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 : )

Sourdough Starter...

Hey y'all! It's cold! Yes, yes, I know it is January and it is still winter. It is just too cold for me!! I am totally a summer girl. 90 degree weather and flip flops are my kind of things! At least it was sunny on this 32 degree day! Maybe some homemade bread will help take the bite out of winter.  ; )   Hmmmmmmm..... Homemade...SOURDOUGH!

F.Y.I. You can't have sourdough without some sourdough starter. And if you weren't handed a jar of starter (like I was) you will have to make your own. This is the same starter that I use. It was given to me by one of my mom's friends.

Sourdough Starter:
1 package of yeast
2 cups warm water
1/2 cup instant potato flakes
2 teaspoon salt

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. Add remaining ingredients and stir well. Keep at room temperature for 24 hours then refrigerate three to five days. Feed with the following...

Starter Feed:
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoon instant potato flakes
1 cup warm water

Add ingredients to starter jar and shake well. Set at room temperature for 5 to 12 hours. At the end of the waiting time, take out one cup of starter and return to the refrigerator. If not using for bread, just throw away the one cup of starter.

Sourdough bread recipe is coming soon!

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 : )