Take a look at some of the work Mocha Club is doing in Ethiopia. Not entirely sure what we'll be working on when we go over in 2 months, but you can get an idea of work they've been a part of. $7 a month (aka 2 Mochas) does work like this...I'm just awe of God's provision and humbled when I watch this video.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Conversations with my nieces
So if you haven't figured it out by now, I have two beautiful nieces whom I absolutely adore. I never thought being an aunt would be as much of a blessing as it is. I can honestly say it's been a complete joy to be able to spend the last 5 years watching them grow and learn. Right now I'm absolutely loving the silly, nonsensical conversations that I get to have with a 5 year old and 3 year old on the phone. Tonight, I called to talk to my sister as Britony's birthday is coming up and I needed to know what she wanted for her birthday. I called multiple times throughout the evening because I was out shopping and really wanted to get something. The third time I called, the phone was answered and I was expecting to hear my sister's voice, but instead I heard the tiny voice of the world's cutest 5 year old. This is basically how our conversation went:
B: Hello
Me: Hey! What are ya doing? (Sidenote: It's typically a bit difficult for me to tell B & K apart right away on the phone. After a few sentences I can usually tell who I'm talking to...)
B: Having my birthday party.
Me: But it's not your birthday.
B: Yes it is!
Me: No it's not.
B: How do you know?
Me: Because I know your birthday is next week and I was calling to see what I should get you for your birthday.
B: Awwww mannnn
Me: You thought you could lie to me, didn't you?
B: We're having a party tonight.
Me: What should I get you?
B: It could be a supwise (yes supwise, not surprise).
Me: So should I get you a can of worms?
B: Or a headband.
Me: Oh, I like headbands. What else?
B: Some clips.
Me: So you just want stuff for your hair? No toys or books? Are you going shopping for your birthday? (My sister had told me they were taking her clothes shopping for her birthday b/c yes, that's what this 5 year old wanted to do.)
B: We're getting our nails painted.
Me: Oooo! What color are you going to get yours painted?
B: Whatever color they have.
Me: Pink or black?
B: Pink. Okay love you bye. Mom says can you call her back later.
Me: Tell your mom to call me when she has time.
B: (to my sister) she said call her later when you have time. (to me) Kerigan wants to talk to you.
And this is where things get really interesting.....I couldn't understand most of what she was telling me. This is what I made of the conversation...
Me: Hi Kerigan!
K: Hi, do you have alligators?
Me: What?
K: Do you have alligators?
Me: Oh yes, there are still alligators here. Do you want me to catch one and send it to you?
K: They're in the water!!
Me: Yeah, I'll swim out and catch one.
K: Okay. But don't get bited.
Me: Oh yeah, that would hurt.
K: And there would be blood.
Me: haha yep.
K: We're having a party with cake and ice cream.
Me: Right now?
K: Well, when daddy gets home.
Me: Oh, can I have some cake?
K: Only if you come over?
Me: Right now?
K: Yep.
Me: How will I get there?
K: (mumbling so I couldn't understand much) take a plane and then a boat and then a cab and then you'll be here.
Me: oh, okay.
K: Where are you?
Me: I'm in Florida, where are you?
K: Are you at your house?
Me: Nope, I'm in my car. Are you at your house?
K: Yep.
Me: Did you get sissy something for her birthday?
K: Yep, but if she's not good then she doesn't get it. I got her something scary, but not too scary. But she has to be good. If you come over you can play with my toys.
She then proceeded to "show" me all of her toys except I don't think she realized that I couldn't actually see them over the phone. And once she gets going, there is no opportunity to stop her chatter, so basically for the next few minutes I just sat on the phone as she talked about all of her toys. Then she started singing Hannah Montana so we sang that together over the phone. After about 3 or 4 minutes of that she said "okay, love you, bye." Best part is, she didn't hang up the phone, but she also didn't give it back to my sister. So basically I could have stayed on the phone all night and listened to the party. I'm kinda wondering if the phone was left in the playroom for the rest of the night...So Keri, if you read this and you're missing your phone, it's probably in the play room next to all the toys Kerigan told me about.
So I suppose it isn't that funny to all who are reading, but on the phone it was hilarious. I love these little girls and cannot wait to see them in a little over a month!!
B: Hello
Me: Hey! What are ya doing? (Sidenote: It's typically a bit difficult for me to tell B & K apart right away on the phone. After a few sentences I can usually tell who I'm talking to...)
B: Having my birthday party.
Me: But it's not your birthday.
B: Yes it is!
Me: No it's not.
B: How do you know?
Me: Because I know your birthday is next week and I was calling to see what I should get you for your birthday.
B: Awwww mannnn
Me: You thought you could lie to me, didn't you?
B: We're having a party tonight.
Me: What should I get you?
B: It could be a supwise (yes supwise, not surprise).
Me: So should I get you a can of worms?
B: Or a headband.
Me: Oh, I like headbands. What else?
B: Some clips.
Me: So you just want stuff for your hair? No toys or books? Are you going shopping for your birthday? (My sister had told me they were taking her clothes shopping for her birthday b/c yes, that's what this 5 year old wanted to do.)
B: We're getting our nails painted.
Me: Oooo! What color are you going to get yours painted?
B: Whatever color they have.
Me: Pink or black?
B: Pink. Okay love you bye. Mom says can you call her back later.
Me: Tell your mom to call me when she has time.
B: (to my sister) she said call her later when you have time. (to me) Kerigan wants to talk to you.
And this is where things get really interesting.....I couldn't understand most of what she was telling me. This is what I made of the conversation...
Me: Hi Kerigan!
K: Hi, do you have alligators?
Me: What?
K: Do you have alligators?
Me: Oh yes, there are still alligators here. Do you want me to catch one and send it to you?
K: They're in the water!!
Me: Yeah, I'll swim out and catch one.
K: Okay. But don't get bited.
Me: Oh yeah, that would hurt.
K: And there would be blood.
Me: haha yep.
K: We're having a party with cake and ice cream.
Me: Right now?
K: Well, when daddy gets home.
Me: Oh, can I have some cake?
K: Only if you come over?
Me: Right now?
K: Yep.
Me: How will I get there?
K: (mumbling so I couldn't understand much) take a plane and then a boat and then a cab and then you'll be here.
Me: oh, okay.
K: Where are you?
Me: I'm in Florida, where are you?
K: Are you at your house?
Me: Nope, I'm in my car. Are you at your house?
K: Yep.
Me: Did you get sissy something for her birthday?
K: Yep, but if she's not good then she doesn't get it. I got her something scary, but not too scary. But she has to be good. If you come over you can play with my toys.
She then proceeded to "show" me all of her toys except I don't think she realized that I couldn't actually see them over the phone. And once she gets going, there is no opportunity to stop her chatter, so basically for the next few minutes I just sat on the phone as she talked about all of her toys. Then she started singing Hannah Montana so we sang that together over the phone. After about 3 or 4 minutes of that she said "okay, love you, bye." Best part is, she didn't hang up the phone, but she also didn't give it back to my sister. So basically I could have stayed on the phone all night and listened to the party. I'm kinda wondering if the phone was left in the playroom for the rest of the night...So Keri, if you read this and you're missing your phone, it's probably in the play room next to all the toys Kerigan told me about.
So I suppose it isn't that funny to all who are reading, but on the phone it was hilarious. I love these little girls and cannot wait to see them in a little over a month!!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
I'm Going to Africa!
Yep, you read that title right. I'm going to Africa--specifically, Ethiopia. I'm so thrilled for this opportunity and passionately believe that God is indeed the one sending me on this mission trip. I hear the term "global community" used quite a bit and lately I've begun to think more about what that term means. As technology makes it possible to bring people from all over the world together, I think it also must change the way we think about who our neighbors and community are. In Mark 12:29-31 Jesus says:
So here I am, gearing up for the journey of a lifetime! You want the details, I suppose, right? Great! I'll be traveling with 2 organizations that are partnering together for this trip--The Mocha Club and 963 Missions. The trip is tentatively scheduled for December 27, 2009 through January 9, 2010. That's right, just TWO months away!! Joining me on the trip will be individuals from all over the United States (and possibly even beyond). While in Ethiopia we'll be working working with a Mocha Club project that rescues women from the growing world of prostitution and offers them a 10-month rehabilitation program (including social, personal, and spiritual rehab as well as job training). We'll also be working with 2 other Mocha Club projects that work with children. I'm so excited to get to know the people of Ethiopia and share the love of Jesus Christ with them.
Where do you come in? I'm glad you asked. I need your support, both financially and through prayer. I need to raise nearly $3000 in support money to be able to go on this mission. I ask that you would prayerfully consider supporting me. Any amount you can give helps get me one step closer to serving God's people in Ethiopia. My first payment is due in just a little over a week so please, if you can give, don't wait! :)
You can send financial support to:
963 Missions
Attn: Mocha Club
10440 N. Central Expwy., Suite 122,
Dallas, TX, 75231
Please make checks out to African Leadership (The Mocha Club's parent organization).
Do not write my name on the memo line as it could nullify tax exemption for your donation.
Please print the support note below and include with your donation so they know who it's for.
An online giving link will be made available soon, but is not quite ready yet.
Whether or not you are able to give financially, I ask that you would be praying:
Thanks all for your support and encouragement. I feel incredibly blessed that God has chosen me to go on this trip and I'm so excited!
"Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."If we are truly living in a global community, our neighbors are not only those that live in the apartments or houses next to us, or the people we work with, or our friends, or the people we go to church with, or even just the people of our city. Our neighbors are people all over the world and we are called to love them. Even more importantly, we are called to Love the Lord our God. I strongly believe that we can show our love for Him by caring for His people.
So here I am, gearing up for the journey of a lifetime! You want the details, I suppose, right? Great! I'll be traveling with 2 organizations that are partnering together for this trip--The Mocha Club and 963 Missions. The trip is tentatively scheduled for December 27, 2009 through January 9, 2010. That's right, just TWO months away!! Joining me on the trip will be individuals from all over the United States (and possibly even beyond). While in Ethiopia we'll be working working with a Mocha Club project that rescues women from the growing world of prostitution and offers them a 10-month rehabilitation program (including social, personal, and spiritual rehab as well as job training). We'll also be working with 2 other Mocha Club projects that work with children. I'm so excited to get to know the people of Ethiopia and share the love of Jesus Christ with them.
Where do you come in? I'm glad you asked. I need your support, both financially and through prayer. I need to raise nearly $3000 in support money to be able to go on this mission. I ask that you would prayerfully consider supporting me. Any amount you can give helps get me one step closer to serving God's people in Ethiopia. My first payment is due in just a little over a week so please, if you can give, don't wait! :)
You can send financial support to:
963 Missions
Attn: Mocha Club
10440 N. Central Expwy., Suite 122,
Dallas, TX, 75231
Please make checks out to African Leadership (The Mocha Club's parent organization).
Do not write my name on the memo line as it could nullify tax exemption for your donation.
Please print the support note below and include with your donation so they know who it's for.
An online giving link will be made available soon, but is not quite ready yet.
Whether or not you are able to give financially, I ask that you would be praying:
- Pray that our team of individuals would bond together easily and work together as a team.
- Pray for our team's safety in travels and for safe health while in Africa.
- Pray for our team's leaders as they continue to put together final details for the trip.
- Pray for the people of Ethiopia that they would come to know the saving love of Jesus Christ.
Thanks all for your support and encouragement. I feel incredibly blessed that God has chosen me to go on this trip and I'm so excited!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Ramblings...
It's November. I can hardly believe it. Daylight Savings Time has ended and the Holiday season is drawing near. It seems like only yesterday I was complaining of the dead heat that defines Florida Summers--then again, this past week it was recording breaking temperatures here in Florida, so I was probably complaining of the dead heat that now defines Florida Falls, too! In any case, life has been crazy and unpredictable lately. Like normal, I've had my fair share of ups and downs, but I can't deny that I've been in the midst of experiencing the work of God both on my life and the lives of the people around me.
In an effort to keep private struggles somewhat private, this will be somewhat vague. As I've struggled with how to serve and honor my Savior before all else, I've been confronted with a whole gamut of emotions over the past several weeks. I've been sorting through the lies that society, culture and Satan have continually tried to feed me and found Truth and comfort in the reaffirming words of a Savior that provides for my every need. I've been prayed with and prayed for so intensely that I cannot deny that my Jesus knows me, knows my heart, and cares about my every thought, my every action and my every desire. I've been convicted of wanting the things of this world more than the eternal love and life that Christ has to offer. My idols have begun to reveal themselves and I'm being forced (a good thing, of course) to face those idols and make decisions whether I'm going to bow to them or to my Jesus. It's a battle that all of mankind will surely continue to fight until the end of time--how to live in this world but not be of this world. I've also realized that I don't entirely trust Jesus all of the time (okay, most of the time) with my life. I don't trust that He will provide, I don't trust that He will answer prayers, I don't trust that He will mend broken hearts and broken relationships, I don't trust that He will forgive, and I don't trust that He will always love me. Yeah, I know, those are huge issues. I recognize that. And I'm realizing that in order to trust him I have to give up control (all of it!) to him and just allow him to work. Logically, it shouldn't be that hard, right? I mean, why shouldn't I be able to trust the creator of the universe, the all powerful, all knowing, all loving God? Crazy. When I think about who God is it seems ridiculous for me to not want to give absolutely everything I have up to him. Slowly I'm realizing that giving it up is so much easier than fighting to keep control when I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. And I'm realizing that it makes much more sense to let God, who sees the past, present, and the future and knows the plans he has for me both now and in the future, have control over my life. (This is a crazy long paragraph that probably makes absolutely no sense...ha!)
As for more specifics of how God is working in my life--He's beginning to show me why Orlando is The City Beautiful and let me just say that I certainly don't believe it's the buildings, the landscape, or the amusement parks. Rather, The City Beautiful is beautiful because of its people. Whether it's my church family, my Celebration friends, my work friends, or the faces of the children and parents of OURM, I see God moving and working in all of their lives (often, without these people even knowing it). At OURM (Orlando Union Rescue Mission) I find myself eager to go and serve and love and at the end of my time there realizing that I'm likely receiving more than I'm even able to give. Spending time with the children at OURM is so incredibly rewarding (although, certainly challenging at times!). When I walked in a few weeks ago, a little boy immediately ran up to me and wanted to be held. As I sit here thinking about how insignificant that seemed at the time, I realize that this little boy trusted me without hesitation. He didn't judge me for the color of my skin, what kind of job I have, how much money I had, what kind of clothes I was wearing, etc. A lot of the children there are like that...they just want your attention. They want to love you and be loved in return. They want what so many of us want---relationships, community. And I give because it's the one thing I know I'll always have to give--I can give love. Freely. Because it was first given to me.
The most exciting news as of recent (that will soon be receiving its very own dedicated blog post) is that I'm going to Ethiopia, Africa in just TWO months!!! I'll save all the details for the blog post that will be coming in the next few days (waiting on a few details to be able to share with you all), but I just couldn't wait any longer to share the news (as I've known for about a week and a half now). I'll be gone for 2 weeks to do missions with two absolutely fantastic organizations and I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity and the work God has laid before me. Please be praying for the trip and for all the people traveling with me and for all of the people we are sure to meet.
So there it is. My ramblings. On a very surface level, of course. the end :)
In an effort to keep private struggles somewhat private, this will be somewhat vague. As I've struggled with how to serve and honor my Savior before all else, I've been confronted with a whole gamut of emotions over the past several weeks. I've been sorting through the lies that society, culture and Satan have continually tried to feed me and found Truth and comfort in the reaffirming words of a Savior that provides for my every need. I've been prayed with and prayed for so intensely that I cannot deny that my Jesus knows me, knows my heart, and cares about my every thought, my every action and my every desire. I've been convicted of wanting the things of this world more than the eternal love and life that Christ has to offer. My idols have begun to reveal themselves and I'm being forced (a good thing, of course) to face those idols and make decisions whether I'm going to bow to them or to my Jesus. It's a battle that all of mankind will surely continue to fight until the end of time--how to live in this world but not be of this world. I've also realized that I don't entirely trust Jesus all of the time (okay, most of the time) with my life. I don't trust that He will provide, I don't trust that He will answer prayers, I don't trust that He will mend broken hearts and broken relationships, I don't trust that He will forgive, and I don't trust that He will always love me. Yeah, I know, those are huge issues. I recognize that. And I'm realizing that in order to trust him I have to give up control (all of it!) to him and just allow him to work. Logically, it shouldn't be that hard, right? I mean, why shouldn't I be able to trust the creator of the universe, the all powerful, all knowing, all loving God? Crazy. When I think about who God is it seems ridiculous for me to not want to give absolutely everything I have up to him. Slowly I'm realizing that giving it up is so much easier than fighting to keep control when I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. And I'm realizing that it makes much more sense to let God, who sees the past, present, and the future and knows the plans he has for me both now and in the future, have control over my life. (This is a crazy long paragraph that probably makes absolutely no sense...ha!)
As for more specifics of how God is working in my life--He's beginning to show me why Orlando is The City Beautiful and let me just say that I certainly don't believe it's the buildings, the landscape, or the amusement parks. Rather, The City Beautiful is beautiful because of its people. Whether it's my church family, my Celebration friends, my work friends, or the faces of the children and parents of OURM, I see God moving and working in all of their lives (often, without these people even knowing it). At OURM (Orlando Union Rescue Mission) I find myself eager to go and serve and love and at the end of my time there realizing that I'm likely receiving more than I'm even able to give. Spending time with the children at OURM is so incredibly rewarding (although, certainly challenging at times!). When I walked in a few weeks ago, a little boy immediately ran up to me and wanted to be held. As I sit here thinking about how insignificant that seemed at the time, I realize that this little boy trusted me without hesitation. He didn't judge me for the color of my skin, what kind of job I have, how much money I had, what kind of clothes I was wearing, etc. A lot of the children there are like that...they just want your attention. They want to love you and be loved in return. They want what so many of us want---relationships, community. And I give because it's the one thing I know I'll always have to give--I can give love. Freely. Because it was first given to me.
The most exciting news as of recent (that will soon be receiving its very own dedicated blog post) is that I'm going to Ethiopia, Africa in just TWO months!!! I'll save all the details for the blog post that will be coming in the next few days (waiting on a few details to be able to share with you all), but I just couldn't wait any longer to share the news (as I've known for about a week and a half now). I'll be gone for 2 weeks to do missions with two absolutely fantastic organizations and I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity and the work God has laid before me. Please be praying for the trip and for all the people traveling with me and for all of the people we are sure to meet.
So there it is. My ramblings. On a very surface level, of course. the end :)
Thursday, October 8, 2009
More Fall Goodness
I had bought some sweet potatoes last week as they, along with pumpkins, also remind me of Fall. Although, I think that sweet potatoes can certainly be eaten all year long. I had 2 sweet potatoes left and I decided I'd give it a go at making some sweet potato fries. I just googled for directions (I wasn't entirely sure how long to bake them, etc.) and I found this GREAT recipe for Baked Sweet Potato Fries. I've imagined that since they are baked, they're fairly healthy. I didn't use parsley because I didn't have any and I used regular old plain salt and not fresh black pepper and they were still incredibly delicious. Go to the actual website (link embedded above) if you want pictures.
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
2 medium-sized sweet potatoes*
2 T extra virgin olive oil
1/2 t cumin
1/2 t oregano
1/2 t coriander
1 t kosher salt
1 t parsley
fresh ground pepper (about 10 turns of a pepper mill)
I also saw on the blog, Our Best Bites, a few other recipes that I'd like to give a try--namely, No-Rise Sweet Rolls, Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites, and Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce. Yum!!
So if you live in Orlando/Central Florida, you just let me know when you'd like to come over for dinner. I'd be happy to cook for you--especially dessert!!! :)
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
2 medium-sized sweet potatoes*
2 T extra virgin olive oil
1/2 t cumin
1/2 t oregano
1/2 t coriander
1 t kosher salt
1 t parsley
fresh ground pepper (about 10 turns of a pepper mill)
I also saw on the blog, Our Best Bites, a few other recipes that I'd like to give a try--namely, No-Rise Sweet Rolls, Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites, and Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce. Yum!!
So if you live in Orlando/Central Florida, you just let me know when you'd like to come over for dinner. I'd be happy to cook for you--especially dessert!!! :)
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
It's Pumpkin Season
I love Fall for a few reasons including cool, brisk weather, leaves changing colors, warm apple cider, and pumpkin recipes. Well, considering I now live in the Sunshine State where today's weather was something like 90 degrees and sunny it doesn't look like I'll be experiencing cool, brisk weather here anytime soon. And the leaves changing colors...well, that just doesn't happen here. Believe it or not, palm trees don't change colors. So tonight, to get myself in the spirit of the Fall season, I decided to do a bit of baking. I originally intended just to make one batch of Pumpkin Cookies with Caramel frosting but once I got started baking I kind of got on a roll. I ended up making 2 batches of Pumpkin Cookies (one batch w/ walnuts and one batch without) which equals a little over 5 dozen cookies and I made 2 batches of Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins recipe courtesy of Sara.
The fruits of my labor (minus the cookies and muffins that Ryan and I snacked on this evening):
I must say that part of the reason that I kept going is that I was listening to a couple of really compelling sermons by a few great Reformed preachers. I had been wanting to listen to these sermons and I don't do well just sitting and listening so this was the perfect way for me listen to them. I felt like I spent an evening hanging out with Jesus (however corny that my sound). In any case, definitely check out the message about Baptism by Greg Blosser of Grace Central Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ohio and these 2 messages about Hope for the World and Hope and the Poor by Tim Keller of Reedemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. The Gospel came alive again for me tonight as I listened to these messages. It's a love story that I will never tire of hearing.
But, let's get back to baking. So, here is seriously the world's best Pumpkin cookie recipe. I got it from my mom and I'm not sure where she got it from. She's been making these cookies for as long as I can remember and they are the definition of Fall for me. Plus, it helps that they are literally so easy to make. Also, I recommend refrigerating them after they are baked and topped with Caramel icing. For some reason, these cookies are delicious cold (served with a glass of milk, too, of course). Also, you can choose to put nuts in them or not. It's up to you. I used walnuts, but I'm pretty sure I've used pecans before and it was just as delicious. I also made some without any nuts, but I think I had to bake them just a minute or 2 longer.
Pumpkin Cookies
Combine ingredients:
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup pumpkin
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup nut (optional)
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 tsp soda
½ tsp salt
Drop by tsp on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 mins at 375 degrees.
You can tell if they're done by doing the toothpick trick.
The necessary ingredients for cookies:
Pumpkin Cookie Dough:
Cookies ready to be baked:
The final product. Yum:
I don't have any pictures of the cookies with the frosting on them.
Caramel Icing
Cook 3 Tbsp butter, 4 tsp milk ½ cup brown sugar. Cool (Actually, I think it's better if you just immediately add in the vanilla and conf. sugar). Add ¾ tsp vanilla and 1 cup conf. sugar and mix with a hand mixer. Since you're going to do this right in the pan, make sure you use a pan without nonstick coating b/c the handmixer could likely pull up the coating on the pan. Not that I have any experience with that or anything...ahem...right. One of my friends prefers the cookies w/out the icing as she thinks the icing is too rich, but I love the icing (who wouldn't love the sugary goodness?!?). So you may want to make some cookies with icing and some without.
I knew I wanted to make some sort of pumpkin bread or muffins and I remembered that my friend Sara had posted a recipe recently for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. I decided to give them a try and honestly, I may have a new favorite pumpkin recipe. They are SO. INCREDIBLY. DELICIOUS. And they're pretty darn easy to make, too. When you check out Sara's blog, she wrote that she always doubles the recipes and recommends doing that. She's right. You'll want to double the recipe. It's that good. Seriously.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
This is for a single batch....you'll definitely want to double everything below. Yum!
Mix these ingredients well:
3/4 cup pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling . . . regular pureed pumpkin)
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
Mix these ingredients in a separate bowl and then add gradually to the wet mixture until everything is combined:
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Once everything is combined well to form a batter, add the chocolate chips. The recipe calls for 3/4 cup - which would be 1 1/2 cups if your doubling the recipe - but when I double the recipe, I add at least 2 cups. Probably a little bit more. The moral of the story: Add chocolate chips until you have your desired amount. I ended up just using a bag of chocolate chips which is about 1 1/2 cups, I believe.
Pour into a 9 x 5 loaf pan (or 2 - 9 x 5 loaf pans) and bake at 350. I think for around 50 minutes to an hour for loaves. More like 25 - 30 minutes for muffins. You know . . . until a knife comes out clean. I ended up baking the muffins for 27 minutes and they were perfect.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffin Ingredients:
The wet & dry ingredients. (it doesn't look very appetizing at this point):
Finished batter with chocolate chips:
Baked muffiny goodness:
So there you have it. My evening of Pumpkiny goodness. I love making recipes with pumpkin in them...I may have to try out some more soon. In the meantime, try out my above recipes and let me know what you think. Enjoy :)
The fruits of my labor (minus the cookies and muffins that Ryan and I snacked on this evening):
I must say that part of the reason that I kept going is that I was listening to a couple of really compelling sermons by a few great Reformed preachers. I had been wanting to listen to these sermons and I don't do well just sitting and listening so this was the perfect way for me listen to them. I felt like I spent an evening hanging out with Jesus (however corny that my sound). In any case, definitely check out the message about Baptism by Greg Blosser of Grace Central Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ohio and these 2 messages about Hope for the World and Hope and the Poor by Tim Keller of Reedemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. The Gospel came alive again for me tonight as I listened to these messages. It's a love story that I will never tire of hearing.
But, let's get back to baking. So, here is seriously the world's best Pumpkin cookie recipe. I got it from my mom and I'm not sure where she got it from. She's been making these cookies for as long as I can remember and they are the definition of Fall for me. Plus, it helps that they are literally so easy to make. Also, I recommend refrigerating them after they are baked and topped with Caramel icing. For some reason, these cookies are delicious cold (served with a glass of milk, too, of course). Also, you can choose to put nuts in them or not. It's up to you. I used walnuts, but I'm pretty sure I've used pecans before and it was just as delicious. I also made some without any nuts, but I think I had to bake them just a minute or 2 longer.
Pumpkin Cookies
Combine ingredients:
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup pumpkin
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup nut (optional)
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 tsp soda
½ tsp salt
Drop by tsp on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 mins at 375 degrees.
You can tell if they're done by doing the toothpick trick.
The necessary ingredients for cookies:
Pumpkin Cookie Dough:
Cookies ready to be baked:
The final product. Yum:
I don't have any pictures of the cookies with the frosting on them.
Caramel Icing
Cook 3 Tbsp butter, 4 tsp milk ½ cup brown sugar. Cool (Actually, I think it's better if you just immediately add in the vanilla and conf. sugar). Add ¾ tsp vanilla and 1 cup conf. sugar and mix with a hand mixer. Since you're going to do this right in the pan, make sure you use a pan without nonstick coating b/c the handmixer could likely pull up the coating on the pan. Not that I have any experience with that or anything...ahem...right. One of my friends prefers the cookies w/out the icing as she thinks the icing is too rich, but I love the icing (who wouldn't love the sugary goodness?!?). So you may want to make some cookies with icing and some without.
I knew I wanted to make some sort of pumpkin bread or muffins and I remembered that my friend Sara had posted a recipe recently for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. I decided to give them a try and honestly, I may have a new favorite pumpkin recipe. They are SO. INCREDIBLY. DELICIOUS. And they're pretty darn easy to make, too. When you check out Sara's blog, she wrote that she always doubles the recipes and recommends doing that. She's right. You'll want to double the recipe. It's that good. Seriously.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
This is for a single batch....you'll definitely want to double everything below. Yum!
Mix these ingredients well:
3/4 cup pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling . . . regular pureed pumpkin)
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
Mix these ingredients in a separate bowl and then add gradually to the wet mixture until everything is combined:
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Once everything is combined well to form a batter, add the chocolate chips. The recipe calls for 3/4 cup - which would be 1 1/2 cups if your doubling the recipe - but when I double the recipe, I add at least 2 cups. Probably a little bit more. The moral of the story: Add chocolate chips until you have your desired amount. I ended up just using a bag of chocolate chips which is about 1 1/2 cups, I believe.
Pour into a 9 x 5 loaf pan (or 2 - 9 x 5 loaf pans) and bake at 350. I think for around 50 minutes to an hour for loaves. More like 25 - 30 minutes for muffins. You know . . . until a knife comes out clean. I ended up baking the muffins for 27 minutes and they were perfect.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffin Ingredients:
The wet & dry ingredients. (it doesn't look very appetizing at this point):
Finished batter with chocolate chips:
Baked muffiny goodness:
So there you have it. My evening of Pumpkiny goodness. I love making recipes with pumpkin in them...I may have to try out some more soon. In the meantime, try out my above recipes and let me know what you think. Enjoy :)
Saturday, October 3, 2009
My question today...
I was reading on a church website today that the church was growing and adding a fourth service. At first thought, it sounded impressive. Wow, 4 services. That church must be doing good things for it to be growing like that. But then it got me thinking. Just because a church is growing, does that mean it is a "good" church. What I mean by "good"--Is the church honestly teaching Truth? Is the church teaching the redemptive story of Christ? Is the church teaching the entirety of the Gospel?
I'll preface this next part with saying that I think I'm often a skeptic when it comes to issues of the church. In any case, I get concerned when I see a church growing so fast and then peek into what the church is teaching and it's just self-help messages. Our society thrives on ways to make us feel better here on earth. So of course, you can pick and choose verses from the Bible that can sound like tips for better living and improved happiness for here on Earth. But paraphrasing Tim Keller, Christian Hope isn't about our happiness here on Earth, but about our ultimate, eternal state. While I'm not suggesting that we should be unhappy and miserable as Christians here on Earth, I do think we need to evaluate the types of messages churches are preaching. We can't pick and choose what makes us feel good, but rather, we have to accept the Bible in its entirety. Being made aware of our sinful nature, being called to live needing and wanting less, giving all that we have (our money, our time, our talents) to Christ (it is His to begin with, after all)--all these things and more can be hard. At times we can feel out of place and unwelcomed in society when we live according to the call of Christ.
Now if I see a church teaching the entirety of the Bible and it's growing in leaps and bounds--now that's something to stand in awe of!
Just something I was contemplating today...
Thoughts?
I'll preface this next part with saying that I think I'm often a skeptic when it comes to issues of the church. In any case, I get concerned when I see a church growing so fast and then peek into what the church is teaching and it's just self-help messages. Our society thrives on ways to make us feel better here on earth. So of course, you can pick and choose verses from the Bible that can sound like tips for better living and improved happiness for here on Earth. But paraphrasing Tim Keller, Christian Hope isn't about our happiness here on Earth, but about our ultimate, eternal state. While I'm not suggesting that we should be unhappy and miserable as Christians here on Earth, I do think we need to evaluate the types of messages churches are preaching. We can't pick and choose what makes us feel good, but rather, we have to accept the Bible in its entirety. Being made aware of our sinful nature, being called to live needing and wanting less, giving all that we have (our money, our time, our talents) to Christ (it is His to begin with, after all)--all these things and more can be hard. At times we can feel out of place and unwelcomed in society when we live according to the call of Christ.
Now if I see a church teaching the entirety of the Bible and it's growing in leaps and bounds--now that's something to stand in awe of!
Just something I was contemplating today...
Thoughts?
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