Peace & Harmony

Try as we may, our own will power is sometime insufficient.

As long as we're on the same team "pulling together" our efforts are in harmony. But when wills clash....a struggle begins.

It starts out very young & innocently.  Notice in a young child when they begin to express their likes & dislikes. It is the parents who can supply them with everything they need, yet it is with them that the conflict begins. The child is unaware that their needs are provided by them through love for them. An unconditional love that is not earned. Their source is who they are at war with. A more knowledgable being than they, yet are to young to understand that this tender loving care is centered around them. 

They can reject what is good ...only because of not being able to understand yet. 

We to are like children when we begin our walk with the Lord. A lifelong process of learning to trust that the Lord is there for us providing what we need... that we are the apple of His eye.

"He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; He encircled him, He cared for him, He kept him as the apple of His eye." (Deuteronomy 32:10)

When struggling with our faith in God to provide for us, we need to remember His promise. He will never leave us or forsake us.

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

God only wants to give us what is good for us. He is our Maker & Creator so it's only natural that He knows our needs. It's when our will lines up with His will that our lives have purpose & meaning. A life filled with peace & harmony.

For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us. Ephesians 2: 14

I Stand At The Door (Rev.3:20)

Photo & Text Design by: Donna Kaminski

How many times have you heard a knock at the door & either felt curiosity, excitement or dread?

When the Lord knocks at the door of your heart.... do not fear. If you allow Him in, then you will find all that you have been waiting for.

Revelation 3:20

Easy Apple Cinnamon Tart Recipe

EASY APPLE CINNAMON TARTS

These are so quick & easy with a secret twist!

And here it is.........

LET'S GET STARTED!

Empty 1 small can of apple pie filling into a mixing bowl

Mash apples into small chunks

Stir in 1/2 cup of applesauce & set aside

Slice cinnamon rolls in 1/2,  leave one full roll for topping

                        Press dough section into flat circle about 4" round

  

                              Press dough into cupcake pan

         Countinue pressing dough sections into cupcake pan

Fill cups with apple filling mixture & add a dab of butter, than sprinkle with cinnamon

   Take the last cinnamon roll & flatten than slice into 24 strips

 

            Lay strips across filling & pinch ends to edges of shell

                           Bake at 400 for about 5-7 minutes

                               Enjoy them hot from the oven!

 Top with a bit of icecream & enjoy!

Your family & friends will wonder how you made them taste so good!

"Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket"

(Proverbs 25:11)

Love is....

Valentine's Day is tomorrow and I found myself reflecting on how commercialized "love" has become. 
From flowers to chocolate we are bombarded with "buy this for your Valentine".  A gift to show someone that you love & appreciate them is a wonderful idea, but don't fall into the trap that's it's NECESSARY to let someone know they're special?
It's the little things we do that say...I love you!

It is always from within the heart that we let another know how we feel.

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)

 Love is patient

 love is kind.

It does not envy,

it does not boast, it is not proud. 

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,

 it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

     Love never fails.

(ICorinthians 13: 4-8)

When I am Afraid

Photo & Text Design by: DONNA KAMINSKI

I took this photo last spring in my backyard & thought it was perfect for this Scripture.

Sometime when we receive bad new or are going through hard times, we often feel abandoned & alone to deal with whatever the problem might be.

Just know that God will never leave you or forsake you. Turn to Him when you feel afraid. He can comfort you.

(Photo may be used but not sold or transferred...please contact me for permission & give credit to: Donna Kaminski)

Valentines Peanut Butter Cookies with Chocolate Peanut Butter Heart Recipe

In the heart of it all....there's CHOCOLATE!

What could be sweeter than a batch of these delicious freshly baked peanut butter cookies with a chocolate peanut butter filled heart? 

Your sweet heart deserves them!

Peanut Butter Cookies with Chocolate Peanut Butter Heart Recipe

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
• approx. 24 chocolate peanut butter filled chocolate hearts (remove foil)

1. Mix ingredients down to the vanilla.  Add soda, salt, and flour. 
2. Drop teaspoon size cookie dough onto baking sheet.
3. Cook for 8-10 minutes at 350.
4. Remove cookies from oven and lightly press a chocolate peanut butter heart into center of each cookie.  Cool on baking sheet 2 minutes before placing on cooling rack. 

ENJOY!

Super Bowl Football Cupcake Recipe ...ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!!!

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!!!

Football cupcakes that is!

O.K. I have to admit... I'm not a real big fan of football.  I do however enjoy baking these football cupcakes. With all the excitement of the Superbowl game this Sunday, I just had to get in on the action. So I decide these would be the perfect contribution for the "BIG GAME".

I like to display them in a unique way, so I decided to use my retro record cupcake stand (available in my Etsy shop).   http://www.etsy.com/listing/92205827/retro-vintage-record-cupcake-stand-3

You can also add football cupcake wrappers to really make a statement, I found these free printables at Paisley Petal blog:
http://www.paisleypetalevents.com/2012/01/27/superbowl-party-ideas-free-printables/ootball-field-cupcake-wrappers/

So have fun, enjoy & lets celebrate the last football game of the year...YEAHHHH!!!!!

Chocolate Cupcake Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a muffin pan with paper or foil liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk; beat well. Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full.
3. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Frost with your favorite frosting when cool.
4. Draw football threads on with small tube of white frosting

                                             ~ . ~ . ~ . ~

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

¹To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 ²A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
 ³A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
 ⁴A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
 ⁵A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
 ⁶A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
 ⁷A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
 ⁸A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

So whatever "season" you may find yourself in, know that it has it's purpose.

 

Valentine's Day Cookie Recipe White Chocolate Cranberry Cheesecake Cookie Recipe

White Chocolate Cranberry Cheesecake Cookie Recipe

Perfect for Valentine's Day!

                                               Bake up a batch of these yummy delights!



Nothing says "I LOVE YOU" like fresh baked cookies. Wrap them up into little packages & give them to all your "SPECIAL" Valentines.

Make little hang tags & tie them up with pretty ribbon.

                                 Your family & friends will love these!

             These would be great for teachers, co-works or neighbors too!

or

Serve them up for a tea party with girlfriends!

White Chocolate Cranberry Cheese Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

‎2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
4 oz. creamcheese
2 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup finely chopped dried cranberries

COMBINE:  flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, creamcheese, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and cranberries. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.







How Did Groundhog's Day Get It's Start Anyway?

O.k so all of you in the south probably don't even bother with rather the groundhog see's his shadow or not, but for the rest of...it's a BIG deal!

We who have harsh winter seasons, hope for February 2 to be a cloudy day. here is how it all got started.

German tradition holds that if the sun comes out on Candlemas, the precursor to Groundhog Day, the hedgehog (or badger) will see its shadow and six more weeks of winter will follow. When German settlers came to Pennsylvania they continued this tradition, using groundhogs instead of hedgehogs to predict the weather.
The first official Groundhog Day w...as celebrated on February 2, 1886 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, with a proclamation in The Punxsutawney Spirit by the newspaper's editor, Clymer Freas: "Today is groundhog day and up to the time of going to press the beast has not seen its shadow." The legendary first Groundhog Day trip to Gobbler's Knob was made the following year by a group of spirited groundhog hunters who dubbed themselves "The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club." Clymer, a member of the club, used his editorial clout to proclaim that Phil, the Punxsutawney Groundhog, was the one and only official weather prognosticating groundhog.

Phil's fame began to spread and newspapers from around the world began to report his predictions. Growing legions of fans started making the trek to Punxsutawney every February 2, and with the release of the 1993 movie Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray, the crowds began to number in the tens of thousands. Phil's yearly Groundhog Day predictions are actually even entered into the Congressional Record!

Watercolor print is from MISHMISH MARKET on Etsy...please visit her shop for more great watercolor prints & illustrations.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/mishmishmarket?ref=seller_info

Chocolate Cupcake Recipe with Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting Valentines Day Cupcakes

For my Valentine (my hubby) I made these delisiously rich chocolate cupcakes topped with sweet red raspberry cream cheese frosting & decorated them with tiny white hearts & big chocolate heart. What says "I LOVE YOU" more than a special treat made just for him!

Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon vinegar

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together until moist and well blended.
2. Put in cupcake cups and bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees F. (till toothpick comes out clean)

Red Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (maybe more)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 T red raspberry seedless jam

In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla & jam then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar. Store in the refrigerator after use.