Monday, August 17, 2009

Catching up with a few more pictures

Our summer has been really fun. While we really didn't take a vacation, we have made lots of weekend trips to visit family as you have seen by the previous posts.

Here are just a few more pictures from our last weekend adventure...King's Dominion. We decided to take J because this is the last year that he could ride the kid rides. Aside from Silver Dollar City, he really hasn't been to an amusement park. So we decided to make some memories. :)

We had a blast...hope you enjoy the pictures!





Thursday, August 13, 2009

These Look Yummy...I Need to Try This


This is from a NY Times article from July 2008.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Adapted from Jacques Torres

Time: 45 minutes (for 1 6-cookie batch), plus at least 24 hours’ chilling

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour
1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content, available at Whole Foods
Sea salt.

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day. Eat warm, with a big napkin.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Seriously yummy!


I just tried the new flavor of Special K Bars...chocolatey pretzel...and they are seriously good. Only 90 calories per bar...of course I could eat the whole box, but that is another story!

You can download a $1 off coupon at coupons.com.

Seriously, yummy! That is a good dose of chocolate for today!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Yeebird... Yee-gotta check it out!

When we lived in Springfield, MO, I worked at a wonderful church...Second Baptist Church. The pastor is Pastor John Marshall...a great pastor and friend. Our apartment where we lived was across the hall from his dear mother-in-law, who we loved dearly.

Anyway, Pastor and Ruth Marshall's daughter, Rebekah, has a wonderful blog, yeebird, that you absolutely must check out. She is so creative! She posts photos of her craft projects (which are AMAZING!) and lovely photos of her family and friends. It really is a great blog!

This week, Rebekah is celebrating her 100th post with a giveaway of some of her favorite things (and mine, too!). Click here to check it out!

http://yeebird.blogspot.com/2009/08/post-100giveaway-times-3.html

Monday, August 3, 2009

Sorry for the delay...and now for some chocolate!

Hi, Friends.

Jonathan and I got back from our visit to PA Tuesday night. Wednesday we did laundry and Thursday we packed our suitcases again. Friday after Tim got done with work, we headed to Atlanta to visit the in-laws. But it wasn't just a social visit...my father-in-law got saved three weeks ago and got baptized Sunday night. Of course we had to be there for that! God is so good!!!

So that is the reason for my delay in posting pics...so here are some from our trip to Hershey, PA.








Of Fire and Lions by Mesu Andrews

Those who know me best know that I love to read. I have read a lot of Biblical/Historical fiction books in my life, and Of Fire and Lions...