Dentures, depends and desserts.

Titles can be misleading.  Everyone has been recommending (and by everyone I mean random people on Pinterest I don't even know who have been deciding my most recent culinary endeavors) this recipe called "I want to marry you" cookies.  I have decided that the title is missing an important piece.  I am choosing to call these cookies "I want to marry you quick because pretty soon all of the butter in this recipe will go to my hips and then you won't want to marry me anymore" cookies.

 

The butter that left it's shiny trace on each fingertip was a gentle reminder that while these cookies contained oatmeal, they are a negative five on the health scale.  It is recipes like these that make me excited to get old because when I am old and retired with my own little bakery, I plan on eating whatever I want.  Ice cream for breakfast.  Everyday.  For lunch too.  Maybe dinner.  I deserve to celebrate each breath I continue to take, and I plan on celebrating with tons of the things I said no to while eating my greens in my 20's when it mattered.  I think I need a Pinboard reserved for the recipes I will make for myself when I am 80 and there is zero hope for me ever having a six pack.  I'm not going to say that I won't enjoy a salad or two when I am older, but my rigid diet will not be a priority.  I will eat what I want when I want and lick the plate when I finish.  I will make many much "I want to marry you" cookies drenched in butter and own at least 5 ice cream makers to ensure that I have a wealth of ice cream selections available to me at all times. 

Among the many things I dream about doing when I'm old like opening my own bakery and having brightly colored sweat suits for doing Jazzercize, I am excited to grow old with someone.  I may let go of nutrition and adopt ice cream as my sole nutrient but love is something that will not be relinquished.    Bouquets, letters and sweet moments walking hand in hand will crescendo into a beautiful symphony of romance as we get old and prune-y together.  It will be beautiful.  So, I wait for the days of my frozen dairy diet and watch God's plan unfold in the process, enjoy every rabbit meal I nibble at and smell the flowers delivered to me today with the scent bright promises. 

"And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."   Romans 8:28



No peeps were harmed in the making of this bread.

On lovely days like today, there is nothing better than a trip up to the mountains.  Mountains give perspective of a world that is much bigger than the little bubble we call our reality that often consumes us.  Mountains are big, so they kind of force you to get over yourself for a minute or two.  I got up to camp today to discover that they were serving a silent retreat for a user group.  As a rule, I don't succeed at silence.  I chose to be illiterate and continue talking.  Mark Twain says there is little difference between one who chooses not to read and one who can't, so I think I'll follow his philosophy today and ignore the signs.  These same silent people also had a dietary request list longer than the Nile, so it was time to get creative in the kitchen.  This was my adventure into vegan zucchini bread.  It took some hunting to find a recipe I could use, because I don't carry things like coconut oil and cocoa nibs on my person (while that might be surprising to you). With a few tweaks for being at altitude, the bread turned out yum-o-rrific.

Here is my zucchini bread in all of its vegan glory.  The silent people seem to like it.  I didn't hear any cheering or hooting and hollering in its honor but it's disappeared off the plate as I typed, so I'll take that as a "yum". 

Maybe today I am not minding the quiet so much though.  I am attempting to ween myself off of caffeine.  Note:  I am not giving up caffeine, but am sure that a daily diet of 40 oz. of coffee, 20 oz. of Rockstars, 40 oz. of Pepsi Max, and a few cups of tea a day can't be good for you.  I don't know how it always gets this bad.  It starts innocently enough with one cup of coffee at the beginning of the school year each day and then just expands.  It's my winter activity. Bears hibernate in the winter; I caffeinate.  It's about this time of year when I add up my caffeine intake and decide that I should share the wealth.  I could use up the world's supply and people might get irate.  Nobody wants that.  So today, my one Rockstar and 20 oz. of coffee is the limit.  My pounding head is reminding me of my detoxing, and is welcoming the mutes.  Plus, thanks to the mutes, I now have another vegan baking recipe in my pocket (the pocket where I apparently also need to start carrying cocoa nibs and coconut oil so I can try this recipe instead). 

Speaking of vegans, peeps are vegan, I believe.  Peeps are also weird.  I put them in the category of things-I-can't-believe-I-begged-for-as-a-kid, along with twinkies, beans-and-weenies, and going to Casa Bonita.  They are taunting me every time I enter any supermarket since Easter is coming.  I don't think I will ever understand the revolution of Peeps (which are now not only a staple Easter treat but coming in different colors and being even made into pumpkins and Christmas trees).  They are like a virus, invading all of the holidays.  I would have killed a few peeps to make this recipe, but it did not call for them.  You are safe today, Peeps.  Next time? Maybe not so much.  If a student of mine gives me some this year, as has happened in the past Easters, I will politely say, "Thank you, dear student, that is so thoughtful!" and then take them home and leave the package open "accidentally" until they are too stale to eat and throw them away.  Can't eat stale food, right?  (That's my justification so I don't feel bad for not eating a gift from a student.)  Were you thinking of giving me peeps?  Now you know that is a bad life choice.  When in doubt? Chocolate. Many much chocolate.  Or even better? Give me Jesus.  That's what Easter is all about anyways.  Thanking Jesus today for all of His glory.  Glory that is more than I can fathom.  Glory that kicks the butt of any pillow-y sugared chick we call a Peep. 

"The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven." Hebrews 1:3

Boot Camp: If Cookie Baking Were an Obstacle Course

Some of the most awkward conversations happen while checking out at stores.  Standing in line at Costco with my mom and grandma yesterday, we began talking to the cashier.  He was a youngin (well early twenties) and mentioned the fact that he was hungry.  He told his co-worker, "Man, I need to stop eating out and start cooking at home more but I just don't like to cook."  To that, my mom said, "...or just marry someone who cooks."  The response, "You see, I don't really know people from our generation who cook."  My mom quickly offered, "My daughter does."  He stared at me.  I stared at my feet.  It got reeeeaaaaal awkward.  While my mom was just trying to prove a point, he thought she was trying to set us up and since there are not I-have-a-boyfriend rings, how was he to know the difference?  Excellent.  My life is awkward.  I think the reason I always buy cute shoes is because they are an excellent distraction to look at during awkward moments.  The awkward moment happens, you need something to look at besides the witnesses to the awkward moment, the floor is the instinctual place to look and when you do? BAM! Cute shoes! Awkward moment forgotten.  I have a lot of awkward moments ergo a lot of cute shoes.  Justification.

In all reality though, having a spouse that cooks is a definite win.  I suppose you could call the last few weeks of my life wife-in-training boot camp.  I have made a ridiculous amount of food.  Ridiculous.

Pinterest is not helping curb my culinary cooking splurges either.  I can now not only think about things I might make but oogle over them and put them into categories, which sends me right to type-A heaven.  So, what have I been cooking recently? First, it started with my cookie boxes.  I made some Dark Chocolate Thumbprints, Gingerbread Biscotti, Oreo Cheesecake Cookies. Peppermint Sugar Cookies, Red Velvet Cookies, Eggnog Cookies, Caramel Apple Cider Cookies, Chocolate Peppermint Cookies, sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, spritz cookies, pecan nut balls and the final cookie that makes Christmas official for me... molasses crinkles.  Overboard? Probably.  Necessary? Oh yes.  In case you are curious, I made 3 separate cookie assortments so each box did not get everything but I had fun.

At level 2, I moved onto the holiday meals.  I had a Christmas party with some friends.  Weeks before, a pinboard was created with all of the recipes.  Wife in training boot camp level two entailed: Lasagna Cupcakes, Toasted Ravioli, Zucchini Fries, Stuffed Mushrooms, Italian Meatballs (and let me tell you what a sight it is to see a vegetarian kneading through a bunch of raw meat), finished with some Pizza Egg Rolls. 

Level three? Random acts of hosting, including but not limited to: Breakfast Cookies, Eggnog Tres Leches Cake, Spicy Banana Zucchini Balls, Chicken Pot Pie and my all-time favorite: Eggplant Parmesan. 

Level four of the training program is still in process because this year I have overtaken the Christmas dinner.  There are lots of levels to wife-in-training boot camp.  It's kind of like Angry Birds that way.  Let the adventures begin!

 Alongside wife-in-training boot camp, I have begun another type of training but this kind is a little more figure-friendly called Jillian Michael's 6 Week Six Pack.  You need to know that I mostly judge work out DVDs and write them off for a weak excuse of a workout.  This DVD? Yeah, not so much.  I want to die and say not very nice things to the t.v. screen while I am doing it.  I am a gym rat and work out all the time and this DVD still kills me.  But I do it.  Even if I want to die.  Jillian even says in the video, "You may feel like you're going to die right now. You're not.  You're going to look ridiculous. That's what you are gonna do."  I better look ridiculous in six weeks or else. I can't figure out what exactly the or else is going to be, but I guess I have 5 weeks and 2 days to think about it.  All I know is that I better build some brute strength during these six weeks to fight all the people who will fight me for feeding them all of my cookies and finishing the cookie season with a six pick if Jillian pulls through and I get me one of those with her DVD. 

All of this training and I am excited to see the payoff.  I love the talents God has given me and am now spending my time making myself the best me I can be for His glory.  Somethings are selfish (like the six pack) but my training is allowing me to show hospitality to those He puts in my life.  That, I can dig. 

I love the idea of being in training, of being refined by fire for God's purposes, to become the famously quoted woman of virtue in Proverbs 31.  I think someday, it will come in handy.

^"10A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."

Proverbs 31:10-31 



Happy cookie season!
From,
The Troublebaker

The times they are a changin (or really just the length of my hair)

So, besides the fact that I thoroughly enjoy educating the future of America and my kiddos are a lovely part of my day, in my other life I really really really really want to bake. (Really really really).  So, how do I combine those two loves? Oh yeah, throw a party and make my kids these awesome cupcakes for no reason at all.  See awesome cupcakes here: Juicy Lucy Burger Cupcakes.  Yeah. Awesome, right?  So its happening.  I give my students marbles for each time I catch the class doing exactly as I asked and let's just say the marbles have been flowing into that jar so I can make them these cupcakes soon!  It helps that this class is ridiculously well behaved and I am blessed this year with that, but none the less... CUPCAKE fever. 

Also you should also know that when I am not thinking about cupcakes, I am shaking in my boots over this haircut that is occurring in my life tomorrow.  I donated my hair to Locks of Love five years ago for the second time, but the stylist gave me a fro and since then hair cuts have been few and far between.  I am to beauty shops as kids are to the dentist.  I avoid them.  So tomorrow I am doing the big chop again.  I emailed the stylist and put in bold, NO FRO PLEASE.  Okay, I didn't go that far but I was tempted to.  She is coming to the school tomorrow and my students get to watch the transformation.  Seat belts for safety! or helmets, or whatever you might need for this life-rocking event.

Finally, I will officially be done with my masters this Saturday.  I will celebrate, but not until October after I forget my strong dislike of my professor and the bitter taste has left my mouth.  I plan on having a baking project.  I have been mulling over ideas.  I am wanting to make more artsy-fartsy goodies that look as bomb as they taste.  So, here it goes.  As a rule, I avoid the cutesy things because it often comes at the cost of taste, but I will be a purist and make only the best.  No fondant here!  So off we go! Next baking challenge... waaaaahooooo!

Welp, thank you all for stumbling upon these musings and actually making it to this paragraph.  I applaud you (and if you are around me I might even hug you- sorry readers from afar, you don't get one of those).  I have to say, I feel like God has got me in a good season right now.  I'm blessed!  Until next time!...

Peace, love, and enjoying my last day with long hair and using a half bottle of hair products per day.

(Don't worry I'll take pics!)

Things I wish I would have known before, um, now.

So, today's story begins with an anecdote of something that happened yesterday that I am still laughing about. I was at a beautiful wedding celebrating a truly blessed union between two dear friends, Amy and Justin about 24 hours ago, where you would have found me (24 hour younger me)  in a dress.  A black polka dot dress with leggings.  A black polka dot dress that also is of the style of a puffy bottom within those that can make one look pregnant when one is not.  This is not a feature of the dress I was aware of but I quickly learned as we stood in line to get our food.   Someone mistook just that.  Asking, "Awwww, are you pregnant?" is not a question one wants to hear after dropping two dress sizes in a summer, especially with her man standing right next to her.  So I sat there, corrected her kindly and then filled my plate with twice the vegetables because welp, I might as well if people already think I'm eating for two as a result of this dress.  I then thought of this Brian Regan skit. 

Word to the wise: Never ask a girl if she is pregnant unless the baby is like coming out of her, cause you never know with styles this days. 

Word to the unwise (myself): Tuck this dress away until you are actually pregnant many years from now to avoid confusion.

In other news, for my birthday I got 3 dessert cookbooks and a whole creme brulee kit.  I will be a well-fed preggers when the time comes.  Until then? I will make some goody bags for my man. A way to a mans heart is through his stomach, right?  Lets see how this stomach likes tropical or cranberry pumpkin cookies.

Since Proverbs 17 says a cheerful heart is good medicine, I thought this story was good to share.  I love life's funny moments and am a strong believer of the necessity to share and spread the joy.

Until next time,

Me (Joyful, 24-hour-older-and-maybe-slightly-wiser me)

Sliced fingers are not finger food.

Once upon a time,deep in the mountainous forest lived a baker.  This baker liked to bake at her plains home but an evil villain had kidnapped her desiring homemade breads and baked goods of his very own (Sorry Stu, its for the story's sake).  He would make her bake and bake and bake all day and then lock her up each night in the dungeon below with the guise of an unfinished portion of the retreat center.  So she rose each morning as the last and baked all day, exploring the art of high altitude baking and trying to bake her best.  One flat cake or thin cookie meant 20 minutes in the lair of Stumpy, the camp's old ghost.   O.K., so that adventure is completely made up.... but I really do bake a lot and high altitude baking is an adventure that should have its own story, so I wrote one. I have loved being a baker!  Its like my own personal playground.  Tomorrow, I am making German Chocolate cake for the first time.  The anticipation is overwhelming! (although I am sure that anticipation really stems from something else that is happening tomorrow...).  Making this cake will be an excellent distraction at least!  I will document.  Also, for the record, you should know that I am slowly succeeding in chocolate-cake .  Not quite redeemed, but getting there.

In other news, and the reason for the title, I sliced my finger yesterday.  When you slice your finger in the kitchen world, it means these wicked little finger gloves you have to wear.  Also, I was bleeding for like 2 hours.  Lame. Near death? Probably not.  Was I dramatic? Probably. But you will be happy to know that I made it down to a band-aid and my dear little finger is healing quite nicely. Oh the adventures of kitchen life...

One thing is for sure, as a result of being team kitchen, I have had hospitality on the brain.  I love the ability to serve others.  Hebrews 13:2 says "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."  In a fast pace, independent-minded nation, it is so easy to overlook hospitality, our service to others.  No, we might not all be gourmet chefs but we are all called to love and serve, even if its a bag of chips and jar of salsa shared with a co-worker.  As I have been in the kitchen this summer, I have been a lot more mindful of how I am serving others and worshiping God through that service, with my attitude, with my actions and my words.  I am writing this I guess to encourage y'all to do the same.  Share something this week.  Lets go kindergarten style and practice sharing, entertaining strangers, maybe angels unaware?


Sharing is caring!


Peace, love and SERVE, y'all!

This story has potential punch line of a kids knock knock joke but you get to hear it anyways

My kids yesterday said, "Ms. A, Ms. A we have a joke for you! Knock Knock."  To that I of course replied "who's there."  "Peanut butter." "Peanut butter who" "Stop eating me!"  Thats it.  I waited for more, for a clever kick at the end but...nada. Not that it mattered though. Regardless, each time a kid tells you knock knock you always say, "who's there" even though you know it will be another lame joke that only 8 year olds find humor in.  I'm okay with that, because every once in a while along comes that funny one; the one that results in a laughter that bubbles up from the inside and flows out at an embarrassingly loud volume.  The result is unpredictable but each laugh I have experienced is irreplaceable.  I am grateful for invitations to laugh as these.  I love the simple joys and blessings of a note of being the best teacher in the universe (even when there has never been a contest, rubric, or meeting of each teacher in the universe by the student handing me such an award), a smile when I greet them in the morning and my little jumping beans hopping up and down upon my sight or the sweet words of people I love.

From the heart of a girl who loves to carry the wait of the world on her shoulders (as if she has much to do with their resolutions anyways) I wanted to have a little cheeze-o moment and share a few of my favorite things. Even though its not raining and we cant all fit on one bed with our pillows...here it is.  A few of my favorite things (in no particular order):

Smiles

Piling my face with laundry right after it comes out of the dryer

Dancing when no one is watching
Apples, celery, carrots and all other things a rabbit might consume

My students

Mochas
Baby Mama
Delicioso with Ingrid Haufman

Looking down from the summit of a mountain you just hiked up

Zumba

Singing at the top of my lungs

Sharing food with friends and family
Spanish

Bad knock knock jokes
Salsa

Dark chocolate
Blasting songs with the windows rolled down, sun shining, 82.3 degrees
107 2nd graders singing your rap at the top of their lungs
Exercising while watching The Last Cake Standing (it makes me feel rebellious)
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

The Good Book
God
Uninhibited worship

Somedays just need a little reminder of those sweet things of life. This is one of those days. A day to relish in all things favorite.  A day to have a jammin song like Forget You on repeat and rock out.

Peace, love and jam, y'all.

Daniel's Fast Day 31: Let it snow, just add comfort food

Reality: Cold weather brings on an insatiable hunger for comfort food.  It is currently 5°F... 5!  That is verging on I-might-as-well-be-living-in-the-south-pole-with-the-penguins cold.  


The one down side to being on the fast, is that these cold days require massive amounts of comfort food and rabbit food is NOT comfort food no matter how hard you try to pretend it is.  


One upside to this glorious moment of life is this splendiferous thing otherwise known as a SNOW DAY!  I'm not gonna lie...I, the workaholic, did a snow day dance when I found out.  I love snow days!  They are one of life's many blessings here in this beautiful state.  For clarification all you Texans, a 1/2 inch of snow DOES NOT merit a snow day.  Our snow day tomorrow is totally legit.  


I plan on spending my snow day with a book.  A good book.  Maybe two books.  The world is my oyster tomorrow.  Ok, well not the world per say because I am probably not leaving my 1000 sq. ft. apt for anything except the gym which is a building away.  


So plans thus far include:

1. Getting my book worm on with a book that has been
sitting on my bookshelf for far to long.

2. Some solid thoughts on God from my man John Piper.

3. Hamster wheel aka the gym.

4. Spaghetti squash = delicious. In terms of spaghetti:

 if the pasta and the squash were put in a cage, pasta 

you are going down, the squash wins.

5. Of course, no snow day is a snow day without a
cozy fire. In my papasan. Oh yeah, be jealous.

So, despite the lack of comfort food, I will celebrate my snow day in style enjoying my favorite things. Now if only Sin Banderas could be here with me giving a private concert, then well... I wouldn't be complaining. <3 

Thus begins project I-need-to-learn-how-to-relax.  Git R zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Daniel's Fast Day 24: Apple seeds and Ishmaels

Okay, so there is one thing that you must know about me.  Or maybe not, but you are gonna know it anyways because it is coming in the following sentence whether you like it or not.  I eat apples whole.  As in, from top to bottom, core and all.  I twist off the stem and go at it.  The reasons are mainly ridiculous and are as follows:
1.) If they are going to say that my red delicious apple is 127 calories, I want to eat every last one of those calories of deliciousness.  I say that the added calories of that core are somehow absorbed like freebies.
2.) My dad does it, and my dad is rad.
3.) When I actually cut the apples into 8 sections, it is adding 8 more slices of the knife until I get to chomp into all that deliciousness.

Why it is important to life at the moment: (apart from the fact that this fast has got me craving apples like they are going out of style) let's return to my first argument as to why I should eat apples whole.  Common sense obviously makes it a false statement.  If I eat more of the apple, I will consume more calories.  My caloric consumption obviously increases by bite.  Still, I love the mentality. It amazes me to think about what we can convince our mind into making sense.  Our minds can be excellent manipulators of truth and we can be excellent manipulators of life.

So a long time ago, there was this dude named Abraham.  God had promised to bless him and multiply him exceedingly.  Time passed slowly and his wife was still without child.  So, Abraham had a son through a maid servant named Hagar.  This son was called Ishmael.  He was blessed by the Lord, but this was not the Lord's plan.  With Sarah, his wife was now 90, God finally unfolded his plan and out of that body, ancient by the world's standards body, she birthed Isaac.  Through that lineage, Israel came with the multitude of blessings and descendants promised by the Lord.  (Check it in Genesis)

I tell this story because Abraham heard a clear promise from the Lord.  Impatient and waiting, he manipulated.  Whether it's caloric counts, illegitimate children through maid servants, or plans for our life, I bring this challenge: don't manipulate.  After spending this year maneuvering through what I wanted, a plan is unfolding that is far more blessed than any Ishmael plan I could have made for myself this last year.  Fact: God knows what's up. Letitgo y'all, and enjoy the ride.


"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11



 

Daniel's Fast Day 15: Spare change

In spite of this current diet that is considered bland by most, my life has been anything but. I have embarked on a season of life full of unique and rich new flavor. With a dash of new adventures, a sprinkle of rekindled feelings and a pinch of surrender, as Emerill would say, life has been "kicked up a notch, BAM!". 

I just finished reading the book Forgotten God by Francis Chan.  It was a compelling book, but the most intriguing thought was when he talked about someone living stranded on an island, having only the Bible, then coming to America and joining a local church. They might be shocked at what they find.  All throughout the Bible, it talks time and time again about how we are transformed, a new creation.  In that transformation we are given the Spirit, and instilled with His power, a power that is unrivaled by anything this Earth has to offer. Yet, how changed are we? What marks our lives as different?  If a seal has been set upon our hearts and we are claimed as His, do we even look or act differently both individually and severally as the body of Christ?

I have been mulling over these questions for a few days now.  I yearn to be different, to be set apart, captivated so much by my Creator that my life is noticeably marked.  Is it? Is the Church? Is the Body? My prayer and desire is that with the blandness of food that the Daniel's fast, I can focus more on seasoning my life with the Lord.  No more bland, colorless, lukewarm life, no more toe-dippin, we are called to go all in. We are changed, live like it.

This encapsulates my feelings with some soul.

Speak it, sister!

Speaking of toe dipping, my Grandma is bound and determined to get me hooked on pedicures.  As a result, for every celebration this year so far, she has given me a gift certificate to get a pedicure.  While I must admit they are enjoyable, something that makes my visits awkward is that I am insanely ticklish on the bottom of my feet.  I glance at the people getting pedicures around me, they are calm and relaxed, reading a magazine and I am there incapable of reading due to my uncontrollable giggles.  I cannot stop laughing.  In turn everyone is just staring at me.  Since I am stuck in the chair for the bajillion hours it takes to get a pedicure, the staring continues for an immensely awkward amount of time.  I think I just wasn't made for such pampering.  They don't leave you with an escape route in salons.

Also, for my followers on the cooking front.  February 9th, marks the last day of Daniel's Fast, so be ready! I have a request for a "heart"-y meal and its gonna be a "love"ly one... hehe. Haha suckers, you are all stuck with my cheesy valentines puns.  Do you kinda wish you had that last minute of your life back and didn't read my puns? Sorry... 

Peace and love to y'all!

Daniel's Fast Day 5: I'm going nuts! Just not crazy...

Ok, day 5 of the Daniel's fast.  A life of vegetables, fruits, nuts and beans results in an interesting diet and has strengthened my love for peanut butter.  Even all natural, unsalted peanut butter.
Peanut butter and apples.
Peanut butter and carrots.
Ants on a log.
In fact, just straight up peanut butter on a spoon.
So I was reading the guidelines the other day and it suggested that you should moderate the consumption of nuts as you are on the Daniel's fast.  (Car screeching sound) WHAT? Moderate the wonderful creamy goodness that is peanut butter?  Well aware that this is a fast, peanut butter was one of my few permissible items.  My response? Dry roasted soy nuts. Result? Fail.  It is not peanut butter.  Response number 2? Eat peanut butter.  What do nutritionists know anyways?
So, here I am. Day 5. New fixation: peanut butter.
While I may need to moderate my consumption of this delectable spread.  One thing that I am learning to crave without moderation is the Sustainer.  I am blown away that 5 days in has yielded so many beautiful illustrations of  His handiwork in my life.




All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand,  they are satisfied with good things.                       
                                                                                                             Psalms 104:27-28


Sidenote: Do you know what I thought would be really funny? A cooking blog devoted to a day on the Daniel's fast.  
It would go a little like this:
Picture of peeled banana
Picture of a sliced apple
Picture of peanut putter on sliced apple
Picture of trail of peanut butter left along the trail from plate to mouth because all natural peanut butter is runnier than the processed stuff.
Picture of carrots.
Picture of peanut butter on carrot.
Picture of trail of peanut butter left along the trail from plate to mouth.
Picture of various vegetable being steamed.
Dried fruit.


All in all it would equate to a pretty boring post and some quality self mocking of a cook who is pretty much not cooking for 35 more days... 
Can't wait for a goood cooking session. I've got a new dutch oven (kudos to my favorite Boulderians) and a creme brulee set (kudos to my mama) to try out!