Homemade Caramel Sauce

December 23, 2012

The Lord is kind, and his timing is perfect. Last Friday I had the opportunity to tour a local food bank that I plan to feature here on the blog in the new year. Talking with the staff, observing the volunteers, and taking in all the information about the services and material assistance they provide to their clients was humbling and exciting, providing timely encouragement to me at just the right moment. Cooking and developing new recipes for dishes that are balanced in flavor and texture are activities that I greatly enjoy and spend much of my time doing, but …

Hot Chocolate, Three Ways

December 20, 2012

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking this week with most of my thoughts exploring the suffering in our world. Suffering has been my close companion over the last three years, having experienced two difficult pregnancies and births; postpartum depression x2; pneumonia (while pregnant); chronic fatigue and joint pain; a busted leg; and in the last 24 hours, one nasty stomach flu. The challenges I’ve faced have been hard to handle, especially since I’ve always been very healthy, joyful, and relatively fit. In my mind’s eye, I’m a capable person, so I go at life full force but then am …

White Chocolate Popcorn with Orange Zest, Cranberries, and Pistachios

December 16, 2012

In the midst of Seattle suburbia, I sit in my living room, the only sound being the hum of the furnace that warms my toes on these colder winter days. My belly is full from leftover black bean stew, tortilla chips, and an avocado that was at the peak of ripeness. Its flesh was perfectly soft under my fork as I mashed it, and it was without a single dark speck. It’s not often that I pick them so well. The children are sleeping now. Elijah has a fever today, yet Tylenol is keeping it at bay. If it persists …

{Soft} Whole Wheat Molasses Cookies

December 12, 2012

It’s been 9 days since my fall, and I’m happy to report I’m alive and well! Range of motion in my leg is increasing, and the pain is all but gone; the biggest challenge I’m facing right now is itching at the wound site and skin irritation from having my leg bandaged for so long. Certainly those things are bothersome, but I figure if that’s the worst of my troubles, I’m doing alright. The timing of the accident was in some respects ideal. My calendar was full beyond what it should have been, and like the wave of a magic …

Chewy Meringue Rosettes

December 4, 2012

My intention was to share this recipe with you sooner; however, a nasty fall at the gym on Monday morning led to my plans for this week being completely revised. It’s a surreal feeling to look down at your own shin and think, “Hey, that’s a really deep gash, and, oh, that’s my bone.” Needless to say, it’s been a painful ordeal, requiring 8 stitches to put everything back together, and I’m exceedingly grateful towards those who have shown me kindness the last couple of days. At the moment, I’m laid up at home, using a cane to get around …

Pepper Lynn Loving people through food

Monthly Archives: December 2012

Homemade Caramel Sauce

Hot Chocolate, Three Ways

White Chocolate Popcorn with Orange Zest, Cranberries, and Pistachios

Chewy Meringue Rosettes