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Look what came in the mail!

It's my new COOKIE DECORATING STUFF!

COOKIE DECORATING.

My new hobby!

Maybe. 

If I like it, and if the cookies actually turn out nice.

??

We'll see.

This is a little close to crafting.  I don't do crafts.

But it's edible.

I do do edible.

Someday, when I get an afternoon free, I'm going to give it a whirl.

I'll let you know how it goes. :)

Not-Too-Branny Bran Muffins

I LOVE bran muffins.

But not the kind you get at Dunkin Donuts.

Usually bran muffins are way too heavy on the bran for me.  They're dark and dense and just too...branny.  At restaurants or coffee shops I only order them when I have to; like, when it's the only kind left.  

Ding ding ding!  Enter my Aunt Monica's bran muffin recipe.  

These muffins squash every preconceived notion anyone has ever had about a bran muffin.  

They're soft, they're light, they're fluffy.  And they have just enough bran in them to make them bran muffins without being too branny.

I have never been able to tell if eating a lot of muffins is an American thing or a Vermont thing or a just-my-family thing.  (I'd welcome any insights into that question...did anyone else grow up believing muffins are the extra food group they forgot to teach you about at school?)  All I know is that muffins go with everything.  They round out almost any meal.

Especially these muffins.  

Soup.  Salad.  Macaroni and Cheese.  Pot Roast.  Casseroles.  Scrambled Eggs.  Coffee.  Tea.  Coke. :)  You name it, I've had it with one of these bran muffins.  

They're delicious.

Another thing I love about this recipe is that it makes a huge batch...enough for 24 muffins...and the batter can be refrigerated.  So you can bake one batch, refrigerate the leftover batter, and have another batch ready to go with dinner a week later...or for a snack when unexpected guests drop by.  

Or, as my sister and I did growing up, you can mix up a big batch and then bake one mega muffin in a Pyrex custard cup every morning for breakfast until the batter runs out. :)

Yum.

Not-Too-Branny Bran Muffins

3 cups bran flakes
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup shortening or oil
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups buttermilk

Heat oven to 400.  In large bowl combine cereal and boiling water.  Stir in oil and eggs.  Add remaining ingredients, blend well.  Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling 3/4 full. 

(Remaining batter may be stored in tightly covered container in refrigerator for two weeks.)

Bake at 400 for 18-22 minutes or just until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Little Silver Box

Five or six years ago a friend of mine gave me this pretty little box as a gift. 

 
I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it at first.  It sat on my dresser for months merely as decoration.
 

But one day I was praying hard about something very important to me and I looked up and saw the box sitting on my dresser collecting dust.  Immediately I knew what it was going to be used it for.

This little box has become my "Special Prayers" Prayer Box.  It's the place where I write down those pressing, extra important, "special" prayers that just pop up in life sometimes.  Some of the prayers are for myself, and some are for other people. 

I write the prayers down, I read them to God, and then I close the box and leave them there. 

 
Putting the prayers in the box doesn't make God hear me better, or answer me faster.  It's just my way of expressing to Him the deepest desires of my heart.  For me it's a step of faith.  It helps me let go of some of the weight of worry and leave it with God. 

If I start to worry about one of the prayer requests all I have to do is look over at the little box and I'm reminded that I already gave it to God.  It's in His hands.  I know He is taking care of it. 


There are presently 9 extra important prayers written down in my box.  Six of them have a big A at the top, with a date.  They've been answered!!  Amazing.

Three are blank at the top; God is still working them out.  I know it's just a matter of time... 

God answers prayer.

Elijah was a person just like us, 

and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, 

and rain never came to the land for three years and six months.  

Then he prayed again, and the skies poured out rain, 

and the ground produced its crops.

James 5:17,18

    In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You,
         For You will answer me.      

Psalm 86:7

No-Oil Greek Salad Wraps

Vacation (and all the amazing bad-for-us food we ate on vacation) is behind us.  Josh and I are back on our mission to eat more fruits and vegetables.

These wraps are our new favorite lunch or fast dinner item. (Along with those green super smoothies, which we're still making all the time!)

At first I didn't know if the wraps were worthy of a blog post because there's really not much of a "recipe" here.  But we keep craving these wraps.  Every time we eat them we lean back in our chairs and groan, "Oooohh my gosh.  These are sooo goooood!"

I think that makes them blog worthy.  :)

So I decided I better share them with you all.

The wraps couldn't be simpler to make...just chop up some veggies, open a container of hummus and a package of tortillas, and you've got it.  The flavor comes mostly from the fresh garlic and a few splashes of red wine vinegar.  I'm actually not a big vinegar fan at all but a little bit in here makes it just right.

 

 

  

No-Oil Greek Salad Wraps

2 tomatoes, chopped

1 cucumber, chopped

1/4 large onion, chopped

1 handful of fresh spinach, chopped

1-4 cloves fresh garlic, minced

1/8 cup black olives, chopped (optional)

1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)

Several splashes of red wine vinegar

Salt, to taste

Whole wheat tortillas

Hummus

Makes 4 wraps 

China left Josh and me with a large tolerance (and adoration) for fresh garlic.  Some may want to tone the garlic down a little bit, but I think it's the garlic that makes these wraps so addicting.  So don't leave it out altogether!  

Enjoy!  :)
 

Let the Games Begin!

We're having a great weekend here in Dallas.  Our friends Dave and Laura Kate are in town so we've been having a blast hanging out with them and Mark and Vanessa.  Fun times!

Right now Josh and I are getting ready to attend a friend's wedding.  And while our backs were turned, somehow Knox managed to hook a bucket to his tractor.  I mean a basket (which was on the bottom shelf of the bookshelf) to his walker. :)   He is thoroughly enjoying giving the basket a ride.   

Reminded me of someone else I know...in Vermont.  I guess Knox is getting practiced up for his next visit!

Knox also thought Yahtzee looked pretty exciting, apparently.  Boy after my own heart. :)

I can tell we are gearing up for some very fun exploring adventures in this apartment.  

Let the games begin! :)

My Own American Idol Debut

I'm actually starting to get into American Idol this season.

I watched it here and there last year but this year I'm hooked.  Like everyone else I saying, "Wow - so much talent this year!"  It makes it exciting to watch.  I haven't voted, though, because I honestly can't decide who I like best.

Last night as Josh and I were watching the performances we had a little flashback.  Some of you don't know this about us, but Josh and I, along with our 6 teammates in China, once had our own shimmering five minutes of fame under the brilliant lights on stage.

For your entertainment I am linking a video of a performance we did in front of 3,000 students while we were in China.  Let me tell you, you are in for a treat. 

This is, my friends, the most embarrassing moment of my life.

And the most surreal.  Did I really do this?!

It makes me laugh so hard that I cry.  And Josh breaks out in a cold sweat every time he sees it.  I hope my wonderful teammates won't kill me for posting this.

There are a couple of things you need to know before you watch this video.

1.) In China, "performances" are a very important part of the culture.  This was not a fun thing for me to find out when we moved there, since I hate being in the spotlight and can't sing or dance to save my life.  But our students always wanted us to perform for them.  It is just part of life there.  So we did.

2.) This particular performance was not optional.  We tried VERY hard to get out of it, but the school officials wouldn't back down.  The foreign teachers had to do a performance, and it needed to include a song and dance. We had some very talented singers and dancers on our team, but not all of us had that gift.  We couldn't figure out how to dance to Away in a Manger, so, as you can see, we performed that other very traditional Christmas dance that all Americans dance at Christmas every year. :)

I have to admit, terrifying and embarrassing as this moment was, it was also kind of fun.  I really did feel kind of like a star for those five minutes.  :)  There is definitely something heady about being in front of an audience that big, under those lights, with the BUBBLES!

Our gracious Chinese hosts were  kind enough to shower us with applause and afterward they gave us the largest bouquets of flowers I have ever seen in my life.  They were wonderful.  I love China!

It's a little bit long, almost 6 minutes, so watch it when you have time to sit back and relax and enjoy a good laugh show.

Click HERE for the video!

Randy:  "Dude, it wasn't the best performance I've seen you do.  It was a little pitchy here and there."

Jennifer:  "I love your outfits, you really have the whole image thing down.  But the vocals and the moves just didn't do it for me this time.  I'm sorry."

Steven:  "I agree with Randy and Jennifer.  I know you have it in you, but it didn't work out.  Better luck next time."

Fairy Tale Ending: Elva's (Chocolate Chip) Scones

Once upon a time, long long ago, there was a beautiful woman named Elva who lived deep in an enchanted forest.  She had long flowing hair and an amazing scone recipe.


Actually, I have no idea what Elva or her hair looked like or who she even was; I just know that I like her a lot because apparently she was the originator of this scone recipe.  She passed it on to my mom's friend Sandy, who in turn made it for a Ladies' Tea my mother attended 15 or 20 years ago.

My mom knows a good thing when she tastes it, so she asked Sandy for the recipe and whipped up a batch one day for my dad and my sister and me.  Elva's Scones have been a part of our family ever since. 

They are our favorite scones ever.

A lot of scones are dry and heavy, but not these.  They are light and fluffy, but also substantial.  They pretty much melt in your mouth.

I think by now they really may be more "Blanche, Leah & Courtney's Scones" than "Elva's Scones" because, beautiful as Elva was with her long flowing hair and everything, I am pretty sure she didn't make them nearly as many times as we have. 

It's a sentimental as well as delicious recipe to me.  When I think about hanging out with my family around the breakfast table, the picture isn't quite complete without a plate of Elva's Scones on the table.  My sister and I even chose to have them for breakfast on the morning of our respective wedding days!  They are that special.

So if you try these scones, I guarantee it:

Your mouth will live happily everafter. :)

Elva's (Chocolate Chip) Scones

3 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar (plus a little more for sprinkling over top)

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon grated orange peel

3/4 cup butter

1 cup buttermilk

3/4 cup currants chocolate chips (a very generous 3/4...more like 1 cup)

Combine dry ingredients.  Cut in butter till crumbly.  Add buttermilk and currants chocolate chips; mix till moistened.  Gather into a ball, press until it holds together.  Turn dough onto floured surface.  Knead 12 times.  Divide in half.  Pat each half into a circle 1/2" to 3/4" thick.  Place on  ungreased baking sheet.  Cut each half into 6 pie-shaped pieces.  Pull pieces slightly apart.  Sprinkle with sugar.

Bake at 400 for 12-15 minutes or until cooked through and just barely starting to brown.  

Japan. Is God Loving or is He All-Powerful?

A copy of a Japanese painting from Google Images.

Last week I had a blast writing all about our fun vacation.  But when I look at our sunny beach pictures with the tame and cheerful ocean in the background I am also solemn.  I can't help but think about Japan, and their ravaged shorelines, and their pain.  

Sitting here in my safe, cozy little world it's hard for me to imagine the terror and horror they have experienced during these past 10 days.  One disaster right after another.   

This kind of devastation captures the attention of the whole world.  We stop in our tracks.  We shudder.  Our hearts flood with compassion.  And fear.  We ask, "Why?"  Why does God allow things like this to happen?  What is God doing?!   

Last week MSNBC interviewed a Michigan pastor about a controversial book he recently wrote.  But MSNBC host Martin Bashir opened the interview with a surprising question that had nothing to do with the book at all.  

"Before we come to talk about the book, just help us with this tragedy in Japan," he said.  "Which of these is true?  Either God is all-powerful, and He doesn't care about the people in Japan (and therefore their suffering); or He does care about the people of Japan but He is not all-powerful.  Which one is it?"

I realize this is a mighty big question to address in a little blog post.  Entire books have been dedicated to this subject.  But ever since I heard that question it's been echoing in my head because I think it's a question a lot of people have asked. And as I have watched the videos and seen the pictures and read the articles about all that's been happening in Japan, I have been digesting it all slowly.  

I obviously can't speak for God about what He is doing in Japan, or why.  I don't know.  No one knows the complete answer.  

But there are some things I definitely do know.  

I know that answer to the question above isn't either/or.  

It's both/and.  

God is love.  And He is all-powerful.  

He is love.  He definitely cares about the people of Japan, and their suffering.  God loves the people of Japan.  

He is all-powerful.  He allowed that great earthquake to shake their country.  He knew the horrific ensuing chain of events it would trigger.  He could have stopped it.  He is all-powerful.  But He didn't.

Why?

We don't know, fully.

But we do know, from the Bible, the following.

3 Things We Know About the Immediate Picture

1.) God is mourning with Japan.  When Lazarus died in John 11 and Jesus saw the pain and sorrow that suffering and death brought to Lazarus' sisters Mary and Martha and all of their friends, the Bible tells us that Jesus "groaned in His spirit and was troubled."  And then, that "He wept."  When God sees people suffering and mourning, it breaks His heart.  God cares deeply about the chaos and pain that is going on in Japan, and around the world.

 

2.) God has not abandoned believers in Japan.  He is with the Christians in Japan.  He hasn't left them alone, even though right now I'm sure it feels to some of them like He has.  When disaster strikes, God never abandons his children. 

"...I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Hebrews 13:5

3.) God offers real comfort, healing, hope and life! to anyone who will accept it.  He is holding it out to all of the people who are hurting right now in Japan, and to us as well.  It's up to each one of us to accept it.

"I am the resurrection and the life.  

He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  

And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  

Do you believe this?"  

John 11:25,26

God often uses great tragedies to draw us to Himself.  It seems ironic, but sometimes it takes an epic demonstration of God's power for us to wake up and realize that He is love; that He is near, and that we need Him.  We are a stubborn, proud human race.  But pain can strip away our pride and prompt us to reach out to God.  

The moment we do that we find wise, strong, loving arms waiting to comfort us and carry us to safety. 

3 Things We Know About the Big Picture

1.) It didn't have to be this way.  When God created our world for us it was perfect.  It was good.  There was no danger of earthquakes, volcanoes or tsunamis.  It was a safe, beautiful home.  

We (mankind) screwed it up by choosing sin's way over God's way.  Adam and Eve disobeyed God; they ate the forbidden fruit and as a result God cursed the earth.  He cursed the very ground (Genesis 1:16-19).  He is loving and He is all-powerful.  He is also just.  The punishment for sin is death; so because we are sinful, death, and earthquakes, and disasters wreak havoc on this earth.  God hates sin, and, unpleasant as it is to think about, He is going to punish the world, and all of the people who refuse to accept His forgiveness, for their sin.

2.) God uses everything that happens to accomplish an ultimate, greater good.  This is something my pastor talked about in church yesterday, preaching about Joseph.  We can't always see what God is doing...we definitely can't right now when we look at Japan...but we can bank on the fact that He is using everything that happens for His good purpose.

"But as for you, you meant evil against me; 

but God meant it for good..."

Genesis 50:20

3.) The chaos in our world won't last forever.  There really is an "end of the world" coming.  Tragedies like this are shocking, but not surprising.  God already warned us about this earthquake.  It's a sign that the end is getting closer.  I had to  re-read Mark 13 when I first heard about everything that was going on last week.

"And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, 

do not be troubled; for such things must happen,

but the end is not yet.

For nation will rise against nation, 

and kingdom against kingdom.

And there will be earthquakes in various places,

and there will be famines and troubles.

These are the beginning of the birth pains."

Mark 13:7,8

Verse 8 is more poignant to me than ever before since I just had a baby seven months ago.  There have always been horrible things going on in the world.  But it definitely seems like the "birth pains" are getting stronger and closer together.  The big event will come!  Jesus is coming back!!  He has promised us that He will come back and make things right at last.  There will be a new heaven and a new earth.  The pain and confusion and horror we are seeing in the news will not last forever.  

But in the meantime, before He comes, those contractions are just going to keep on coming.  And they will come stronger.  We are going to see more earthquakes and disasters in our world; disasters even worse than what just happened in Japan. It's not a cause for panic, but a cause for sobriety.

"Watch, therefore, for you do not know what hour 

the master of the house is coming -

in the evening, at midnight, 

at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning -

Lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.  

And what I say to you, I say to all:

Watch!"

Mark 13:35-37

The only way we can be truly ready for these "labor pains," and for Christ's return, is to know that we belong to Him. 

"For God so loved the world,

that He gave His only Son;

that whoever believes in Him 

should not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

Are you ready?

My Top 11. #1.

My Top 11.

Characteristics of an Awesome City
(continued)

#1:  Coffee Shops! 

The number one, most important thing I have to consider when I am sizing up a new city is this:  its coffee shops.  You may think this falls under the same category as #3 (Great Food) but it doesn't.  It is its own special, #1 category. 

If a city doesn't have any novel, distinctive coffee shops, it's not worth going there.  End of discussion. 

I'm not talking about Starbucks, although I love Starbucks to death.  I'm talking about those special coffee shops that have their own special atmosphere...hippie, quaint, earthy, upscale...it doesn't matter to me.  What matters is just that they have a vibe.  And of course really good coffee.  Freshly baked muffins and scones. (If they bring in their muffins from Costco they're out.)  A couch.  And, hopefully, a broad selection of loose leaf tea.

The first morning we woke up in San Diego we discovered Brickyard Coffee & Tea.  

I knew, the moment I saw it, that San Diego and I were going to be friends.

 

On a scale of 1 to 10 San Diego gets a 10 for this coffee shop alone.

And thus ends my account of our awesome vacation.  

Thankfully the leftover sand we're still finding in our pockets (and in Knox's diaper bag) won't let us quickly forget our adventures. :)

Happy Saturday, Everyone!

My Top 11. #3 and #2

My Top 11.

Characteristics of an Awesome City
(continued)

#3:  GREAT Food

If you haven't noticed by now, I love food. 

Restaurants are the third most important thing to me when it comes to judging cities.  Or towns.  Or anywhere. :)  When I go to a new place I want to find some really unique restaurants with amazing food.  Here were our favorites:

Pelly's Fish Market & Cafe.  One day we were craving seafood and we found this place.  It was in a strip mall so we weren't sure how it would turn out, but it was amazing.  A little place...not too fancy, not too expensive.  Perfect for lunch.  I had salmon and Josh had red snapper...both with a salad and rice.  YUM.  We wanted to go back for their fish tacos but had too many other places to try. :)

Karl Strauss Brewing Company.  We visited it the first time because it was the closest restaurant to our hotel.  And then we had to go back a second time because it was SO GOOD!  It's hard to make a burger and salad joint unique but this place pulled it off.  Everything was PRETTY and tasted AMAZING.  Chili lime sweet potato fries...need I say more? 

I will anyway. 

They had FIVE choices of mac & cheese!  We skipped the bacon, ham and sausage and bbq chicken versions and went with the "Tree Hugger" Mac which was loaded with broccoli, spinach and red peppers.  Wow.  Crunchy BBQ Chicken Salad?  Winner.  And the Cojita Avocado Turkey Burger?  Polar opposite of bland old turkey burger.  We SO wanted to try one of their desserts but couldn't either time.  Stuffed.

Our other favorite find was Taco Express.  A dive.  Downtown.  That had really good tacos and sopes and everything Mexican.  Loved it.

We hardly had time in a week to scratch the surface of all the fun looking restaurants in San Diego.  We didn't even make it to Little Italy, or any of the restaurants in the Gas Lamp Quarter!!  Next time. :)

On a scale of 1 to 10 San Diego gets a perfect 10 for its restaurants.


#2:  Waterfront

This is even more important to me than good food.  I LOVE the water.  

Awesome cities have awesome waterfronts.  

That's just the way it is.

San Diego?  On a scale of 1 to 10 it gets a 55 for its waterfront! :)


Check back tomorrow for my #1, most important, and FINAL characteristic of an awesome city.