Best of 2009

Best of 2009

These posts will serve two purposes:

1.  Catch you up on the first 5 years of the blogs

2.  Since switching to a new one, we couldn’t merge of all them, so I thought I would go back and highlight. 

Basic Pizza Dough – because a girl has to have a favorite homemade pizza dough

Fellowship So Deep – thoughts on worship and life

Spinach Lasagna – I’ve been making this since my junior year of college, and I love it.

Oreo Truffles – a favorite of party-goers everywhere

Oatmeal Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins – “these are addicting” – Linda D.

Thai Lentil Soup – love.

Chocoholic Cookies – what’s not to love?

Elyse Fitzpatrick – one of my favorite authors

A post about a football hero – yes, Danny Wuerffel

Love my former boss and his message to men

Need this every day (along with grace)

Dorie Greenspan’s Double Decker Brownies – you must make!

Kate Perry – some thoughts

David Platt’s Secret Church – one of the times I got to attend.  Amazing.

Some thoughts from other fave author: Jerry Bridges

Some thoughts from the 2009 NEXT Conference in Baltimore

Psalm 103

O Thou in Whose Presence

Plantinga on Gluttony – a word we don’t like to hear much

Homemade Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins

Mexibean Bake – healthy and yummy and easy!

Blackberry Cornmeal Muffins – so good during the summer when these berries are peak!

Paul Tripp – one of my fave authors was at Sojourn in Louisville.

Corn Pudding – great side dish for some bbq

Old Doorknobs – Love.

Left and Right of Modesty/Femininity

Spinach Casserole – another easy healthy favorite

Toffee Snickerdoodles – a winner.

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies – after you try so many, you finally gotta just land on one

Fall Baked Oatmeal – warm for breakfast!

Fall granola – love homemade granola

Time Magazine on Teen Body Image

Black Pepper Buttermilk Biscuits – yum…eee…

Anadama Bread 

My Favorite Fall Salad – perfect for an elegant holiday meal or an after-work quick dinner

Baked Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

Creamy Toffee Dip – whatcha going to do with all those apples you have

Seaside Grilled Cheese Sandwich – my second favorite grilled cheese sandwich – EVER.

Vegan Banana Spice Pancakes – so good

Jillian Michael’s Wrap-Up after the 30-day shred

A great book by my boss: Steve Wright

One of my favorite parenting books: Instructing a Child’s Heart

Candy Cane Fudge – my favorite Christmas candy to make

2011 Projections (Goals, not Resolutions)

2011 Projections (Goals, not Resolutions)

However you feel about New Year’s Resolutions…we all have different ideas.  Some keep them, some utterly fail.  But, I have found that if I don’t have goal – life doesn’t seem to be lived intentionally.

So, these are my goals for 2011.  I think they are good, meaningful, and attainable.  I am also praying for some God-sized things this year.  What God-sized things are you praying for this year – things that when the world sees the answer: the only praise will go to God?

1.  40 Day Fast.  My friend, Lara, is doing a Daniel Fast.  I am not called to the same fast that she is, but I am supposed to change my life for the time of January 2 – for 40 days: here’s how:

* no syndicate television.  At least for 40 days.  This will not include football.  And to be honest, my Mom will record the shows I normally watch and I will watch them after 40 days, but how I can use this 40 day time period to focus on other things.  And I will be watching NFL during this time, because again, the NFL isn’t wrong and isn’t as consuming as hour long drama shows.

* no sweets at home

*only fruits and veggies when I eat at home (as means of getting clean foods into my system)

* up at 5am (this is fasting from sleep)

* computer off at 9pm (this is a fast too)

2.  Continue daily Bible reading (I haven’t decided what plan I will be using this year, but there are plenty to choose from)

3.  Blog strategically: 4 times a week at least (then special posts). 

4.  Read a book a week.

5.  Increase photog skills, ministry, and sell cards/stationary

6.  Finish my book.

7.  Lose more than I’ve gained in 2010

8.  Continue weekly Panera planning.

9.  3 races – all done in interval times (5k, 10m, half)

10.  Memorize Philippians

11.  Three yoga workouts a week: my body feels so much better whne I do this!)

Much & Link Love – Final 2010

Well, here we are, last week of 2010. How has your 2010 been? Everything you wanted it to be and more? Not quite what you expected? Heartache? Disappointment? Unexpected joys? Tears? Laughter? All of the above? 2010 was different for me, grand, but very tough in some areas. 2011…who knows what it will bring, but that’s for another post.

1. When will I ever stop trying to measure up to some people’s expectations of me?
2. I love seeing old, and dear, friends.
3. Hit the ground, running!
4. I love hearing people’s heartbeats for their city: like these people who love the Bull Street City.
5. Country music helps me make it through long drives on 95!
6. There are dear friends in my life, these are the friends that you don’t have to see every day or talk to every day, but your life would be no where near the same without them, they are ones you call out to if you need ANYTHING!!! Two such couples are Brad and Lindsay Weldy and Clarissa and Bob Bacon. Love them! God is so gracious to me.
7. The sunrise was beautiful this morning.
8. I had a white boxing day, though I had a 70 degree Florida Christmas. Thankful for the break.
9. This week: reading Radical and Death by Love.

1. Love Mark Hall and this song makes more sense now that I know it is a poem.
2. Most of you may not know who Danny Franks is, but you need to know him and his sense of humor.
3. I will need this every Thursday in 2011.
4. Do you never ask God for more patience? If you don’t, then you don’t need to read this. For the rest of us, check this out by Resurgence.
5. For all you crafty people out there, what to do with all those Christmas cards?

I hope everyone enjoyed a very Merry Christmas, the snow, the sun (depending on what part of the world you live in), and will have a very Happy New Year later this week. I know God is good to me (Psalm 84:11) and that is why I anticipate the new year!

much love – kd

Sara Foster's Jamaican Black Bean Soup

I love black beans. I love soup. I love all things Foster’s Market. So…this would be a perfect recipe, right. You are right – very yummy. The lime juice definitely makes this a winner for me. We served it today for lunch. My Dad makes great yellow rice and paired quite well with the soup. Not that it’s cold down here in Lakeland or anything, but soup is good anytime!

1 lb dry black beans (rinsed over night, drained)
1/4 cup evoo
1 red onion, diced
1 red pepper, seeded and diced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
4 ribs celery, chopped
2 jalapenos, seeded and diced
8 garlic cloves, chopped
1 granny smith apple, chopped
1 T basil, dried
8 cups red-sodium chicken broth
4 bay leaves,
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)
juice of 3 limes

Cook black beans for about 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, saute onion in the evoo for about 10 minutes. Then add the rest of the veggies for about 10 minutes. Then add the broth and seasonings.
Add to black beans and simmer about 75 minutes, or until done to your liking. Add juice and serve!
You can probably use canned beans and make this a lot quicker.

Enjoy!

Triple Layer Brownies

My Mom does make some great things when she follows recipes. She knows I am kidding when I say this, but she also knows its partly true…her lack of following directions when she bakes – kinda whatever she wants to put in there is what goes.
Well, let me tell you – these were in the fridge when I got home, and they were so good…so here is her recipe!

2 brownie mixes (1 supreme, 1 regular)
mix according to directions – so you’ll need eggs, oil, and water)
4 cups mini marshmallows
1 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 T butter
1 cup peanut butter, creamy
2 cups rice krispies.

Brownies mixes to package, spread in 10×15 pan (sprayed and foiled) and bake according to directions, or about 15 minutes at 350.
While hot, sprinkle marshmallows on top (1 whole bag). Return to over for 3 minutes.
Take a knife, dipped in water, and spread out the marshmallows. Let cool.
Mix the pb and chocolate chips and butter, over low heat, till melted. Stir. Take off heat and add in rice krispies.
Spread over brownies.
Chill, cut, and serve at room temp.

Enjoy!