Shoes

Took this picture during one of our VBS times at a park. All the girls took their shoes off to jump rope. We did a lot of Jump roping in the DR.

More bags.

Last month while on an IKEA (love that place) trip with my cousins. They were admiring my purse that I made. So i told them that if they picked out fabric I would make them each one. So after splitting up we both ended up at JoAnn's. This was a perfect time for them to pick out the fabric and get it to me to get he purses made. So finally after a month they are done and will be in the mail to them this week, Hopefully tomorrow. I added a ribbon to theirs for ties. The original had ties but I left them off mine.

The purses:

Blueberry Muffins.

I finally tried out my new muffin top pan. I wanted to do a lemon poppy seed muffin but was not up to the task of a new recipe. So I stuck with blueberry. I used a Martha Stewart recipe. Not a huge fan of hers but I inherited her baking handbook from my Aunt. So I thought I would use it.

 

Blueberry Muffins
Makes 1 dozen.

1 stick butter room temp
2 cups all purpose flour ( I used some whole wheat flour)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups fresh blueberries ( I used frozen)
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375. Prepare muffin pans. [I usually spray and flour or you could use papers] In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt. Working over the bowl, toss the blueberries in a fine sieve with about a little of the flour mixture to coat berries. Set both aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on med high till light and fluffy. About 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating till combined. Add vanilla.

With the mixer on low speed, add the reserved flour mixture, beating until just combined. Add milk, beating until just combined; do not over mix. [muffins are okay if batter is a little lumpy, it will all work its self out in the over while cooking] Fold in blueberries with a spatula. Divide among muffins cups.

Bake for 25-30 rotating pan half way for even cooking. Take out and let cool for a few minutes and then ENJOY!

My muffin tops weren’t as big as I wanted. Next time I will fill them more. I wasn’t sure how to deal with it, being my first time. Next time they will hopefully look more like I envisioned them to look. 

BEAUTY

In the kitchen.

I have had the past couple days off. Well, really yesterday and today. Which means that I have had time to try some new recipes. This weekend I also tried one. All of which came out really good. I have recently gotten hooked on pinterest. If you haven't you don't know what you are missing but beware its addictive. But its really good at finding new recipes.

This past weekend I was able to finally make Oreo cheesecake cookies.  We didn’t have cream cheese at home and it took a bit for us to remember to pick it up. These cookies were really easy to make.  They came out really good but dried out fairly quickly. Also I think next time I make them I will leave out he chocolate chips. They were a different chocolate taste then the Oreo on the outside. Mixing in some crumbs in the dough might be a good substitute.

The recipe I used is found at brown eyed baker.

The next new recipe I tried was cinnamon pull apart bread. This is a layered yeast bread with lots of butter and cinnamon. I could have used more cinnamon and sugar. Not quite as sweet as I would have liked. But still really yummy. My dad took a piece yesterday to work and kept it on his dashboard (even though its January here in Mi its been in the 50s with sun) and it warmed up for him to have a mid morning snack. This bread does taste better warm than cold. Of course fresh baked right out of the oven is the best. This reminded me of my mom’s monkey bread.

This recipe was found at Joy the baker.

Last night I broke out the lemons. I tried my hand at lemon cookies. The picture at the recipe site looked really good. The recipe was real easy too. I think it will be one of my usuals from now on.

I made one mess up one the recipe. This was due to the fact hat I didn’t read thru the recipe first before starting. You would think after Culinary School where ALL my Chefs insisted on it I wouldn’t forget to do it. But its a bad habit. The final product was not ruined because of the mistake. I put the powered sugar in the dough instead of rolling the dough balls in it. So I didn’t roll my dough in powered sugar since it was already added. In spite of this mistake these cookies are slightly addictive. I have already had 4 this morning. Good think I use a 100 scoop. If you like lemon this recipe is a must. I did end up adding more lemon to the dough after each batch. My dad was struggling to taste it. I think it was a mind thing. The cookies aren't yellow. The original recipe does taste like lemon.

Check out the recipe here, it was a contest winner too.

My first taste of COMMUNITY.

So this is my first family away from home. It was the fall of 2006 we all traveled to Ga and met for the first time. All coming from different backgrounds, parents, friends, churches. But after 9 months together we shared just about everything (That is what happens when 10 girls share one bathroom). Before my first year in South Africa I was not sure about friendships. I has been hurt by a college friend. But these people showed me what it looks like to love one another, looking past the dirt (sometimes literally) and baggage that everyone carries and love another anyways. This team, especially some of the ladies, will always be in my heart. I know that the Lord used them to change my heart and made me fall in love with community.

 

This is our whole team at the end of the first semester. There are days that I wish we were still on 1 Periwinkle, laughing, planning for ministry, crammed in our living room watching a movie, singing, pulling pranks on each other, baking, entertaining ourselves at night when boredom strikes, learning who were really are in Christ, learning what loving like He does looks like, walking to the beach on an off day to relax and spend it together, and so much more.  I miss living life with each of you. 

Fall

made the news.

detnews.com|Sports|Photogallery|Sports Photo Gallery - Spartans Outback Bowl party on the beach - The Detroit News Online

 

He's the one in the blue shirt on the left. My cousin is the one in the green headband behind the guys arm.

The baby place.

Well that is what we called it. It has a formal name but it has escaped my memory. This was one of our ministry sights in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It is a transition home of sorts for infants and toddlers. The ministry was to play with and love the beautiful children who live there. This girl was one of them that stole our hearts. As a leader I didn't have a regular ministry but when I had time I always went with our ladies to this one to hang out with the kids. One of the little boys that lived there had CP, I believe.  He layed on the floor and struggled to breath the whole time but he loved his back to be rubbed and loved being talked to. Many moments were spent hanging out with him. I think about these kids a lot and wonder if they ever got to go home with people or if they are in an orphanage now.