Creative Baking

I bought two books for my birthday Bakerella's Cake Pops & Cookie Craft.

I'm looking forward to more creative baking in the days to come! Here are two projects I worked on last month.


Bridal Shower Centerpieces:
Used Mod Podge and paper to decorate plain clay pots & styrofoam balls to hold the cake pops in place.  Hard to see in this picture, but they are red velvet in the inside, and are dark green with light green edible glitter on the outside, covered in plastic, and tied with a bow.

CRU-kies (CRU cookies):
I made 75 of these to advertise our freshman dinner. They were individually wrapped and handed out at our weekly meeting. They were sugar cookies with red food coloring in the dough, and then white or black frosting (I had to use a lot of food coloring so they didn't look gray).

Veggies with Spunk

We eat vegetables.  I said it, and it's true.  Not only do we eat them, but we generally like them.  However, sometimes we get a little bored from eating the same things over and over.  

Here's a glimpse at our grocery list each week for vegetables: broccoli, asparagus, sweet potatoes, green beans, green & red leave lettuce, mushrooms, red peppers, tomatoes, beets, carrots, jicama

Here are two new recipes I made this week, both of which I  thought were delicious enough to share.

1.  Butternut Squash Fries:  we've been making sweet potato fries (the healthy way) for a few years, but these were a nice change.  Surprisingly they tasted "more" like regular fries.  Seriously yummy.

2. Roasted Cauliflower: looking forward to making more next week. To this recipe I added garlic (I didn't use a garlic press, I just took off the outside and roughly chopped up). There are A LOT of roasted cauliflower recipes online.

Another staple in our lives are roasted beets. We generally put them on salads, but I like eating them plain too.  They are a little messy, but pretty easy. In the beginning of the week I just make 4-6 at a time, cut up, and store in the refrigerator so they're ready when we need them.  

How To: peel, cut off ends, prick with a fork (like you would a potato), wrap in foil, place on cookie sheet and cook at 425 for about an hour. I let them sit in the foil after they're out of the oven for 15-30 minutes (they keep steaming, which you may or may not need depending on their size). Then I cut them up into smaller bite-sized pieces before storing in the refrigerator.  

Vegetables I'd like to start using more: eggplant & pumpkin.  The only problem is that vegetables and fruit are so expensive so we try to buy what's on sale.  Maybe they'll both be on sale soon!

If you have any creative ways to cook vegetables, please don't hesitate to share with me!!!!  

Parenting & the Gospel

Let's face it, parenting is tough!

By the looks of this picture I'd say being a baby is tough too.

There have been a lot of times lately I've felt completely overwhelmed. I don't know if you've seen or remember the movie Groundhog Day, but I feel like I'm stuck in the same day that just keeps repeating itself. When the alarm clock goes off (aka: the sound of Logan yelling, "Mommy I need to go potty"), I sadly find myself looking forward to the next stage (when Logan can get up without yelling, take care of Rachel, and then around 10am bring us a nice breakfast in bed) instead of embracing the one I'm in.

However, there is a huge part of me that wants to have more children some day. What does this mean (besides the fact that I might be a little crazy)? Children are a HUGE blessing and a gift from the Lord (I mean just look at those cute faces). Even at the end of a tough day there is something about looking in at the kids sound asleep and thinking I wish I could just hold them and never let them go because in many ways they are growing up too fast! Yes, I know I contradict myself. I'm really quite indecisive when it comes to wanting the kids to stay little forever and wanting them to grow up yesterday.

This summer I was able to spend time with some godly staff moms that I deeply respect. There was something noticeably different (and great) about how they lived out and communicated the gospel to their children. It's encouraged me to really seek the Word as I figure out this whole parenting thing. I've found some great resources that have also been helpful: "Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Ted Tripp, Gospel Centered Parenting (a sermon podcast 2 part series by CJ Mahaney), and "How People Change" by Timothy Lane & Paul Tripp.

Our reactions to our circumstances have consequences. Our responses, whether godly or ungodly, help create a new set of circumstances to deal with. If I get irritated with my son when he doesn't do what I say, I create a new set of circumstances. When I sin, I make the problem worse, even if my son obeys me. When I respond in godly ways, it doesn't guarantee that my son will respond as I would like, but it does ensure that I am not a hindrance to the work of God in his life. (from How People Change)

I have a lot to learn, but I am thankful for the power of the gospel that is changing me. I don't need my kids to see a perfect mom (since I'm not). I don't want them to see a mom who tries to be perfect either. Instead I pray that they'll see a mom who knows she needs a savior, a mom who is willing to confess her sin, say she's sorry, and ask for forgiveness (yes, even from a one year old). I pray that they'll notice a change in my character over the years as God transforms my heart. I pray that they too will see how much they need Jesus in their lives.

Logan and Rachel were running around playing the other day when he looked at me and said, "Mom, we're on the same team! We're both superheros!" I pray that they will both see Jesus as their ultimate hero and savior and that they will spur one another on towards godliness.