Cinnamon and crafts...heaven!

[ Cinnamon rolls just out of the oven :) ]

Since I learned to bake and realized how much I liked it, I started making cinnamon rolls for Christmas. These little gems are from a recipe by Smitten Kitchen - an amazing food blog, by the way. I make them with fat-free milk instead of whole-milk and they come out just amazing. Try them for yourself and you'll see what I mean...


I was feeling crafty on Christmas Eve and decided to do something I've never done before...make a card! It was super fun and now I'm thinking of all kinds of new ideas to make cards. This did take a little bit because of the hand stitching, but it was worth it and I like how it turned out. Now what to add to it? I don't know quite yet :)

Gingerbread (Men)!

Just in time for Christmas...

(made by a sweet girl named Molly)
I have never made gingerbread before, so this was a little bit of an adventure for me...and for an audience to boot! I was babysitting all week for a family I used to nanny for. The little girl had 2 friends over so I decided to make some cookies for them to decorate. Instead of doing sugar cookies (because I know how to do that!!), I decided to do Gingerbread (Men) - we made snowmen and trees and men too ;)

All the ingredients lined up!

Mixing the butter into the dough...

Find the recipe here (though I would recommend trying a different one, I didn't love how much the cookies spread, but they tasted great! I might recommend this one)

My Obsession

So we all have an obsession. The two closest to my heart are collecting recipes and, closely related, food-blogging.

Do you know what food-blogging is? There isn't a definition, really. It means that I go to this website and completely freak out about the amazing amount of recipes and click on a billion different pages and end up taking way, way, WAY too much time salivating over the different foods. Some people thing it's weird (and they tell me I need to calm down). But here's the thing, I get satisfaction out of this.

As for my recipe obsession...you should see my bookmarked list. I can't even navigate it anymore.For whatever reason, I love recipes. I love cooking, I love being in the kitchen...and for the most part, I love food (with the exception of a few things). I like things to taste good. Which is why I would do everything to find the perfect recipe.

Over the last few months, I have come to realize, however, that there are just simply things I should never cook. I mean...what is the point of slaving in a hot kitchen to make a batch of...crackers? Marshmallows? Girl Scout Cookies? (yes...someone has spent the time to come up with a recipe for homemade Samoas and Thin Mints and Tagalongs - your dreams can come true year-round ladies). I mean, it's absurd right? Making CrAcKeRs?! Here's the catch...the only thing that has kept me from adventuring out and making these recipes is lack of time. Yes, I would go through the effort to buy ingredients and slave in a kitchen to make the perfect batch of Thin Mints just to say that I've done it. And then when the Girl Scouts came around...I'd buy a box or two.

What is your obsession?

Trust me

Trust me. Those are the words God has been laying on my heart since I could begin to think...I think. Really, they are the words he says to everyone.

Trust me. Now, why is that so hard? Rather, why do I make it so hard? Still, I am not sure why. This whole college experience thing has been a kick in my butt, if I'm honest with myself. I have grown more than I would've liked [sarcasm]. I was quite comfortable with myself...really, I was. But God had other plans for me. He is pushing my buttons, the buttons he made and knows to push because he knows everything about me. He knows that if he pushes those buttons I will grow. He knows what makes me feel sad, happy, joyful, whole, confused, tired and angry (believe it or not, I get angry once in a while).

Trust me. Now, here's the thing I've forgotten and am just beginning to realize again. He pushes my buttons with love. For a long time I forgot that God loves me. Now, how could I ever forget that? Remember that time you thought the world was over and everything was going terribly and you couldn't see how things could ever work out? That's when you forgot that God loves you. It creeps in there. God loves me so unconditionally, so radically, so fully, so...much. He slathers it on thick. Definition of slather according to my computer: [to spread or smear thickly or liberally]. God truly slathers it on. Just look at his Word. Look at his Creation. How he loves us.

Trust me. He loves you too. He loves everyone of us more than we could ever ask for or imagine. His love is higher, deeper, wider, and longer than we could ever fathom [measure the depth of] - Eph. 3:17-19.

Trust me. I'm learning Father. I'm learning to daily reach out my hands in faith knowing that you will love me, lead me, and treasure me in your hand.

some things i like

1. crafting...actually, I love crafting. You might see it on here at some point.

2. baking (alone) and listening to a christian music. it is my think time.

3. tastespotting.com

4. listening to the rain or the waves while doing....anything really!

5. the ocean. i have a new appreciation for the ocean lately - and i basically live right next to one.

6. cooking...i used to only like baking, but now i am enjoying experimenting with new foods and tastes.

7. sweaters.

8. soup or chili...yum yum.

Touching Poem

If you have a moment, read this poem. It is beautiful and touching. Written by Gabriel Marquez after he found out he is dying of cancer.

The Puppet

If for a moment God would forget that I am a rag doll and give me a scrap of life, possibly I would not say everything that I think, but I would definitely think everything that I say.

I would value things not for how much they are worth but rather for what they mean.

I would sleep little, dream more. I know that for each minute that we close our eyes we lose sixty seconds of light.

I would walk when the others loiter; I would awaken when the others sleep.

I would listen when the others speak, and how I would enjoy a good chocolate ice cream.

If God would bestow on me a scrap of life, I would dress simply, I would throw myself flat under the sun, exposing not only my body but also my soul.

My God, if I had a heart, I would write my hatred on ice and wait for the sun to come out. With a dream of Van Gogh I would paint on the stars a poem by Benedetti, and a song by Serrat would be my serenade to the moon.

With my tears I would water the roses, to feel the pain of their thorns and the incarnated kiss of their petals...My God, if I only had a scrap of life...

I wouldn't let a single day go by without saying to people I love, that I love them.

I would convince each woman or man that they are my favourites and I would live in love with love.

I would prove to the men how mistaken they are in thinking that they no longer fall in love when they grow old--not knowing that they grow old when they stop falling in love. To a child I would give wings, but I would let him learn how to fly by himself. To the old I would teach that death comes not with old age but with forgetting. I have learned so much from you men....

I have learned that everybody wants to live at the top of the mountain without realizing that true happiness lies in the way we climb the slope.

I have learned that when a newborn first squeezes his father's finger in his tiny fist, he has caught him forever.

I have learned that a man only has the right to look down on another man when it is to help him to stand up. I have learned so many things from you, but in the end most of it will be no use because when they put me inside that suitcase, unfortunately I will be dying.

It's been a while!

I NEED TO GET A CAMERA...because it's no fun to post without pictures. I hope you read this anyway...

Hello there :) It's been a while since I've posted...but that is because the last 2 weeks have been full of fun activities! :) I went to Palm Desert to celebrate my sister's bachelorette party with some friends - very fun! Got some sun...for the hour that we could stay outside!!! It was so hot - 109 on Thursday and Friday....well it was hot. Among other things, July 4th weekend was spent with Nate and my family - very fun indeed :) It was Nate's family's birthdays (all of the kids have birthdays within a week of each other!!) and so I got Nate a Chargers jersey for his birthday, he liked it a lot :)

So....with the weather being as it is (cloudy, RAINY...in July)...I decided to bake a little before doing some homework for my online class. I absolutely love rice crispy treats, but only homemade kind!!! The packaged ones are gross!! It's odd too because these treats seem like a childhood memory, but I never ate them growing up....anybody else have that experience with food? I'm weird, I know.

I decided to try a new recipe for these treats and they turned out ahhh-mazing. Like melt in your mouth amazing. As long as you like peanut butter. One day I will figure out a way to not make such a mess with this recipe - the mallows like to stick to the saucepan no matter what...

Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats
3 tbsp. butter
4 1/2 cups mini marshmallows or a 10 oz package of large marshmallows
1/2 cup crunchy OR smooth peanut butter - I used crunchy :)
6 (ish) cups Rice Crispy Cereal or some kind of crispy cereal...

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
2. Add the marshmallows all at once and stir with a wooden spoon (or spatula) until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat!
3. Add peanut butter and stir until all combined.
4. Add about 4 cups of the mallows....you will need more, but sometimes not the full 6 cups. You don't want dry rice crispy treats - ever. So just add a little bit more at a time until you think you have a good consistency - gooeyer is better. (Is that a word?)
5. Spray a 13" X 9" X 2" pan with pam or line with parchment/wax paper. Pour the treats into the pan and press into the corners until evenly spread.

**Tip: Get a small sandwich bag, put your hand inside of it, and spray it with a teeny bit of Pam...then use this to press the treats into the pan - your hand stays clean and nothing sticks!

All done...just let it cool and EAT. You can make a little chocolate frosting to put on them...perhaps..

Baking with Brittney :)

So last week, one of my best friends came up to see me and we got to spend some much needed time together! The picture to the left is of us ice skating last semester! Brittney is one of my best friends down at school and she is an amazing woman! She can remember just about anything you tell her about your life (believe me, she remembered my class schedule before I did). She is also an amazingly gifted listener and will make you always feel better about yourself. Among other things, Brittney and I have way too much in common...she one of God's little blessings in my life :) After a sleepover with some necessary Boy Meets World, a movie (The Killers to be exact - great movie), and an hour walk on the beach, Brit and I got to do what we both love to do best....BAKE :)

Oatmeal Cranberry Macadamia Nut White Chocolate Chip Cookies
....sounds like a loaded cookie right? Well they are GREAT...

2/3 cup softened butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups flour (use half whole wheat if you want!)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup dried cranberries
2/3 cup white chocolate chips
1/3 cup macadamia nuts (or walnuts...), optional

1. Preheat oven to 375ºF.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs, mixing well.
4. Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl.
5. Add flour mixture to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition.
6. Stir in dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks.
7. Taste dough to make sure it is good...
8. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets (maybe lined with parchment paper, your decision!).
9. Bake for 7-10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack....then eat! They are best right out of the oven!



Makes approximately 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Cookies!!

Any fun weekend ends in baking. I love baking...so here is a good recipe for some whole-wheat chocolate chip cookies....yes, whole-wheat!! They are really good and have kind of a "nuttier" flavor. They also have a little bit less sugar than a normal cookie recipe...Here it is!


Whole-Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 1/4 cups whole-wheat flour (or white whole-wheat flour - can be found at like Henry's I think)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt (LESS if you are using salted butter!!!)
1 cup softened UNSALTED butter....or salted, but then use less salt...
1 1/4 cup packed dark or light brown sugar (yummm!)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-2 cups MILK chocolate chips (believe me, you WILL taste the difference)
1 cup walnuts (if you want!)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet (or two) with parchment paper (or spray it with Pam!).
3. In a small/medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set it aside for later.
4. In a larger bowl (or stand mixer), beat together the butter and the sugar until smooth.
5. Add eggs, one at a time. Beat in each egg thoroughly!
6. Add vanilla.
7. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture at a time to the butter/sugar/egg mixture. Do not beat too much!
8. Remove the bowl from the mixer (if using one) and fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts (if using).
9. Get a spoon and eat some cookie dough :)
10. Drop by tablespoon-fuls onto the cookie sheet and bake in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
11. While cookies are baking, eat some more cookie dough :)



If you want, you can place a bunch of dough balls onto a baking sheet and put it into the freezer and then when they are all frozen, transfer them to a plastic bag so that you can have cookies to bake anytime!! These are yummy cookies and trust me, you won't be able to taste the whole wheat in there :)

A cute idea and some yummy salad!

Hello all :) I just finished making some of the invitations for my sister's bridal shower!!! :) So exciting! Here is one of them:


I loved making these with Kristi, my sister's best friend :) We cut out pieces of fabric, glued them to cardstock, and decorated with some ribbon and a white pen :) I'm so excited as the wedding gets closer!

Today I decided to make a sweet salad...but I don't have the exact measurements...I will try my best to list them proportionally! It is just something to throw together (actually, I made this with some girlfriends on Tuesday!

Fun Salad :)
2-3 cups spinach (or baby mixed greens)
1 cup of snap peas, cut in half
1-2 Tbsp. chopped walnuts (toasted or candied if you want!)
1 bell pepper, cut up into bite-size pieces (or those yummy mini sweet peppers, so good!)
1 apple, sliced into bite-size pieces
2 Tbsp. Feta cheese
1 avocado, sliced into bite-size pieces
Some sweet or savory dressing, whatever is your favorite! The Brianna's dressings are great...or whatever you like :)

Basically just toss everything BUT the avocado together...add that last :) It is yummy and perfect for summer :] Eat up!

Another day of summer...

So yesterday I went to a class at the gym with my good friend Amy....and today I can barely walk!!! It was a rough day. But i decided to go to the beach and take a walk instead of going to the gym (I love the gym, by the way). Well, the last few days have been busy with wedding stuff for my sister! Her best friend Kristi and I got together and we made invitations for her bachelorette party - so cute! We cut fabric, glued it to cardstock, and wrote the invitations out. Super fun. I'll post a picture when I can get one...

Speaking of pictures, I need to get a camera. Soon. I'm going to save up to buy one! I need some suggestions.... I just want a simple digital one, but a nice one that takes good pictures!

I decided to make some yummy chili tonight....it's great!! :

Vegetarian Chili - warning!! This takes a good couple hours to prepare... :)
1 1/2 cups of beans (kidney, black, pinto, etc.)
1 cup of wheat bulghur or wheat berries (like rice, kinda, you can get it at Henry's or Trader Joe's)
1 cup of tomato juice (V8 Juice works just fine!)
4 cloves crushed garlic
1 ½ cups chopped onion
1 cup each, chopped: celery, carrots, green peppers (optional)
2 cups chopped, fresh tomatoes
Juice of ½ lemon
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. chili powder (more, to taste)
Salt and pepper
3 Tbs. tomato paste
3 Tbs. dry red wine

1. If you are using dry beans, soak them in enough COLD water to cover them 3 inches for about 8 hours (or overnight)...drain and rinse. Recover with water and bring to a boil and cook until tender, you may need to add water during this time -- SKIM OFF ANY FOAM THAT FORMS on the surface of the water!!! It depends on the beans, but this process can take up to an hour or two. The beans are ready to use at this point :)
2. In a small saucepan, bring the tomato juice to a boil. Pour it over the raw bulghur or wheat berries. Let this sit for about 15 minutes - they will be crunchy still, but will absorb more liquid later.
2. In another large (LARGE) pot, saute the onions and garlic in the pot with a couple tablespoons of olive oil (smells amazing!). Add the vegetables when the onions have reduced down and are starting to brown. Cook until the veggies are tender (note: if you are using the green peppers, add them later because they take less time to cook).
3. Squeeze in the lemon juice (watch for seeds!!) and the spices (now it smells REALLY good!). Pour the beans into the large pot (with the liquid) and add the tomato juice/bulghur mixture, the tomatoes, tomato paste, and the wine. Mix all together over a medium/low flame and bring to a gentle (verrrry gentle) boil - slowly do this so that you don't burn the bottom of the chili. Keep mixing it every now and then. Let this mixture cook together for about a half hour or so - it will smell great!!

Serve with a little shredded cheese sprinkled on top and some yummy cornbread - of which a recipe WILL follow at some point :) Enjoy!

Never thought I'd do this!

Well...here I am, writing a BLOG entry! I never thought I would do this, but I actually think it is kind of a fun way to record some memories and share with friends and family...hence the title of the blog :)

It's summer!!! I am so excited to be working at a local restaurant as a hostess this summer...it has been a blessing in disguise so far - at first I wanted to quit! If you know me, you know I am...well a little on the quieter side haha. Let's just say my first few days were a little intimidating. It's wonderful now and I'm loving it, it's almost a break in my day to go and serve people and just smile and greet people. Hospitality, I'm finding, is one of my strong suits :)

Among other things, my wonderful, darling sister is getting married this summer! Sooo exciting!!! She is my best friend and I love her so much.....this is her and I at a friend's wedding:



Anyways...I also love to cook. I love both baking and cooking, and I have an extremely well-thought-out plan of going to culinary school one day....hehe :) So anyways, I thought it would be fun to post a recipe that I have made lately with each blog....so here is one:

Banana Nut Muffins...YUM!
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a cupcake pan or line with cute liners.
2. If you want to use nuts, put about a 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans on a baking sheet and toast them for about 8 minutes in the oven (totally optional, just makes them more tasty!). Set these aside for later.
3. Whisk all of the dry ingredients together in a medium/large bowl and set it aside for later:
1/4 cup flaxseed meal (just grind some flax seeds in a coffee grinder)
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
***(instead of using the three different flours above, you can just use all whole wheat or all-purpose flour!)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 HEAPING teaspoon cinnamon (looove cinnamon!)
1/2 teaspoon salt
4. Next, in a separate medium bowl with a hand mixer, mix together the following ingredients:
3 very ripe bananas, mashed (you caaaan do more if you'd like!)
1/2 cup dark or light brown sugar (or granulated sugar, I like brown sugar better though)
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup canola oil (or melted butter)
5. This part is important...you do not want to overmix the muffin batter! Pour all of the banana mixture into the flour mixture. Fold until JUST combined...then fold in the nuts (if using). Spoon even amounts of batter into the 12 muffin cups.
6. Now make the crumb topping! This is also optional...but it tastes great! Mix together with a pastry cutter, fingers, or fork until it resembles cornmeal:
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon COLD butter
7. Sprinkle the topping evenly over muffins. Put in the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean...about 16-18 minutes! They are sooo yummy!!

Enjoy :)