Mini Molten Lava Cakes

Molten Lava Cakes (adapted from Paula Deen’s Home Cooking)

Ingredients:

• 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 stick) butter
• 8 oz (1 cup) chocolate chips (any type of chocolate chips will work but I recommend semi-sweet or a combination of bitter and semi-sweet)
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ (powdered) sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• OPTIONAL : 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur (Kahlua) OR 1 tsp. instant coffee powder

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray 6 -6 ounce custard (ramekin) cups or cupcake tin. In a medium microwavable bowl, melt chocolate chips and butter in the microwave for 60 seconds and then in 30 second increments until smooth (about 1.5-2 minutes total). Add flour and sugar to chocolate/butter sauce. Stir in the eggs and yolks until smooth. Add vanilla and coffee liqueur/instant coffee and mix everything until combined. Divide the batter evenly among the each cups. Place cups on top of a cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. The edges should be firm but the center will be runny. Run a knife around the edges to loosen and invert onto dessert plates or you can serve each molten lava cake still in the cup.

Notes

Some optional “finishing” ideas are: sprinkle powdered sugar on top, add a dollop of whipped cream of ice cream, add raspberries or strawberries, or any combination of the above. Enjoy!

I got this recipe from this website: http://savorysweetlife.com/2010/02/molten-lava-cakes-recipe/

My Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Agave Pumpkin Pie (Gluten Free and Sugar Free)

*4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
*1 can (15 oz) pure pumpkin
*1/4 tsp salt
*1 tsp cinnamon
*1/3 tsp ground ginger
*1/4 tsp cloves
*1/3 cup Agave Nectar (see pic) - Vons carries this in the baking aisle.
*2 eggs
*1 unbaked 9-inch gluten free crust from Sprouts (see pic) - $7.50 for 2 crusts.

Preheat oven to 425. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add pumpkin and spices. Continue beating until smooth. Add agave nectar and eggs, one at a time. Mix until fully incorporated. Pour filling into pie crust.

Bake 10 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 350 and bake an additional 40 minutes or until knife inserted into center comes out clean. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Serve with whipped cream.

Enjoy!!!

To Be Known

The kids are asleep, the house is quiet, I have candles lit and soft music playing, and I am taking time to think. A rarity these days. And I have had a revelation. I realize that the main desire of life is to be known. Think about it. It all starts back in high school (at least for me, since I was home-schooled up until then). We want to be cool. To be in the "in crowd". To be seated at lunch next to the cool kid. For the teacher to call on us and give not only the right answer, but an awesome answer. To be on the "cool" bus when going on your senior class trip. To be asked to prom by the hottest guy, who is wanted by all the girls. The whole point of all that foolishness is to be known ... recognized ... acknowledged ... noticed.

Then in college. It has to the "cool" college in the "cool" dorm, with the "cool" roommates and the "cool" boyfriend. Only for onlookers. Self-esteem. We want OTHERS to think we have it all together and that we're awesome and worth being around.

Then in the workplace. You want to have the "cool" boss. The "cool" coworkers. The "cool" job. It's all for your reputation ... your resume ... your future.

And then in marriage. God forbid you marry a dork. Someone your parents hate. Someone without a job. Someone who can't wear matching socks. It's all stereotype ... generation ... popularity ... status.

And then social networking. Now THAT'S a sore subject. It's "cool" to have 5000 friends on Facebook, to be tweeting, posting, updating, capturing, plus 1-ing, following. To be followed on Facebook or Twitter is like the best thing ever. To get a Google+ invite, is a dream come true. To be "liked" gives us warm fuzzy feelings inside. REALLY people? Is it all that important that we bear our innermost thoughts (or do we?) on these public sites, just to be noticed ... recognized ... understood ... ??? To tell the world every minute of our day, where we're at, and what we ate, and if we liked it or not, and sharing what our kids said after they took a dump on the floor ... is it really that fulfilling? Does it really matter?

Granted, I do that. I post my life. I am an open book. I LIVE for comments from people about my statuses and my pictures and my quotes and my blog posts. It's fun. Entertaining. Time Consuming. Addicting. And I'm okay with that. I have family overseas, I want them to be involved, to know exactly what my kids are doing, so they don't feel left out. I don't have time to pick up the phone anymore or meet friends for coffee on a regular basis, so the social networks fill that void.

But tonight, in the silence of my home, it dawned on me. Why do I do it? Why do I update the world everyday about my life? Do they REALLY know me? Do they care? How could I be spending better use of my time? Is it worth it? Were journals every really meant to be online?

And I realize, just like everyone else, I want to be known. I want to be cool. I want it to seem like I have it all together. And the truth is, I'm not, I don't, and I never will. I'm not cool. I don't have it all together. And I never will be truly known if my life is merely a status update.

And that brings me to my conclusion. First off, fear not ... I am not going to quit Facebook. I am not going to become a hermit. I couldn't do that to my "followers", lol. I believe that within balance, these things are good. Out of balance, not so good. Anyhow ... I am going to share with you who the real me is. If I really want to be known, I need to stop pretending and get real.

And since this posting is long enough, I will end this "revelation" blog post with that teaser, and start a new one about ME. And I hope that through this I may shed some light on reality, and start a trend of being real ... open ... honest ... And to remind people that there is a life outside of all the social networks. It may be harder to maintain, but so worth the effort.

And on that note, I will leave you with this quote, "To be known, is to be loved". Think about it. Agree or disagree? And why?

Stay tuned ...

The Cure

I've running an experiment on my kids. I know that may sound bad, but I'm with them all day, why not experiment on them? lol. For the best, of course. This summer I've relaxed a bit when it comes to sugar intake, morning cartoons, and TV dinners (against my better judgement). It's been a full summer with a lot of "circumstances" that took priority, and so I would just stick my kids in front of a movie and take care of my own business. And I would bribe them with candy just to take a nap each day. And that's just not my style. I don't do stuff like that. Well, I didn't, until recently. And my kids have turned into wild monkeys that whine all the time and if they don't get their way, throw a fit. So I am in search of a cure. Don't tell me to read the latest parenting book or pray about it, I've done all that. And I've learned a lot. But there's more to it. There needs to be action.

So this week, the kids are on a "break" as I'm calling it, from sugar and from television/movies. I want to see if there's a difference in them. What's interesting to me (it's only been 2 days since we started this), is that they haven't missed it yet, like I thought they would. Tristan asked once why we didn't have a picnic lunch on the living room floor (which means movie time), and Kira begged to watch Super Why while I cooked dinner, but I answered them plainly, and gave them options for a different activity and they were fine.

What's MOST interesting, is my involvement. When the television is off, I naturally am spending more time with them. Playing "hide-and-go-seek", coloring, reading books, reading more books, playing with dolls, trains, letting them "do" my hair, letting them help me clean and cook, etc...etc... For the first time in the 3 years of my daughter's life, I have found her occupying herself. If I'm busy cooking or Tristan is playing in the backyard, Kira will wander up to her room and play with her dollhouse and ponies for hours. I didn't even know she was capable of occupying herself!

So, the cure is on it's way. 2 days in, and I'm seeing success already. I hope it continues. But I am leaning towards the real cure, which I believe is TIME. The time I am spending with my kids now is quality. Simple. Fun. Priceless. I can't wait to see how closer we have become at the end of this week, and how happier and less whiny this household can be.

If you feel your kids are out of control and whining all the time, I suggest you try this. For a week. See what happens. You'll be surprised. It may be the hardest week of your life, but it will be the most rewarding. And if your kids ask why they can't have a cookie for finishing their dinner, you say, "It's because in this house, we eat our dinner no matter what. We don't need a reward to do what is right". :-) They'll catch on. Mine have already, and it's only been 2 days.

What I've heard ...

I haven't blogged in a while, as usual ... it's been a crazy, challenging, busy, awesome, tiring, depressing, inspiring, and educational (and the list goes on) summer. ;-)

As soon as I've had time to clear my thoughts and REALLY sit down and write, I have some good stuff to blog about, but for now, since I'm still trying to catch back up on life after vacation, here are some things I thought were entertaining.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What I've heard this past week from the mouths of my children:

Tristan: "Mom, let's play doctor. I think you need to come see me in my office, and I need to take your blood pressure, because you're really losing it" (his exact words, no joke!!!). "And if you don't weigh enough, you may need to be shot." (in which he proceeds to give me a "shot", lol)

Kira: "Mama, the CD's are falling off of my dress!" (we bought her a little pink dress in Puerta Vallarta at one of the street vendors, and it's covered in silver sequins. Apparently, she thought they were CD's.

Tristan: "I want a snack, but please no crack". Me: "What did you just say?"(trying to stay calm). Tristan: "I want a snack, but I'm tired of crackers, I want something else". Me: "Oh ok, please say the whole word next time, otherwise people will think you mean a different word". Tristan: "Oh like they might think I mean cookies?". Where do kids come up with these things?

Me: "Kira, it's time to sit down for dinner". Kira: "I'm just not ready".

Tristan: "Mommy, you forgot to spank me after I disobeyed you at our friend's house."

Me: "Kira, would you like to go in the bouncy house?" Kira: "I'm too big for the bouncy house".

Tristan: "When I wake up in the morning, I want to see you sitting on the couch having your devotions and you can say to me, 'Goodmorning, Tristan! You woke up just in time to spend time with Jesus'." (Who's the parent here? haha)

Broken vs. Put Back Together

I had a revelation the other day ...

The kids were going crazy and begging me to see my bell collection. (Background: I grew up overseas, and collected little bells from every country I went to as a child). So, to quiet the kids down, I reached for one of my bells from my collection and was about to hand it to a child, when it slipped out of my hands and broke into pieces on the kitchen floor. I don't cry every often. And that made me cry. It was my Italy bell. I love Italy. I've been there about 3 times and would go again if I could. But the responsibility to my children reminded me that a trip to Europe wasn't in the agenda anytime soon. Oh and the recent development of my inability to even take part in Italian food ever again, brought those tears to my eyes.

I gathered up the pieces, and set them aside, as I went back to my energy-filled children, looking at me with their giant curious eyes, and we chose to do an art project instead. Hours later, (it felt like decades), when the kids were finally asleep for the night, I gathered up the pieces of my broken Italy bell in my hand and just stared at them for several seconds, until it dawned on me ... "I am a Mother. Therefore, I am Superwoman. If I can kiss 'owwies'(sp?) to make them better, replace batteries in 5 seconds or less to keep a child from screaming, hem a Karate outfit by hand to fit my toddler who doesn't even know what Karate is, brainwash my 2 year old into loving to brush her teeth, clean the ENTIRE house in under 10 minutes because I just remembered I had a playdate scheduled and I didn't want my friend to think I was a slob, and manage to transform from 'stay at home mom in sweatpants' to 'sexy wife in a sundress with lipstick, jewelry, and perfume on', because my husband called and said he's on his way home from work ... IF I CAN DO ALL THAT (and more, lol), AND STILL HAVE MY SANITY, I CAN FIX THIS DARN BELL. :-)

So I did. See pictures at right for proof of my amazing abilities.

After I did, as I placed that "put back together" Italy bell on my display shelf, THAT is when I had my revelation ... Here it is:

In a heartbeat, something can happen that shatters our world. We feel broken, a mess, unraveled. News about the death of a loved one, a deadline at work you know you can't meet, a national disaster that couldn't be prevented even if we tried ... and we're distraught, without a solution or remedy. Then, someone who cares enough, stares at the broken pieces of our hearts, and picks them up, one by one, with determination to put back together what once was shattered. And prevails. Putting back together the broken pieces and making them one again. It takes time, precision, determination, and patience. But it gets done. That is it's destiny. That Italy bell was made to be a bell. Not a bunch of pieces on the floor. Certainly, the pieces on the floor were used to teach a lesson, or to inspire this blog, but there was a destiny for this bell to be a bell. And to bring back memories of childhood and travels and faith in God. I would have never seen Italy as a child, if it weren't for my parents' faith in God to serve Him overseas all those years.

I see myself as that bell. This past year, I feel like I've been suddenly dropped. Broken into a bunch of pieces on the floor. And without help, there's no way I could put myself back together again. It's been a hard year. One crisis after another, one challenge after another, one disappointment after another. If it weren't for my faith in God and His Divine Hand orchestrating my life, and making sure my destiny be fulfilled, I would still be those broken pieces on the floor. But now, I feel his steady and patient hand, putting me back together again, one piece at a time. And now, as I am coming out of this broken season, I am ready to be whole again, as an example of what love, determination and patience can do to a little broken bell! :-)

It's late, and this may not make sense to anyone, but I just had to share it. Hope it encourages you. And also, I really wanted to share in my accomplishment of putting my Italy bell back together, all by myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Questions From My 4 Year Old

It's been a very interesting week full of discussions with my 4 year old son ... some of these have made it to facebook and some have not. Just to give you a glimpse of how entertaining parenting can be, here are his questions:

1). Why is Jesus God?

2). If Jesus is in my heart, does he swallow the food that I eat?

3). When does the Easter Bunny die on the cross? (This one gave me a heart attack!!!)

4). When I'm as tall as Daddy, then I will eat all of my dinner, okay?

5). Why do I stink?

6). Are those kids screaming because their mommy didn't teach them how to be quiet? (said very loudly in a public place, lol)

7.) When will Kira ask Jesus to come into her heart so that she doesn't have to be scared at night?

8). Who is babysitting me this time mommy, and why do you always eat dinner somewhere else? (he's referring to a busy weekend of dinner dates/birthday parties that Drew and I went to in the evenings)

9). Why are you always cleaning everything up?

10.) Does God poop?