Sweet Potato, Pear, and Carrot Soup

{ when there's snow, there's soup. }Another snowstorm.  Another cold winter's day.  Another perfect day for soup.  I had 3 large sweet potatoes on hand.  But I wanted to find something that would complement it.  So I looked in the fridge and found this glistening Bosc pear. Perfect.And then I also saw some carrots which I decided would be a good addition to the soup as well (forgot to take a picture though).   I adapted a recipe from Taste of Home and it was fabulous.  I will definitely be making this again - snowstorm or not.  But quite truthfully, I'm hoping to never see another snowflake again this winter unless it's a garnish on a soup.  :)Sweet Potato, Pear, and Carrot Soup{ Makes: 6 servings; Prep time: 15...

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A Mother's Calling

{ my beautiful calling }I miss the point, and I miss it all the time.  I focus my time, energy, and emotions on things that mean so little when you look at the big picture of life.  I want things to be organized and orderly.  I want my home to be orderly, my kids, my day, my life.  I want it all put together, flawless, and simple.  And when things don't go that way, I lose it.  I get flustered, frustrated, and frantic.  Why don't things go the way I plan???And when you have two boys - 2.5-years-old and 16-months-old - it NEVER goes as planned.  Meals I spend a good deal of time preparing get chucked on the floor, or someone poops again at the most inopportune time, or one wakes up due to night terrors while the other is restless from...

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Korean Vegetable Pancakes

{ crispy, savory vegetable pancakes }Korean pancakes (pa-jeon) are a popular appetizer or side dish in Korean culture.  It's hearty and filling enough to be a meal in itself.  Pa-jeon is absolutely amazing when eaten piping hot straight off the stove.  So wonderfully savory and delicious.   It's usually served with a dipping sauce consisting of soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar.  You can find many variations of the pancake - most common are scallion, kimchi, or seafood.   Seafood pancake (called hae-mul pa-jeon) is my absolute favorite; it consists of squid, clams, shrimp, and scallions.I wanted to make some pa-jeon for the boys for lunch, but I didn't have any seafood on hand.  So I decided to make vegetable pancakes instead. ...

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Toffee Coffee Dark Chocolate Brownies

My hubby loves coffee.  He drinks it like it's water.  He also loves dark chocolate.  So he went ga-ga over these brownies.  He did prefer it without the frosting, but I liked it with and since I was doing the baking, guess who won?  :)Toffee Coffee Dark Chocolate BrowniesAdapted from Better Homes & Gardens{ Makes: 20 brownies; Prep: 25 min.; Bake: 35 min. }Ingredients1 19.8- or 21-ounce package dark chocolate brownie mix1/2 cup toffee pieces 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder or instant coffee crystals2/3 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)Directions:Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan and set aside.Prepare brownie mix according to package directions, except stir the 1/2 cup toffee pieces, the espresso powder, and chopped walnuts into...

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Kimchi Bulgogi Pizza

{ you'll never guess the secret ingredient in this pizza.  okay, you got me.  the title gives it away. }You know those crazy Koreans who eat kimchi with everything?  Thanksgiving dinner, meatballs, Subway sandwiches, chicken noodle soup, pizza.  Yes, pizza.  Just in case don't know what kimchi is, it's fermented seasoned cabbage that's a staple in a Korean's diet.  It's usually served as a side dish ("bahn-chan") with the main meal.  Bulgogi is a deliciously marinated beef usually prepared with soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, and sugar.  You can buy kimchi and bulgogi at most Asian markets.I remember when someone first told me about kimchi bulgogi pizza back in college and raved about how good it was.  I thought she was completely nuts! ...

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God's Will for Our Lives

{ Richard Stearns, World Vision president and author of The Hole in Our Gospel.Image from the book press release.}James and I, along with our church growth group, have been reading The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns (he's the president of World Vision).  I've only read the first 5 chapters and have already sopped the pages with countless tears.  Stearns' testimony is amazingly powerful.  The way in which God gripped his heart to action and change is compelling.  If you know nothing about Richard Stearns, he was a successful, wealthy corporate CEO (he sold fine china to the rich) who also happened to be a Christian and lived a model Christian life.  He went to church every Sunday, had a wonderful marriage, went to Bible study, tithed...

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Cream Puffs with Custard and Fruit Filling

{ this might very well put beard papa's out of business. }I wish someone had told me before how easy it is to make cream puffs.  It would have saved me a lot of money and trips to Fort Lee and the Upper West Side for Beard Papa's.  I feel it's my civic duty to pass on the knowledge and share with you how simple these scrumptious desserts are to make.  I may be putting Beard Papa's out of business by doing so.  Sorry 'bout that.  [If you want to skip all the verbiage and just get to the recipe, scroll down to the bottom of this post.]We had friends over for dessert on Saturday and then our neighbor over on Sunday to watch the football game (go Jets!).  I wasn't sure what to make for dessert for the evenings so I sat skimming through my Taste...

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