Spring break

Kitty prints

Although it doesn't look like spring around here, this coming week is spring break for my school. We still have a few inches of snow on the ground from Wednesday. I hope and pray that all of you are doing well. Hopefully I can get some more posts done this week since there is no school. And just because I know y'all are dying to know what I am having for breakfast (I know you aren't, but they were just too cute to not show!), here is a picture of my homemade mini cinnamon rolls.

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 : )

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 

Being red-headed, I always love St. Patrick's day. But today felt different from any other St. Patty's day. This was probable due to the short supply of green garb displayed on campus today. HARDLY ANYONE WAS WEARING GREEN! I saw about 15 people sporting the color. Oh well... Happy St. Patrick's day y'all!

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

School just won't close...

We've all had those days. Rainy-snowy-sleety-cold-general yuckyness. Today is one of those days. Well, really this whole month, apart from a few sunny days. And we still have to trudge all over campus in this horrid weather. Yes, all doom and gloom.


But there is a bright side! : )  It is Wednesday afternoon. The week is more than half-way over. I am not sick. I don't have any papers or tests for the rest of the week. On top of that, it is almost Valentines Day! I love Valentines Day mainly because of CHOCOLATE! ; ) 


Girls, even if you don't have a date for V-Day, don't fret. You aren't the only one! {Just take me for an example} You don't have to sit around feeling sorry for yourself. Go and have some fun! Hang with your family, sing, dance, read a book, bake, eat CHOCOLATE... The possibilities are just about endless. You don't have to feel sorry for yourself because you don't have a boyfriend. Above all else, Jesus Christ loves you!


"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know that this love surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."  Ephesians 3:17-19


Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

Happy New Year!

 

Here I am to ring in the new year! 2013 was full of many new and exciting experiences for me like graduating high school and surviving my first semester of college! But now 2014 is here with even more challenges ahead. I hope that God will bless all of you in this new year!

Here are some New Year traditions: (found here)

1. Pork is a symbol of good luck because pigs root forward, which is obviously the direction you want to go in the new year. (Chickens and turkeys scratch backwards — so steer clear of the poultry aisle if you're superstitious.)
2. Black-eyed peas and other legumes symbolize prosperity because they resemble coins. For those who associate good luck with good money, be sure to add some peas to your New Year's dinner.
3. While you're at it, heap on some leafy greens like collards, kale, or cabbage, which represent paper money — and more prosperity. They're good for your health too, but the point is, the more foods that resemble money, the better. 
4. A New Year's smooch when the clock strikes midnight brings good luck in love for the year to come. So whether you're single or have a steady honey, prepare to pucker up.
Need more ways to court good fortune for 2014? Consider these traditions from around the world:

5. In Spain, wearing red underwear on New Year's Eve means that you will have prosperity and good luck in the upcoming year. 
6. Also in Spain and many Latin American countries, eating 12 grapes at midnight ensures good luck and health in every month of the new year. (The trick is to stuff in one grape for each strike the clock makes, so grab the smallest ones you can find!) 
7. In order to chase out the bad luck of the New Year, the Irish bang white bread against the walls.
8. In Ecuador, it's customary for each family to burn a scarecrow at midnight. The scarecrow represents the negativity of the previous year, so burning it ensures positive energy and good luck as the new year begins.
9. Brazilians jump seven waves for good luck — one jump for each day of the week.
10. In Greece, smashing a pomegranate outside one's door at midnight is said to bring good fortune. The red color and seeds of the pomegranate represent fertility, love, happiness... and a big mess on your doorstep.
11. If you're in Germany, be sure to find a chimney sweep or a fireplace, because touching ashes is the key to good luck in the new year. Like seeing Santa Klaus on Christmas, the appearance of the chimney sweep is a good omen.
12. In Japan, cleaning and sweeping on New Year's Eve is good luck, but doing so on New Year's Day could actually sweep away all of the good luck of the year! So consider this your free pass not to do any household chores after your New Year's Eve celebrations. (Better stock up on those paper plates.)

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

Christmas Recipes {Part 3}

Spiced Tea!!!!! Heaven in a mug!!!!! (if you can't tell, we love this stuff around here!)

Spiced Tea:
2 cups Tang
1 cup lemonade mix
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup instant tea
3/4 T cinnamon
1 t ground cloves

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.To serve, place 2 heaping teaspoons in a mug and mix with boiling water to enjoy!!!  : D


Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

Christmas Recipes {Part 2}

Today is the Christmas Cookie day! This is one of my Granny's recipes. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Cream butter and sugar.

 Finished dough.

 El with her cookies...   : )

Finished cookies!

Christmas Cookies:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup half-and-half cream
3 cup flour
2 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 t cinnamon
Combine:
1/4 cup sugar
1 t cinnamon
maraschino cherries

Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy, then add eggs one at a time. Then beat in the cream. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Gradually add to the creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate about 3 hours. After it has chilled, roll cookie dough in cinnamon/sugar mixture, make a dent in the cookie with your thumb, and place a cherry half in the center. Bake at 375 F until brown. Try not to over bake them. Enjoy!


Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

Christmas Recipes {Part 1}

Merry Christmas, Y'all!

Since Christmas is tomorrow, I have decided to break my blogging silence to bring some of my family's favorite holiday recipes! First up is homemade Chex Mix!

Chex Mix:
1 stick of butter
2 Tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
almost 1 Tablespoon of seasoned salt
3/4 Teaspoon of garlic powder
1/2 Teaspoon of onion powder
3 cups of Corn Chex
3 cups of Rice  Chex
3 cups of Wheat Chex
1 cup mixed nuts
1 cup pretzels
1 cup Cherrios

Heat oven to 250 degrees F. Melt butter in a large roasting pan. Stir in seasonings and then the rest of the ingredients. Bake for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, and store in and airtight container.


Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

Happy Valentines Day!

I hope everyone is having a good Valentines Day! I am here today to bring you an easy and tasty recipe:

Red Velvet Cupcakes!

This recipe came from Southern Plate. You might remember that I made these for Eleanor's birthday last year. This recipe can also be made into cakes, and you can change the color with different food colorings (if you have allergies to red food dyes or want a different color). So here is the recipe: 

~Cupcakes~
2 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 ounce bottle red food coloring

~Cream Cheese Frosting~
8 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 pound powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Stir together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.

In a large bowl, stir together sugar, buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vinegar.

 Then add the dry ingredients and beat on medium speed until well blended.

 Then add the vanilla and the entire bottle of food coloring. Beat on a low speed until well mixed.

Fill each paper 3/4 full. Bake 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool completely before frosting.

For Frosting: Cream together butter and cream cheese. Then beat in the sugar and vanilla.

Aren't they CUTE!!! They taste good too!

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

Gingerbread House and Recipe!

Usually I decorate a gingerbread house each year before Christmas. You know those Wilton gingerbread house kits. This year we ran out of time before Christmas so I decided to do it after Christmas. And I also used homemade gingerbread pieces. They were so much fun to make! Here is the recipe:

Construction Gingerbread:
(This recipe makes a sturdier cookie used to make houses and other 3-D creations.)
5 cups bread flour
2 tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 tbsp. ground cloves
1 tbsp. ground ginger
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup plus 2 tbsp. sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 7 tbsp. margarine (I used butter)
3/4 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. whole milk

1. Stir flour, spices, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl.
2. Combine sugar, butter, corn syrup, and milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the butter has completely melted and the mixture is the consistency of thick syrup.
3. Remove from the heat and stir into the center of the dry ingredients until smooth and free of lumps. The dough will be shiny and somewhat sticky.
4. Divide the dough into two portions, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill until firm enough to roll.
5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
6. Using one disk at a time, roll onto a lightly floured surface about 1/4 inch thick but no less than 1/8 inch. Use cookie cutters or templates to create the desired shapes.
7. Transfer to a cookie sheet and bake 10 to 12 minutes for small (2 1/2 to 3 inch) cookies and closer to 15 minutes for larger (5 to 6 inch) cookies. (my house pieces had to bake for almost 20 minutes) When done, they should be firm to the touch and well browned.
8. Cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheets before transferring to a cooling rack. Cool completely before using.

 Construction begins...

 Eleanor was helping.

 The finished house.

 After the construction was complete, it began to snow in Gingerville.

 How lovely...

 Gingy and Ginger with their new house.

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

More Sashay...

Christmas is only 4 days away!!!

Did I mention how easy these scarves were to make? They knit up in an afternoon!!! I am using them for Christmas presents this year. So here is a semi-tutorial for making these scarves:

You will need 1 ball of Sashay yarn and a pair of knitting needles. Use a size knitting needle that you feel comfortable using. I will be using size 13 needles but I have also used size 11 and 9. Because the "stitches" come from the top row of loops, the gauge is not important. If my directions are a little confusing, a video can be found on the other Sashay scarf post.

This is what the yarn looks like when open. You will have to continue opening up the yarn as you go.

 Weave the needle through every other loop on the top loops. This will "cast-on" 6 times. 

 Turn the needle and knit the first row. To knit, insert the other needle into the first stitch, stick the right needle into the second loop on top of the yarn, pull through the first stitch on the left needle as in regular knitting, and then push the stitch off of the left needle. Continue with the other 5 stitches.

Continue knitting until there is about 6 to 10 inches of yarn left.

Cast-off like with regular knitting until the last stitch.

 Pull the last of the yarn through the last stitch.

 Tie a knot around the last stitch and then trim.

Two new Christmas scarves!

And this one is called "Hip Hop"

This one is called "Tango"

Merry Christmas!
Rachel : )