Sunday Scripture

I have sung this song many times in church, but yesterday I was listening to it in my car and God really spoke to me. I found this video and wanted to you to watch it too!

God's love NEVER fails, even when I turn away
and HE make all things work together for my good


How incredible is that?




-Amelia

Homemade Bagels

If you haven't noticed already, I love breakfast. I wake up starving and ready to eat. My husband doesn't understand it. He could care less about eating first thing in the morning. He doesn't get hungry until around 11, and by then I am ready for lunch. I think it must come from teaching Kindergarten for 4 years and having to eat lunch at 10:00.

Anyway, after our Girls' Trip to Asheville last week I have had a craving for bagels. My sister-in-law, Ashley, and I went to City Bakery every morning for a bagel and a cup of coffee. They had these incredible Oatmeal Bagels. They were so delicious with some yummy cream cheese.

So last night, I decided to try making my own. It was so easy! I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly they came together.
It is a bit of a process, but if you have the time you should definitely give them a try.

I used this recipe from AllRecipes.com. I used the suggestion in the comments section and used whole wheat flour and oatmeal.

Mix the dry ingredients in the mixer, then add the wet. Mix for 3 minutes and then placed on a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Then form into little balls. Poke a hole through the center and slowly form the bagels around your finger. Let those sit for 20 minutes. While you are waiting, boil some water and add 1 tablespoon of sugar.
Boil the bagels 4 at a time for about 7 minutes.

Place on a greased cookie sheet.

At this point I added some Cinnamon Sugar to some of the bagels.
(I'm going to work on making them prettier and more of a bagel shape)

Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes. I let them cool completely and then stored them in a container for breakfast this week!

They are delicious and see, they really aren't hard!
Mine turned out to be the same size as the Mini-Bagels that you buy in the store,
but that was just perfect for me.


Yummy with my morning coffee...go make some of your own!

Here is the final recipe with all of the changes:

Oatmeal Honey Bagels

Ingredients

• 1 cup white flour
• 2 cups wheat flour
• 1.5 cups of ground oatmeal
• 4 tablespoons honey
• 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon white sugar

Directions

1. In large bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups flour and yeast. Mix water, 3 tablespoons sugar and salt together, and add to the dry ingredients. Beat with a mixer for half a minute at a low speed, scraping the sides of the bowl clean. Beat at a higher speed for 3 minutes. Then, by hand, mix in enough flour to make a moderately stiff dough.
2. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (8-10 minutes). Cover, let rest for 15 minutes.
3. Cut into 12 portions, shape into smooth balls. Poke a hole in the center with your finger, and gently enlarge the hole while working the bagel into a uniform shape. Cover, let rise 20 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, start a gallon of water boiling. Put 1 tablespoon of sugar in it, mix it around a bit. Reduce to simmering.
5. When the bagels are ready, put 4 or 5 bagels into the water, and cook 7 minutes, turning once. Drain them. Place on a greased baking sheet, and bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven, eat hot or cold.
6. Broiling option: For a glossier surface, place raised bagels on an ungreased baking sheet prior to boiling them. Broil them five inches from heat for 1 to 1-1/2 minutes on each side. Then put them into the hot water to be boiled as above. Note: do not bake broiled bagels as long as non-broiled ones, 25 minutes should be long enough.

-Amelia

Girls Trip

Last weekend, my momma took my sister-in-law and me to Asheville, NC for a Girls' Weekend.

We stayed at the beautiful Grove Park Inn and had a blast!!

This was the view from our room.
Absolutely Gorgeous.


The weekend was full of lots of yummy food...

(This is the yummy biscuit we got at the Tupolo-YUM!)


Lots of shopping...
I got these awesome boots (SCORE) from Vintage Moon in downtown Asheville.
We fell in love with the shop and had so much fun trying things on! Such a fun store!

This is how she packaged up our goodies.
I love the vintage bags with the toile tissue paper.


And lots of fun times!!

In front of the beautiful fire place at the inn.

Shopping in downtown Asheville

Thanks to Ashley for letting me borrow all of her pictures. Silly me forgot my camera!!!

-Amelia

Cupcake Pincushion

I am VERY new to sewing, but it is a hobby that I have really grown to enjoy.

I bought a container of pretty colored pins the other day and I realized that I needed a cute pincushion to stick them in while I'm sewing.
So, I found an old yellow candle holder and some scrap fabric and got to work.

To make it, I cut a circle out of my fabric. Then put some batting in the circle and hot glued it closed. Then I hot glued the little pouch into the candle holder. I added some ribbon and voila, a cute Cupcake Pincushion that makes me happy when I sew.

One day, I want to have a "Craft Room", but for now I have a little corner of our guest room. The pincushion adds a splash of color to my sewing table!

Since we are on the topic of cupcakes, PLEASE check out the blog, Cupcakes and Cups.
I can't wait to try the Popcorn Cake.

-Amelia

Sunday Scripture-a little late

"I know whom I believed, and am convinced that he is able to GuArd what I have entrusted to him for that day"
2 Timothy 1:12

-Amelia

a story to warm your heart.

Never would I have thought that walking into Wal-mart today would have left me with such a warm heart. I saw the Lord's work today and I feel compelled to share it with you.

For the past few days I have had a yucky bump on my eyelid. It's pink and swollen and I look a tad bit like Quasimodo from Disney's "Hunchback of Notre Dame."
(I'm sorry for the details....keep reading...I promise this is part of the story)

(http://www.animatedheroes.com/quasimodo.html)

Anyway, I went to my optometrist, which just so happens to be located inside Wal-Mart. I didn't have an appointment, so I had to wait quite a while for the doctor to see me.

When I first got there a man was sitting in the waiting room. I sat down across from him and he started talking to me. He told me that he was a painter and that he also picked up random other jobs. He was very friendly and we talked for a while.

A little later an older man came in. He was obviously there a lot, because the receptionist knew him by name. He was so cute. He had on bright green pants, a yellow sweater, wool socks, a blue paper boy cap, and a Members Only jacket. His hands were shaky and he shuffled his feet when he walked.

In a very loud voice, the receptionist asked him if he would like to go ahead and pay before his appointment. He nodded and shuffled up to the desk. She told him it would be $60. So, with his shaky hands, he pulled out three 20 dollar bills one by one. It seemed like his hands quivered more and more with each one.

Without flinching, the man beside me stood up and handed the receptionist $60. He told the old man to put his money away, this was on him.

The old man just stood there. At first he didn't understand. Again, he handed the receptionist the money she had asked for. She explained that the man had paid for his visit...to put his money away.

The man beside me told the old man that he just felt like it was something he needed to do.

With tears in his eyes, the old man said, "God bless you. I hope you get to live as long as I have..at 87 years old."


It was so awesome to watch God move throughout the room.
I was so blessed by this act of kindness.


The coolest part:
When the man beside me went to pay for his, something had happened with his insurance and instead of owing $80....he only had to pay $20.
The difference-$60.

-Amelia

Tasty Tuesday

Time for another Tasty Tuesday. Here are some recipes I thought sounded tasty.

Snow Tea- Finding Joy in my Kitchen
This sounds so yummy and comforting on a cold night like we've been having lately.
Can't wait to try this alternative to Hot Chocolate.

OR if you do want hot chocolate, try this:
Nutella Hot Chocolate-Barefoot and Baking
YUM!

Honey-Oatmeal Sandwich Bread-Brown Eyed Baker
I love bread and I love oatmeal in bread. I will be baking this soon. Yum!

Baked Mozzerella Balls- How Sweet it is
How fabulous do these look? and they are a healthier version to Mozzerella sticks.
I love that even more!


As always, let me know if you get to make any of these!

-Amelia

Ice Day

We had a mix of sleet and snow with lots of ice this morning and it is supposed to last into the afternoon and evening.

Our cars have "ice beards."

My teacher work day was canceled and James didn't have to go to work either.(I love living in the south!!!) I took advantage of a lazy chilly morning and made these pancakes. They were so yummy!!!

Gather these ingredients and make some for yourself.

YUM!

-Amelia

Sunday Scripture

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
Lamentations 3:22-24

Happy Background

I wanted to share these super cute backgrounds with you! They made me so happy today. It's the little things, people. Go visit We Love To Illustrate and download one for your desktop background. They are so fun! I also got a chance to check our their website. Those girls are so talented and provide such awesome resources. I was so happy to stumble upon their website.

Enjoy!

I am going to download this one for February. LOVE the owls!

This is the one I picked for January! It makes me smile!

Amelia

Winter Transformation

I wanted to make my dining room look "wintery." I was a little down after all the Christmas things were gone, so I wanted to change things up a bit and add some Winter touches. When I think winter-I think silver, white, and light blue. So first, I put down a table runner (okay, they are two pillowcases placed close together. You go with what you got right?), then I layed 3 white damask napkins diagonally on top. I had some brown rattan balls that I never use, so I spray painted them silver and placed them in a crackled glass urn in the middle.

Then I added my china and two hurricanes with white candles. I usually never decorate with blue or silver…I love it…I just usually stick with greens and gold, but I love this look! Now, all I need are the silver changers I am taking borrowing from my mom!

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

-Amelia

Tasty Tuesdays

Tuesdays I'm going to start posting recipes that I have seen online or in cookbooks that I want to make. Hopefully you will find somethings you want to try also!

Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes- The Idea Room
These look A.MAZ.ING. I mean, how could they not be, you are taking 2 already fabulous breakfast items and making them into an even more fantastic looking breakfast.
I can't wait to try these!

Asian Cabbage Salad- Our Best Bites
This salad looks awesome...and it's healthy. (After you eat these Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes you could have the Salad for dessert-They cancel each other out. I promise.)

Chocolate Chip Cheeseball-Mel's Kitchen Cafe
Yum. Just, Yum.

Beef Stroganoff in the CrockPot-Mel's Kitchen Cafe
Anything in the crockpot, I love and this just looks yummy and perfect for a cold night.

The next recipe I copied from my friend, Anne's new cookbook. She is getting married in May and her sister made her an awesome cookbook with recipes from their friends and family. This recipe looked yummy and really easy. I will have to give this a try.

Sausage Vegetable Soup

1 (14 oz) can fat free beef broth

1 (14 oz) can Italian Stewed Tomatoes

2 cup water

2 cups frozen Ore-Ida Potatoes

1 Bag frozen veggies

1 (7oz) butterball lean turkey smoked sausage link

1/8 t pepper

The butterball sausage should come packaged as 2 (7oz) links. Cut one link lengthwise, and then slice into bite sized pieces (refrigerate the other link or freeze for later use). Chop the tomatoes with kitchen scissors while still in the can. Combine the broth, undrained tomatoes, and water in a large pot. Stir in the potatoes, vegetables, sausage and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Let me know if you get to try any of these before me. It's a good thing I found the recipe for Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes after Christmas Break otherwise I would have made them every morning for breakfast!!!

-Amelia

Sad Day.

I said I would post pictures of my dining room today.

But, sadly I haven't had a chance to take any.

Let me start this by saying that I lose things a lot.
I am constantly misplacing my cell phone, camera, glasses, etc. I think it is part of my spastic personality. It's a problem, I realize. I really have been trying to work on it.
In fact, it was part of my New Year's Resolution.

Well, my friends. It didn't start out so hot for me.
Okay, now on to the story.

Last night when I was getting ready for bed I realized that I had somehow, somewhere, lost my Clemson Class Ring.
(Photo from Herff Jones)
Mine is just like this one, but I graduated in 06.

I wear it everyday and it is so special to me. At night, when I get ready to wash my face, I ALWAYS put my rings in the same place (I have trained myself to do this because I do lose things so often). That's when I realized it was missing.

Other than going out once, we spent the rest of the day cleaning, so I'm thinking it HAS to be in this house SOME.WHERE.

We have torn the house apart. Retraced steps. Looked like fools at 12AM using flashlights to search parking lots in our pajamas. Taken cushions out of the sofas and chairs. Taken the garbage disposal and sink pipes apart. Searched through trash.
NO Ring.


I am SO. SAD.

I am really hoping it will turn up.

-Amelia

un-Christmasified

Except for the Christmas colored candy, our house is officially "Un-Christmasified."

It makes me sad knowing that Christmas is over and that I have to go back to work tomorrow, but there is something about taking everything down that makes the house feel "fresh" and " new." We spent the day cleaning so it not only feels fresh, but clean as well!! It's nice to have a clean house before going back to work.

I wanted to share this cool trick I learned with you. I took the tablecloth and table pads off of my dining room table last night, only to find that I had 3 huge water spots (that's the best way I know to describe them-3 white circles) on my table. One in the middle and two on one side.

I can't figure out what in the world caused these circles because-
1. I had the table pad covering the entire table.
2. There wasn't any food or drinks in the middle of the table where the biggest circle was.
3. I had placemats AND the table cover where people had their drinks.

I immediately tried furniture polish...no luck. I called my grandma and she told me to try laying a dishtowel over them and lightly iron over the spot on low with no steam....no luck.
Then I decided to do some research online.
I found three sources that said to try toothpaste. As crazy as that sounded to me, all of the people online said it worked.

IT DOES!!!

I used Crest Whitening and put a dime sized amount on a wet rag and rubbed over the spot in a circular motion. It went away instantaneously. How crazy is that??
I was amazed and then proceeded to clean my entire table with toothpaste. It made the table really shiny! haha Hopefully you won't, but if you ever find water spots on wood pieces, try this trick. It has to be paste... the gel doesn't work.

I am working on Winter Decorations for my newly cleaned and shiny table.
Look for pictures tomorrow! :)

-Amelia