Start of Something New

What: Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Why: because it's October and I must bake something with pumpkin in it #bestseason #fallisbestofall
Who: GCEM community
Fact: Chilling the dough is mandatory (at least for 30 minutes)
Need:

- 2 stick of unsalted butter
- 1/4 dark brown sugar
- 1/2 granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoons pumpkin puree
- 1 and 1/2 cups all purpose-flour
- 1/4 teaspoon sald
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice

little poop droppings hehe

I'm still waiting for fall to start in SoCal.  Why is it so warm? Bleh.  Just going to pretend that its cold outside while eating these.. OTL

happy baking xx

Girlfriends + Doggyfriends

What: Earl Grey Macarons

Why: G.N.I baking & cooking
Where: Hanster's Casa

Junior & Gucci meet for the 1st time 

Earl Grey Macarons 

I take absolute no credit for these tasty treats.  All credits go to Hanster and Euni, but I wanted to add it to my blog just to show them off and the cute doggie friends.  Also, I've wanted to make the ramen burger and have a doggie playdate for the longest time.  Thank you, God for making both of these things happen on the same night/weekend.  haha.  It's now been a little over a week since I've been dog-sitting my sister's dog, Gucci.  Her and her kids went on a camping trip last weekend and I finally finally finally got the opportunity and the 'okay' from my parents to bring the little guy home.  What was supposed to be just a weekend has become a week and now I am so attached and don't want him to go...I would also like to believe that Gucci has attached to me as well as he follows me around literally everywhere.  My parents are slowly falling in love with him too, but the guilt of taking my nieces and nephews dog is kill me so...I must return him asap.  (Still, I would like to believe (or actually know) that Gucci is happier with my parents and I..but oh...well.)

OH and I'm thankful for these girls I get to call friends and for these dogs that bring me so much joy and comfort...

Clearly, this one wasn't really a baking how-to post, but more of a 'its-nice-to-bake-with-loved-ones' kind of a post. Even when the product doesn't come out the way you want it, at least you get to spend time with your loved ones laughing about it.  

Happy baking xx 

Easy As 1, 2, 3

What: Shortbread Scottish Biscuits dipped in chocolate
Need: Flour, Butter, & Sugar
Why: Because I finally more of a reason to bake for my community (but didn't have time to make something grand)
Fact: poking holes with a fork on the cookie dough before putting it in the oven will create perfect cookies without any bubbles

Chocolate is optional 

These came out a bit hard because I put them into the fridge for the chocolate to set, but eating them with a cup of coffee makes them perfect. 

ps. happy baking! 

Studying For Jesus

Secret study spot thanks to Euni 

Going to change up the topic of my blog a little bit this weekend.

When I started this baking blog, I wanted to to make it about Jesus; baking for His glory that is.  Every time I get to bake I remind myself of the little things that I get to do in glorying God and I am so thankful for those moments.

As my new semester started as a full time grad. student and my responsibilities at work growing (it feels like), I found myself in the mist of my old habits of getting overwhelmed by everything that needs to be checked off in my agenda on a day to day basis.  After a week of frustrated tears of asking God why I needed to be in school for so much longer and not knowing what I was doing at Biola and with my teaching career even though it seemed so simple for others, I was gently reminded in the mist of all my tantrums that pride had been built up in me.

One of my classmate in my program prayed thanking God how blessed we are to be getting an education that is glorifying Him as well as something we want to do for the rest of our lives and it left me speechless.  If I am learning to teach as Jesus taught I must be aware that "teaching is an art of serving, a process of humbly guiding others not to oneself but to the Lord and his Word.  Therefore, pride is totally inappropriate in a teacher" (Roy B. Zuck, Teaching as Jesus Taught).

I'm so thankful that despite my ugly tantrums, God brings me to this point of gentle rebukes, forgiveness, and encouragement.  Even though I may not know what God is doing in my life, I am surely in good hands and that through the process' I will experience His love, care, and provision as everything comes together perfectly (Eccles. 3:11).

Jesus, You know me better than I know myself and for that I am so relieved and thankful...

E is for Earl Grey Cookies

What: Early Grey Cookies
What:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons loose earl grey tea leaves (6 tea bags)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup or 2 sticks room temperature butter

Fact: Salt brings out more of the sweetness! food science is amazing. 

so simple

it smells UH-mazing! 

Before the oven

After - perfect golden edges

Note to self:

1. refrigerate cookie dough for at least an hour (the longer the better) 

You win some. You lose some.

What: Nutella Stuffed Cinnamon Muffins

Need:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 8 teaspoons Nutella

Cinnamon Topping

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

How: quickandeasyrecipes

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper liners; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder and salt.
3. In a large glass measuring cup or another bowl, whisk together milk, vegetable oil, egg and vanilla. Pour mixture over dry ingredients and stir using a rubber spatula just until moist.
4. Scoop a spoonful of batter evenly into the muffin tray. Drop 1 teaspoon Nutella into the center of each cup. Top with remaining batter to completely cover the filling.
5. Place into oven and bake for 13-15 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. To make the cinnamon sugar, combine the cinnamon and sugar.
7. When the muffins are done, cool for 10 minutes and dip the muffin crown into the melted butter and then into the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
8. Let cool on a wire rack.

I've had a bit of a sweet tooth all day and decided to whip up something simple, but the moment I mixed everything together and realized how liquid-y it still was..I knew I messed up. Still, I decided to just go ahead and bake them and it turned out okay + I definitely need to work on making the topping look a bit more presentable next time haha.  

Man, this summer has been tough, but it'll all be over in about 2 weeks. I reached my 6 month mark at work which feels like a huge accomplishment (...it's been tough lol).  I'm excited for the summer program to finally end and for the school year to begin (both mine and the kids).  

Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. A verse I had to come back to over and over again this summer. Thankful how God is so faithful to meet me where I am even when I'm not being faithful to Him :') #bakingforJesus 

till next time..xx

Matcha Green Tea Cookies

I loved baking these cute cookies so much that I made them twice this week.  They were Mom and Dad approved too! The first batch was for Mama Kim and I was surprised at how simple they were to make (& quick). I was on a time crunch, but was able to whip it all together in about an hour! I'm just going to let the pictures speak for themselves.

Recipe inspired by: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNQm7TNQijE

p.s. I also found these little treasures in the sales section at Michaels today. hehe. Can't wait to start using them. 

p.p.s. Happy August! holy moly....