Challa

I am not Jewish, but this recipe was just too good not to share with y'all! I don't know much about the traditional bread except that it is an enriched dough (meaning it has eggs in it) and is usually breaded. My Recipe comes from Leah. Her first Challa video shows the actual bread recipe. She has three others showing different shaping methods which can be found on YouTube. And the recipe can be found here.

I used mostly fresh ground flour for this recipe and it turned out wonderful. This is definitely a must try recipe!

We cut the recipe in half and made a large braided loaf with 12 large rolls. Here are some pictures of our Challa.

These were from our first batch.

These were from our second batch.

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

Merry Christmas!

I hope and pray that each and everyone of you had a blessed Christmas. Today I was fortunate enough to have my family around with good food and presents. I would like to cap off the day by sharing one of our candy(ish) recipes.

Toffee Bars!
36 saltine crackers
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips

Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Lay the crackers down in a single sheet. melt the butter, brown sugar, and vanilla over medium heat. Boil for 3 minutes then pour over the crackers, spreading evenly. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the chocolate and let stand until melted. Then spread the melted chocolate over the entire pan. Cool in the refrigerator or at room temperature until the chocolate has set. Store at room temperature. Watch these disappear!

 Toffee bars right out of the oven.

 Mmmmm... Melting Chocolate!

The finished product.

Merry Christmas!
Rachel : )

Christmas-time is here...

Less than TWO days before Christmas. WHAT??? Guess I need to finish my shopping! ; )  But for all of those who are in the baking spirit, here are some recipes from years past plus a new (old) one.

*NEW*
Peppermint bark:
2 packages of vanilla almond bark
1 bag of peppermints, crushed

I'm telling you, this recipe is as easy as melting chocolate and sprinkling peppermints over it. Really, that's it! Melt the almond bark in a microwave or over a double boiler. Spread evenly over a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil. Sprinkle the crushed peppermints over the top. Cool at room temperature then break into pieces. So easy yet so delicious!

Homemade Chex Mix: found here

Spiced Tea: found here

Christmas Cookies: found here

Gingerbread House Recipe: found here. Also the tragic event that also happened that year can be found here.

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

His Purpose

December is here, the school year is winding down to a close, and I am SO ready to get out of here. Don't get me wrong. I actually enjoy learning and getting away from home, but its hard when you only have a few days left and Christmas right around the corner. Yes, I am home sick. And on top of being home sick I also have a cold. It rained almost all day yesterday. And the fire alarm went off at almost midnight last night (only during finals week). I am ready to put this semester behind me and get started celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Is that too hard to ask?

But this semester hasn't been too bad. Its hard to imagine that this time last year I was finishing up my first college semester. I have almost completed 51 credit hours! Where has the time gone? It seems like I start complaining to myself and then realize that time has passed me by. And so here I am again. Wanting to go home.

But isn't that how life is? There are always the fun and pleasant things along with the boring, mundane, and even unpleasant events. But all of it works together for God's perfect plan. Plain and simple. So take time today and enjoy the beauty of God's plan. whether you are struggling (like I think I am) or whether everything is going swell. And when you are in those dark times, look back at how far you have come to get to this spot. Like if the power goes out; think of the things that you have that got you to this time. The power couldn't have gone off without you first having a roof over your head and electricity to supply it with energy.

Its the little things that help me get through the day. I couldn't be sitting here complaining in my dorm room without already completing almost another full semester, and I couldn't pay for college without my job. And even though I am sick, I shouldn't be out socializing. I should be studying for pete's sake! (Or, you know, writing a blog post...)

So enjoy this day that you have been given. No matter how rainy or sunny, cold or hot, beautiful or yucky it may be, It is all for His purpose.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )