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Valentine Party Cookie

I am really stretching myself today to share this video from the past.

Several years ago I wrote an ebook called Baking for Profit. I also produced my very first traumatizing (for me that is) video on youtube. If you would like to see how I decorate a Valentine Heart Cookie or learn about my Baking for Profit book check out the video below. Through the years I  have made hundreds of these cookies if not thousands. You can find the recipe below the video.

You can probably use any Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe. Below you will find the recipe that I have used for many years.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 sticks or 1 cup butter or margarine

3/4 cup  brown sugar

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla and almond (if desired) I love it!

2 eggs

12 oz. chocolate chips

Directions:

Beat the softened margarine with brown sugar and white granulated sugar. Add eggs  and vanilla and beat again. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add the flour, soda, and salt.  Beat together. When mixed well add chocolate chips. For party cookies, I spread about 1/2 inch or a little more in my cake pans which have been sprayed with cooking spray. If I am baking a lot of these to sell I weigh the pan and the dough as I fill it. ** I write it down so that all of them will come out the same OR if you just want to remember how much dough you would put in each pan.  I want these to come out about 1 inch thick. I never weigh these unless I am baking them to sell. I usually bake until the top is springy and the cookie has pulled slightly away from the sides.  It will depend on your oven. I start checking the larger ones at about 30 minutes. It will be a beautiful golden brown, not too dark though. I can tell now by the smell when they are just about ready. With a little practice you will be able to do this. When you take this out of the oven you run a table knife around the edge and let cool for a few minutes. Turn this out on a wire rack to finish cooling. For the really large ones I use two racks one to hold on the front of the pan while I flip it out and one rack to flip the bottom side of the cookie  onto to cool. This prevents breakage.

Variation:

You can also bake these in a round pan or 13X9 pan.

Use a small scoop and drop them on a cookie sheet for individual cookies,  bake until done.

HINTS:

** I have found that even the same size Wilton pans may vary in weight so I do not give you the weights.

For the large party cookies make sure that you coat your baking pan with cooking spray or shortening.

I usually double the recipe to make my largest heart cookie. I make one small heart and my large heart from a double batch.

For the heart cookies I have 4 sizes of Wilton’s heart cookie pans. 6,9,12,14 inch pans. I have used the same pans for many many years. You may use any size you wish just put about 1/2 in the pan (not more than half full because it will rise and be too thick).

To Decorate the Cookie: 

I make a buttercream frosting. I usually do my message in green. I write the message first (It’s easier if you do it first and then I use an open star tip and make a border around the cookie. Make a rose or purchase roses and add to your cookie. Add a few green leaves and you are finished. Or omit the roses if you wish.

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Challenges

Challenges!

I challenge you to go through your house and count how many Bibles you have. Please post a comment with the number you find.

While in Malawi last fall I was impacted with a great need for Bibles. Everywhere we went people asked us to share the word. They would walk great distances to hear the word. They would wait a long time to hear the word. They would sit in the hot sun or under a tree on the ground while we shared the word. They also begged for Bibles. The Bibles that we did see in Malawi were well used.

We spent several days working in one prison. There were over 500 inmates sharing 4 Bibles! This was not unusual!

The cost for Bibles is very comparable to the United States. But income levels are not. For about $10 a Bible can be purchased in Malawi. $10 in the USA is not much money. When your annual income is less than $500 that puts things in a new light.

I challenge you to do two things.

Spend more time in the Word of God! Value the Bible you do have and show it by using it and applying it!

Consider helping to buy Bibles for new Christians in Malawi!

How many Bibles do you have?

I found 18 in my house!

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Mentoring Women

When I was in my 20’s we moved to Seattle, Washington… well, actually it was Burien. We were there to start a house church. We had read, How the Church Grows in the City. We were on a mission. We lived in Seahurst Manor (400 + apartments) where we came to know several of our life long friends as a result.

After we had been there a few months and were settling in I decided to put an ad in our newsletter that went out to all of the residents. I advertised for a Ladies’ Bible Study. The first night 3 women showed up. Surprise! This started what would be one of the greatest learning experiences of my life. We met every Wednesday night, to begin with. We held it in our apartment. I had three little ones so they could go right to bed or play quietly in their rooms.

Lawrence still worked varying shifts and usually late. He was working for a plumbing company and preaching for our little house church that started with our family and soon added our neighbors and friends.

Soon other ladies’ came to join our small Bible study group. During the three years that I had the group there came to be 40+ ladies who participated. To begin with, most were unchurched and had never been involved with a Bible study group and were new to Bible study. This group came to be a huge time of growth for us all.

As a young woman, I longed for an older woman to learn from, to seek advice from, a mentor in the spirit of Titus 2. I prayed for such and continued on studying and praying with these women. To begin with, I did all of the teaching and leading prayers. Our prayer time together became a huge part of what we did together. Sometimes we would pray for an hour. We grew together in so many ways. We were a great encouragement to one another. No one wanted to miss these studies. If anyone had to miss they would call and ask for prayer. Soon some who were Christians joined the group. We stretched and others began to teach some lessons and lead prayer. Many of us were young mothers, some were Doctors, engineers, construction workers, inspectors, etc. We were a mixture and we loved sharing our lives together.

I have been thinking lately about those days and how hard it was for me to find an older Christian woman. I think I now know why it was so hard to find a mentor. As I have grown older one thing I have learned is that most older women don’t have confidence that they have anything to share. I have learned that we think in terms of our mistakes and mess ups and shortcomings. We know that we are not the ideal role model. We are insecure. We don’t know how to share. Most women are not Bible class teachers and don’t know where to begin. I was determined back then to one day be that older woman, flaws and all, who would share and mentor young women. I would pray that I would have something to share when I was finished raising my family.

I am so thankful to the women in my life who have taught me so many things. I am thankful for my first teacher, my mother, then aunts, grandmas, teachers, and Bible class teachers. I studied the Bible and other books that were a great source of instruction for me as I learned.  As I grew older I learned from other women, especially my mother-in-law and a few older Christian women when I could persuade them to share with me. From all of the women in my life, I learned practical skills such as cooking, cleaning, sewing, Bible lessons, lessons on being a good Christian wife, mother, sister, caring for elderly parents, etc.  The women I have learned the most from were not just Bible class teachers, in fact, many may not have ever taught a  Bible class. They taught me by example. They taught me by doing things with me, ordinary everyday things. They taught me by simply living their lives before me. As a young woman, I longed for even more of these times.

Do young women still want an older woman to learn from? If you are a young woman what do you wish for? What do you want to know and learn? Do you prefer to learn from books, working alongside someone, trial, and error?

I am truly wanting insight into what young women want today so please share in the comments here or feel free to send me a private email: redaredding@gmail.com

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Easy Bread Baking

Easy bread baking
Easy Bread Baking 6-3-3-13

This is a reprint from Redding Mountain on February 6, 2009.

I have found a wonderful recipe for easy bread baking. I found the article on Mother Earth News Website. It has a great article about making bread. It is so easy you do not even have to write the recipe down. Also, the authors have written a book called Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. I have ordered it from my library. If it is as good as I think it is I will order from Amazon.

6 cups of warm water 100°
3 Tablespoons salt
3 Tablespoons yeast
13 cups flour (I use a mixture of fresh ground wheat and white)

The cool thing is that you mix it up and let it rise and then punch down and refrigerate in a covered container. When you get ready to bake bread you slice or pull off a chunk and shape it with floured hands and let it rise on baking stone or sheet for about 40 plus minutes and then bake it. 450° for 30 minutes. The original recipe called for a pan of water in the oven while you bake it. I tried that which produces a chewy crust which I love. My husband also liked it best. The children, however, liked the version without the water which produces a little softer crust. Either way, it is yummy bread and very easy to do. Also, there is no kneading. So, remember 6 -3-3-13 and you’ve got great bread where ever you are. Enjoy! and let me know your results.

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What To Do When You Do Nothing

I knew I had scheduled surgery for just before Christmas. Dr. Hood said I was to sit around and take it easy for two weeks and then I could gradually add things. I would be off work for 3-6 weeks. I knew that sitting still and taking it easy was not going to be easy.

I planned for some last minute Amazon Christmas shopping. I made myself a little stack of things I wanted to read and some stitching I wanted to do, etc. I thought about some people I needed to visit. (I know maybe that isn’t taking it easy).

I have spent the last 40 years of my life in a constant state of busy. When suddenly everything stops it can be a shock. I know that most of you do not have 11 children and 4 grandchildren or maybe a full-time job. But maybe just maybe you have had to occupy yourself when you broke a foot or had surgery or were caregiving for someone who did. Maybe some of my thoughts and ideas might help you or someone you know who is going through the same thing. Either way, remember I have to occupy my time doing something so humor me!

  1. Bible Reading – Don’t we wish for more time to spend in the word? Choose one book of the Bible and read that over and over. You will remember this season by that book.
  2. Memorize Scripture. Hide God’s word in your heart. Quote to yourself scriptures you already know by heart. Try the ABC verses.
  3. Pray – there are so many needs in the world and so many people who appreciate and long for you to ask God to help them, bless them, strengthen them, provide for them, these are apart from your own spiritual and physical needs. I do ok until someone asks me how are you doing spiritually? I think Satan wants me to focus on physical and not the things in my heart that need addressing. So now may be a good time to reflect. How am I doing? How do I show God’s love? How do I live my faith? How do I live my faith right where I am now?
  4. Devotional books can encourage your heart. My friend Lee gave me the book, Earth Psalms: Reflections on How God Speaks Through Nature by Francine Rivers. This is a beautiful book with great thoughts.

  5. Books you have wanted to read can be a source of entertainment, education, or just recreation depending on the book.
  6. Phone calls to friends and family you may not have time to call as often as you would like and “catching up is fun to do”
  7. Projects whether painting, sewing, or some other type of craft
  8. Goal setting
  9. Movie watching (one of my least favorites but sometimes you get desperate)
  10. Computer research about something you really want to know more about or have a great need to learn about (like Malawi laws, etc.)
  11. Watch YouTube Videos of people doing interesting things
  12. Write on your blog or start one if you don’t have one
  13. Annoy your children with lots of things they can help you do – like unfinished projects
  14. Direct an organizing spree (no you can’t lift) but you can throw out or have someone do so
  15. Pay your medical bills online or fill out and file needed documents
  16. Cook or bake as allowed
  17. Online shopping
  18. Plan projects
  19. Prepare lessons (Bible classes, talks, etc. you may have the opportunity to share in the future)
    Needlebook
    Infinity scarf

    Bible Reading
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One Hour Dinner Rolls

Do you want the taste of homemade bread? This is the easiest and quickest way to satisfy that taste.  I started making these rolls in the early 1990s. With six boys and we would soon add our first daughter, they were a hit. The boys consumed three dozen rolls the first time I made them. They soon became a family tradition. They are a little bit heavier than traditional rolls but my family has enjoyed them regardless.

For my bread making, I love to use these large beautiful bowls that my friend Betty Fitzsimmons has gifted me with through the years. She is a wonderful friend and bread baker too! Our together times are filled with spiritual encouragement and a lot of laughter.

Rising Dough

Ingredients:

2 packages yeast or two-level tablespoons of bulk yeast

1/2 cup Water

2 Tablespoons butter

3 Tablespoons sugar

1 1/4 cup of milk

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 egg ( occasionally I add an extra egg)

4-5 cups of flour

Mix the yeast and sugar in the 1/2 cup water and set aside (it should get foamy) You can use a small measuring cup to do this.

Mix 3-4 cups flour and salt in a large bowl.

Heat milk and butter until it is melted and cool it a little while. You want it below 120° or it will begin to kill the yeast.

Beat the egg and add it to the yeast mixture. Mix the milk mixture with the flour and add the yeast mixture. Stir until well mixed. If it is not too sticky begin to knead the dough and add the rest of the flour as needed. Knead for 5-10 minutes and then place in a greased bowl and turn to coat and then cover the bowl and let rest for 15 minutes or so. It should raise and look a little puffy. (Like the picture at the top) Punch down and divide into 2 sections. Take each section and shape into 12 balls. I place these in a greased pan side by side. Two 8 inch round pans or 13 X 9 pan. Then cover and let rise for another 15 minutes or so. Then bake them in a 400° oven for 15 minutes until lightly browned. They should be done but may require a few more minutes depending on your oven. You’ll smell them and they will look good. Rub the tops with butter. You may turn them out on a board or plate and enjoy them. The bottoms might get a little soggy if left in the pan too long from the condensation.

2 Dozen Rolls

Fresh Rolls
  • My Beautiful Betty Bowl

 

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Season of Prayer

I’ve been thinking a lot about prayer lately and praying a lot too. My daughter and I were talking about how it seems we are in a season of prayer. Sometimes we are in a season of activity or action. Making things right, fixing things. But not this time. It seems as if my world has slowed down and God says pray.

Are you in a season of prayer?

I have friends in deep need, struggling with life-threatening situations which I long to know how to pray for. So, struggle on in my praying for them. Unsure how to even pray, what to pray. Lord teach me to pray. A friend around the world is in need of immediate medical attention. I cannot fix the problem, get medical attention for him, or get the government to give him a Visa. So I pray. Such impotent prayers it seems. Such impossible situations.

I pray for my dear husband who has struggled the last few years with an autoimmune disease which steals his strength and energy. I can’t fix it. Watching my children struggle with life’s struggles that we all deal with. I want to make it easier for them but I know I cannot. They must walk this journey with God themselves. I pray.

I recently had surgery. I’m to sit and do nothing for 2-3 weeks. What am I to do? I made myself a little stash of things to read and little needlework crafts to do. Of course, I had hoped to do more writing and revamp my website and publish my little baking book on Kindle. But I feel unmotivated and lack the energy to pursue. I feel so unproductive.

Righting the wrongs in the world.

I want to repair and right the things in our world that seem so wrong. Yet I know it is impossible. I pray. Only God has the power. We do our little part to love and fix the things we can in our little corner of the world, as God would want us to and pray and ask God to make the difference.

Season of Prayer
Season of Prayer

Most of the time prayer seems so little when in reality it is probably the biggest and best thing we can do for those we love. This season of prayer is part of the faith journey. Trusting God to do what God does best. Trusting God to love even more than I can possibly imagine and to be at work in these situations even when I cannot see what he is doing.

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Gluten-Free Lemon-Coconut Bonbons

Today I made some no bake coconut bonbons. These are gluten-free. I found a recipe at My Incredible Recipes and as many of us do and changed it up a bit to make Tiffany’s birthday bonbons.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Coconut Bonbons

The original recipe for No Bake Coconut Snowballs can be found here:

No Bake Coconut Snowballs

Gluten-Free Lemon Coconut Bonbons

Use the ingredients for the recipe for No-Bake Coconut Snowballs and add about 3 Tablespoons of lemon juice and a teaspoon of vanilla flavoring to the original recipe. I put everything into the food processor and processed. I then made balls and refrigerated them. I dipped them in white chocolate ( 1 melted about 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips) and put back on my parchment paper and I put it in the freezer for a few minutes. Enjoy!

 

Gluten-Free Chocolate Coconut Bonbons

Make a second batch and add only vanilla flavoring to the batch. Make the balls and refrigerate until firm. Now dip them in semi-sweet chocolate (melt 1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips) and place on the parchment paper and back in the refrigerator until set.

Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

 

Gluten-Free Lemon Coconut Bonbons

 

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Andalusian Christmas Soup

Andalusian Christmas Soup

How I Found This Recipe

Andalusian Christmas Soup.  My story. This recipe was found on a radio program in the 1980s while driving around Seattle, possibly being stuck in traffic. The host of the radio program offered the recipe for those who requested it. I requested it.

I was recently telling someone about this recipe and after a search for my original recipe, I found it while in WV. I hope you like it as much as I do! This recipe works well for vegetarians as well as meat eaters.

Origins

The south of Spain is the home of this inexpensive make-ahead soup. When served with condiments that include meats like miniature meatballs and sausage, fresh vegetables, and substantial garnishes, it makes a full meal especially well suited to informal entertaining.

The soup base is a blend of tomato puree, chicken broth, herbs and lots of sweet, slow-cooked onions. Serve it hot in a soup tureen or casserole, surrounded by choice of condiments.

The Recipe for the Soup Base

2 Tablespoons butter or margarine
1 Tablespoon olive oil
4 cups thinly sliced onions
3 Tablespoons flour (omit if gluten is an issue for you or your family) Use another thickener.
1 can (1 lb.) tomato puree
2 quarts chicken broth
1 clove garlic, minced or mashed
1 Tablespoon each red wine vinegar, Worcestershire
1/4 teaspoon each pepper, oregano, tarragon leaves, and liquid hot pepper seasoning
1/2 teaspoon cumin seed crushed

Condiments (suggestions below)

Directions

In a 4 or 5 quart pan, over medium-low heat, melt the butter; add the olive oil and onions. Slowly cook the onions stirring occasionally, until they are limp and slightly golden; it takes about 45 minutes.

Sprinkle flour over onions and blend; gradually stir in tomato puree and broth. Add the garlic and vinegar, Worcestershire, pepper, oregano, tarragon, hot pepper seasoning, and cumin; stir until well blended. Bring to boiling over high heat, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Condiments:

Meats (choose 2 or 3)

  • About 30 meatballs: combine 1/2 lb. lean ground beef; 1 Tablespoon chopped green onions; 1/4 teaspoon salt; and 1/8 teaspoon each ground cumin, crushed oregano leaves, and pepper; form into bite-sized balls and bake in a shallow pan in a 500-degree oven for 5 minutes.
  • About 10 ounces linguica, chorizo, or kielbasa sausages: slice about 1/4 inch thick and in a dry frying pan over medium heat, turning until browned.
  • 1/4 to 1/3 pound tiny cooked shelled shrimp
  • About 3/4 pound cooked ham: cut into 1/2 inch cubes and saute in 2 Tablespoons butter until slightly browned.

Fresh Vegetables: (choose 3 or 4)

1 cup each of several vegetables

  • cubed red or green bell pepper or a mixture of the two
  • diced peeled cucumber
  • diced fresh tomato
  • diced sweet onion
  • 1/2 pound fresh mushrooms: sliced and sauteed in 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 pound fresh carrots: slice and cook in a small amount of water until fork tender, drain.

Garnishes (choose 3 or 4)

  • 3 or 4 hard cooked boiled eggs, coarsely chopped
  • 1 to 1 1/2 cups sour cream
  • 1/4 pound grated cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 2 or 3 small limes cut into wedges
  • 1 small can garbanzos drained
  • 1 small can of sliced ripe olives, drained
  • About 1/2 cup chopped parsley

This was originally published on my Redding Mountain blog.

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Christmas-Cotton Patch

When I got a funny little windup figure of Popeye one Christmas, it made quite an impression on me. I cannot remember more than three or four gifts throughout my entire childhood, but Popeye is one of those. The little tin man stood about five inches tall, and he had the typical Popeye look complete with one eye shut, a pipe in his mouth and oversized muscles that symbolized his strength. I have wondered many times over as to why I remember the funny little character. There is no remembrance of anything else that I got that Christmas, but I know that we opened our gifts on Christmas Eve, preparing to leave the next morning to go to my grandparents’ home in Puryear, Tennessee. Trips to Mother and Daddy Morgan’s did not happen very often, and the memories of those visits are uniquely their’s.

Although it is not associated with Christmas, I can still smell the reddish bars of Lifebuoy soap that were always in the “bathhouse”. There was an outbuilding in the backyard that had one room especially arranged with a number three washtub and all the things necessary for a sitdown bath. The clean, fresh smell of Lifebuoy permeated that whole shed. I don’t know what we did about bathing when it was cold weather, but I enjoyed my baths in that little neat room.

Another smell that was an all year round smell was that of homemade rolls. Mother Morgan seemed to specialize in making wonderful rolls, but for Christmas, I also remember her homemade fruit cakes. Other smells of Christmas were those of nice juicy oranges and apples, and peppermint candy (not canes, but long fat rolls of it!)

It seemed we were not limited as to how much fruit we could have…. and then… there were always nuts. We didn’t need to crack nuts open by putting one down on a rock and smashing it and our finger with another, nor did we have to use a hammer. Mother Morgan had a tool called a nutcracker that was so much easier than our methods, and our fingers were certainly safer.

Even a dusting of snow didn’t keep my cousins and me from playing out as much as we wished. We felt the joy that only children are capable of feeling, before the burdens of adulthood have dulled the senses of magic.

Could it be that the expectations of going to my grandparents’ house was what made the little tin man memorable?

A few years later, my two younger brothers and I were held as hostages in the kitchen, while our two older sisters made us believe that we could hear sleigh bells ringing and the hoofbeats of Santa’s reindeer on the rooftop. We remained there just long enough for Santa to leave our presents, and then we were allowed to go into the living room and open them. I remember getting a pencil box and some other odds and ends for school, and I remember being pleased with what I got.

It was Christmas Eve! We must be going to Tennessee again! Was it this glorious thought that put the magic in that Christmas, or was it the mystery that my sisters played out in the kitchen that evening as we anticipated a visit from the traditional jolly old man of the season? I think they were equally responsible. The small family unit worked together to provide the mystical joys, traditional to the season, in the privacy of our modest home, and it was the love of the extended family that brought special joys because we belonged.

This story of Christmas would not be complete without telling about one really special gift that I got from an aunt and uncle of mine who lived in Tennessee. They had learned that I did not have a baby doll, and when they gave me one, I was enormously touched. I immediately named it Robbie Joe. The next thing that I did was very important to me, and I am thankful that my dad understood and helped me with it. I had a dollar, and I wanted to give that dollar to Uncle Joe and Aunt Robbie. Whatever they thought of the transaction, I don’t know, but they accepted it graciously, and I felt really good. That doll was my treasure for a long time.

The Christmas pageant I referred to in my last article referred to my part as an angel, in which I recited, “Inasmuch as ye have done it to the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Giving to those in need is a good activity for any season. May your Christmas be a joyous, happy event!

Feeling the magic of Christmas or any other family togetherness is a blessing due all children. The security and love within a family that exhibits God’s love among themselves and others will make longer lasting memories than could ever develop from a gift under a tree.