Crooked Strudel

This past weekend I took on the adventure of making a pastry. A friend of mine had showed me the recipe and I decided to try it. It took quite some effort to prepare the dough itself, but it was so yummy. Once the dough was made, which the easy part, it had to be rolled out, buttered, folded, and refrigerated; then rolled, folded, and refrigerated again; then repeat twice more.

This is the apple, sugar, cinnamon mixture that makes the filling

The dough all rolled out with the filling on it

Braided

With the egg wash...it's a little crooked... =)

Strudel topping

Ready for the oven

Baked

and....breakfast!

It took quite a long time for all the steps, but it was quite enjoyable to make.

P.S. We are eagerly awaiting the purchase of vanilla ice cream, which we found last night we were out of, on which to sprinkle the left over strudel topping and the sauce from the apples. =)

chocolate and coffee anyone?

Ever tried to find the perfect chocolate cookie recipe? Slightly crispy and still chewy-gooey? This is the recipe for you:

Tripple Chocolate Mocha Chunks

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup white sugar

1/2 tsp. baking soda*

1 tbsp instant coffe granules**

1/2 tsp. salt

2 large eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2/3 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder*

1 3/4 cup white flour

1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

1 cup chocolate chips or chunks (use one or more: white, milk, espresso, semi-sweet)

*if you have Dutch Process Cocoa Powder, use 3/4 tsp. baking powder and 2/3 cocoa powder

**if you have espresso powder use 1 tsp.

Preheat oven to 350*. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter sugar, baking soda, coffee granules, and salt. Add the eggs and vanilla, beating until smooth. Stir in the cocoa powder and flour; the dough will be stiff. Mix in the chocolate chips.

Drop the cookies onto a baking sheet (I made the balls 1 1/2" and got just over 3 dozen). Bake the cookies for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and allow to cool.

Pour a glass of milk and enjoy!

trivia:

Do you know the difference between Natural Unsweetened Cocoa Powder and Dutch Process Cocoa Powder?

Natural Unsweetened Cocoa Powder is the most common type found in the kitchen. It is processed in such a way that it is an acidic substance (it should be used with baking soda). Familiar brands are Hershey's, Nestlé, and Ghiradelli.

Dutch Process Cocoa is treated so that the result is an alkaline food (it works best with baking powder). It can be found in grocery stores, but it is less common and usually more expensive.

*~*~*

it's official...I'm a foodie.

Puppy Update

It's been awhile since I've updated our blog readers on my puppy. My ball of energy is coming up on a year of life. She's been so much fun and taught me a lot of patience over the past ten months. She still loves to play frisbee and I caught a bit of her energy on video Saturday morning. =)

Beautiful Sunrise

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork." Psalm 19:1

This morning between our family Bible study and breakfast, God reminded us of His glory by giving us a beautiful sunrise to enjoy. I am so thankful that we serve a God who loves beauty. However, even a really nice camera cannot capture the full extent of the magnificent color.

~Marissa

marginalia

diabolical- belonging to or so evil as to recall the Devil

esoteric- intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge or interest

altruism- in belief in or practice of disinterested or selfless for the wellbeing of others

ambiguity- uncertainty or inexactness of meaning in language

demagogue- a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument

ostensibly-apperantly or purportedly, but perhaps not actually

variorum- having notes written by various editors or commentators

perspicuous- clearly expressed and easily understood

4 inches of snowflakes

Mandy--the energizer puppy

the mountains were completely socked in this morning

chimichangas

the filling

dinner

Scott's recommendation: 3 smiley faces

marginalia

exculpate- show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing

torpor- a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy

***

"I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it be such as would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, which they have proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives." -Leo Tolstoy

"Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say 'infinitely' when you man 'very;' otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite." -C.S. Lewis

"The best book is not the thought which it contains, but the thought which it suggests; just as the charm of music dwells not in the tones but in the echos of our hearts." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

"To live for a time close to great minds is the best kind of education." -John Buchan

marginalia

acerbity- (esp. of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright

***

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weakness. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Romans 8:26-27

"Stilled now be every anxious care;

See God's great goodness everywhere;

Leave all to Him in perfect rest:

He will do all things for the best."

anonymus Keep a Quiet Heart

"It is in His providence that has put us where we are. It's where we belong. It is for us to receive it--all of it--humbly, quietly, thankfully." -Elizabeth Elliot Keep a Quiet Heart

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking on another, envying one another." Galatians 5:22&23, 25&26

Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; and there is nothing hidden from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart by acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

marginalia

exculpate- to show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing

"If the prudence of reserve and decorum dictates silence in some circumstances, in others prudence of a higher order may justify us in speaking our thoughts." Edmund Burke

"The Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11

"I urge you to trust God. He wants to give you the best. He will help you. He has promised to guide. He knows what you need." Elisabeth Elliot

"But it is within a Christian woman's modesty and willingness to have what God wants for her, doing quietly the work God has given her to do, confident that his promise can be trusted...are you willing to be and have what He wants you to be and have, and nothing else? Will you surrender all your own hopes, dreams, and plans to Him?...if you want His way, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else, you've got to leave it to Him." ibid

"Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day...the humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way."

Psalm 25:4-5, 9

sanctification

Aren't you so thankful for the sanctification process? Boy I am! God has worked so much in me this last year. It would be a huge long story and I'm not so good with words as my dear daughters and some of you dear friends so I won't even try, but I'll borrow some words I found on a blog (which that blogger quoted from somewhere else but that source wasn't listed, so please forgive my lack of giving credit to the "author"). Anyway, these words provide a peek into what God has been teaching me this past year and I'm sure will continue to refine in me:

"When you judge others, you are revealing your own fears, insecurities, and prejudices..."

"...Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others..."

May each of us extend as much grace to others as we generously extend to ourselves. Have a great day friends!

Linda

NY: day 6

Monday morning we went for a hike down to the San Pedro Creek

conquering the mountain

admiring God's marvelous creation

cutting up and eating a Prickly Pear Cactus

boys

they will forever and and always be...boys--aren't you glad?

lunch...er...slime

working with our hands (i.e. Manly Knitting)

*thanks to Dr. B and Curtis for some of the pictured used in the NY posts.