the first question you are asked when you meet someone, as if that is a tell-all for who you really are. Since June, I have struggled with the answer to that question. "Well, uh, I was a public school fourth, fifth, and sixth grade music teacher until this past summer when I resigned in order to be a better wife and to open a homeschool music program, but that hasn't quite started up yet, and in the mean time, I work part time as my church's co-director of Children's Ministries, and I am hoping to starting a cake business sometime down the road." I am fairly certain that the inquirer hadn't been fully prepared for all of.... That.
But what do your roles say about who you are? They describe what you DO- lawyer, teacher, mom, pharmacist, unemployed- but not who you truly are as a person. It's a convenient way to classify, but those roles change over time. It is so engrained in us- so defining- that it permeates everything we do. This includes how we approach the Holy One who is limitless in His person.
When we approach time with God in order to be a better _______________, we complicate the pure, simple, joy-filled relationship He desires to have with us. Remember Mary and Martha? Martha was so caught up in her role as hostess and friend that she missed the point that Jesus simply desired to spend time with her-- simply as Martha. No complex agenda or goal or outcome. Just because He loved her and wanted to express it. When you talk to the Father, is your primary motive to grow in certain areas or is it just to come, with simple, childlike faith and be in awe of who He is?
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