I feel so dumped on lately. So many things in my life have not gone the way I wanted them to…or at least the way I hoped. It has been hard to keep up good spirits when I constantly feel like I am getting beat down.

I am praying, hard, that something good will happen. I don’t see how I can last in such a negative environment for much longer. I cried in the car all the way home. Work is killing my soul and sanity. I feel so used and mistreated. There is constant rudeness, stress and negativity, not what I signed up for.

I know that God’s timing is a LOT different than ours, but at this point, I am hoping He has something in store for me. Little things have seemed to go wrong as well, just everything.

I need a weekend away from everything. I just need to recharge and figure out a plan. I really wish that we were born with blueprints. I am so confused and bewildered right now. I am not sure what direction God wants me to go.

Introducing

I would like to introduce my newest blog! Northwoods Baker! I have always loved cooking and decided it was time to split Thirsty into a whole new cooking/baking blog! Please come visit. Right now it is full of "Thirsty" repeats, but coming soon are new recipes!

 Share the wood...I mean word! I would love some new followers and please feel free to share your favorite recipes!

Turkey Tequila Burgers

Turkey Tequila Burgers

(printer friendly burger)

2 cloves garlic
1 jalapeno, seeded
1 lb ground turkey
3 TBSP cilantro
1/2 tsp lime juice
2 TSBP tequila
Dash of soy sauce
Dash of salt and pepper
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
Garnish with hamburger buns, bell pepper and onion

Mix together garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, tequila, soy sauce and salt and pepper. Blend in a food processor till pureed.
Pour the puree into a bowl and mix in ground turkey and bread crumbs.
Make into four or five patties. Grill or broil for 14 minutes or until cooked thoroughly.

Garlic Pepper Asparagus

 

Garlic Pepper Asparagus

(printer friendly version)

My husband and I love asparagus and roasted it is SO easy and tasty! I have tried various topping and we really enjoyed this one with dinner tonight!

Garlic Pepper Asparagus

1 lb. fresh asparagus
1 TBSP garlic infused olive oil (or Wildtree Roasted Garlic Grapeseed Oil)
6 green onions, chopped
1 TSP black pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with tin foil. Spread the asparagus out on the sheet and top with olive oil. Mix the asparagus to coat with the olive oil. Top with the green onions and sprinkle with pepper.
Bake for 15 minutes and then enjoy!

Trust

Mummy Cupcakes

Turtle Cupcakes with Fondant Decorations

Let's start with the fondant. This was the first time I tried make fondant and I was really excited how well it turned out. The cupcakes did not need the whole batch, so I might have to make a cake or something else tomorrow to use the rest of the batch. Although, the fondant last for a couple weeks in the fridge, so I don't have to rush!

 

Marshmallow Fondant Recipe 

From Peggy Weaver's Baking Corner

16 ounces white mini-marshmallows (use a good quality brand)
2 to 5 tablespoons water
2 pounds C&H Cane Powdered Sugar for the best results
1/2 cup Crisco shortening

Microwave the marshmallows. Stir every thirty seconds until completely melted.  Pour 3/4 of the bag of sugar into the marshmallow. Stir and then pour out onto a well greased counter. Grease your hands, in between fingers and wrists. Knead the ingredients like dough. Add the leftover powder slowly. It will get less sticky as you knead. If it gets too dry and tears add a little water. Coat the ball in shortening and wrap in plastic wrap. Then store in a plastic bag for up to three weeks. Let the ball warm up before using it on baked goods.

 

On to the next most tasty part!

Chocolate Turtle Cupcakes (with mummy decorations)

1 box of chocolate cake mix (I used a dark chocolate mix) (use directions on the box)

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup caramel bits 

Mix all the ingredients together, including the box directions. Bake according to directions on the box. Cool for at least an hour. Then decorate!

Mummy decorations!

Roll out the fondant and cut into thin strips. Frost the cupcakes with your favorite frosting and then lay the fondant on the cupcakes to take on the shape of mummy wraps.

For the eyes I used caramel bits with a little bit of red food coloring.

Then....TA DA! 

Happy Halloween!!!

Peace

These past two weeks have been a bit hectic in my life. I have waiting to hear back on some news and it didn’t exactly match up with the plans that I had for this week. Friday afternoon I was stressed. Friday night I couldn’t sleep. I was in bed, early Saturday morning, and I was frantically praying. I knew I needed to trust, but my brain was so full and would not shut off. 

I crawled out of bed and laid on the couch. I played with my iPod touch for about an hour and then finally, sleep was coming. I crawled into bed and such an amazing sense of peace overcame me. I was no longer struggling. Trust and peace. The most amazing part is that it is three days later and I still have that amazing sense of peace. Today might be the day for news, but if not, then I will not worry. God is in control. 

Through the last few weeks and my goal of increasing my prayer life I have really felt more close and in contact with God. I do feel like I have a more personal relationship and although, sometimes it does still feel like I am talking to a wall, my prayers are answered and I know that I am not alone.

The Waiting

Jorie King has been waiting for Benjamin Zook to return home to Lancaster County so they can marry. When news arrives that Ben has been killed, Jorie finds comfort in the friendship of his brother Caleb. That friendship ripens into love, and it seems that they are meant to be together. But when the unexpected happens, their worlds are turned upside down once more. Will Jorie trust God to lead her into the arms of a new man? A multifaceted story about complex people living the simple life, The Waiting is the second book in the LANCASTER COUNTY SECRETS series. Readers will find themselves transported into the world of the Amish and deeply invested in these wonderful characters. 

I really enjoyed The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher. It was an easy read, great story and very heartfelt. Fisher is a great writer, she definately draws you in to the story. I could definately relate to Jorie King and Caleb. I don't normally pick up books in this genre, but when I was offered the book for free to review I was in. I am glad I read it. It was nice to have something easy and enjoyable to read in the midst of a stressful week. 

The waiting is part of the Lancaster County Secrets series. I will definitely go back and read The Choice, but I did not have to read it before The Waiting because it was a stand-alone story. 

Plus! There is always a great plus! Enter to win your very own KINDLE in Suzanne Woods Fisher’s KINDLE Giveaway! Enter at the link below and then be sure to attend Suzanne’s Lancaster Secrets Book Club Party on October 28^th to see if you won (and to chat about books and win one of the MANY other prizes Suzanne is giving away)! http://www.litfusegroup.com/Blog-Tours/the-waiting-blog-tour.html

Recipe book

One of my amazingly talented friends came up with this idea and I had to kick myself for not thinking about it myself!

I constantly print out recipes from amazing online sites and had stacks of loose paper in my cupboard, on my kitchen counter and on top of my microwave. All in all, a mess.

BUT...TA DA:

 

It was a pretty cheap, easy but fun project. Just a binder, some tab inserts and plastic slipcovers!

Then I have some fun!

 

Here are some of my favorite sites for recipes!

• Sugarlaws
• Joy the Baker
• Delish
• Finding Joy in my Kitchen
• Brown Eyed Baker
• Food Porn Daily 
• Annie's Eats
• The Pioneer Woman Cooks
• Simply Recipes
• Food Network
• Pinch my Salt

Psalm 86

Last night I was reading Psalms and this one hit me like a brick. David’s words are my thoughts. I am constantly going back to this prayer. It sums up my feelings and emotions so well. And today, I am trusting in the Lord has I am hoping my path will change. He is in control and I am trying to trust and know that whatever happens is in His will. He will guide my footsteps. (But man, sometimes it is really hard to wait)

Psalm 86
A prayer of David.

 ¹ Hear, O LORD, and answer me,
       for I am poor and needy.

 ² Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
       You are my God; save your servant
       who trusts in you.

 ³ Have mercy on me, O Lord,
       for I call to you all day long.

 ⁴ Bring joy to your servant,
       for to you, O Lord,
       I lift up my soul.

 ⁵ You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
       abounding in love to all who call to you.

 ⁶ Hear my prayer, O LORD;
       listen to my cry for mercy.

 ⁷ In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
       for you will answer me.

 ⁸ Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
       no deeds can compare with yours.

 ⁹ All the nations you have made
       will come and worship before you, O Lord;
       they will bring glory to your name.

 ¹⁰ For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
       you alone are God.

 ¹¹ Teach me your way, O LORD,
       and I will walk in your truth;
       give me an undivided heart,
       that I may fear your name.

 ¹² I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
       I will glorify your name forever.

 ¹³ For great is your love toward me;
       you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

Trying to lose

I have been Weight Watchers for about two weeks. I really like the way the program is structured. I, for the most part, feel like I can successfully stay in my points during the day and feel full.

I have gained weight both weeks, and have gone over both daily and weekly points. It is so hard adjusting from what I normally eat than what I should be eating and eating out is what is mostly killing my plan.

This week I am going to do 100%. I am going to only use my daily points (you get daily points and an extra 35 points a week allowance). I am going to work out every day. I want to be healthy. I want to feel better about my body.

I would love encouragement! Leave any tips that work for you, ideas or just kind words! Thanks!

Prayer

Something I was reading (I can’t seem for the life of me to remember what it was) had this idea. It was a brilliant idea. Set an alarm for every hour and pray on the hour.

We are called to pray unceasingly. I have had such a hard time with prayer. I fall asleep praying at night, I pray when I have big decisions and when something bad has happened, but I forget to have the tiny little conversations during the day.

So today I set my work calendar up to do a “pop-up” reminder at every hour. I would anticipate the pop up and it was almost hard to wait till the hour to start praying.

I was amazed. I have felt a whole lot closer to God today than I do on a normal day. I feel more in-tune and since I know the pop up is coming up (only 57 minutes this time) I am constantly thinking about the prayers, God and my faith.

I challenge you to do the same. In just one day I realize how much of a difference constant prayer can and will have on my spiritual journey. Set your cell phone, iPod, Google calendar, kitchen timer, whatever you have and take just a few minutes to send up a prayer. I went through the large areas in my life, such as work, family, marriage, the future, God’s will and my relationship with God.

I really like the way I feel right now, I feel connected. I feel as though I am being heard. It is a great feeling. The more I pray the more I know that God is there, I am not just talking blankly to an empty wall.

I am going to find more new ways to pray and communicate with God, if you have any ideas please let me know! I will also share what I find!