Sunday, December 05, 2010

Fantastic explanation of the gospel

This blog post is a fantastic explanation of how the gospel changes our lives. My story is very similar to hers but she says it better!

(and then read her post from today about the cartoon characters on facebook. I couldn't agree more!)

Thursday, November 18, 2010

I listened to an interesting message this morning from Karen Lorits at the True Woman Conference. You can listen to it here (scroll down to find her message).

She ended with a quote from Max Lucado that I really appreciated:
Praise to God! You are a great God. Your character is holy. Your truth is absolute. Your strength is unending. Your discipline is fair. You are a great God. The mountain of Your knowledge has no peak, the ocean of Your love has no shore, the fabric of Your fidelity has no tear, the rock of Your Word has no crack. You are a great God. Your patience surprises us. Your beauty stuns us. Your love stirs us. You are a great God. Your provisions are abundant for our needs. Your light is adequate for our path. Your grace is efficient for our sins. You are a great God. We even declare with reluctant words, “Your plan is perfect.” You are never early, never late, never tardy, never quick. You sent Your Son in the fullness of time and will return at the consummation of time. Your plan is perfect. . .bewildering, puzzling, troubling, but it's perfect.


Even in the midst of trials, God is great and His plan is perfect.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

True Woman Conferences

I've been interested to hear about the True Woman conferences with Nancy Leigh DeMoss and others. I just found their site with conference messages to download so I'm looking forward to listening to them. It looks like the 2008 ones are complete and they'll keep adding to the 2010 lineup.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

A Cool Tool

Within the past few weeks, I discovered a neat tool for tracking food and exercise. It's available both as an application for ipod touches/phones and online. You can find the online version at My Fitness Pal or search for it in the applications on your ipod. Best of all - it was free!

I really like the comprehensive database for both food and exercise. Other sites I have tried don't have a lot of exercises listed for strength training. This one has a fair selection and you can add more in. The cardio training is also quite comprehensive.

It also syncs automatically with the online version so it's easy to go back and forth. I like having it all on my touch. The ipod version also doesn't require wi-fi, which is also a bonus. At the gym, I keep track of the exercises I'm doing so I don't have to remember what I did later.

It's always a bonus to find something that works!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Habits of the Mind & Body

At the Common Room blog, the Deputy Headmistress has been writing about habits. Today's post is particularly good, in a convicting sort of way. The questions at the end are some that I know I need to sit down and work through, instead of just grumbling that my children don't do as they are supposed to. It reminds me of a message I heard once by Kenneth Maresco. His main point was that we cannot expect our children to be obedient unless we have trained them to know what that means.

The DHM has been working through a series of Charlotte Mason posts. I really need to read one or more of the six volume series. Anyone up for a reading group?

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Sunday Hymn - Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder

We sang this in church this morning. Such rich words. We sang the version from Indelible Grace with music by Laura Taylor.

Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder
©2001 Laura Taylor Music. Words: John Newton. Music: Laura Taylor.

1. Let us love and sing and wonder
Let us praise the Savior’s name
He has hushed the law’s loud thunder
He has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has brought us nigh to God

2. Let us love the Lord Who bought us
Pitied us when enemies
Called us by His grace and taught us
Gave us ears and gave us eyes
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He presents our souls to God

3. Let us sing though fierce temptation
Threatens hard to bear us down
For the Lord, our strong salvation,
Holds in view the conqu’ror’s crown
He, Who washed us with His blood,
He, Who washed us with His blood,
He, Who washed us with His blood,
Soon will bring us home to God

4. Let us wonder grace and justice
Join and point to mercy’s store
When through grace in Christ our trust is
Justice smiles and asks no more
He Who washed us with His blood
He Who washed us with His blood
He Who washed us with His blood
Has secured our way to God

5. Let us praise and join the chorus
Of the saints enthroned on high
Here they trusted Him before us
Now their praises fill the sky
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou art worthy Lamb of God

You can hear a demo here. The words and music are also available on the RUF Hymnbook site. It is a great congregational hymn.

Prayer for pastors

I have been reading the first volume of Arnold Dallimore's biography of George Whitefield (pronounced "Whitfield"). I commend it to anyone - it is well-written and interesting.

Dallimore writes this in his introduction:

Yea, this book is written in the desire - perhaps in a measure of inner certainty - that we shall see the great Head of the Church once more bring into being HIs special instruments of revival, that He will again raise up unto Himself certain young men whom He may use in this glorious employ. And what manner of men will they be? Men mighty in the Scriptures, their lives dominated by a sense of the greatness, the majesty and holiness of God, and their minds and hearts aglow with the great truths of the doctrines of grace. They will be men who have learned what it is to die to self, to human aims and personal ambitions; men who are willing to be 'fools for Christ's sake', who will bear reproach and falsehood, who will labour and suffer, and whose supreme desire will be, not to gain earth's accolades but to win the Master's approbation when they appear before His awesome judgement seat. They will be men who will preach with broken hearts and tear-filled eyes, and upon whose ministries God will grant an extraordinary effusion of the Holy Spirit, and who will witness 'signs and wonders following' in the transformation of multitudes of human lives.


Our son is looking to pastoral ministry as he studies at Toronto Baptist Seminary and Bible College. As I read this, I thought that this would be my prayer for him - that God would give him that passionate desire to share Him. But as I typed this, I thought that we all should pray this prayer for our pastors. Pray that they will be men who have learned to die to self and who have a big vision of the greatness of God. Pray this morning that your pastor will have a vision of who God is and share that vision with his people.

Sunday, September 05, 2010

A Praying Life - Quotes

I am continuing to read A Praying Life by Paul Miller.

The chapter on living life in the desert is rich.

"You cry out to God so long and so often that a channel begins to open up between you and God." p. 185

"When we don't receive what we pray for or desire, it doesn't mean that God isn't acting on our behalf. Rather, he's weaving his story. Paul tells us to 'continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving'(Col. 4:2). Thanksgiving helps us to be grace-centered, seeing all of life as a gift. It looks at how God's past blessing impact our lives. Watchfulness alerts us to the unfolding drama in the present. It looks for God's present working as it unfolds into future grace." p. 187

"When God seems silent and our prayers go unanswered, the over-whelming temptation is to leave the story - to walk out of the desert and attempt to create a normal life. But when we persist in a spiritual vacuum, when we hang in there during ambiguity, we get to know God. In fact, that is how intimacy grows in all close relationships." p. 192

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Sunday Hymn - From Every Stormy Wind that Blows

I was playing from a hymn arrangement book this morning and this one was joined in a medley with You are My Hiding Place. I'm still working on learning the arrangement but I'm going to play this hymn for the offertory today. I remembered the words being very comforting but I didn't realize until I read them their connection with prayer. I thank God for His mercy seat that we can come to at any time, anywhere.

From Every Stormy Wind That Blows

From every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat;
’Tis found beneath the mercy seat.

There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads;
A place than all besides more sweet;
It is the blood bought mercy seat.

There is a scene where spirits blend,
Where friend holds fellowship with friend;
Though sundered far, by faith they meet
Around one common mercy seat.

There, there, on eagles’ wings we soar,
And time and sense seem all no more;
And heaven comes down, our souls to greet,
And glory crowns the mercy seat.

Oh, let my hand forget her skill,
My tongue be silent, cold, and still,
This bounding heart forget to beat,
If I forget the mercy seat!


An a cappella version:



The line that stuck out to me today was "Where friend holds fellowship with friend; Though sundered far, by faith they meet around one common mercy seat." I praise God that we can by faith meet friends from far away around the mercy seat!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Jam and Books

A few people have asked me recently about my blog name. It comes from a quote I read years ago. It's probably about time to quote it again:

"Whenever I get one of those questionnaires and they ask what is your profession, I always put down housewife. It’s an admirable profession, why apologize for it? You aren’t stupid because you’re a housewife. When you’re stirring the jam you can read
Shakespeare." [quoted from The Private World of Tasha Tudor]

I was making raspberry jam today while reading Five Windows by D.E. Stevenson. If you enjoy beautiful writing and interesting characters, check out D.E. Stevenson.

The Praying Life

I just started reading a book called The Praying Life by Paul Miller . So far I'm finding it to be challenging and encouraging.

"The quest for a contemplative life can actually be self-absorbed, focused on my quiet and me. If we love people and have the power to help, then we are going to be busy. Learning to pray doesn't offer us a less busy life; it offers us a less busy heart. In the midst of outer busyness we can develop an inner quiet. Because we are less hectic on the inside, we have a greater capacity to love...and thus to be busy, which in turn drives us even more into a life of prayer. By spending time with our Father in prayer, we integrate our lives with his, with what he is doing in us. Our lives become more coherent. They feel calmer, more ordered, even in the midst of confusion and pressure." (p. 23-24)

"The gospel, God's free gift of grace in Jesus, only works when we realize we don't have it all together. The same is true for prayer. The very thing we are allergic to - our helplessness - is what makes prayer work. It works because we are helpless. We can't do life on our own.

Prayer mirrors the gospel. In the gospel, the Father takes us as we are because of Jesus and gives us his gift of salvation. In prayer, the Father receives us as we are because of Jesus and gives us his gift of help. We look at the inadequacy of our praying and give up, thinking something is wrong with us. God looks at the adequacy of his Son and delights in our sloppy, meandering prayers." (p. 55)

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Sunday Hymn & Quote

From Don Carson:

"Small wonder, then, that the 'new Jerusalem,' one of the images for the final abode of God's people (Rev. 21-22), is shaped like a perfect cube. Already Christians have access to the throne of God by the merit of Jesus Christ; in the consummation, however, we will stand unafraid and overwhelmed by joy and adoration in the unshielded splendor of his holiness." For the Love of God, vol. 2


I Stand Amazed in the Presence

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

Refrain

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

For me it was in the garden
He prayed: “Not My will, but Thine.”
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.

In pity angels beheld Him,
And came from the world of light
To comfort Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night.

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.



Sunday, July 04, 2010

Sunday Hymn - Come Thou Almighty King

"Come, Thou Almighty King"
by Unknown Author

1. Come, Thou almighty King,
Help us Thy name to sing,
Help us to praise!
Father all-glorious,
O'er all victorious,
Come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.

2. Come, Thou Incarnate Word,
Gird on Thy mighty sword,
Our prayer attend;
Come and Thy people bless
And give Thy Word success;
Stablish Thy righteousness,
Savior and Friend!

3. Come, holy Comforter,
Thy sacred witness bear
In this glad hour.
Thou, who almighty art,
Now rule in every heart
And ne'er from us depart,
Spirit of Power!

4. To the great One in Three
Eternal praises be
Hence evermore!
His sovereign majesty
May we in glory see
And to eternity
Love and adore!


The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Rev. 4:8
Author: unknown, 1757, ab.
Composer: Felice de Giardini, 1769
Tune: Italian Hymn

Here's an organ version of it - I think this is the most musical version I found on youtube.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

The Commercialization of Childhod

I came across this video on Challies a few weeks ago but just got around to watching it. Some good things to consider, especially the questions at the end.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Sunday Hymn - I am not Skilled to Understand

I am not skilled to understand
What God hath willed, what God hath planned;
I only know that at His right hand
Is One Who is my Savior!

I take Him at His word indeed;
“Christ died for sinners”—this I read;
For in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior!

That He should leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die,
You count it strange? So once did I,
Before I knew my Savior!

And oh, that He fulfilled may see
The travail of His soul in me,
And with His work contented be,
As I with my dear Savior!

Yea, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this Spring;
That He Who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior!

Here is a link to a piano midi file - it's not fancy but it is the tune I grew up singing. I found a dreadfully slow choir version here.

And I didn't know that there's a modern version by Aaron Shust. I still like the original tune but it's so great to see the older hymns revived.


Sunday, May 23, 2010

Sunday Hymn

All the Way My Saviour Leads Me

All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way.

Here's a beautiful version of it (missing the second verse):


Sunday, May 09, 2010

Sunday Hymn

This was the soundtrack in my head yesterday morning. Then I started to really think about the words, especially in the second verse, and was so thankful for them.

My Hope is Built

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The Robins are Back!

Today the robins came back.





Well, actually they may have been back for a few days but today they were suddenly heard everywhere. There was a steady chirping around town - spring must be here!

I was teaching piano, watching the robins congregate in the front yard birch. Of course, by the time I got outside, they weren't hanging around in the birch any more. But I did manage to get a couple of pictures and I enjoyed listening to them sing as I walked around the yard looking for one to photograph.



Our copywork for tomorrow:

Sir Robin

Rollicking Robin is here again.
What does he care for the April rain?
Care for it? Glad of it! Doesn't he know
That the April rain carries off the snow,
And coaxes out leaves to shadow his nest,
And washes his pretty red Easter vest,
And makes the juice of the cherry sweet,
For his hungry little robins to eat?
"Ha! ha! ha!" hear the jolly bird laugh,
"That isn't the best of the story, by half!"

Robin, Sir Robin, gay, red-vested knight,
Now you have come to us, summer's in sight;
You never dream of the wonders you bring,
Visions that follow the flash of your wing;
How all the beautiful By-and-by
Around you and after you seems to fly!
Sing on, or eat on, as pleases your mind,
Well have you earned every morsel you find.
"Aye! ha! ha! ha!" whistles Robin, "My dear,
Let us all take our own choice of good cheer!"

Lucy Larcom

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Sunday Hymn - All Hail the Power

All hail the power of Jesus’ Name! Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.


Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race, ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all.

O that, with yonder sacred throng, we at His feet may fall,
Join in the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all,
Join in the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all!

These are additional verses that I am not familiar with but they are very rich:

Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line, whom David Lord did call,
The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all,
The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget the wormwood and the gall,
Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all.

Let every tribe and every tongue before Him prostrate fall
And shout in universal song the crownèd Lord of all.
And shout in universal song the crownèd Lord of all.

Let highborn seraphs tune the lyre, and as they tune it, fall
Before His face Who tunes their choir, and crown Him Lord of all.
Before His face Who tunes their choir, and crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye morning stars of light, who fixed this floating ball;
Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, and crown Him Lord of all.
Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, and crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye martyrs of your God, who from His altar call;
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown Him Lord of all.
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown Him Lord of all.

Sunday, April 04, 2010

Resurrection Sunday Hymn

Christ, the Lord, is Risen Today

Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is over, Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail, the resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains that He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

**The words in italics are the ones I know. But the other verses are very rich too.

A beautiful guitar version:

Steve Green sings it:


Sunday, March 28, 2010

Sunday Hymn

MY HOPE IS IN THE LORD
Words by Norman J. Clayton

My hope is in the Lord
Who gave Himself for me
And paid the price
Of all my sin at Calvary.

Refrain:
For me He died;
For me He lives,
And everlasting life
And light He freely gives.

No merit of my own
His anger to suppress
My only hope is found
In Jesus' righteousness.

And now for me He stands
Before the Father's throne
He shows His wounded hands
And names me as His own.

His grace has planned it all
Tis mine but to believe
And recognize His work of love
And Christ receive.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Book Notes (and a little bit of poetry)

I just came across this list of quotes about reading on George Grant's blog. Great quotes!

I just finished reading Josh Harris's Dug Down Deep. Can I say that I was pleasantly surprised? I don't know why I had low expectations of it but I enjoyed skimming through it. I think it would be a great book for a new Christian or someone who says that they don't like doctrine. He does a really good job of making it real and practical without leaving out any of the essentials.

I read The Great Gatsby for the first time. My son is reading it for a class so I picked it up. Quite depressing and the ending was predictable. I'm wondering why it's considered a classic? However, I do think if I read it again for the writing and not for the story (isn't that what the first time through a book is for - the story?), I would appreciate it more. It does show the futility of pinning all your hopes on one person, however.

And now for the poetry. Rebecca posted this poem today and it made me cry.


De Profundis

by Christina Rossetti

Oh why is heaven built so far,
Oh why is earth set so remote?
I cannot reach the nearest star
That hangs afloat.

I would not care to reach the moon,
One round monotonous of change;
Yet even she repeats her tune
Beyond my range.

I never watch the scatter'd fire
Of stars, or sun's far-trailing train,
But all my heart is one desire,
And all in vain:

For I am bound with fleshly bands,
Joy, beauty, lie beyond my scope;
I strain my heart, I stretch my hands,
And catch at hope.

"And catch at hope." That's the line that gets me every time. I am so thankful to God that He gives me hope.

Sunday, March 07, 2010

Sunday Hymn - Joys are Flowing Like a River

Joys are flowing like a river,
Since the Comforter has come;
He abides with us forever,
Makes the trusting heart His home.

Refrain

Blessèd quietness, holy quietness,
What assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,
How the billows cease to roll!

Bringing life and health and gladness,
All around this heav’nly Guest,
Banished unbelief and sadness,
Changed our weariness to rest.

Refrain

Like the rain that falls from Heaven,
Like the sunlight from the sky,
So the Holy Ghost is given,
Coming on us from on high.

Refrain

See, a fruitful field is growing,
Blessèd fruit of righteousness;
And the streams of life are flowing
In the lonely wilderness.

Refrain

What a wonderful salvation,
Where we always see His face!
What a perfect habitation,
What a quiet resting place!

Refrain

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Interview Links

Here are the links for the interview we did with 100 Huntley Street. We thought it was handled quite well.

Part 1
Part 2

It`s strange to see oneself on TV!

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Trying This Again

Our interview is set to air Thursday, March 4 at the 9 am (and 9 pm) broadcast on 100 Huntley Street. I hope it really does!

If you aren't able to watch it, it should be available to view online here. I'll try to post a more specific link once it's actually up.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Sunday Hymn: Saved by Grace

I had forgotten about this hymn until I was given the music to accompany some ladies singing it. It's not in our current hymnal, which I think is a shame. (I also have to say that I think the words are better than the music - this would be a great one for someone to rewrite the music.)

Saved by Grace

Some day the silver cord will break,
And I no more as now shall sing;
But oh, the joy when I shall wake
Within the palace of the King!

Refrain

And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—Saved by grace;
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—Saved by grace.

Some day my earthly house will fall.
I cannot tell how soon ’twill be;
But this I know—my All in All
Has now a place in Heav’n for me.

Refrain

Some day, when fades the golden sun
Beneath the rosy tinted west,
My blessèd Lord will say, “Well done!”
And I shall enter into rest.

Refrain

Some day: till then I’ll watch and wait,
My lamp all trimmed and burning bright,
That when my Savior opens the gate,
My soul to Him may take its flight.

Refrain

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Sour Cream Orange Buns


I spotted this recipe a while ago on the Mennonite Girls Can Cook blog but hadn't tried it yet. Yesterday I felt like baking so tried them out. They were a hit! They are less sweet than regular cinnamon buns but still decadent enough.

The recipe can be found here. Highly recommended!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Lava Cakes


I've been looking for a good lava cake recipe for a long time. At the gym in the mornings, one of the tv's is often tuned to "French Food at Home". It's a great show to watch (we try not to drool too much) but I haven't tried any of her recipes.

But recently she featured "Moelleux au Chocolat" - lava cakes. I just tried them tonight in preparation for dinner guests on Saturday night. They are amazing! And very easy to make too.

So if you are looking for a great dessert, maybe even for Valentine's, check it out.

*Note: I didn't have dark chocolate so I used chocolate chips instead. It worked fine. They are probably a little sweeter than they would be with dark chocolate but still great.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Yummy Homemade Buns

I enjoy making bread and buns. Last week, I tried a new recipe for buns from Mennonite Girls can Cook - Honey Bran Buns. It is probably the best bun recipe I have made - this one is a keeper.

I must make mine bigger because I doubled it and got about four dozen where the recipe said it would make about three dozen. But make them whatever size you want. I also reduced the yeast in doubling it (maybe it's just me but if I double the yeast in a bread recipe, it often tastes "yeasty" to me) and used about half whole-wheat flour.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

100 Huntley Street interview

*Update: Apparently, our segment has been bumped and we don't know the new date yet. I'll update when I know. *

Last fall, we did an interview with a reporter from 100 Huntley Street, a Canadian religious show. Many of you prayed for us in doing the interview. We just received word that it will be aired
Feb. 3rd, at 9AM on CTS (I'm not sure what station that is) and Global TV and 9PM on CTS. The story will also be on the website at www.100huntley.com if you miss it or if you don't have access to those stations.

I'm interested to see how it turned out!