Saturday, January 31, 2015

Jesus Books and Late-Night Musings

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Disclaimer: This post isn't as lighthearted as the others, and it may be a bit out of my comfort zone. I am Catholic. Catholics don't usually (ever) talk about religion. I don't usually (ever) talk about religion. But for some reason the time seems right.

The book that inspired this post, Jesus Calling, is a little book that I got from my grandmother before she passed away just a year ago this coming week. It has a devotion/reflection and accompanying bible verses for each day of the year, and has quickly become something that I reach for in times of loneliness, grief, or on generally shitty days. I swear this book knows me, because every time I need some reassurance, that day's message is absolutely on point.

Losing my grandmother has been  one of those wounds that has not healed easily, or at all really. It's one of those things that hits me when I least expect it, as grief is apt to do. She was the kind of woman that was always on the move, always the life of the party (or throwing the party), and had no problem telling you exactly how she felt at any given moment. She was stylish and colorful and full of immeasurable strength. On the day that she passed, here's what  this little book said:
Come to Me for rest and refreshment. The journey has been too much for you, and you are bone-weary. Do not be ashamed of your exhaustion. Instead, see it as an opportunity for Me to take charge of your life.  

Perfect. It just feels right. It feels comforting.

Today was a day of loneliness and general shit. So after I woke up this morning (and life hit me like a sixteen-wheeler) I grabbed the book and flipped to today's reflection. What was today's message?
I am your strength and shield. I plan out each day and have it ready for you, long before you arise from bed. I also provide the strength you need each step of the way.

I think I literally said "THANK YOU" out loud to an empty room. On days like this, we all need a reminder that we are loved and cared for - whether it's through a little Jesus book or not.


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Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Reduced-Guilt Chocolate Bundt Cake

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Fun Fact: Today is National Chocolate Cake Day. Naturally, I celebrated - and now you can too! This cake is not exactly healthy, per se, but I did my best to sub out some of the less-than nutritious ingredients, and it's still SUPER rich and fudgy. Here goes...



Ingredients

  • 4 eggs

  • 1/2 C water

  • 1 2/3 C plain Greek yogurt

  • 1/4 C canola oil

  • 1 TSP baking powder

  • Chocolate cake mix (any kind)

  • Small package of chocolate pudding

  • 1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips

  • 2 TBS PB2 powdered peanut butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 and coat a bundt cake pan with nonstick baking spray (don't forget to do the inside cone thing, too! I always forget this part). Whisk all the wet ingredients together in a bowl, then gradually add the cake and pudding mix. Fold in the chocolate chips and mix until just blended.  Pour in your greased pan, and bake for 50 minutes. When it's finished, let set in the pan for about 10 min, then carefully flip the pan over on to a wire cooling rack. Drizzle PB2 or the topping of your choice (powdered sugar is yummy, too!) over the top of the cake. Let cool, and enjoy!

So you might be wondering - what exactly is "healthy" about this chocolate cake made with a nasty baking mix and pudding packet? I'll explain. My goal is for all of my recipes to be easy enough that someone who is just beginning to find their way around the kitchen, like a college student, could recreate them without much effort. I used Greek yogurt instead of sour cream or buttermilk for a punch of protein, and reduced the amount of canola oil as well. You probably could choose to sub out an egg or two, as well. 

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Sunday, January 25, 2015

New Year, New Me, New Country?

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"As you travel solo, being totally responsible for yourself, it's inevitable that you will discover just how capable you are."



I found that quote on Pinterest, which didn't give any attribution. If you know who said it, comment below!

On the bulletin board in the upstairs hallway at my sorority house, all of the girls I live with have pinned up their new year's resolutions scrawled on scrap paper. There's a wide variety of goals for 2015 - "get better grades" is featured twice, as is "become a better decision-maker." My new years resolution on the bulletin board says "To take risks. And to take more time for myself."

Traveling alone is a risk. Leaving the comfort of my college bubble will be a risk. Not knowing who I will live with when I return to Virginia, not knowing a foreign language, taking a chance on a long-distance relationship... These are all risks that are heading my way in 2015. I've decided to study abroad. I want to see how capable I am. Regain independence. Push myself away from familiarity.

I am in the process of working on my application to attend the University of Salzburg in Austria for the fall semester of 2015 (No, I don't speak German). I simply cannot pass up an opportunity to grow and experience the trip of a lifetime when it is sitting right in front of me. Like creating a blog, studying abroad is something that's been floating around in my mind for a while now, and trust me -- it is beyond liberating to finally pull the trigger on my "maybes".

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Friday, January 23, 2015

Christmas Morning Coffee Cake

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Why the name? Make the batter, prepare it, then throw it in the oven while everyone opens Christmas presents. Great for family occasions or for a college student still learning their way around the oven -- whip up some mimosas and invite your friends over for brunch! They'll think you spent hours slaving away in the kitchen.





Ingredients

  • 3C flour (I usually use 1C whole wheat and 2C regular)
  • 1C granulated sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1C canola oil
  • 1 stick melted butter or margarine (1/2 C)
  • 1C milk
  • 2 TSP vanilla extract
  • 3 TSP baking powder
  • 1.5C brown sugar
  • 2 TSP cinnamon
  • 2 TSP nutmeg

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Combine eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla in a large bowl. Set aside and mix flour, granulated sugar, a pinch of salt, and baking powder in medium bowl.  Gradually pour dry ingredients in with wet, mixing as you go. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon/nutmeg in a small bowl (add whatever spices you like, and feel free to experiment with the amounts! I just like the combo of cinnamon and nutmeg :) ). Pour half of the batter into a greased pan (it doesn't really matter what size, but I usually use a glass, 9x13 in.). Sprinkle half of the brown sugar mixture over this, then add the second half of the batter. Sprinkle the remaining brown sugar mixture over the top and drizzle with melted butter. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a knife comes out smooth.

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Thinking Out Loud

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Hi readers, if there are any of you. Yet. Hopefully?


I am reviving one of my many attempts at blogging tonight for a few reasons, the primary of which is that sometimes it is crucial to Just Do Me. Up until now, I've written some listicles for various sorority-ish platforms and essentially sold myself short, because sometimes I like to imagine that I have a little bit of talent. That kind of thing is definitely fun, don't get me wrong, but for the most part it lacks substance. Maybe I'll still give you "5 Killer Holiday Outfits" or whatever, but not all the time, and not necessarily for views.


My dad says that Bryan (my boyfriend) and I are the only people in the world who watch Aaron Sorkin's HBO series The Newsroom. We don't just watch it, we obsess over it, and we are totally okay with being its entire fan base. In an episode a couple weeks ago, Hallie and Jim break up because Jim has an issue with Hallie getting a cash bonus when her articles get a certain amount of hits online. Jim's an "old media" kind of guy and believes in truth and integrity and lots of other dusty moral qualities. News reporting is hard and maybe not my cup of tea, so my point is that it's time to stop doing anything to get Hallie's cash bonus.


This, I guess, leads me to a loose (and late) New Year's Resolution. I am going to make more decisions for me and worry less about how others will perceive them. I am going to work on worrying less about other people when they're just doing whatever floats their boat. More live and let live. More living my dash, something I'll get to later on. My little resolution here is leading me to make some big decisions, but that's more for another post.


Thanks for bearing with me. Actually, why do I care if you did? This resolution is tough already.


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