Same simple mistakes.

Milk, vanilla cupcake (1)
Originally uploaded by jleighb

So...the past couple of times I've mixed cake or brownie batter....I've messed up one essential item: water. The recipe will call for 2/3 cup of water, and for whatever reason...I guess I'm not paying attention...I put in 1 2/3 cup. I get in a hurry or start chatting with my husband...and invariably make the mistake.

Well, last night....I got the urge to make cupcakes for my husband to share with his co-workers. I started mixing this wonderful butter cake recipe....the last ingredient to add was the water. I grab my 2 cup measuring cup. I go to fill it up...and see that it says 2/3 across the cup...but it's on the opposite side. I don't think twice about it and dump it into the mixing bowl.

I notice that the batter is a bit more watery in consistency than it should be. UGH! It hits me.... I grab the measuring cup...I had filled it up to the 1 2/3 cup level. Now, before I had even started making the cake, I said to myself, "Pay close attention Candice.....or you will get this wrong."

Sure as the sun does shine, this happened to me again.

Daniel was grilling for our dinner and walked inside as I just griped to myself out loud at my mistake. He, being the wonderful husband he is, just rubbed me on my back and said, "Don't worry Candice, it's no big deal...just throw it out and make the chocolate cake instead."

But I had to have a little pout moment. I asked Daniel just to give me a second to just get over it. I decided not to make any cupcakes at all and sat down. I couldn't believe I had done it again...same simple mistake ruined the whole batter.

I think the same can happen in our walk with Christ. We can be going along following the 'recipe for life in the Bible' and then BAM...sin creeps up in our life. Perhaps the same sin over and over. When you realize it..you just want to react. UGH!

Then, Jesus, rubs us on our back (metaphorically speaking) and says, "Candice (or insert your name here), it's okay, just seek repentance and start over again." Now the question is, do we start over again? Do we say to Him, "Jesus, I'm going to need a break right now to just get over this?" or....Do we just give up?

Logically, answer one is the correct one....but sometimes it's the most difficult to accept that Jesus' forgiveness is so easy and readily available. Instead, we decide to take a break from Jesus, or just give up all together.

Just a thought.

Giving....and a recipe...

Its more blessed to give than to receive. One of the things that I love to hear out of Daniel's mouth is when he says that something I do is attractive. Now, I'm not saying this to pat us on the back...but he thinks that generosity is attractive and says that to me often.

There is nothing more rewarding that being generous and giving. Daniel and I love doing it...and thank the Lord that we are able to do so. He thinks it's attractive. That's a bonus.

I bet God thinks of giving in the same way...and God talks about it in his word (2 Cor. 9:6) about how we should be generous...but I am sure that God finds it attractive and pleasing to Him when we give.

So you may ask, "Okay, so where are you going with this...?" Well, my purpose is not to guilt you into giving...but no matter how small or large your gift may be (it could be monetary, time, anything)..my purpose is to inspire you to give...it's attractive to God....and there's nothing I want more than I want to please him.

May you be inspired to give of your things, talents and yourself...it's attractive.

(Don't forget to help us name our new baby....see post below)

Italian Chicken Pasta Toss
(Recipe shared by my friend, and modified to my tasting)

6 oz. of uncooked bowtie pasta
2-3 plump tomatoes diced
1 small onion OR onion salt to your tasting...(I used the onion salt)
2 medium zucchinis sliced ( I love them..so I add a lot more!)
1 small bell pepper (i didn't use this...we don't care for them)
1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breaasts, cut into 1-inch strips
2 teaspoons of olive oil tasting
1 teaspoon of Basil/Oregano mixed
1 teaspoon of salt
1/4 cup of grated fresh parmesan cheese (OR...the cheese that you can just pour over...that's what we used :)

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and keep warm
2. Meanwhile, dice tomatoes, slice zucchini, cut bell pepper into strips and chicken crosswise into 1-inch strips.
3. Heat olive oil in stir fry skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Put chicken into skillet and then put garlic flakes over chicken (To your tasting). Stir fry 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Reduce heat to medium.
4. Add onion, zucchini, bell peppers, basil/oregano, and salt....Stir fry 2 minutes.
5. Add tomatoes. Heat 1-2 minutes, stirring gently until heated through.
6. Stir in warm pasta. Liberally sprinkle parmesan cheese over pasta.
Voila!