Brownies!

What happened to spring? I thought it was going to come early this year! And yet here we are, with weather in the 30's, a wind advisory, and everything in bloom... Even the North East is getting hit with MORE snow. It is almost April!!! Where's the spring weather???

Oh well... It will warm up sometime...(It has to, right?!?)

Now for a distraction from this weird weather.

I would have to say that one of my all-time favorite recipes to make from scratch is BROWNIES! Brownies are super easy to make from scratch. This recipe makes the same amount as 1 box of brownie mix and can be made just as quick! Try this recipe today and it will become your go-to recipe for parties, picnics, and your next sweet tooth craving!
Brownies:
1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
6 tbsp cocoa powder
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Optional:
1 cup nuts and/or 1 cup chocolate chips

 Melt butter then mix in the sugar and vanilla.

Beat in eggs one at a time.

Add cocoa powder and beat well.

Add flour, salt, and baking powder and mix well.

 Stir in (or sprinkle on top) the nuts and/or chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.

Go ahead...Make a batch...You know you want some!

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

Welcome Spring!

For those of you who didn't know...

Today is the first day of SPRING! 

With sunshine, cooler temperatures, and possibly snow in the forecast (not the typical southern weather right now, but we really might have snow and cold rain by the end of the week! ugh...), I have come today to bring you some of my latest spring pictures.

Fly with Christ!

Rachel : )

Pi(e) Day

Happy March, y'all!

Today was so beautiful and warm! I sat outside in the sunshine for over half an hour getting my vitamin D! Enough about today, though...

Yesterday (March 14th) was Pi(e) Day. Get it? Pi = 3.14. (I am such a homeschooler!) So Mom and I made a caramel pie for my dad (his favorite). I can't share the recipe for the pie, but I can share the pie crust recipe with y'all.

Easy Pie Crust Recipe:
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup shortening
1 tsp Karo, optional
 3 to 4 tsp cold water

Stir the flour and salt together.

Mix in the shortening until it looks like little pebbles.

The key to good pie crust is COLD water.

Add 3 to 4 tbsp of cold water to the flour mixture until it forms a ball. Try not to knead or overwork the dough. Roll to 1/4 in.

Place in the pie pan and trim. If you aren't going to use it right away, place it in the fridge to keep it cold.

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

Spring?

Is spring here already??? Many of the plants and trees around our house already have blooms on them. They normally don't bloom in 40 degree weather.

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

Knitted Dishcloth

Hello everyone! I hope that y'all are having a good Saturday!

When I started to type this post, the weather here just looked gloomy and gray. But within 10 minutes, it started snowing! It's very light and it might not amount to anything, but snow is snow! God know just how to perk up a gloomy day.  : )

Whether you are begging for snow (like we are) or sick of it, I have a dishcloth pattern to brighten the day. To all my knitters or even those who aspire to be one, I bring you an easy pattern that can be made for yourself or a friend. I have included the instructions plus pictures for this pattern.

Materials:
Sugar and Cream or Peaches and Cream yarn
Knitting needles (anywhere form size 3 to size 8)

Abbreviated instructions:
Cast on 4 St. Knit all St.
Increasing: Knit 2, YO, knit to the end. Repeat until you have 40 St.
Decreasing: Knit 1, knit 2 tog, YO, knit 2 tog, knit to the end. Repeat until you have 4 St.
Cast off and weave in loose ends.

 Cast on 4 stitches.

 Knit one row.

 Increasing: Knit 2 stitches, yarn over, knit to the end of the row.

 You will now have 5 stitches.

Continue increasing until you have 40 stitches.

Decreasing: Knit 1, knit 2 together, yarn over, knit 2 together, knit to the end of the row.

You will now have 39 stitches.

Continue decreasing until you have 4 stitches.

Cast off. Weave the ends through the dishcloth and then trim.

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 : )