I am a Cookie :)

Just like a Cookie.

Today while cooking over the hot stove baking cookies, my first batch wasn't turning out right. Usually the first batch can sometimes be like that; flat. Crumbly.  They may taste good, but they sure wouldn't win first prize for their looks.  Then, second batch comes and they turn out a whole lot better. Third batch is even better, starts looking more round and like an actual cookie.

Well, like you are guessing, the first batch left me totally aggravated. It makes you start thinking; "What if the whole batch of cookies looks like this!"  And if you are anything like me, that sure isn't a very good thought!

I simply love being in the kitchen, but sometimes while alone I can start feeling mighty lonely. So, I turned on some music, and let my thoughts entertain me.  Well, one of my thoughts turned to my blog and what to write about next.  Then all the sudden I had an Idea, and that is-- "We are just like those cookies" 

Yes, yes, I know that by now you are laughing. I mean, us like a cookie? What could we ever really resemble. Surely its not our smell?

Well, before you get worried; no! It is not our smell. Although, that would be rather fun wouldn't it? Smelling like a delicious cookie all the time would attract a lot of people, and make a lot of people like us, wouldn't it? But no, that isn't exactly where I was trying to go.

As I described above when the first batch of cookies doesn't turn out right, they are very crumbly and ugly looking on the outside. By looks they are nothing.  But when you bite down into the surface; when you feel the smoothness on your mouth-- its wonderful! Our lives are sorta like that.  From the outside we may feel as if we are nothing, we may feel ugly and feel like we should just throw ourselves away.

But deep down we know that we have something wonderful surrounding us; and that is God! But what about the outside? What happens then? By just looking at us everyone will think that we are a failure.

Well, the Bible says that "Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."  So you see, though the people around us may look on our outward appearance and judge us by our looks; God looks deeper than that. He looks to the heart.

And if our heart is full of love for him; beautiful and loyal-- that is all that matters!  And if we trust in God, and praise his name day by day, soon we shall turn out to be just like those last batches of cookies.  Soft. Beautiful. Fluffy. Or in other words; we shall be beautiful, and look like we have some great purpose... even from the outside. That is IF we will call on the name of the Lord, and just take one step at a time... with God by our side. 
 
  Whether you are feeling discouraged, ugly, or like a failure.  That us just something to let you think upon for a little while.  But for now...You didn't know that you could resemble a cookie, now did you? ;)

Taken and copied from  " The Graceful maiden" Blog :)

Spiced hot chocolate

This is a Recipe that I found it seems fitting for below Zero weather!!

• 6 cups milk (use whatever you like, I use unsweetened almond milk!)
• 1 teaspoon store-bought curry powder
• 2 green cardamom pods, crushed
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Marshmallows or whipped marshmallow cream, for serving (optional)

Directions

In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, warm the milk, curry powder, and cardamom pods over medium heat, stirring every now and then so it doesn't burn.

Meanwhile, spoon the cocoa powder into a measuring cup. Once you see little bubbles forming around the perimeter of the saucepan, the milk is hot; turn off the heat. Pour a little milk, about 1 cup, into the cocoa powder, and whisk until smooth. Add back to the saucepan, and whisk in the honey and salt. Stir until well combined.

Pour the hot chocolate through a strainer into 4 individual mugs and top with marshmallows, if you like.

Lemon Bars

Crust:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 Tbs cornstarch
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 7 Tbs butter, chilled and cut into small pieces

Filling:

• 1 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 3 Tbs flour
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp lemons zest
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

To make the crust:
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line an 8×8″ baking pan with foil, leaving 1″ overhang on all sides.
Mix the flour, sugar, cornstarch and salt together, then cut in the butter. You can do this by hand with a pastry cutter or in your electric mixer.  Once it hits a stage where it’s all crumbly, you’re done. Pour into the prepared pan and press down with your hands. (The book says to freeze fro 15 minutes, then bake but I skipped that step and it was fine.)  Bake for 20 minutes or so, until lightly browned.
While the crust is baking, make the filling.
Mix the eggs, sugar, flour and salt until smooth, either with a whisk or your electric mixer. Blend in the lemon zest and juice.  When the crust is done, pull it from the oven and pour in the lemon custard mixture. Reduce the oven to 300 and bake about 20 more minutes. Let it cool on a wire rack completely, then lift the foil edges up and put on a cutting board.  Cut into 16 squares. Refrigerate in an airtight container with the layers separated by wax paper.   Dust in with powdered sugar just before serving.

Pickling

So I was reading in a magazine and it was talking about this Mom who Pickled alot so here is what you do


Usually when you get done with a jar of pickles you throw away the left over Juice but you can pickle with that juice so
You need left over
Pickle juice,
Veggies such as Fresh baby Carrots  Zucchini Stuff like that and
a  Refrigerator
so what you do put the veggies in the jar and close the lid set in the Fridge and leave over night or longer they make GREAT snacks and good Sides Hope you Enjoy Pickling :)

Guest Blogger Libbi H. from The Funner Life!

Hi everyone! Libbi H. here! I am here to share a quick and easy recipe with you :)

Super-Quick Cinnamon Baked Apples

All you need is :

1 Apple

Cinnamon

A bowl

 Please wash the apple. Unless you are Johnny Appleseed...

 Start peeling the apple..

 Continue peeling the apple...

Finish peeling the apple

 Cut up the apple however you want. I  prefer little disks, but my mom like a ton of little pieces...

 Microwave for 3:00.  3 minutes....

 when they come out they'll be hot, so use a potholder, or, a sleeve. Sprinkle as much {or as little} cinnamon as you like.

 Stir it all up...

 Voila! You have your super-easy baked apples!

Hope you enjoy it!

P.S. Check out my blog, The Funner Life :)

Cream Cheese Frosting

This is a really easy recipe but it is really good on every kind of Cupcake, Cake ,and COOKIES
You can also add some Cinnamon if you like Witch is REALLY Good!

2 8oz Cream Cheese  Softend
1/2 cup Butter Softend
1 tsp Vanilla
2 cups Powdered Sugar

Mix Cream Cheese and Buter with Electric mixer till No lumps can be Found
mix in Vanilla, and S L O W L Y  Mix in Powdered Sugar
Bon Appetite

COSTA RICA BANANA BREAD!!!!!!!!!!

So Excited about this Recipe It Comes From a Missionary in Costa Rica When My Sister went there to Help out She Brought this with Her! And it is AMAZING!!!!!


1 1/2 cups Sugar
1/2 cup Butter
1 cup Milk
2 Tbls Vinegar
1 tsp Salt
2 Eggs
1 tsp Bkg Soda
1 tsp Bkg Powder
2 tsp Vanilla
2 cup Flour
3 Smashed Bananas


Mix All ingredients and bake in Greased and Floured Loaf pan or Muffin Tins
may Stick But Delicious!
Bake at 350 for 30-40 Minutes or until Springs up when pushed Down

Serve with Room Temp Butter!

EAT IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!!