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Thursday, September 13, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Urgent Prayer Request
Urgent Prayer Request right now for baby Holden Thompson. He is presently in the ICU. Please send prayers and spread the word ladies.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Apple Pie Bars
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Yield: 11X7 baking pan
Source on the above pic.
Ingredients
- 1 1 /4 cup (150 grams) all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 7 tbsp. (70 grams) butter very very soft(almost melted but still in solid form)
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tbsp. water
- 3-4 big apples (preferably Granny Smith)
- 2 tbsp. butter
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 2 tbsp. water
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp. sugar
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 2 tbsp. brown sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 4 tbsp. cold diced butter
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Crust
Filling
Custard
Topping
Instructions
- Line a 11X7 pan with parchment paper (I prefer the pan lining paper from Reynolds), leaving some paper hanging over the longer sides.
- In the food processor bowl add the flour, sugar, butter, egg yolk, water. Pulse a couple of times until it forms a ball. if it’s too dry add few more drops of water.
- With floured hands roll the the into the bottom of the prepared pan, with just 1/2 inch on the sides. Cover with plastic foil and chill for 20-30 minutes.
- Meanwhile make the topping followed by the filling and heat the oven to 375F.
- When the crust is chilled cover it with parchment paper, fill it with dry beans/uncooked dry rice/baking beads and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove the paper and the beans, reduce the oven temperature to 350F and bake for 5 more minutes.
- Cool completely.
- In the food processor bowl (since it’s already dirty from the crust) add all the ingredients and pulse until it comes together. It’s gonna be a very soft dough.
- Place it on a plastic foil, cover with another foil and shape into a 1 inch thick log. Place it in the freezer until ready to use.
- Core and slice the apples. Optional you can peel them. I didn't.
- Put them in a sauce pan, along with the sugar, water and cinnamon. Cover and cook over low heat for about 13 minutes or until the slices soften.
- Remove the lid and cook a little more until the liquid evaporates. I didn’t stir at all the apple slices and the bottom ones got a little caramel on them. It was amazing!
- Cool completely.
- When the crust and the filling are cooled, spread the apple slices on top of the crust.
- In a small bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar, and heavy cream. Pour over the apple slices.
- Put the pie in the heated oven (350F) and bake for 25 minutes or until the custard is set.
- Take it out of the oven (without turning off the oven) and grate the topping. I found it’s easier to grate the topping in the food processor so the heat for the hands don’t soften the dough.
- Bake for further 15 minutes.
- Cool completely before slicing.
To make the crust
To make the topping
To make the apple filling
To make the custard
Fall is Here
"Whimsical Fall Display in Gatlinburg, Tenn." Source @ ramblingsssg.blogspot.com
"Whimsical Fall Display Jubilee in Gatlinburg, Tenn." Source @ ramblingsssg.blogspot.com
Made in Clay Celebration From Pam Asher
Do you make anything? Homemade crafts, quilts, home canned items, candies, cakes, etc. Clay County Fiscal Court Tourism is hosting a 2 day event (Oct. 12 - 13) at the Clay County Community Center for Clay County residents to sell items that they make. We have so many gifted craftsman and artists out there and we want our people to have a chance to sell their products. The costs for a spot are: $20 if you provide your own table, $25 if we provide the table, and $35 if you have a table inside the building. For more information contact me or Earl Owens. Again, this is for the people of Clay County to be in the spotlight!!!! Come and join us!
We are quite excited! There are so many peopole that are so gifted! I hope people really come out to support this event. Early Christmas shopping for unique and special gifts!!!!! We are planning for this to be an annual event!!!!!!
We are quite excited! There are so many peopole that are so gifted! I hope people really come out to support this event. Early Christmas shopping for unique and special gifts!!!!! We are planning for this to be an annual event!!!!!!
Friday, September 7, 2012
God Is Bigger Than You Think
Humans are weaker than we think.
If we’re truly honest with ourselves, we humans are weak and frail. Admittedly, humans have done great things. From great engineering achievements, to astonishing scientific discoveries, to the composition of musical and artistic masteries, mankind has done things worthy of some admiration. At the same time, each of these “great things” are simply the product of created humans working under the existing laws, with the materials, and by means of a mind created by God. These human achievements are but a pale reflection of the incredible glory and infinite majesty of God.
God is bigger than we think.
It’s often a big view of self that gets in the way of a big view of God. When we think of ourselves as great, powerful, wise and sufficient we view God as not-so-great, not-so-powerful, not-so-wise, and not-so-sufficient. Our pride shrinks God to a mere genie or wizard who is not all that great, but can lend some magic to help us along the way. Such a view of God is offensive to who he really is.
Just take a look back through biblical history. When people failed to have a lofty view of God, God would show them just how great he was.
- Abraham. God gave Abraham a promise that seemed both too good and to big to be true. Abraham was having trouble believing it. He took things into his own hands. God took Abraham outside one night and told him to look up into the sky, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Have you ever been outside on a clear night, miles away from any cities or lights? That night, Abraham was. This view of the heavens was enough to jar his mind into the realization that God is big. God is capable. And the inestimable number of those stars would rival the eventual and inestimable number of his descendants. “I am the Lord,” God told Abraham that night, and he showed Abraham that he was indeed bigger than Abraham thought…much bigger.
- Moses. Israel was at a critical juncture in their history. So critical, in fact, that God was prepared to annihilate every one of them. Already God had given them miraculous deliverence, miraculous food, miraculous water, miraculous military victories, and miraculous preservation of life. Moses needed some encouragement: “Please show me your glory,” he asked God. God responded in a soul-shaking display of glory. God’s glorious display was so potentially destructive to human presence that God had to hide Moses in a rocky shelter and cover Moses with his hand while it all happened. And then, God could only reveal his back. God had to explain to Moses, “man shall not see me and live.” Simply being around God’s glory meant that Moses’ face would shine, literally shine with light, for the rest of his life. Moses actually had to cover his face just to be around people. God was far bigger and greater than Moses ever imagined.
- Elijah. Elijah was prone to discouragement. He had a tough job. He might have even thought he had a pointless job — talking about God to a group of people and a cantankerous king that wanted nothing to do with God. It didn’t help that Elijah was on the king’s most wanted list for several years in a row. Meanwhile, famine was crushing the entire land, leaving people more desperate than usual. This is when The Contest took place. Elijah challenged King Ahab and the prophets of the false god, Baal, to a contest — a God contest. Everyone in the nation was invited. The point was to determine which God was more powerful — Baal or Yahweh. To say that Yahweh was more powerful would be to understate the event entirely. God not only won the competition, but he also caused the entire nation of Israel to see a fireworks display that they would never forget, to fall on their faces in humiliated reverence, and to send the false prophets of Baal packing. God was bigger — far bigger — than Elijah, the nation of Israel, ornery Ahab, or the prophets of Baal ever thought.
God is Bigger than…
In a world far removed from starry desert visions, wilderness wanderings, and God contests, it’s easy to lose our vision of a big God. After all, life is tough. We face discouragement. We face incredible disappointment. We face tragedy. We see a world rocked by disease, war, famine and human suffering. We wonder. We question. We doubt.
God doesn’t judge us for our confusion and questions, “for he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). But at the same time, God wants us to have that glorious view of himself.
- God is bigger than your problems. Yes, your problems are big. They are severe. They are not to be minimized or scoffed away. But God is bigger. Far bigger. He is so big that his ruling throne can’t even fit on the earth; it is “established in the heavens” (Psalm 103:19). His reign will have no end. He is eternally compassionate, loving, and just. Take the collective size of your entire life problems, place them beside God, and see how they compare in size. They don’t. God is infinitely bigger.
- God is bigger than your sin and failure. Your sin is serious, of course. It is serious enough to warrant punishment. But God took care of that punishment and sin through Jesus Christ. God, in his infinite holiness, is bigger than sin. God in his majestic perfection, is greater than failure. God, in his inestimable power, is bigger than death. Place your personal shortcomings and weaknesses beside God, and they disappear in his grandeur.
Look to Jesus
The biggest vision of God is seen in Jesus Christ. One day, two thousand years ago. God revealed himself in an epic revelation of grace and love. He sent Jesus his Son to earth. Jesus lived a life of perfection, and he revealed in the clearest way the character of God, because he was himself God. Jesus gave his life willingly for us. He rose again. And by his death and resurrection, we can be made new.
Take your problems, failures, discouragements, and shortcomings to God. Set them down for a moment while you gaze at God’s immense and infinite character.
We may live in a small world. But we have a big God. As we see him for who he truly is, we are changed by the sight. God is bigger than you think.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Caramel Apple Cake=Yummy
Makes one 8-inch cake
-------------------------------
For The Applesauce
Recipe from The Great Cake Company
3 Fuji apples, peeled, cored and quartered
3 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored and quartered
1/4 Boiled Apple cider
3/4 cups apple juice
2 tablespoons of brandy
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons honey (I like clover honey)
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Method
In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients, and stir to combine. Cover the saucepan, and cook over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until apples are soft. Allow to cool, then mash with a fork or potato masher to your desired consistency. Chill sauce to room temperature before adding to cake batter (see recipe below).
-------------------------------For The Apple Cake
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
4 cups homemade applesauce (see recipe above) or store-bought unsweetened applesauce
Method
Preheat the oven to 325-degrees. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper, and butter the parchment. Dust the parchment with flour and knock out the excess flour.
Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves together into a large bowl. Set aside.
In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until creamy, about 4 minutes. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and beat until combined.
Add the flour mixture to the mixer bowl in three parts, alternating with the applesauce, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Scrape down the bowl, then mix on low speed for a few more seconds.
Divide the batter among the prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through the baking time, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Transfer the pans to a wire rack and cool for 20 minutes. Turn the cakes out onto the rack, remove the parchment, and let cool completely. Preheat the oven to 325-degrees. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper, and butter the parchment. Dust the parchment with flour and knock out the excess flour.
Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves together into a large bowl. Set aside.
In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until creamy, about 4 minutes. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and beat until combined.
Add the flour mixture to the mixer bowl in three parts, alternating with the applesauce, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Scrape down the bowl, then mix on low speed for a few more seconds.
-------------------------------
For The Caramel Sauce
Yield: about 2 cups
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter, softened, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 ½ cups heavy cream
Method
In a medium saucepan with high sides, combine the sugar and corn syrup with 1/2 cup water. Stir the mixture gently so you don’t slosh any of it up the sides of the pan. Turn the heat to medium-high and continue stirring until the sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high, stop stirring, and allow the mixture to boil. Once it begins to turn a rich caramel color (if you don’t want to eyeball it, take the caramel to 300 degrees F on a candy thermometer), remove it from the heat, add the butter and cream, and stir until combined.
You can save the caramel sauce, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Let it come to room temperature before using it on cakes, ice creams, or quick breads.
If you want a warm topping, heat the caramel sauce in short bursts in the microwave or in the top of a double boiler.
-------------------------------
For The Caramel Buttercream
1½ cups sugar
1⁄3 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1⁄3 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, soft but cool, cut into small pieces
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1⁄3 cup plus 2 tablespoons Classic Caramel Sauce (see recipe above), at room temperature
Method
In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, whisk the sugar and flour together. Add the milk and cream and cook over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until the mixture comes to a boil and has thickened, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on high speed until cool. Reduce the speed to low and add the butter and vanilla; mix until thoroughly incorporated. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Add 1⁄3 cup of the caramel and continue mixing until combined. If the frosting is too soft, put the bowl in the refrigerator to chill slightly, then beat again until it is the proper consistency. If the frosting is too firm, set the bowl over a pot of simmering water and beat with a wooden spoon until it is the proper consistency.
-------------------------------Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on high speed until cool. Reduce the speed to low and add the butter and vanilla; mix until thoroughly incorporated. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Add 1⁄3 cup of the caramel and continue mixing until combined. If the frosting is too soft, put the bowl in the refrigerator to chill slightly, then beat again until it is the proper consistency. If the frosting is too firm, set the bowl over a pot of simmering water and beat with a wooden spoon until it is the proper consistency.
Assembly
Place one of the cake layers on the cake base and level off the top. Put a thin layer of caramel sauce on the layers and then spread caramel buttercream on top. Next, add another layer of cake and level and frost as you did with the first layer. Trim the top of the last layer and then place it on top of the cake bottom side up. Spread a very thin layer of frosting over the entire cake (crumb coat) and place the cake on the fridge for 30 minutes. Remove the cake fro the fridge and use the remaining frosting to ice the top and sides. Use the remaining caramel to drizzle over the top. Add chopped peanuts, if desired.
From Jamie at the Great Cake Company Blog
Decorating for Fall
Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year and I just can't wait every year until it's time to decorate. If any of you ladies would like to share some of your fall decor here just let me know. Thanks, Tes
Proverbs 31:30
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
Guess Who!!!
I went to the parade the other evening to watch my nieces who were on the Girl Scout float and saw a couple of other familiar faces as well.
Nicole Gray
Nicole Gray
Kylie, Tiffany and Danielle
Kylie, Tiffany and Danielle
Annabelle Burns
Annabelle Burns
Randy Craft
Saturday, September 1, 2012
The Project Has Begun...
I just want to thank God for such a beautiful day that He gave us this first day of September. I was able to start my project and actually made it to seventeen Churches. I ask that you all please pray for God's leading in this. I feel as if I've started a little journey of sorts to find the fingerprints of God. -Tes
This is a sermon from one of Randy's friends in Colorado. Enjoy!
The Worship Service: Perhaps we worship our worship services, which is a sneaky way to worship ourselves. So ask yourself, "Did I serve the Lord my worship?" If the answer is "no," don't just try harder. confess that you didn't and look to the Lord and then, you'll be worshiping.
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