Chewy Coconut Macaroons

OK, so tonight, I didn't turn out to be very wise in the kitchen. Friday is one of my days, so I came up with an elaborate dinner menu; Chimichangas, Spanish Rice, Purple Hull Peas (Yeah, I know that wasn't the best vegetable choice, but I was rather limited), and coconut macaroons for dessert. I cut (actually it was more like hacked at) my finger while slicing green peppers; and I burnt myself on the oil while frying the chimichangas....no, I guess I didn't exercise proper kitchen caution tonight.

Well, I really love coconut macaroons; so I'm going to share the recipe with you tonight.

From The Ultimate Cookie Book put out by Better Homes and Gardens

CHEWY COCONUT MACAROONS
Prep time: 15 min. Bake: 20 min per batch. Oven: 325 F. Makes: about 30 cookies.

2 3.5 oz cans (2 & 2/3 cups total) flaked coconut
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 ts. salt
4 egg whites
1/2 ts. almond extract
2 oz. semisweet chocolate (optional)
1/2 ts. shortening (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 324 F. Lightly grease and flour a large cookie sheet; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl stir together coconut, sugar, flour, and salt. Stir in egg whites and almond extract.
3. Drop egg white mixture by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. If desired, in a small heavy saucepan heat and stir chocolate and shortening over low heat until smooth. Drizzle melted chocolate over the cooled cookies.
4. Enjoy!
   

Captivating

I've decided to take another journey through the pages of John and Stasi Eldredge's book Captivating. It's been over a year since last I read it, and I think I'm in need of the truths hidden within it's pages once again. Not that I should let it take the place of my Bible, but I find something refreshing in reading the revelations of other Christians.

So-is a true woman Cinderella or Joan of Arc? Mary Magdalene or Oprah? How do we recover essential femininity without falling into stereotypes, or worse, ushering in more pressure and shame upon our readers? That is the last thing a woman needs. And yet, there is an essence that God has given to every woman. We share something deep and true, down in our hearts. So we venture into this exploration of femininity by way of the heart. What is at the core of a woman's heart? What are her desires? What did we long for as little girls? What do we still long for as women? And, how does a woman begin to be healed from the wounds and tragedies of her life? Sometime between the dreams of your youth and yesterday, something precious has been lost. And that treasure is your heart, your priceless feminine heart.....So we invite you to take a journey with us, a journey of discovery and healing. For your heart is the prize of God's Kingdom, and Jesus has come to win you back for Himself-all of you.

I'll be posting excerpts from the book in the next couple days; I hope you enjoy it with me!

Excerpt taken from Captivating: By John and Stasi Eldredge

Valentine's Day

This is a post from a different blog of mine....written last Valentine's Day. I thought I'd share it here. This was my attitude then, and it is my attitude still.
I hope it makes you think.

I was thinking.....Wednesday is Valentine's. Yeah. That day just serves as a reminder of that special someone......that you don't have. :)

Well,....instead of just thinking about the day that you will have someone to celebrate this 'oh-so-important' day with, think about who you already have. And I don't really mean your family and friends. Though they are something to be EXTREMELY grateful for.

What I was thinking was more in the lines of Isaiah 54:5; "For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the LORD of hosts.....". "The woman who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband." I Cor. 7:34.

So......If you're single, like me, and really long for a home and family of your own, then think on this. You already have a husband, and the LORD of hosts is His name. Spend some extra time with Him this week (actually, it would be ideal to spend extra time with Him for the rest of your life), thank Him for who he is to you, and LIVE FOR HIM!

That has been what He's been saying to me this past week. Actually, reminding me, over and over. I really had it down last fall, but have allowed the 'things of this world' to come between. Not necessarily my relationship with Him, but that kind of relationship with Him. One where I'm not impatiently awaiting 'the day', but 'living for today'.

My New Year's Vow

I heard this song from my brother's CD the other day, and thought, "Wow, what a powerful song!"
I also thought, since I hadn't really made any New Year's resolutions, this was as good a time as any to make that right; so I'm making this MY New Year's vow too. This is such an amazing song; I strongly encourage you to look it up online and listen to it.

VOW
Another year has come and gone, but nothings changed.
I've wasted another year doing the same old things.
I want to break out of this and turn my life around;
I'm going to make a vow to repent and turn to You.

I'm crying out to You now as I make my new year's vow;
I'll tell You I love You and I'll honor You somehow.
Hear my promise to You in this new year's vow
I give You all of me.
You'll be all of my life and I'll never think twice
To do all that You have for me
In my new year's vow.

Lord I'll do my best to do all that I say.
I'm not perfect but I know it's OK.
If I stumble You won't condemn my shame;
I'm going to make a vow to repent and turn to You.

I'm crying out to You now as I make my new year's vow;
I'll tell You I love You and I'll honor You somehow.
Hear my promise to You in my new year's vow
I give You all of me.
You'll be all of my life and I'll never think twice to
Do all that You have for me
In my new year's vow.

It's a new year;
This year is different from the other ones.

Written by Kutless; from the album Kutless.

Shocked and Confused; But Not Alone

I have no idea how to start this. I am just so confused.
A dear family friend, and fellow church member, died very suddenly last night. I'm still really in shock. Doubts, worries and fears swim in my mind, trying to crowd out every ounce of faith. I don't know why God allowed him to leave us; but I do know that God was the only thing holding me up when we went through the last death, earlier this summer, of someone close to us. That I don't want to leave His side. But I still wonder, question, why this was allowed to happen. And I'm worried that my faith in the power of prayer is diminishing. If I think about it rationally, I know there is no reason for that. But I'm afraid I'm not inclined to think rationally right now. We gathered and prayed; "for where two or more are gathered together, there I am in their midst." "The fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much." "If you ask anything in my name, believing, you shall receive." Do those verses mean something other than what I have been led to believe they mean?
I don't want to fill others with doubts; but I would desperately like some encouragement. Encouragement to keep walking the straight and narrow; to keep trusting God even when I have no clue what He's doing. To draw closer to Him, and let Him deal with the nagging doubts and questions; to do nothing but rest in His peace. To stay my mind on Him. "Thou will keep him in perfect peace, who's mind is stayed on Thee."
I know that God is in control. I know that "He causes all things to work together for GOOD to those that LOVE HIM''. That He alone holds the universe in His hand. He knows the number of our days. And that, at one time, I was so desperately, totally in love with Him. He was the center of my universe. The whole reason for my being. I don't want to throw that away for a few nagging doubts and questions.

Please be praying for this family. He has left behind a widow, one married daughter, as well as one other daughter and a son. The son is one of the best friends of my brother. Thankfully, while he lives in TN, the son was down here at the time of his fathers' death. I'm sure his mother is so very glad to have him here at this time.

These are hard times. While I don't understand, and we may even resent it; GOD IS IN CONTROL. And He loves us. This much we must be sure of.