Pavlova

Last week I went to a dinner party and was asked to bring dessert.  Most dinner parties I would just bring something made from a box.  But this one was for a special friend who deserved a special dessert.  The most special dessert I could think of was one my mom would make for my birthday.  It is a dessert we had in Ireland and I loved it!  Below is my pioneer-woman-esque document of making my favorite dessert.

Ok. It's simple.
4 egg whites
1 c. sugar
1tsp. vanilla 1 tsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. corn starch

Heat oven to 300
On parchment paper trace a 9 inch circle.
Or, if you want to do mini ones trace something smaller as seen above.

Beat egg whites until thick and glossy.

While beating add the sugar one tablespoon at a time.
After egg whites are beat to look like the above, gently fold in lemon, vanilla and cornstarch.

Pouring into the center of the circle, use the circle as a guide creating small craters in the center.
Place into the oven to cook for one hour.  After cooking for the hour turn off oven and let sit for  one hour or longer.
The longer you let it sit the less likely they will crack when you remove from parchment.
My mom would make the night before and let sit in oven overnight.

For the topping, beat one pint of heavy whipping cream until...whipped.
No sugar necessary - the dessert is already SUPER sweet.

Chop fresh fruit...

...and assemble into a lovely desserts.  :)
Perfect for a dinner party.  

And in honor of my home making spirit, I donned my 4-H tshirt from when I was young.
It's a blue ribbon worthy dessert, if you ask me.

The Other Side of the World

As the time for take-off approaches I feel more confident in telling people I am leaving for China.  The questions keep flowing and so I thought I'd answer some of them here.  :) 


When? End of February until the beginning of July
Where?  The city of Xinzheng in the Henan province.  In the map above it is the light orangeish colored province in the central part of the country.
Why? Because people in China want to learn English...and I know English.  It's just a good fit.
Who?  I'll be teaching college students at Sias University 


And that, my friends is a brief view of my next four months.  Any other questions...feel free to ask!  Until next time...peace, joy and rest!  :)

Oxymoron

It feels like negative twelve degrees outside.

I'm wearing my fleece pajamas and warmest hoodie.

The high of tomorrow is eleven degrees.

Yet on my out of work tonight I stopped to make a frappuccino.

A double chocolaty chip frappuccino with whip cream to be exact.

It's the little joys in life.

I love my job.

Girls Night(s)

This past weekend was a time of celebrating friendship.  I spent two evenings with two different Amanda's in two different states.  Julia (the cat I was suppose to be loving on at home) was very lonely while I was away visiting. It was a wonderful weekend, and by the end I was tired but filled to the brim.

 Please note the royal theme of the movies, I feel more educated about the royal family tree.  Maybe it is foreshadowing my future in the family...sorry Kate!

Amanda #1 Highlights
Setting:  House full of fun single ladies in the suburbs of Chicago.

Watching this movie at 10am in our pajamas with coffee dutifully smuggled in to the theater.

Picking up Thai food on the way home.

Playing this game with the Blokus Blokheads (Amanda and roommates)...and I won.  :)

Amanda #2

Setting:  The beautiful landscape of Wisconsin relaxing in a house full of family.  

Watching this movie accompanied with popcorn and chocolate.

Playing and snuggling with this baby face!

Sitting in the hot tub talking about life and looking at the stars...it was crazy.  My hair was frozen.  :)

love. love. love.

Ok - so, I realize the blogs have been deeper stuff as of late (aside from the Burrito Fairytale), but it's the deep stuff that is brimming out of my heart right now.  Like for instance, love.  I've been reading John Piper's Desiring God (no, I'm still not done...it's a thick one!).  He warns against legalistic love.  The kind of love that you do what you know you ought in actions but the heart is distant.  Legalistic love is so much easier than authentic love!  To follow the rules and never engage the heart, stay protected...it's safe and easy.  It's when I am called to put down my guard allow someone (or God) to love me - this is when love becomes riskier...and more rewarding.  This is when love becomes a process of refinement and joy, and not just a stagnate state.  Love is a gift, a gift of God...and when we seek to find our joy in God then our love for others pours out in response.  

And that, is my ever-growing thoughts on love.

For today.    

Sigh...

Over the past couple months I feel as if my heart has been through a bit of a roller coaster.  Questions about the future, the present, etc. have kept me moving through moments of faith, doubt, and joy.  Today as I was resting in God's Word, God brought to light the verse in 1 John that says

 "For God is greater than our hearts, he knows everything" (v. 20).  

Even typing the verse I can feel my body relax and sigh...a big sigh of relief.  I don't have to know everything.  As one who often likes to know everything, I don't.  Sigh...God  knows what's going on in my heart, and that truth allows me to rest.  Sigh...