Sugar Cookie Recipe

I posted about my sugar cookies around Christmas, but I have had a few friends asking for the recipe so I thought I just post it on here!

I just made some cookies, b/c my number one sugar cookie customer is coming into town, my brother! I am expecting them to arrive todaty! I can hardly wait. 

I made sugar cookie flowers this time around, take a look:

Half of the cookies look exactly like this . . .  White daisies with yellow trim.

And the other half look like this pink tulips, with green trim!

Here is the recipe!!

Sugar Cookies- Thick Cut Outs!!!!

6 egg yolks

4 eggs

2 cups butter softened

2 1/8 cups white flour

1 T. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

1 1/2 t. vanilla

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time mixing well.  Add vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Cover dough and chill at least one hour.  

Preaheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease cooke sheets. On a floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/2 inch thick and cut into desired shaped using cookie cutters. Place 2 inches apart on to the prepared pans.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.  Allow to cool on sheets for 5 mintues before placing on wire cooling rack.  

Royal Frosting

3 Egg whites room temperature

1 lb powdered sugar sifted, about 4 3/4 cups

1 t. vanilla

1/2 t. cream of tartar

food coloring as desired

Combine all ingredients in small deep bowl.  Beat with electric mixer until frosting is stiff.  Divide and color.  Keep frosting covered with damp cloth when not using, b/c it will harden. Now have fun and get creative!!

Anniversary Two Today!

Today, we begin year three of our marriage, I can hardly believe how fast time zips by! It seems like just yesterday I was putting on my pearls and gown and getting all nervous to walk down that aisle.

Our two years have been filled with everything but NORMALCY and for that I'm glad. :)  Above is a picture of Adam's anniversary gifts. This is a tradition I started last year.  You wrap a gift that starts with the letter of each letter of the word for the number of year that you are married.  What do you think is inside??  hmm??  Here's a picture of what it looked like last year!

And this is why I love my husband:

• He keeps life fun and entertaining
• Because of him there is always music in our home, either from a stereo or coming from Adam the beat box himself
• His commitment to unity in relationships with others wows me
• He's darling, cute, handsome . . .
• His desire to find common ground 
• The way he is so relational 
• He prioritizes our marriage
• He's funny and makes me laugh
• He is CONTINUALLY learning and growing in the Lord
• He listens to the Lord and is patient
• He shows me my faults and helps me grow
• He shows me where I'm doing well
• He takes care of all the tech needs we have

I love you Adam Scheidegger!  Happy Anniversary!

Pioneer Woman's Slightly Adjusted Taco Pizza

So today we ate Linner or Dunch. . .  which means we filled our bellies full around 4:30.  I have been so excited to try Pioneer Woman's Taco Pizza.  That she posted a few weeks ago. I finally got around to getting the stuff at the store and I whipped it up this afternoon. It was so tasty.

Adam asked?   What kind of meet is on this "taco pizza"?  I responded . . . "there is no meat". He was like then "how can it be taco". Men!!  However, once he tasted it he was sold.

I give all royalties to The Pioneer Woman, but I switched it up just a little bit.  I used a Pilsbury crust instead of making my own, I added black olives for the yum factor, and because husband loves it I used Chipotle Tobasco for the Hot Sauce.  This was so good, and perfect on a hot day with the cool crispness of the saladish topping.  Here is the  recipe.

Here's a picture of the finished product:

Here's Adam's Piece just before he devoured it!

It's great paired with a Big Ben's Root Beer.

Are you looking for a devotional or study?

I wanted to share today about a devotional book that I have been working my way through.  It is called Jesus 90 Days with the One and Only, and the author is Beth Moore.  It's a great resource.  Each day you read a passage and work your way through her interactive material as well.

Beth's book is so well written and helps you as the reader to both learn academically about our Savior, and to also connect your heart to Him as you work through this on a daily basis.  I can't tell you how many days the Lord, had certain stories just perfectly planned out for me as I went through this. I feel like the Lord has given me such much direction from His life. Also, the stories of Christ continually remind me of the aim of the Christian life.  Often we mutter Christianity with "extras", but reading through the gospels brings it back to the core.

It's been really fun, because we just finished going through the book of Luke with our youth and I've also been  listening to Todd Wagner from Watermark on the book of John. It's been so fun to see a lot of dots connect as I am learning about Christ.  I feel very thankful.

Here is a picture of the book, I found my used and cheap, with no writing in it!  It was dedicated For Becky from Mother in December of 2008, Ha ha. I just rededicated it like this:  To Kim From the Giver of Peace and Wisdom. 2011

Cooking Time!

A few weeks ago, when Adam was away at a men's retreat with our church, I had a friend come over and we did some serious cooking that afternoon.  The goal was to give her a few tips on cooking, but we had a lot of fun.

I have been obsessed with The Pioneer Woman  for quite sometime now and make her recipes often. I have never been disappointed. It's really great because she posts pictures of all the steps so you know what you are getting into before you attempt it.  The two recipes below are from her site.  The chicken was a guest chef and the pasta is her recipe.

Sabrina and I made an Herb Roasted Chicken. Here's the little guy before he went into the oven!

And here is the chicken after it has been cooked--- oh my gosh was it delicious. Similiar to those grocery store rotisserie chickens, but better flavor and it wasn't sitting under a heat lamp all day.

 Then we made Pasta ai Quattro Formaggi. Basically a four cheese pasta. You can really use whatever cheese you want. We used, Romano, parmesan, asiago, and goat cheese. The goat cheese makes it nice and creamy (well that and the whole cream you put in!). It was delish!

We also steamed up some fresh brocolli, but I didn't get a picture of that!! 

What have you cooked lately that you absolutely love??? 

Rickett's Glen State Park

On memorial day, we went to Rickett's Glen State Park .  It was a spontaneous last minute trip, that ended up being so much fun.  We went with two other couples one with their fun kiddos!  Rickett's Glen is known for it's 21 Waterfalls. It's basically uphill the whole way, and BONUS at the top there is a beach!  We at dinner at the beach. It was a wonderful day just to enjoy God's amazing creation and community.

Here are some pics:

 Adam taking a picture of the crew:

Taking a break looking at one of the beautiful Waterfalls.

Adam and I  . . . I guess I am gazing into his eyes! :)

Beautiful!

This was a Waterfall that you could stand behind and see the water fall like a sheet of water. So amazing.

A Sin that We all Too often Embrace

I thought I'd write today about something pretty close to my heart. Something that I think can be a sin struggle for a lot of Christians if not all at sometime or another. I have certainly wrestled with it.  It is a sin that can even look "Godly" on the outside.  The church often embraces it.  Others might even encourage it at times. However, this is an ugly and messy sin, and it can keep us from fully devoting our lives to pleasing God.  

What is this sin you ask? !!!!

People Pleasing. When we worry about what others will think, what others will say, or how we will be perceived more than we are concerned about what God thinks then we have created an idol out of people.   Galatians  1:10 says,  "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (ESV)  When we aim is to please anyone other than God alone, we will fail. Not only will we fail, but he is our MASTER, and when we meet Him one day it will matter. Colossians 3:23-24, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

Maybe your thinking, "But come on, practically speaking, I have to do this or that for this person . . . people do have expectations?" How does this really play out? Hear this, "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him." Ephesians 6:5-9 (ESV) God wants us to work at all times and in all situations that we are serving him even when others are involved.  Not only that, His expectations, yes His expectations are the ONLY expectations, again THE only expectations that truly count.  

Why does it matter for the church as a whole?  If we spend time pleasing one another in the church and doing only what makes one another happy, God would not be honored. God says, in Colossians 3:23,  "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,."  When we live for him, and not for ourselves, we can truly get after the work of the Lord.  

Anyone else struggle with this? Any thoughts?