Peanut Butter Cookies

Last night I made a batch of cookies for Dad (He LOVES homemade cookies!) and this recipe turned out to be a winner!

*1 cup white sugar

*1/2 cup brown sugar

*1 cup butter flavored Crisco

*1 cup peanut butter (we like crunchy!)

*2 large eggs

*1 Tbsp vanilla (This is the secret ingredient!!)

*2 cups flour

*2 tsp baking soda

*1/2 tsp salt

*OPTIONAL* 1/2 cup Chocolate Chips (add them to half the batch--that's what I did!)

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*Preheat oven to 350 degrees!

*Cream together the sugars, Crisco, and peanut butter.

*Add the eggs and vanilla

*In a seperate bowl, mix the dry ingredients together and gradually sift into the wet ingredients

until blended well (Make sure you don't over-mix! You don't want a tough cookie!)

*Roll into tablespoon sized balls and gently flatten with your hands

*Place on greased cookie sheet(s) with atleast 1.5" between each cookie

*Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned on the edges

**Here's a TIP! If the cookies are still a little soft after taking them out of the oven, its ok. They

still cool into delicious mouth-watering cookies!

They were in charge of the bread set out on the table, the flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened wafers, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size.

1 Chronicles 23:29

My first skirt (Jane Austen style)

It took me a while--but I finally made my first skirt! At first I was going to go by a pattern, but decided to experiment and make it an A line style. Anyway, it fits very comfortably and I really like the length!

Second-hand Treasure: Tea Set collection

Today I stayed at home (sick with a cold!) while my Mom and sister went shopping. When they came back home, Mom was carrying a large box into the house. Imagine my delight when she said she just HAD to pick up this complete 24 piece set that is 'my style'. I'm so excited...I have now obtained another treasure to add to my hope chest!

A lovely thought...

I was reading the book "Frugal Luxuries" this morning, and it had a such a wonderful quote:

"There is one very excellent, necessary accomplishment that no [one] should be without, for it is a help to rich and poor, and the comfort of families depends upon it. This fine talent [home keeping] is neglected nowadays and considered old fashioned, which is a sad mistake...It is the most beautiful as well as useful of all arts...Not so romantic, perhaps, as singing, writing, or teaching, but one that makes many people happy and comfortable, and home the sweetest place in the world." --Louisa May Alcott

Herb of the Month: Stevia

Last month I purchased Stevia & have it planted with my other herbs! I can't wait to harvest it this fall! Here is a little info about the herb:

Stevia is a small perennial shrub that belongs to the Chrysanthemum family of plants and is native to Paraguay.
Stevia has a inordinate ability to sweeten. Stevia in it's natural herb form is approximately 10 to 15 times sweeter than common table sugar. Its common form a white powder extracted from the leaves of the plant is rated at 70 to 400 times sweeter than sugar.Stevia may well be the most remarkable sweetener in the world. The following are some of the characteristics of Stevia:

*It is diabetic safe
*calorie free
*does not adversely affect blood sugar
*is non toxic
*inhibits the formation of cavities and plaque
*contains no artificial ingredients
*can be used for cooking
Stevia has also been known to posses some medicinal properties and was used by Indians for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years.

Stevia makes up around 40% of Japans sweetener market and consumption. It is also used in many other parts of the world.

My Healthy version of Italian Pasta!

After working in the garden for a few hours, I came inside and made lunch. I thought it would be fun to document step-by-step what I added to my pasta dish as I went along. Hope you enjoy it!

Proverbs 31:15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.

In the Garden this morning....

This morning while I was watering the garden, Mom snapped a few photo's! Dad usually does the work in the garden every year, but this year I volunteered to help everyday! (Somewhat a mixed blessing), I forgot how much work it requires, and how hard the sun beats down! But all the talk is true, you really feel a sense of accomplishment and pride when you work with your hands!

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you," 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Book Review: I Kissed Dating Goodbye

I Kissed Dating Goodbye
by: Joshua Harris

Summary:

"Tired of the game? Kiss dating goodbye. Dating. Isn't there a better way? I kissed dating goodbye suggests there is. Reorder your romantic life in the light of God's Word and find more fulfillment than a date could ever give--a life of sincere love, true purity, and purposeful singleness."

My Review:

Joshua Harris really did such a great job on this book--I've read it about 3-4 times, and everytime I do, I'm convicted all over again! When my parents inroduced to me the subject of courship instead of dating, I was lost..I'd never considered any other way! A few months later, I came across this book, and couldn't put it down! He's dated before, and knows what it's like to be hurt or unintentionally hurt someone else. An amazing fact was that he wasn't raised with the concept of Courtship, so if it's a completely new way of thinking for the reader, he goes through matter-of-fact/ question & anwer type of situations that speak clearly. Scripture is used profusely throughout the book, which was extremely useful! Joshua also told experiences and stories of friends or family members who regretted ever being in dating relationships--And in contrast, success stories of close friends who guarded their hearts and got to know one another God's Way, with the intent of marriage! One of the key points Joshua made in his book was "The seven habits of highly defective dating".

1. Dating leads to intamacy but not neccesarily to commitment

2. Dating tends to skip the 'friendship' stage of a relationship

3. Dating often mistakes a physical relationship for love

4. Dating often isolates a couple from other vital relationships

5. Dating, in many cases, distracts young adults from their primary responsibility for preparing for the future!

6. Dating can cause discontentment with God's gift of singleness

7. Dating creates an artificial environment for evaluationg another persons character

Doesn't that just EXPOSE the sugar coated way most people think regarding casual dating?!

In conclusion, I'll quote one of my favorite lines in the book:

"Set your standards too high. You will never regret purity."

Yay! I'm a Seamstress!!!

haha! not really--Today I started my VERY FIRST sewing project!

I took an old skirt (I should've taken a "before" picture) and cut it apart, and after being introduced to Mom's sewing machine, endeavored to create a messenger bag!

What's funny is that I was just on Ebay last week contemplating whether to purchase one, and I didn't even find one that I halfway liked under $30! So with a knee length khaki skirt (from a second-hand store for $2) , I created a medium-large Khaki messenger bag--complete with a strap made from the waistband! It took 6 hours (10am-4 pm) and alot of thinking (hehe!) but I'm so proud of it!!

Proverbs 31:13

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

First Blooms of Spring!

When we came back from our family camping trip, we were delighted to find that my sister's rose bush had started to bloom! I'm hoping to use the petals for rosewater, lotions, and rose petal jam!

~Welcome Spring!~

"Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." Song of Solomon 2:12