Let's bake a chocolate cake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is what days off are for, aren’t they?

I tried something different, and captured ‘making a cake’ with pictures, not words. It was most fulfilling to flick through them afterwards and bask in the glorious joy initiated by baking.

Autumn has abruptly arrived, and rang the doorbell quite sharply demanding to be let in. Unwillingly I have accepted that summer has come to an end, but rejoiced in all the winter pleasures to come. Soups, warm cakes, fires, fluffy slippers and cold fresh air, to mention a few.

Sometimes we have to slow down and make something, and autumn seems the perfect season for doing so. I suppose it is with every other season, but autumn and cakes seem to fit like gloves.

Happy Monday!

(Oh, and if you’re confused with why the heck I’m talking about it being autumn, it’s probably because you’re in a different country. If you’re from here, and still confused, then….c’est la vie.)

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Keep reading if you want to make that deliciously simple chocolate cake*…..

1 ½ cups unsifted plain flour

1 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

½ cup vegetable oil

1 cup water

1 tablespoon icing sugar

1.       Preheat the oven to 190c. Grease and flour a 20cm cake tin. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Make a well in the centre of the mixture, and add the vanilla, vinegar and oil, then gradually stir in the water. Continue stirring until thoroughly blended, but do not overmix.

2.       Pour the batter into the cake tin and bake, uncovered, for 35 – 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Do not overbake; the secret of this cake is moistness. Cool in the tin on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then transfer the cake from the tin to the rack to cool completely. Sift the icing sugar over the top, and serve.

*Credit for the recipe goes to Readers Digest. An old ‘n trusty one!

 

You're never 'too busy' to stop for the small things.

A beautiful sunrise in Paihia, New Zealand. Just because it’s beautiful.

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:37-40

This scripture speaks for itself. I’d like to be able to listen to this and hold my head proud, not hang it in shame.

Sometimes we fall short. It’s just life. But remember that each week, each day, is a fresh start. And believe me, fresh starts are what are we ALL need.

(I'm talking about this scripture in the context of being busy, there are other blocks in the road, but I think this block is a big one for a lot of us.)

You know when a little kid wants you to come and help them color in? And you…cough….sometimes are just too busy?

Maybe we think it doesn't matter, that it's only one kid (and we were having a bad day anyway - not just me?). But God sees everything.

We don't know the hour that Jesus will come, the minute that our days will end. Sorry to say.

Let’s not be too busy to stop for the small things. To cook dinner for someone who’s had a rough day, even though you might be tired and your day probably wasn’t perfect either.

Because when we stop and love that extra person, we love Jesus.

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Happy Valentine's Day

 

 

 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I hope you all had a great one. I celebrated with my family, nothing major, but as you might know, I love getting all festive on any occasion. It’s the one day where I can really enjoy the colour pink.

Some of you probably had a really romantic day, with that special someone (haha or maybe you had a day like me filled with only a few single moments – like when you see the girls on the sidewalk carrying those red roses home – and then they stare at you like you’re crazy because you are carrying an empty pizza box ALONE). To me, Valentine’s Day is something to do with love, celebrating that, and a hint of romance (dat pizza).

Just as much as you love that special someone (or pizza), your heavenly Papa loves you a trillion times more, a billion times more, a love that us humans don’t even understand. You’re LOVED! You’re BEAUTIFUL! Thinking of you on this LOVEly day.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to graps how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ”

Ephesians 3:17 – 18

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Corinthians 13:13

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BONUS:

 

You see those sexy milkshakes? They taste so good, and all you do is put these ingredients:

{3 parts vanilla ice cream

1 part milk

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 teaspoon strawberry essence

2 drops red food colouring}

in a blender, and BLEND! It’s very rough, just make it to your taste. And get creative with the topping, I just swirled whipped cream on top and then sprinkled pink jelly powder (the stuff you get in packets to make jelly) on it.

Hello 2014.

Wow. 2014.

It’s been a whole year since I started this blog, and when I look back, I’ve learnt so much on this really interesting journey.

Thanks to anyone who has read my posts, this blog is like a little outlet where I can preach, teach and share my thoughts.

I’m pumped about starting a new year. It’s going to be my best year yet. I might fall off a cliff, or I might win a million dollars. Who knows. (God knows – Jeremiah 29:11).

But one thing I know – and this was something that I just learnt the other day. It’s this:

“Doing the same things, making the same choices, doesn’t change the outcome. It’s insanity to keep making the same decisions expecting a different result.”

This relates a lot. In my life, especially with friends, I’ve tried the same things over and over expecting a different (better) result. But alas, I always came out of those decisions feeling like rubbish. Close (not really), but no cigar.

 

Old ways won't open new doors.

So 2013 was a bit rough. There were plenty of great moments, plenty of bad ones too. But as Dollly Parton said….

 

I’m so thankful to God, He really is everything, and He’s always there, in every moment, good and bad.

So here’s to a new year – I’m going to try new things, I’ve already made a long list of resolutions (comment if you want to hear them), but most importantly on that list is God. He’s everything, and I’m excited to jump into a new year of growing with God.

That’s it, isn’t it really? Jump. Jumping into this year – not just plodding along at the same pace, but jumping.

Or diving as Vogue says it. (I love this cover).

 

Alright, alright, enough about me. What about you? What are you going to change this year?

Here’s special message that I think God wants to say to you as you start this year. You’re really special, he loves you so much, and words can’t describe how much he’s looking forward to plunging into a new year with you. God does pay attention to seasons (he’s the one who created them after all) and I think now’s a time of new birth.

A song that I discovered on new years day (perfect timing isn’t it?) is Soldiers by Martin Smith. Go listen to it here.

“Onward Christian soldiers.”

I love that part of the song. *breaks into chorus with enthusiasm*.

So really what I’m saying is, have a great 2014. I’m praying for you, for everyone who is reading this.

GOD BLESS AND HAVE A FLIPPIN’ FANTASTIC NEW YEAR!

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