New Endeavors...From the Kitchen

Recently, Nick and I were talking about Advent Conspiracy (more on that here http://www.adventconspiracy.org/hope/). I thought it was a great idea and wondered what I could do to spend less and give more during the holidays (the rest of the year). Well, here is what has come from that.

These are a few cards I created to see what I could do and I think they came out pretty nice. For Advent Conspiracy, I am going to create a line of greeting and holiday cards for purchase with all proceeds going to Blood: Water Mission (http://www.bloodwatermission.com). As I get more supplies, I feature the cards that will be for sale.

The name of the line will be "From the Kitchen". I thought this would be appropriate as I would be moving from kitchen creations to card creations--From the Kitchen. Well, check back for more details later on. Hopefully, you'll see something you'll like.

Cookie Cupcake

This is the finished cupcake of only one of the most fabulous combinations ever! I got the recipe from Lovin' from the Oven, but of course I altered it so here is my version.

Cupcake Cookie Recipe: Serves 12

Batter:

1/2 cup butter, softened

6 tbsp each white and brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp each vanilla, baking soda and salt

1 cup AP flour

Topping:

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1/8 tsp salt

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup unsweetened coconut (optional)

1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350*. In one bowl cream butter and sugars. Beat in egg and vanilla until creamy. In another bowl, mix flour, salt, baking soda. Gradually, add flour mixture into creamed butter--mixing by hand*. Line muffin pan with cupcake liners and fill about 1/2 full (anout 1 tbsp of batter). Bake for 7mins minutes and take out. While baking, beat brown sugar, egg, and salt. Stir in c. chips, coconut, and nuts. Drop rounded teaspoonfulls onto cupcakes. Return to oven and bake additional 8-10 mins. Cool in pan 10 mins. then move to cooling rake and cool COMPLETELY. Enjoy!!

*I mixed mine with a fork this time and had much better control over the "flour bomb" that can happen sometimes. Also my batter was smoother and creamier.

Homemade Cheese (Panir)

This cheese was from my Ethiopia Cookbook (compiled by Peace Corps Volunteers). I forgot, again, to take a photo, but I think you should give it a try. I am definitely going to be making it again (with photos)! Just tip if you use it as a soft or medium cheese, you may want to mix in a little seasoning or herbs to bump up the flavor. As a hard cheese it would be better crumbled or grated into a salad, over pasta, or soup. I would suggest following the recipe first, then, if you like it, double or triple it for more.

Panir Cheese Recipe: Serves 1-2

2 cups WHOLE milk

2-3 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar

1 tsp salt

Bring milk and salt to a boil (**Be sure to keep an eye, you don not want to burn the milk) stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and add lemon juice or vinegar. The milk should begin to separate and clear. Once liquid is clear, strain mixture into a clean, thin cloth*. Gather cloth and press excess liquid out. Return to cloth to strainer, set over a bowl, and press cheese with a heavy object. (I placed a bowl on top the cheese and weighted it with a full bottle of rubbing alcohol.) Let it sit in a cool place but not the fridge! Cheese needs to sit for 15 mins to 12 hours, depending on how soft or hard you want it. Mine sat for about 6 hours and was a medium consistency--soft to mix in but hard enough to crumble on salad.

*The liquid can be strained in to a bowl and used in soup or stew.

Mocha Chip Muffins

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup baking cocoa

2 tsp instant coffee

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup milk

1/2 cup oil

2 tbsp plain yogurt (sour cream can be subbed)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375*. Place chocolate chips into sift and add dry ingredients. Sift ingredients and set chips aside when done. Separately mix wet ingredients. Mix wet batter into dry batter and mix just until combined--batter will be thinner and lumpy. GENTLY fold in chips. Fill muffin tin 2/3 full. Check muffins after 15 mins. *Mine are usually done at this time but you may need to bake it 3-5 mins longer. Enjoy!

Simple Italian Pasta

Sorry no picture but this was a fabulous meal. I got the recipe from www.steamykitchen.com, but as always, made my own adaptations. Simple yet delicious.

Sauce Recipe:

1/2 box macaroni

14.5 oz can tomatoes (whole, diced or crushed)

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp dried basil

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tbsp butter

1/4 cup parmesan (freshly grated or from the can)

salt and pepper

Oil Recipe:

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tsp dried basil

1 tsp red pepper flakes

6 whole cloves garlic, peeled

In a small saucepan, heat 1/4 cup oil over low heat and add garlic, pepper flakes, and basil. Once garlic begins to brown, take pan off the heat and let cool at least 10 mins. The longer it sits the more flavorful the oil will be. After it cools, strain oil*.

Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp oil and then add canned tomatoes and a PINCH of salt and pepper. Once heated, mash tomatoes (with a handheld potato masher) and let simmer over medium-low heat fro 20 minutes. While tomatoes are cooking, boil pasta until al dente (firm to the bite). Once pasta and sauce are finished combined in sauce pan. Add remaining basil, pepper flakes, parmesan and butter. Plate and drizzle with oil. Enjoy!!

*I served this with garlic toast. I mashed the garlic and basil from oil and added melted butter. Then brushed the toast and put it in the oven for 7 mins @400*. Delish!!

Patience

Streams in the Desert is the devotional guide I am reading. It is such a great devotional; I would definitely recommend it if you need a good one.

In todays reading, it really hit home. It was talking about obstacles that are hinderances to our spiritual growth and how we so often are impatient for them to go away. However, these obstacles are the very thing which produce the gift and quality of character we pray for--one of the main ones being pateince. And the only way to acquire these gifts and character traits are to endure the trials adn overcome obstacles which seem unbearable. I must remember that God is in control and nothing is impossible for Him. I need to stop running away, submit to God, and trust He will help me overcome these trials.

My trials and obstacles:

1. Living with the in-laws

2. Not having a home

3. Not being in control of the house I live in

4. Not serving in Peace Corps already

5. Not being in school

6. Having all "my stuff" in storage

7. Leaving for Peace Corps soon

8. Comparing myself to others

9. Failing to see the real me--the one God created

10. Not really knowing who I am

These are some of the marjor things that cause me to be impatient, snippy, angry, jealous, and generally disgruntled with life. I am aware of all this, but I haven't really taken any steps to deal with it. I just blow up and things seem okay for awhile and then it all builds up again. Maybe now that I am "publicly" acknowledging my need to trust God to handle, I will be able to let some of it go or at least have the strength to push through.

Here I go. God, save me!

Green Update

I haven't really talked about anything green we have done lately. However, our compost is looking so rich and black. Nick's parent recently used some sompost soil to plant flowers. The flowers are looking fantastic despite the lack of rain we've had. Also we have a tomato plant growing out of the compost pile. No tomatoes yet but the plant is looking good.

In the garden, tomatoes are coming in. I haven't had any turn red yet, but I am expecting that any day now. The hot peppers are coming in like crazy!! I have used several peppers in recipes--spaghetti sauce, pico de gallo, and cilantro rice. We had a watermelon start growing but it shriveled up and turned black. I think the vine is still all immature to grow the melon to full size.

Also I think I have mentioned Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap before, but I just wanted to reiterate how awesoem this soap is. I use it for so much--shampooing, bathing, moping, washing clothes, and dishes. It is seriously some of the purest most versatile soap one can use. And it cost pennies compared to buying laundry detergent, dish detergent, shampoo, conditioner, bathroom cleaner, and bath soap/body wash. I wish everyone would just try this soap; I really believe you would be converted.