Sweet Victory

Remember the fun day (chocolate included, of course) I hoped to have in T-town this week with my daughters? Well…mission partly accomplished. Since we had to change our original date, Kelli couldn’t join us, but Kristin and I did our best to carry on without her. (Even though you can’t tell it from this picture, Kelli, we really did miss you!)

As usual, we had too much we were trying to accomplish in one day, but we planned The Cheesecake Factory as our last stop. That’s goal enough to keep anyone going. As long as we knew we were getting dessert at the end of the day, we really didn’t care what we ate for lunch, as was evidenced by a quick stop at Arby’s a little after 2 o’clock.

And why such a late lunch? Well, if a girl’s shopping for shorts, she can’t try those on after she eats, can she? Kristin wanted to make it to Old Navy before lunch, and we couldn’t help it that DSW happened to be right on the way :) By the time we reached those places, though, we had already stopped at Kohl’s, Michael’s, Shoe Carnival, and Bridal Palace (talk about deja vu! And no, Kelli’s not getting married, but Kristin is a bridesmaid later this summer. Yea, Emily!!)

Also of note, I found out I still manage to embarrass Kristin without even trying. When a lady at Shoe Carnival announced over the loudspeaker a special sale going on in one corner of the store, I guess I asked too loudly, “Where did they say those sale shoes are?” I’m sorry, but I didn’t realize I was supposed to whisper things like that so as not to draw any attention to my daughter :) She was plenty happy to have me speak up later in the day, though, when one of her purchases rang up on the register for more than the advertised sale price. Good ole’ Mom came through again, huh, Kristin? :)

I realize I’m rambling a bit with this post, but that’s what we did that day — lots of rambling, from one thing to another to another. All of it very carefully balanced, however, around our end goal of chocolate dessert! Ah, sweet victory :) The picture above says it all.

Let me offer something of substance, though, to balance out my sweet and silly chocolate talk. Remember Paul’s words in the third chapter of Philippians — the ones about pressing on? He said, “…Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal…” It seems like I heed his advice pretty well where chocolate is concerned, don’t I? What about more serious goals, though — for both me and you? Is our desire for them strong? Are we pressing on, even straining, to reach them? Let’s get back on track if we need to. Let’s press on. Sweet victory surely awaits us if we don’t give up.

**p.s. For you chocolate lovers out there, the dessert was the Chocolate Tower Truffle Cake :) Very yummy, but, Teri, I think I liked their Black-out Cake we had in December even more :)

Sweet Surprise

My good friend Teri (and partner in chocolate crime!) surprised me yesterday with a gift she found for me while on a spring break trip with her family. Remember the Harry & David truffles I raved about a few months ago? (Jan. 6 post) Believe it or not, Teri actually came across a Harry & David store in the Seattle area! The result? I’m in chocolate heaven :)

Not only did she get me some of the dark chocolate truffles that I hunted down after Christmas, she also brought me an extra dark chocolate bar — you know, the 75% cocoa kind that’s good for your health! Don’t you just love it when your friends are concerned with your health and get you chocolate? :)

You know what I love almost more (almost!) than getting this unexpected haul of dark chocolate extravagance? The fact that Teri thought of me while she was on her trip and cared enough to cart chocolate back half-way across the country just for me. (By the way, she also brought me a cool moleskine journal from Canada!)

The only thing sweeter than the chocolate surprise is the friendship. Yes, Teri and I share fun things like chocolate and shopping trips to T-town, but we also share our joys and our sorrows — and have for 25 years now. Talk about a gift.

Has someone given you the gift of friendship like Teri has done for me? I hope so. Go ahead and brag on him or her with a comment. Tell me about something special your friend has done for you. Celebrate friendship with me!

“…there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24b

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy Valentine’s Day to all — but especially to our Sweet Giveaway winner! The winner of the Godiva gift card is… Kelli!! Congratulations, Kelli! Can’t beat winning some chocolate for Valentine’s Day, huh? :) As for the rest of us, let’s keep our fingers crossed, and maybe we’ll get to enjoy a sweet chocolate surprise sometime over the next few days, too. (It doesn’t hurt to dream, does it?!)

I hope Valentine’s Day holds something special for each and every one of you. Maybe something memorable, something unexpected. Maybe a card, a gift, or even some treasured words of love. And whatever comes your way this Valentine’s Day, may you be not only a recipient but a giver as well.

As you think about love in the next day or two, consider these familiar words from a chapter in the Bible known as the love chapter. Try not to read over them too quickly. Instead, consider them with fresh eyes:

“If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal…if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing…Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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…” 1 Corinthians 13:1-2; 4-8a

May you love and be loved this Valentine’s Day!

*Flickr photo by Muffet

As Requested…

A few of you requested recipes for a couple of the yummy chocolate treats that rated as favorites when everyone entered the Valentine’s Giveaway last week. This is a bit of a departure from what I might normally post, but far be it from me to deprive you of the roadmap to some sweet chocolate destinations :) I will include a couple of our family favorites as well.

As you prepare to feed your chocolate sweet tooth, let me encourage you to nourish your soul with something equally as satisfying — God’s Word. “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight…” Jeremiah 15:16a

Oreo Truffles (from Heather)

1 package of Oreo cookies
1 8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened
1 package of almond bark-chocolate

Crush the cookies in the food processor until a fine powder. Then mix the cream cheese and cookie powder together. Roll mixture into balls. Place on wax paper and chill for about an hour. Then melt the almond bark and dip the balls into the chocolate. Then place on wax paper and chill until ready to serve. I like to drizzle white chocolate over the truffles. You can also dip them in white chocolate and drizzle with regular chocolate.

Lose Weight Chocolate Cake (from Norma)

3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. boiling water
1 pkg. (16 oz) angel food cake mix
1 1/4 c. water
1 T. instant coffee powder
1 1/2 c. skim milk (or 1%)
1 pkg. Dream Whip whipped topping mix (can use Cool Whip)
1 pkg (1.4 oz) sugar free instant chocolate pudding mix

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line 10×15 in. jelly roll pan (or 10×13) with waxed paper. Whisk together cocoa, sugar, and boiling water. Cool to lukewarm.
2. Prepare cake mix per pkg. directions, using 1 1/4 c. water and adding cocoa mixture. Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake 20 minutes or until top looks dry. Invert onto wire rack. Remove pan and paper. Cool.
3. In medium bowl, dissolve coffee in milk. Add topping and pudding mixes. Beat on low until moistened. Then beat on high until soft peaks form. Chill 5 minutes.
4. Cut cake crosswise into thirds (2 layers is fine – can be hard to do 3 layers. Norma used flat-edged cookie sheet as a large spatula to help separate the layers without tearing them to pieces). Cover each layer with topping. Stack. Chill for 2 hours. Serves 10. Per slice – 261 calories, 1.5 g. fat, 427 mg sodium

**Norma plans to try it in 2-3 round cake pans without splitting into layers.

Chocolate Sheet Cake (we love this with homemade ice cream!)

Mix in large bowl:
2 c. sugar
2 c. flour
1/4 t. salt

In a sauce pan, put 2 sticks of margarine, 4 T. cocoa, and 1 c. water. Bring to a quick boil and pour over the above mixture. Stir. Then add:

2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. buttermilk (1/2 T. vinegar to 1/2 c. milk)
1 t. soda
1 t. baking powder
1 t. vanilla

Beat. Bake in a greased and floured jelly roll pan at 400 for 20 min. or until done. About 10 min. after putting cake in the oven, make the icing. Spread over cake a few minutes after taking it out of the oven.

Icing:

1 stick of margarine
4 T. cocoa
6 T. milk

Bring to a boil and add 3 3/4 c. powdered sugar, 1 t. vanilla, and 1/2 – 1 c. chopped nuts.

Magic Cookie Bars

1 stick margarine, melted
1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 c. chopped nuts
1 c. chocolate chips
1 1/3 c. flaked coconut
1 1/3 c. (15 oz can) Borden’s Eagle Brand

Melt margarine in bottom of 9×13 pan. Add rest of ingredients one by one on top of each other. Sprinkle crumbs evenly over melted margarine, chopped nuts carefully over crumbs. Then distribute chocolate chips over nuts, flaked coconut evenly over chocolate. Pour Eagle Brand over all. Bake in 350 oven for 25 minutes or until lightly browned on top. Allow to cool 15 minutes before cutting. Cut into small squares.

*Flickr photo by mescon

Sweet Giveaway

6428296851_a53a4c3385_zSince February is almost upon us, I thought I would kick off the Valentine’s season with an extra sweet giveaway. And no, I’m not just teasing you with a picture of Godiva chocolates — the giveaway is for a $10 Godiva gift card! It’s just enough to get you a few pieces of heavenly delight. If you get into the store and decide you need more, you’re on your own after the $10 limit :)

To be included in the drawing, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post by noon Feb. 13th and follow these guidelines: Be sure to include your name as well as an email address if I don’t know you personally. In your comment tell me your favorite chocolate treat or dessert. If chocolate is not your thing, you won’t be penalized :) Just go ahead and mention your favorite sweet indulgence. I think mine is our family’s chocolate sheet cake with homemade ice cream. I will announce the winner sometime between noon on the 13th and noon on Valentine’s Day. (I sure have fun with these giveaways — hope you do, too!)

I got to play a part in a different kind of “giveaway” on our mission trip to inner city Ft. Worth. Meals, clothing, and toiletries are given away regularly at Beautiful Feet, but our team always brings extra items to give away — full care packs, gloves, Bibles, etc. This year a group of ladies had made tote bags with shoulder straps, and I got to help hand those out between Sunday morning services. The bigger ones, more like duffel bags, proved to be quite a hit because they were large enough to hold a pillow, blanket, and a back pack — a very important feature to those who are homeless and have to carry everything they own.

Everyone showed great appreciation for these duffel bags, but one gentleman in particular touched me deeply with his reaction. After receiving his bag, he sat down and watched as we gave out the others. He had the biggest smile on his face and kept saying “What a blessing this is! What a blessing this is!”

I think this man’s biggest happiness came from seeing others receive their bags. What he didn’t realize is how much I felt humbled and blessed to be in his presence and the presence of so many other inner city folks who freely praised and worshiped God in spite of their impoverished situations. What a treasured experience to fellowship with this part of God’s family — my family — and to be a blessing to them.

Why not try a giveaway yourself during this month for love? Is there someone you could bless in a special way? Don’t forget — when you do this, you are also blessing God.

“God…will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10

*Flickr photo by Daniel Y. Go, Creative Commons License