Graced with Grace

Sometimes life is crazy and hard and full of adult stuff. But sometimes its nice to just enjoy life ( not that you can't enjoy life while doing adult stuff, but maybe instead being an adult while using the eyes and heart of a child). Tonight was one of those nights. Today, after getting off from work and turning my paper in on time and taking a shower because work is gross and running to the store to get groceries, after all of that, I decided it was high time I made Sugar Cookies. When it comes to Christmas activities and Christmas music and Christmas baking, things just don't stay in their place for me. For example, I sing Christmas music all year long, I will make Sugar Cookies with Christmas themed Cookie cutters anytime I wish to, if I want eggnog in the middle of summer I will just make it (that hasn't actually ever happened, but it will one day....). December is far too busy a month to squeeze all the best activities and songs and best everything into, so ther...

I am sitting here at my kitchen table with the sunshine streaming through the window and surrounded by some of my favorite things. For the past couple hours I have been writing to friends from far away, friends who I have neglected, I must confess. School should not be an excuse for forsaking and neglecting good friends, so, my dear friends, I must apologize for neglecting you for so long. I am much grateful for lovely fall breaks that provide a time for recovering and an opportunity to remember once again my awesome friends and write numerous letters to dear ones around the world. So with colorful pens and paper I begin to write, a candle flickering and my tea cup of coffee (yes, I drink coffee from a tea cup and this is NOT the oddest thing I do.) within reach. I feel that the only thing I am missing is Peter Rabbit sitting on the table to cause a little mischief ( Beatrix Potter reference) and a quill pen with a bottle of ink to dip it in, but I...

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" Psalm 34:8

The dinner I made turned out phenomenal! I made lasagna... without using a recipe. (who uses recipes any more, anyway? Isn't that kind of old-fashioned? ) As I cut up some onions with tears streaming down my face, I wondered how in the world the chef at the restaurant I work at can possibly cut so many onions and never get a tear in his eyes. ;) He actually told me the trick how to do it, but I personally don't think it works, at least not for me. ;) The bread I decided on was orange Bread. Yes, I did use a recipe for it. It turned out very delicious, but extremely sweet.  What did you have for dinner today? Did you make it or help make it?

Yay! I am making dinner tonight! Mom said so! I am so thrilled! I am going to go into the kitchen real soon and start cooking up a storm! Mom just doesn't know what she got herself into. lol ;) I guess we'll be having something awesome for dinner today! I  am going to have lots of fun! To bad you can't join me! Have I made you jealous yet? ;) Any who...I really do like to cook for my family! I just hope they like it as much as I do. ;)

Here is the long awaited bread recipe that I told you about awhile ago. I hope you get a chance to try it out and like it as much as we do. God bless! Whole Wheat Bread In Bosch mixer bowl with dough hook place the following: 5 ½ cups water (130 degrees) ½ cup oil 1 cup brown sugar 2 Tbsp. Dough enhancer (optional) 1 cup gluten (optional) 2 Tbsp. Salt 8 cups flour Using spring switch on machine, fold flour into liquids gently until all flour is moistened. Turn to speed 1 and blend for about 1 minute. Add: 3 Tbls. Dry active yeast (or 2 ½ Tbls. Instant yeast) 3 cups more flour (milled above) and fold in. (At this point I usually let dough sit for 7 minutes) Turn to speed 1 and while machine is running, add enough more flour to form a soft dough that is beginning to pull away from sides of bowl slightly (about 4 more cups for a total of about 15 cups of flour). When dough is as described above, time for 10 minutes, and knead on speed 1. Dough will ...