Of Trifles and Pumpkin Pie (dairy- and gluten-free, too)

Happy Saturday! I typically use Saturdays as my "productive" day and get up early, spend part of the morning in devotions/journaling/blogging, and then exercise, run errands and clean, etc. the rest of the day. However, over the past week my post-car accident back pain (from almost a year ago now...sigh) has really been acting up and, after getting a massage for the pain Thursday and now also feeling gross from that, my body finally decided it needed to be a slug all day. So, today I slept in until 8 (gasp) and have been loafing around. It's after noon now, and I decided to use this opportunity of being slightly laid up to share about a few culinary adventures. Without further ado...

I've been gluten-free for about a year (not strictly, but mostly) and lactose-free for about 10 years (avoiding both for health reasons and not just for fun), and have had fun creating various allergen-friendly desserts ("normal" foods are pretty easy if you're a home cook).  

First, a gluten- and peanut butter and chocolate trifle and a peppermint and chocolate trifle (two separate flavors; not mixed!):

The process: These entailed buying allergen-friendly cake mixes, natural pudding mix, dairy free whipped topping, and finding dairy-free candy bars (I used dark chocolate peanut butter cups and mint snacking chocolate). I basically just layered the cake (cut into chunks), pudding, chopped candy bars, and whipped topping. 

The only significant difference these two trifles have from "normal" trifles is the price, which is "no trifling matter" (sorry); it wasn't cheap but it tasted amazing, even to those who are used to "normal" desserts. I made this for a family birthday party, so the price was justified. :)

Second are these delicious (and healthy) mini pumpkin pies! I was so excited about these because it was my first time making a pumpkin something without using canned pumpkin and starting straight at the source: a pumpkin patch! 

They honestly tasted better than "normal" pumpkin pie and were pretty easy to make.

Final product

The process: You can find the actual recipe here, so I won't give measurements (plus, if you're anything like me, you use a recipe as a loose guide and eyeball it!).

Picking out a pumpkin (not posed or staged; a happy coinkydink of a picture).

The pumpkin, rinsed and ready to be cut into four pieces and de-seeded.

Deseeded pumpkins, ready to be cooked at about 350 for just under an hour (keep the seeds if you want to make roasted pumpkin seeds, which are super good for you and delicious!).

Detour: to make roasted seeds, rinse the slimy stuff off the seeds and toss them with a little oil, salt, pepper, garlic, and cumin (or whatever sounds good -- this was my first time making them so I have yet to explore other flavors). Then, put them in a single layer on a lightly-greased cookie sheet and bake for about 15-20 minutes, stirring about halfway through.

Cooked pumpkin

For the "crust," blend (I wish I had a food processor) pecans and coconut flakes in blender until it's almost "sandy." Then, add maple syrup, coconut oil, and a dash of salt and blend again until mixed (you may have to stir by hand if you don't have a food processor). 

Divide the "crust" mixture into your muffin tin or cups (I love silicon muffin cups!), pressing it down so it holds together. Then, blend (or mix) your pumpkin, spices, maple syrup, eggs, coconut milk cream, and salt. Divide this into the muffin cups as well.

Bake at 350 for about 25-30 minutes, and let cool completely before removing from muffin cups (even better to refrigerate over night after removing from the cups so they set even more!).

Detour: here are the toasted pumpkin seeds!

Enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea and with or without whip!

Being gluten- and dairy-free doesn't have to mean you can't enjoy the simple pleasures of pumpkin pie on a fall day or an amazing trifle at a family party. It just means it *sometimes* takes a little more ingenuity (and maybe cost).  

Your Christianity: Sola Scriptura or Sola Self?

It's fairly ironic that this post is coming on Reformation Day, as I've been marinating on the foregoing subject for several months. The subject of the Christian faith, our beliefs, and reality.

We watched the American Gospel: Christ Crucified with our group a while back, and something that stuck out to me is that many worldviews, including postmodernism, deconstructionism, and the various "progressive Christianity" tracks, share a common foundation: The inability to accept or embrace all facets of Biblical Christianity because they don't fit how the the world or God "should be." They may ask questions such as: "a loving God couldn't also send people to hell, could He?" or "A loving and all-powerful God wouldn't kill his Son to pay the penalty for the world's sin (cosmic child abuse, some say), would He? Couldn't He just accept us without any bloodshed? He is God, after all." These concepts (of hell, Christ's death for our justification, etc.) are not all pretty or easy to grasp, and worldviews such as postmodernism (which says truth is subjective) and deconstructionism (which says the Bible is fallible), change God and Christianity to fit into a more comfortable box. 

While considering the above (which is a small picture of both the movie and my thought process; putting thoughts into words is hard sometimes), however, my heart was also nudged on a more personal level. How many " givens" do I have about Christianity, Jesus, my faith, and the Gospel that are not actually "givens" in the Bible? Is my idea of Jesus actually in accord with how He is portrayed in the gospels or the rest of Scripture? Over the last few years, I've been challenged to really examine ideas I've taken for granted as fact. Aside from ideas about the character and person of God, ideas that may veer toward both legalism/works and Christian liberty/faith. Examples might include simple statements ranging anywhere from "Tattoos are sinful" to "It's okay to read lots of romance novels as long as they aren't dirty," or presuppositions that certain denominations, forms of worship, or churches are automatically "wrong" and not Biblically "Christian." (Note that many answers to such ideas are actually based more on the heart and conscience than external "right" and "wrong")

In short, while those who do not claim to be Biblical Christians have, in part at least, done so because they cannot accept accountability for their sins or the reality of God's justice, election, and human responsibility (and thus created their own version of "religion" or lack thereof), I would suggest that many Biblical Christians today have also put God into a box and made presuppositions about who God is and how we are to live.

During the Reformation, the Roman Catholic church banned the ownership of Bibles in common language. Many Christians were killed for even owning a Bible and yet were willing to pay that price. Today, we have the Scriptures at our fingertips and so often fail to appreciate the incredible gift we have. We may, like the Bereans in Acts chapter 17, search the Scriptures to see if what we hear -- and even have believed -- is true. There is so much to be learned about Christ and His Word! I know I am rebuked by this. 

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 (English Standard).

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (English Standard).

Reality says that God's Word is true (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Reality says we are accountable to God for our sins and that we have all sinned (Romans 6:23). Reality says God is just (Deuteronomy 32:4) and merciful (Psalm 103:8). Reality says that Jesus was killed for our sins (John 3:16). Reality says that all who call upon His Name will be saved (Romans 10:13). Reality says we can't fully comprehend God (Isaiah 55:8-9). And reality says He will give us mercy for each day (see, e.g. Lamentations 3:23).

Is my standard truly based on Scripture or have I, as the postmodernists have done, "changed" certain aspects of God and Scripture interpretation to fit my understanding? Scripture is a real standard, and while I believe the realities of the Gospel and Jesus as God, have I allowed discrepancies with Scripture to creep into the every day? 

Hold fast to Jesus!

Sonia

Freed to be a Slave!

 My small group is currently going through the book of Galatians, and it has been a pretty tremendous blessing to me, especially as someone who spent several years in a slightly legalistic church. We discussed the first half of chapter 5 this week, and the simplicity of the marvelous conundrum of us being freed from the bondage of sin so that we are free to become servants (literally slaves) to others (and ultimately Christ) has been so beautiful and inspiring to me. The entire section is incredible, especially the emphasis on the danger of relying on works of the law (works-based salvation) versus resting in God's saving grace by the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:1-6), but what I want to focus a bit more on is the following:

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Galatians 5:13-14 (English Standard).

As born-again believers by the saving grace of Jesus and His transforming Spirit in our hearts, we are no longer in bondage under sin! There is no condemnation for us (see, e.g. Romans 8)! This isn't to say we are now perfect people; on the contrary, we still fall into patterns of sin (self focus; pride; anger; laziness; you name it, really). We are no longer bound or defined by these failings, though! They have no grip on us! The funny thing about this new freedom is that the Holy Spirit has not only freed us from the bondage of sin, but has actually filled us with a new heart, a heart that desires to use its freedom to be a slave to Christ and His people! 

Personally, I can be quite self-centered as opposed to Christ- or other-centered, but reading these words and being reminded that I am actually not bound to myself has been a liberating reminder! I pray for the grace to use my freedom to truly put off my reoccurring sins which cling so tightly (see, e.g. Hebrews 12:1-2), rest in Christ's grace, be filled with the Spirit, and love and serve others!

Sisters on the beach earlier this month 

Hold fast to Jesus!

Sonia

Treasuring the Auntie Life

Being an auntie is seriously one of life's biggest earthly blessings. Living with two of my two nephews and four nieces and watching them grow up multiplies this blessing by about eight. <3 Kiddos grow up so quickly (and I'm not even a mom, and can't imagine how much quicker they grow then!), and I don't want to ever, ever look back and regret not giving them hugs and saying "I love you" at every opportunity. There isn't much to this post except an encouragement to treasure every day. And to share a few pictures from a quick, unplanned photo "session" my sister did of Ems and I when Ems was feeling snuggly and looking especially darling.

Scattered Thoughts About Psalm 139 and the Incredible God we Serve

Over the past few weeks, I've been mediating on Psalm 139:16, which says "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." (English Standard). 

Psalm 139 is one of the most well-known passages in the Bible, but verse 16 has really been hitting home lately -- he has FORMED every. single. one. of our days. Taken with the rest of the chapter (which discusses God's complete knowledge of our hearts and lives, his constant presence, and His protection of His children), this is bit scary and a lot encouraging. Jesus didn't just foreknow our lives (see what would happen); he literally formed every day -- He has created us for good works! See Ephesians 2:10. We have the "freedom" to follow Christ or not (free will); yet at the same time Christ has formed our days knowing exactly how we will respond. We are bound by His plan yet free to choose whom we will serve. A little bit mind-boggling. 

While my simple mind can't truly grasp these incredible (apparent) semi-contradictions, my responses are actually found in verses 6 and 23-24. First, incredible wonder: "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it." In other words, "wow. I can't even." Second, a desire to freely be able to proclaim to the God of the universe "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." 

I may not understand this conundrum of being free yet bound (maybe a more learned theologian can), but am praying for grace to live a life of wisdom and devotion to Christ (see, e.g., Ephesians 5:15) that is centered on loving Him first and others second, while also resting in His promise that He has formed every day and will use me, despite my failures, to further His glory and also bring me safely to Himself (see, e.g., Romans 8:28).

 

Of Masks and Men

 Okay, I couldn't resist that title...This post is mostly about masks and less about the men (or women) who wear them.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still in mighty swing, the "new normal" is looking to be the "permanent" normal, at least for the foreseeable future. The office is still operating with many staff working from home, but my department has most of its staff coming in on alternating days. Masks are required whenever we leave our workstations or when someone is fewer than 6 feet from us. Now that I'm in the office 2-3 days per week, I saw the need to have a number of masks for myself, and was also inspired to make masks for my family. 

Being a very novice seamstress (I had a sewing class like 12 years ago and have made like 3 simple quilts since then), I wanted to find a pattern that wasn't too complicated but that also produced a quality and comfortable mask. Let's just say it took a while to find a decent pattern.

Beginning masks attempts. The black one (my very first) actually turned out okay (albeit not quite what I wanted), but the sewing machine needle broke so it was almost entirely by hand, so the stitching isn't the neatest. The larger orange one I have named "The Duck Mask" (you'd know why if you tried it on). The blue one was just weird, in addition to the straps being too short despite following the pattern.

After 4 masks, I asked my coworker to share her pattern for masks that have a ribbon ear strap that a wearer can adjust. While I've since better "perfected" my pattern and the steps I take, here are enough details for any other eager novice seamstresses to come up with a nice, breathable, and fairly quick mask. 

Supplies: rotary cutter, scissors, pins, one 8" x 14" piece of fabric (8" x 15" if you are not cutting on the fold/using two different pieces of fabric), two 2" x 6" strips of fabric, 1/2 of a pipe cleaner, and two 16" pieces of ribbon.

NOTE: Press well after each step and after prepping each pleat! 

Step 1: Anchor the Nose Piece. Zig-zag stitch a half piece of pipe cleaner (cut in half and then folded in half and twisted together a bit) to the top of the 8" side of your large piece of fabric. All this is doing is anchoring the little nose piece (if you don't care about a nose piece, ignore this step).

Step 2: Sew the Mask Body. Sew the entire mask together, right sides together, leaving about a 2 inch hole along one of the sides so you can then turn it right-side out.  Clip the sharp corners. Turn right side out and press the edges.

(picture of the hole showing here, from a different mask I made)

Step 3. Create Pleats.  These are a pain to do, but it's important they're as even as possible. Also, be sure the pleats on the front of the mast are facing down. Make the pleats one inch apart and one inch tall (see video attempting to describe the pleats).

Step 4: Sewing Pleats Together. Sew around the sides and top of the mask to hold the pleats together, ensuring that when you come to the nose piece, you sew below the nose piece while also NOT sewing the back of the first pleat down to the top of the mask.

(avoid sewing the top of the first pleat when you're sewing beneath the nose piece)

Step 5: Preparing and Sewing the Ribbon Casing. Sew the 6" strips to each side of the mask, folding over and stitching the tops of each casing before sewing to the sides of the mask (see below and videos). 

(sewing the top edge of the casing before stitching onto mask body( stitch to the front side of the mask))

(sew to mask body and press thoroughly)

(fold ribbon casing edge and press it down; then, pull it over to the front side of the mask)

(sew the remaining side of the casing to the back side of the mask, keeping pretty close to the edge (see where my needle/pressure foot is positioned)).

Step 6: Finishing Touches. You've got your mask, minus the ribbons! Cut enough ribbon to go through the casing you created on each side plus excess to adjust the size of the mask (I think I use about 16 inches for each side). Then, using small screw driver or a wood skewer, bring the ribbon through the casing on each side. After you've tied the ribbons to enable the mask to fit your face, you can hide them by tugging them through the casing.

(hiding the ribbon edges)

Here are pictures of the finished product.

My grandpa and I, sporting our new masks (I call mine the Black Mumba). When I showed him how to hide the ribbons in the casing after adjusting the size, he proclaimed "Why would I do that? Than no one would know it was home-made!" Also, he's one of the manliest and toughest people I know, but he couldn't be more pleased with his goats. :)

A Reminder that My "Wants" are Not the Same as My "Needs -- and that God is Faithful to Provide!

You know those days when you pick up a book you've been procrastinating to read, and then the words hit home and address exactly what you've been struggling with, as though they were written  just so you could read them that day? That happened to me yesterday evening. 

I purchased New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp several weeks ago, and opened it for the first time last night, turning to the devotional for July 10; the topic was essentially "want" versus "need" and God's provision for the same. The opening quote for the entry was "You once desired it, but now you're persuaded that you need it. Once you've named it a need, it has you."

Almost without realizing it, I've begun to (again ::sigh::) allow certain "desires" (or "wants") in my life become "needs" that are leaching away at my joy, contentment, and belief in God's loving provision. While I "know" God has my best for His glory and my good in mind, my deep-rooted "wants" have rusted this knowledge in my heart and begun to erode my faith in His provision.

Tripp writes:

There is nothing evil about desire. God created us with the capacity to desire...Yet it is very hard for sinners to hold desire with an open hand. It doesn't take long for our desires to morph into demands ("I must"). The thing that was once a desire is now taking hold of us. We're less willing to live without it...Then demand morphs into need ("I will...")...We're now convinced that it would be impossible to live without it. It is now in control of our hearts. We think about it all the time. We are fearful when we're without it. We plot how to keep it in our lives.

Tripp goes on to describe how this need forms into expectation, which then turns into disappointment in God, followed by self-entitled anger toward him. 

We can't believe that God would say that he loves us yet not meet this "need." The fact is, God has been faithful to all that he's promised us, but this desire that morphed into a need is not something he's promised to give us...Because we now judge God as unfaithful, we quit trusting him as we should and let go of our good habits of faith.

God doesn't promise us earthly possessions, physical health, or relationships; He promises something much, much better: what we need. 

This is an incredible truth, and one I pray for God's grace to hold onto. I pray for the strength to look to Jesus while holding an open hand to my desires -- He does not withhold any good thing from his children! In fact, the more we trust and delight in Him, the deeper He transforms our desires to align with His will! 

"Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 (English Standard).

“…your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:8b (English Standard).

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:30-33 (English Standard).

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? . . . I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31-35, 38-39 (English Standard). 

Life During COVID-19

During this strange COVID-19 pandemic situation, I've had the opportunity to spend time with family, work on a few projects, and go on several adventures, and decided to document some of it here. Life doesn't stop just because there is a pandemic and the world is practically "shut down."

1. Family Time 

 This brother (16) has been growing like a weed lately, and when we accidentally matched a few weeks ago, he grudgingly agreed to a photo to 1) document our matchiness and 2) show just how much he's grown.

 Ending many evenings watching a TV show with my sister and brother-in-law and snuggling their youngest, Baby Chloe.

 Braving Costco for the first time with this sister (we had so much fun, honestly; it was amazing to be among people! The masks couldn't even put a damper on our excitement)

 These sisters and I went on a Memorial Weekend trip to the mountains, and had a lovely time going on a short hike, having lots of snacks, watching a few movies, conducting a spontaneous dance party, and staying up late talking.

 Silly group picture from our weekend trip.

A close friend and I "social distancing" running together this morning. My physical therapist finally cleared me for running 1 minute and then walking 10 -- six months post car accident, but at least it's progress!

2. Projects

 Playing around with cooking some more. The latest cooking adventure has been figuring out different ways to prepare fish. Working from home means I have more time to actually prepare real meals!

 Gluten free baking adventures! These are cinnamon rolls (before going into the oven, I think); they turned out amazingly well, and you couldn't tell they were gluten free.

 More gluten free baking adventures: dinner rolls (also super good)

Gardening! This is about 2/3 of my "garden"; the slugs got to my basil in the front yard, but we had the yard treated for slugs shortly thereafter, so I am hoping it will revive...

3. Miscellaneous "Adventures

I went into the office one day about a week or so to work on clearing some of the piles that had accumulated on my desk, and it was a bit overwhelming, to say the least. Wearing a mast was also a bit strange, but kind of exciting at the same time. 

 The conclusion of my second year of Russian classes was via Zoom -- and honestly, it wasn't really an issue. So thankful for the opportunity to take two years of classes! However, I feel like I still don't know hardly any Russian...

 Many, many Zoom and FaceTime calls with lovely people!

Driving two hours to watch the sunset on a Friday night.