Brownie Points

I walked twice today. Two twenty-minute episodes: one inside following a video and one outside ejoying the cool weather.

Wish I could think of a better way to update my site. I will continue to try and conjure up reflections I want to share.

Italian Creme Cake

1/2 cup butter
1 cup oil
2 cups sugar
5 egg yolks
2 cups plain flour
1 tsp soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
1 sm can coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
5 egg whites, stiffly beaten

Cream butter, oil, and sugar. Beat until fluffy. Add egg yolks. Beat. Combine flour, soda, coconut, and nuts. Add to the mixture. Add buttermilk and vanilla. Mix thoroughly. Fold in egg whites. Pour batter into three prepared cake pans.

Bake for 30 minutes in an oven preheated to 350 degrees.

Cool and frost.

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup melted butter
1 lb XXX sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Whisk together in mixer and spread on cool cake.

FAVORITE THEME

Thus says the Lord, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Of all the wonderful themes throughout Scripture, I think this one is my favorite: that God does things so that people will know that He is the Lord. Our pastor is preaching throught the entire Bible, one book per Sunday morning sermon. It is fantastic. I leave church feeling invigorated and ready to shout from the tree tops "Jesus is Lord!" "Don't you SEE it?" Don't you HEAR it?" "Now, TESTIFY to it."

From the stories in Exodus of Moses' appeals to Pharoah, so that he would know that God is Lord, all the way through the New Testament preachers of Paul and Timothy, the WORD is proclaimed that we might know Him, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.

Creativity

I don't really consider myself a "creative" person.

I cant draw. I cant decorate. I cant even keep up with fashion.

But watch me open the refrigerator door and produce "something" from what some people have called "nothing."

Here's my latest "what can we eat tonight?"

Pasta Salad

Cook one pound pasta. I used shells. Drain.

Add leftovers. I used sauted zucchini&onions leftover from spaghetti night on Tuesday; steamed cauliflowerettes leftover from Wednesday; add 1/4C sundried tomatoes, 2 oz sliced black olives. Toss with homemade salad dressing (1/2C safflower oil, 1/4C vinegar, 2T dijon mustard, 1/8 tsp white pepper, 1/2 tsp salt, 1T parsley, 1 sm clove garlic pressed). Garnish with feta cheese or diced (leftover) chicken for main dish.

Serve immediately or chill, if desired.


I think Edith Schaeffer would approve.

Repeating History as Farce by Norman Ravitch

This article kinda goes along with my Confederate Memorial Day post.

Solomon's Benediction

Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant. May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us, that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded to our fathers. And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no one else. Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.
I Kings 8:56-61

Confederate Memorial Day

It seems odd to me that with all the hoopla over the Georgia State Flag and the use of the Confederate Cross that State employees are not protesting this State Holiday as well.
http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/confmem.htm


A Poem by an unknown author

The marching armies of the past
Along our Southern plains,
Are sleeping now in quiet rest
Beneath the Southern rains.

The bugle call is now in vain
To rouse them from their bed;
To arms they'll never march again--
They are sleeping with the dead.

No more will Shiloh's plains be stained
With blood our heroes shed,
Nor Chancellorsville resound again
To our noble warriors' tread.

For them no more shall reveille
Sound at the break of dawn,
But may their sleep peaceful be
Till God's great judgment morn.

We bow our heads in solemn prayer
For those who wore the gray,
And clasp again their unseen hands
On our Memorial Day.

carpool, bank, radio station, drug store, office, post office, carpool, dinner,
repeat

Birthday Dinner

Roast Leg of Lamb,
Mint Jelly,
Eggplant Casserole,
Steamed Asparagus,
Steamed Carrots,
Croissants,
Banrock Station Shiraz (2001),

German Chocolate Cake,
Coffee,

followed by "Dr. Zhivago" starring Omar Sharif and Julie Christie

German Chocolate Cake

From start to finish, making this cake takes me 3 hours. That includes clean-up.

Cake Portion

4 oz German chocolate
1/2 cup boiling water
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs, separated
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup buttermilk



Melt chocolate in boiling water. Then allow to cool. Cream butter and sugar in large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add yolks, one at the time, stirring well after each. Add melted chocolate and vanilla to the mixture. Stir. Alternately add dry ingredients (which have been sifted together: flour, powder, soda) with wet (the buttermilk). Fold in stiffly-beaten egg whites.

Pour into three 9 in prepared cake pans. Bake in an oven which has been preheated to 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Test doneness at 25 mins.

Cool just a few minutes on wire rack. Then loose around edges with a dull knife and turn out of pan. Cover with wet paper towel, while cake cools.

Frosting

1 sm can (6oz?)crushed pineapple
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 13 oz can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups butter
5 egg yolks
1 cup grated coconut

Mix all the ingredients in a heavy saucepan, cooking slowly over medium heat until thickened. Add 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans and 1 1/2 tsp vanilla. Stir. Cool before icing cake.

This *frosting* does not go on the sides of the cake, only in between the layers and on top.

Beauty Secrets

Audrey Hepburn was beautiful inside and out. It was fitting that she played an angelic spirit guide in her last acting role, in the movie, “Always.” When asked about her secrets for staying so beautiful, this is what she said:

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

Jonquils and Goldfinches

I am tickled to report that the bulbs I planted on March 8th have poked through the soil and will bloom in the next several weeks. I am so glad I did not throw them away because it was past the "appointed" planting season. Also, while outside on the deck "surveying" the backyard, I noticed that a goldfinch had flown to the feeder and perched for a snack. I was within 2 feet of him and only when I needed a breath did he decide to move on. Isn't spring wonderful?!

Sermon Synopsis

I love you, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.
I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalm 18:1-3 NIV

My pastor is preaching through the Bible in a year. Each Sunday he covers a book of the Bible and today we heard II Samuel, by focusing on the chapter 22. As always, it was a trememdous exposition of God's Word, which always leaves me wanting more. As I sit down to reread my notes and finish my attempt at reading through II Samuel, I pray that someone stumbles across my blog and reads II Samuel, too.

Favorite Sandwiches

Pimento Cheese
Peanut Butter and Banana
Tuna Salad
Turkey with Cranberry Sauce
Reuben
Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato
Tomato w/garlic'd cream cheese
Cucumber, hummus, and sprouts
Egg Salad
Grilled Meatloaf Marinara

I Am Madame X: A Novel


Among other things,

I am reading

this good book.













by Gioia Diliberto (Author)

Chocolate Chip Pie


2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter, melted & cooled to room temp
6 oz chocolate chips
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 9" pie shell, unbaked

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Beat eggs until foamy. Add flour and sugars, stirring until well-blended. Stir in melted (soft) butter. Add chocolate chips and nutes, blending gently. Pour into pie shell. Bake 1 hour.

Serves 8

Another easy, elegant dessert....

Bake a brownie recipe in a pie pan. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce. The raspberry sauce is made by putting frozen sweetened raspberries in the blender.

I Am His, and He Is Mine

Loved with everlasting love,
Led by grace that love to know;
Spirit, breathing from above,
Thou hast taught me it is so!
Oh, this full and perfect peace!
Oh, this transport all divine!
In a love which cannot cease,
I am His, and He is mine.

Heav'n above is softer blue,
Earth around is sweeter green!
Something lives in ev'ry hue
Christless eyes have never seen:
Birds with gladder songs o'erflow
Flow'rs with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know,
I am His, and He is Mine.

Things that once were wild alarms
Cannot now disturb my rest;
Closed in everlasting arms,
Pillowed on the loving breast.
Oh, to lie forever here,
Doubt, and care, and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear--
I am His, and He is mine.

His forever, only His;
Who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss,
Christ can fill the loving heart!
Heav'n and earth may fade and flee,
First born light in gloom decline;
But while God and I shall be,
I am His, and He is mine.

George Wade Robinson (1838-1877)

Today I visited this gallery with my second daughter. It was exquisite and on the way home we daydreamed about being able to spend an entire day gallery-hopping.
Come Back Soon, We're Changing Our Look to Serve YOU Better!

Part of the "daydream" included a weekend trip to New York, so we could take in this show.
accessatlanta | events | theater | 'Gospel of John' opens off-Broadway

'Hidden art' is the art which is found in the 'minor' areas of life. By 'minor' I (Edith Schaeffer) mean what is involved in the 'everyday' of anyone's life, rather than his career or profession. Each person has some talent which is unfulfilled in some 'hidden area' of his being, and which could be expressed and developed.

Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun

Awake, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run:
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise
To pay thy morning sacrifice.


Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part,
Who all night long unwearied sing
High praise to the eternal King.


All Praise to Thee, who safe has kept,
And hast refreshed me while I slept:
Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake
I may of endless life partake.


Lord, I my vows to Thee renew;
Disperse my sins as morning dew;
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with Thyself my spirit fill.


Direct, control, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say,
That all my powers, with all their might,
In Thy sole glory may unite.


Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.


Thomas Ken (1637-1711)

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