DOUGHY GOODNESS

 Today I felt like making bread! I know its 90+ degrees out, but when you have a craving for homemade bread, nothing else will do but to crank up the oven and toss some flour in the air! (Or something like that!) I got the recipe for my bread out of a cookbook, you know one of those books with recipes in it! This recipe is not one I made up. The cookbook is called "The Good Housekeeping Cookbook."  It was a cookbook my mother received when she got married, meaning its well over 30 years old. I really like this book because it gives you basic recipes, you can make the recipes as stated or you can build off of them. They are great foundation recipes! For instance the bread recipe I used is a basic sweet dough, however, I left some flavors out, the bread taste amazing! (Don't let the cup of sugar in the recipe fool you, it is not really sweet). I have also made this recipe using whole wheat flour, and it is even better (in my opinion) than the white. Today I used white all purpose flour because it is what I had on hand. Nothing smells better in the house than bread baking, and it sure is a crowd pleaser at any meal! Enjoy!:)

BASIC SWEET DOUGH

7 to 8 cups all purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 packages active dry yeast

1 1/2 cups milk

1 cup butter or margarine

2 eggs

(The recipe in the book calls for 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom or 1 1/2 tablespoons grated lemon peel. I left these items out, because I can make the dough into rolls, or loaves to go with any meal.)

1. Preheat oven to 350.  In large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, sugar, salt, yeast (and cardamom if you are adding it). In medium saucepan over low heat, heat milk, 1/2 cup water and butter or margarine until very warm (120 to 130 degrees, butter or margarine does not need to melt). With mixer at low speed, gradually pour liquid into dry ingredients. Increase speed to medium; beat 2 minutes, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Beat in eggs and 1 1/2 cups flour; continue beating 2 minutes, occasionally scraping bowl. With spoon, stir in enough additional flour (about 3 1/2 cups) to make a soft dough.

2. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Shape dough into ball and place in greased large bowl, turning over so that top of dough is greased. Cover with towel; let rise in warm place ( 80-85 degrees), away from draft, until doubled, about 1 hour. (Dough is doubled when two fingers pressed lightly into dough leave a dent.)

3. Punch down dough. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; cut dough into thirds, or halves, or however you want; cover with towel for 15 minutes.  (When baking don't forget to grease your pans, or use parchment paper on cookie sheets!)

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes

EMERGENCY

    Towards the beginning of this year I started watching a show on t.v. called "Dooms Day Preppers." I totally enjoyed watching all the backwoods looney-bins talk about the end of the world, and how they were going to survive it! Before I knew it though, I was buying first aid supplies and stockpiling food! (Don't you judge me! Haha!) I tell you this, not because I think the end of the world is upon us, but because I believe it is practical to prepare ourselves for times of hardship. Having food storage, first aid knowledge, and an emergency plan in place is not unreasonable, but in fact a great idea!

   

    A while back on my facebook page I asked all 400+ of my closest friends (most of which live in Southern California) if they possessed an earthquake kit in their home. Out of all of my friends only 2 responded with a "yes". I felt both shocked and relieved; shocked because 2 is such a small number, and relieved because I wasn't the only one who didn't have a kit! As of late, the news has been plagued with fires in Colorado, Hurricanes in Florida, power outages in Virginia, and Tornadoes in numerous places. All these forces are things that we don't really have control over, and even the best prepared person might not come out unscathed when facing them, so how do we think an unprepared person would fair? In California we are faced with the possibility of an earthquake. Most locals will brush earthquakes off as no big deal, and consider them just a part of life here in So Cal, however, earthquakes are unpredictable and can cause huge amounts of damage in a matter of seconds. I think it would behoove us all to be prepared for one!
    Some steps to work through to prepare yourself:
      1. Be informed: know what kind of disasters can occur in your area, know what to do before, during and after one.
      2. Make a plan: construct an emergency plan for your family (do you stay put, or evacuate) Know how to execute this plan, practice it!
      3. Build a kit: The government recommends that each individual have a 3 day supply of food and water, and medical supplies.
    These are just some points to get you started towards protecting both you and your family in unexpected times. To explore these points further please visit: http://www.ready.gov/be-informed .
I have gone through these steps to prepare my family, and I hope that you will do the same! :)




*While I enjoy watching about dooms-dayers, I am not one! I believe the Lord will rapture the church before "the end of the world" happens! :) However, the Bible does state in Mark 5:8, " Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the the beginning of the birth pains." This is giving reference to signs of the end times. So family, be prepared so we can continue to be a light until He calls us home! :)

Living Proof

I recently finished school, and since graduation I have been looking for a "better" job. After months of applying at dozens of offices, law firms (my degree is in paralegal studies), and the food service industry (my current profession), I am still gainfully employed at the same place. It seems that the Lord has something else for me where I'm currently at, or at least that is how I am taking it, as no other doors have opened.

    During this process I have completed all sorts of applications, personality tests, math tests (AHHHH!), and so on and so forth! They really make you work just to apply for a job these days! The last job that I applied for was at my church. This was by far the most challenging job application I have ever completed. For the most part it didn't differ too much from other applications: job experience, educational background, references, etc. Attached to this rather standard job application though was a ministry questionnaire. Since this is a church they wanted to know that I knew what I believed on major Biblical topics such as: Salvation, baptism, the trinity, the rapture, and more. Though this took me some time to scripturally write all down, I am sure of what I believe on these topics. What made this so difficult was the last question on this Ministry Questionnaire, " Spiritual Commitment Statement: Please provide us with a brief description of your personal conversion and spiritual walk with the Lord at this present time." I had never sat down and written my testimony before, in fact I had never even spoken it to someone before. It took me several days to write down a few paragraphs, and it was extremely hard for me. I don't often talk about certain periods of my life because I am ashamed of them, let alone write them down for a stranger to read. After writing it though, I had the need to share it with my mother. While reading it to her I could barely pronounce the words through my tears, it was such a good feeling to let all the feelings out. That night while trying to fall asleep I was thinking about that moment and the word "Testimony". The dictionary would define it as "evidence in support of a fact or statement; proof, or open declaration or profession, as of faith.", and that is just what my testimony says about me, it is part of the evidence that God loves me and will fight for me, and never abandon me! So with that being said, I felt it only appropriate to share my Testimony with all of you in hopes that you too will see that God LOVES you just as much as he loves me!!

    I am blessed to have been born into a great christian home, with a family that is driven to serve the Lord. At the age of 10 I accepted Christ as my savior in a Sunday school class at Harvest Christian Fellowship. As I grew, my walk with the Lord did also. I became involved in several youth ministries in my teens, all the way up through my high school career. After high school, I joined the working class and met some non-christian friends. Their lifestyle was a bigger impression on me than my lifestyle was on them. I slowly began to fall away from God's plan for my life. I isolated myself from my concerned christian family and friends and lead a life full of selfishness and disregarded everyones pleas to turn back to the Lord. I remember feeling such bitterness and hate when people said they were praying for me. I thought my life was fine and felt insulted people thought otherwise. I was in denial about my backslidden state. When I was twenty-one I got pregnant from my boyfriend. Both my daughter and I were abandoned by her "father" shortly after her birth. As anyone with children knows, children change everything! I began to reevaluate my life and where it was headed, not for my sake, but for my daughter's. Through this tough time of feeling panic, and abandonment, and just so very lost; I came back to my first love, and recommitted my life to Christ.
    My daughter is now 10 years old and I am striving to raise her up to be a Godly woman with the help of her Heavenly Father, and my awesome family. My greatest mistake has turned out to be my greatest blessing!! The birth of my daughter woke me up from my denial, and she is my motivation never to go down that road again. Looking back I can clearly see God at work as he used my choices (both good and bad) to reconcile me back to him. It amazes me on a daily basis!
    At this current time I feel my walk with the Lord is stronger than ever. Though I still meet challenges everyday, I no longer deny them, but try to face them head on, seeking the Lord's will over my own. I don't always succeed, I'm not perfect, but I have a perfect God. I can see him at work in me and my daughter. Lately I have been learning patience in God's timing and that there is an opportunity for service in everything.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."~2 Corinthians 5:17-21

If you are willing to share, I would love to hear your testimony, and how the Lord has worked in your life! Please feel free to share in the comment section below or email us @ raspberrycordialmusings@gmail.com

Not Forgotten!

Hello Readers! Did you think you had been forgotten? Well, you haven't!

    I'll admit that when Raspberry Cordial was started, I thought it was going to be a walk in the park! I've always enjoyed writing and sharing it with people. Writing a blog was going to be easy, and something that contributed to my cool factor! (Ha!)  Well, blog writing is not for the faint of heart, and if it's a walk in the park; it's a barefoot in the snow, uphill walk. I often lack motivation  to write, and work on the blog. (This isn't because I don't love our blog and all of our awesome readers, because I do love the blog, and all of you!!) Why is writing on a consistent basis so hard for me?! Why do I feel so un-inspired for something that I love to do?! After pondering this for a few days, I've come to the conclusion that writing recreationally is, well, too relaxed! All my best work has been produced under the pressure of looming deadlines! So, there you have it folks, I am a lazy procrastinator motivated by fear. Now, that I have come face to face with this fact, I am working on changing this! I have worked out some goals for Raspberry Cordial, and even some deadlines for reaching those goals!

    That means there is some new things coming to Raspberry Cordial! There is already some new content in the works, and I hope that you check back frequently to see what is going on over here with us!:)

Hunting with a 5 year old boy...

My kids have piano lessons every other Monday.

A friend my husband plays music with lives about 10 doors down from their piano teacher.

We occasionally take walks while waiting for my son or daughter to finish their lesson. Today was a walk day.

First I walked around the block with my 9 year old daughter while carrying my 9 1/2 month old niece (who was adorable! kicking and laughing the whole time!) We walked around the block in 15 minutes then sat outside doing things to make the baby laugh until it was time to trade kids.

Then it was the boy's turn.

"I gotta find Brendan. I know he lives this way. I'm gonna find his house."

"Oh yeah? Do you know which house is his?"

"No."

"How are you going to know which one is his?"

"..."

"Maybe you could look for his car."

"Oh! Yes! Oh! Wait! I see it! There's his car! That has to be his house. Wow. They have nice trees."

We then walk up to this house with nice trees and my son rings the doorbell. As he's waiting for someone to answer the door, he writes the house number down in his handy dandy notebook with his handy dandy pencil. Well, Brendan didn't answer the door. His dad did. This caused some confusion for the boy.

"Tell him who you're here to see. " I said.

"I'm lookin' for Brendan."

Brendan's dad - awesome guy! - shows Zao inside and points him to Brendan. The conversation between Zao and Brendan went a little bit like this.

"Hi."

"Hey Zao. Whatcha doing?

"Just came to find you and say hi. Bye."

Zao then turned around and walked out of their house!!!

Oh, man! This kid is FUNNY!!! Before we continued our walk, though... he wrote down Brendan's license plate number in his handy dandy notebook with his handy dandy pencil... just to make sure he can find him again!!

So today, I went on a Brendan hunt and was thoroughly entertained by my 5 1/2 year old son!

~Alicia

TIS THE SEASON TO BE THANKFUL

 As we're moving into the Thanksgiving season it's great to really take a moment, or many moments, to sit back and reflect on all that you truly have to be thankful for! If you are a fellow facebooker you might have noticed the latest status craze that is going around! There are a couple different versions, 25 days of Thanksgiving, or 30 days of Thankfulness, all of which users post daily one thing on their status that they are thankful for. I absolutely love this! It is so refreshing to log in to facebook and read the wave of thankfulness! It is so much more encouraging to read about how happy you are that you have a job, than to read about how unhappy you are with your boss/coworkers! We truly are blessed in so many ways, and it's great that people are taking time to realize it!:)

  Raspberry Cordial would love to hear what you are thankful for!?!?! Please feel free to share with us, we're all kindred spirits here! :)

Check out our facebook page to see what we're thankful for each day! http://www.facebook.com/raspberrycordialmusings

Laura Ingall's Who?!?

 Greetings Raspberry Cordial buddies! Did everyone have a great Halloween? I know we sure did! We went to the Halloween party at my daughter's Tae Kwon Do school (we go every year) and it was a blast! One of the things they do at this party every year is dance! They do the Macarena and (my daughter's favorite) The Cha Cha slide! It's so cute to see all the kids hop three times, especially when they're all in costume! Another highlight of the annual Tae Kwon Do Halloween party is to see what costume Layla's coach, Erjan, is going to be wearing! He is a total crack up and is in character all night for whatever costume he is wearing! In the past he has been Avatar (the person one, not the scary looking blue things! ha ha!), a caveman, and a cheerleader. This year he was one of those street performers you see in Vegas or at Venus Beach! The kids loved it!

  This year Layla dressed up as Laura Ingalls Wilder (Last year for school we did the Prairie Primer which focuses on the Little House on the Prairie series! Our love for the Little House books has only been made stronger after last year's experience on the prairie! I highly recommend this curriculum to anyone!) Before the party all of her friends kept asking who she was going to dress up as, she would tell them, and they would just look at her with an unknowing blank stare, ha ha! When they saw her actual costume though, they finally understood!
 We also participated in the event that was put on at our church! They put on a show for the kids called "A Diary of a Shrimpy Kid", and there was also other activities. There was one of those gigantic blow up slides, and my daughter, nieces and nephew were so excited to go on it! No shoes allowed on it though, and my nieces and nephew were all up and on it before Layla could even get her "Little House boots" off her feet! She stated that next year she does not care what she dresses up as, she is going to wear flip flops!

Halloween is now over and it's time to start brainstorming next year's costume... and time to figure out how to get rid of the rest of this year's candy!?!!