And then this...

Also on that new blog, I found this dog video - which is pretty genius.  Especially since I think these dogs live in Alabama.  I don't know that for sure, but the woman that writes this has a picture of her and her husband in Auburn shirts -which may conflict with calling the dog genius.  Just kidding - had to get a Roll Tide in somewhere.

http://www.kevinandamanda.com/whatsnew/miley-and-howie/puppy-in-a-bucket.html

Problem Solved

Ok, a little while back I was saying I needed an ice cream maker.  Then I learned about this post on a blog called Kevin & Amanda from this post on one called i am baker.  And you can use this recipe to make any ice cream flavor you want, without an ice cream freezer!

What is that I hear you saying?  I'm not supposed to eat dairy?  Don't you remember when you weighed yourself two days ago and you were up like 5 lbs?  Oh, pish posh to all of that!  One batch of this stuff sounds worth a week of girdle-wearing to me!

Oh, the beauty of folding fresh whipped cream. 



I think they called this one Hazelnut Mocha Fudge Swirl.  I'm ok with that.

My Motto for August 2011

My church is doing 21 days of prayer in August.  Maybe I'll do 21 days of fasting from the word "yes" and practice the spiritual discipline of the word "no".  We'll see how this goes ;).

Stop....Canning Time

I'm aware that I say the same things every time I talk about making preserves.  And I'm going to say it all again.  Aside from the fun science experiment/chemistry lab of it all, my favorite thing about making preserves is the colors - the glorious colors! 

Here are your standard iphone pictures of these colors. Because that's what I bring. And, I beg to ask the question - how do fancy food bloggers take such glamorous pictures of their food while they're making it? The pictures all seem to come off a fake food movie set. I don't believe they are really making the food while taking pictures unless I can see some proof of the mess, or at least a trace of the tools necessary to make whatever the picture is of. The end :).

 I mean, just look at this gorgeous red!

 And this yellowy peach!

Fig Crazy

It's the week of figs at my house.  My parents sent me at least 2 gallons they picked, and you can't let precious figs go to waste.

First, I copied a recipe I had in DC.  I cut a piece of bread on the diagonal, drizzled some olive oil, crumbled some Alabama made goat cheese and put this in the even until the cheese started to melt.  Then, I took my toast points out, added some halved figs, and drizzled it all with honey.  Good stuff.

Then, a friend reminded me of my Flour Bakery cookbook.  Sure enough, it has a recipe for homemade fig newtons.  I don't have any pictures to show, but they are yummy.  I've never had anything quite like them - the slightly citrusy jam, the butter shortbread, with the little kick of salt.  Here is what the creator has to say about them:
"Every now and then I test a recipe that makes me think, THIS is the reason to buy this book. The homemade fig newtons is one of these recipes. I made a small batch of fig jam with a little orange, vanilla, and lemon. Then I made some shortbread and rolled in out into a long rectangle. The jam went down the middle, I rolled the whole thing up in a log, and baked it for an hour. It was one of the best things I've eaten in a long time! The jam is sooooo delicious, especially now that fig season is in full swing. I was really happy with how they came out."  From here:  http://www.flourbakery.com/cookbook.php?post=1895

Tonight, I'm whipping up some strawberry fig preserves.  Yum, yum.  Although - the strawberry fig stuff always pops more when it boils so I usually winding up jumping and screaming a bit.  It's the bacon grease of the preserves world.  Maybe I'll have some pretty pictures of that to share.

You Scream, I Scream...

One of my most favorite things about summer in the South is homemade ice cream (am I the only one that spells homemade wrong at first?  I always spell it homeade).  That is why I love today's post from Tasty Kitchen.  It has about 50 different super beautiful pictures of homemade ice cream, with links to all of the recipes, of course. 
I may have to break down and get one of those countertop ice cream makers so I can have it every day...

Here are some pictures of the non-dairy selections, since that's what I'm supposed to lean towards these days.

Shut My Mouth

This morning when I was praying on the Armor of God, I felt the need to add the duct tape of self-control.  I don't think you'll find it in Ephesians, but I think it works.  It may not fit in the whole "warrior wear" theme, but it's still useful for battle.  Especially at work :).

P.S. - I do not recommend a google images search for duct tape.  Kinda scary.

More Adventures in Singledom

**Warning - Stream of Consciousness follows**

I don't even know what I have to say here - but I feel like there is a blog post in here somewhere.  But it may not be pretty or paint me in too flattering of a light.
I got asked to lunch this week.  And that was a sincerely appreciated gesture.  But it also sent me down an ugly spiral of depression, self-pity, and just a touch of self-loathing.  (By the way - none of these things are from God).  I know this person is not a match for me.  However, I am so often told that I am still single because I am too picky (insert whole other rant and tangent here) that I felt like I needed to say yes to prove these people wrong.  And to not be a jerk to a  really sweet guy that had the guts to ask.  And because I'm not being flooded with other date requests.  And because I need to take more chances?
Then there is the previously mentioned downward spiral.  Mostly because you're a jerk if you go and give him false hope and you're a jerk if you don't - so then I get mad that somebody else is making me a jerk by default.  Date offers by people you're not interested in can also be a giant mirror in your face telling you that you're single and these appear to be your only options.  (Gonna say this is a lie too).
After a week of feeling pretty yucky and being overwhelmed by my lack of time and absence of rest because I struggle with saying no, I had the bit of panic attack I needed to say no to this lunch.  Granted, the fact that this person sent me 3 non-responded to emails in less than 24 hours really helped with my answer.
I would like to give a big thanks to the friends that emailed me reminders that being single does not mean you're desperate.
And to the folks that think I'm too picky, here is a list of men that have tried to talk to me in the past year or so : 
One that led to me filing a police report.
One that I had to block on facebook for writing me messages all the time although he'd never really met me.  None of which used complete sentences.  And I found out he had an awful lot of challenges, including a recent drug problem.
One that said he liked me but didn't think I liked him back (because I didn't jump in his lap when I met him?).
Two married men.

Which one of these should I have chosen?

Non-Hunch Punch

I was one of team of awesome hostesses for a dear friend's baby shower this weekend.  We realized we needed some punch and I decided to give it a try.  I found a couple of recipes, but decided to experiment.  I have some serious love for strawberry lemonade, cherry limeade, etc., so I decided to try a version I had a wedding last year.  I sliced a carton of fresh strawberries and let it soak in frozen lemonade overnight (with some of the water added).  Then, I sliced lemons and limes and put them in a cupcake pan, ran water over them, and made lemon/lime ice cubes.
At the shower, I took the mix and added a liter of Sprite and the floating ice cubes.  Thankfully, my experiment worked out!  We all liked it.  It was super easy and fresh, and wasn't old school 80s punch that you only drink because it's your only option and you have to.

Fourth of July Yumminess

I spent half of July 4th at my parent's house, where one of my nephews has mastered the homeade blueberry cobbler.  We made this one together with some blueberries my parents picked at a neighbor's house.  Un-be-lievably good stuff. 

I love you, so I don't care?

I spent a lot of time at the airport recently, which meant I spent a lot of quality time with an Oprah magazine.  Two of the articles resonated with me, the first being about really loving the people we love as they are, including their bad choices.  Or,  as I read it, not trying to control their choices.  The article refers to it as "detached attachment".
This quote sums it up:  "For you, loving without caring might mean staying calm when your sister gets divorced, or your dad starts smoking again, or your husband is laid off."  It then says that real love and healing come from people both totally committed to helping the one they love while being able to emotionally detach.
I wasn't sure what to do with this at first.  My first reaction was "Is this how Jesus would love?".  And then I wondered if this was new age secular humanism because it's printed in Oprah.  Then, I remembered my mid-twenties when I first began to realize that I merely thought I was a laid back and non-controlling person. Truthfully, I controlled my family like mad - and I began to realize that if I didn't let go then it really would drive my life into the ground.  After that, I tried so hard to help someone make good decisions and live up to their potential that it backfired and I sent that relationship down in flames.
Considering my track record, this loving with not caring may be the ticket.  I certainly cannot control any of my family members' mouths, choices, or behaviors (or my friends).  However, I realize I need them.  I also love them and am blessed to have them.  So, I have to find a way to love them without it killing me.
I'm not sure I believe we can clearly separate care and helping from love.  At least, I'm not sure women can.  But I think there is something here.  Something that boils down to the beauty of grace and being loved just as you are.
Thoughts?

Article:  I Don't Care by Martha Beck, July 2011 Oprah