"Wow, It Doesn't Taste Like Soap!"

...exclaimed one of my co-workers after taking a bite of the hit of the holiday season...pumpkin lavender bread!!

A few years ago, I met Annie, a lavender farmer in the greater Triangle area, and bought some awesome hand cream, an eye mask, and culinary lavender.

It exists!

Having not used the lavender in awhile, I decided to find a recipe. I checked out the farm's facebook page and spotted the pumpkin lavender bread. I had all of the ingredients at home...can't get much better than that!

I first took the bread to the office. I figured this was a safe bet because students are not too discerning about free food. If it did not taste good, the bread would still get eaten.

First bite...awesome! It has now made the rounds of Christmas Eve and Day, the Framily Dinner, a baby shower, leftovers at Bible study, a fraternity retreat, and somewhere else that I can't remember!

Here's the recipe...

3 cups all-purpose flour (I bake with 1/2 whole wheat pastry flour to all-purpose)
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon double-acting baking powder
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon (or to taste) finely ground Culinary Lavender
1 15-ounce canned pumpkin (or about 2 cups homemade)
2/3 cup salad oil (I use Smart Balance)
3 eggs, slightly beaten
extra dried lavender
sugar crystals, for dusting

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease well, two 9” x 5” loaf pans. In a large bowl,
with fork, mix flour with next 5 ingredients. (For the Culinary Lavender, try
adding 1/4 teaspoon at a time since a little goes a long way. Some like the
subtle taste, some like a little more. If you add too much, bitter will be the
result, so add carefully and like all great cooks, taste as you go.) Add
remaining ingredients and mix just until blended. Pour batter into pans.
Sprinkle some dried lavender and sugar crystals on top, for a really nice
finish.

Bake about 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool
in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely on
racks. When cool, wrap each loaf and store at room temperature. Makes 2 loaves.

Yum!

Not Really My New Year's

For those of us in education, New Year's is really the start of the school year. Seriously! If someone asks how long I have been in the area or at my current institution of higher education, I usually answer with the number of school years.

This also means that I usually set new resolutions and goals that begin in the middle of August. Maybe it takes some of the pressure off, but I can usually stick to them pretty well. With the end of the summer and a return to my "off-season activity," as the camp boss likes to call it, the timing is great. At "regular" New Year's, I usually revamp for the start of the second semester.

I've decided to post a few of my goals/to dos for each month as a way to give myself more accountability and perhaps remind myself to blog a little more frequently.

On the list for January 2012...

1. One Culinary Adventure: Making homemade pasta. On Saturday, two of my friends and I will be making ravioli from scratch. I've always wanted to do this, and you can be sure that I will blog about it (or link to my friend the professional photographer's blog...let's be honest.)

2. Organize my spice shelf. Must avoid the almost disaster from last week when I grabbed the cumin, not the cinnamon, for my oatmeal.

3. Get my living room mirror hung. I've owned it for nearly two years.

4. Turn my hangers around to see what I actually wear. I am reorganizing my closet by type and season. I am not a clothes-horse by any means. My friends can attest to this. Even so, I have really focused on trying to make sure my wardrobe is versatile and well-fitting. It makes it so much easier to get dressed and feel good!

5. Write 5 blog entries. It's the 9th so I need to get cracking.

6. Get rid of the give-away items piled near my door. I always picture my apartment getting lighter when I give stuff away.

7. One Crafty Adventure: Still working on just what it will be...

Let's see how it all goes!

The Super Late Prayer Buddy Reveal!

As a committed blog lurker over the past few years, you run into all sorts of fun blog stuff (I'm sure there is a real word, but I have no idea what it is.) I have yet to really participate, but one jumped out at me...Advent Prayer Buddies. With a brother deployed to a crazy part of the world doing a dangerous job, I'll take all the prayers and I good thoughts he can get! Thanks to TCIE and Mrs. Henderson for putting this whole crazy thing together.

My post is a little late because I have been traveling between family members for the last ten days with a few more days of travel to go. Lesson learned: Write blog posts early and set them 

I was assigned to pray for Celeste and her intentions which I included in my evening prayers around my Advent wreath. It was really fun to read a new blog and a big challenge to not comment! Seriously, I think I only want to comment when I can't! I also loved sending a fun little present which arrived on Christmas Eve but was not opened until Christmas Day. How perfect!?!

Also, thank you to Laura for your extra prayers during Advent, and I am sorry that I slacked on my blog posting during the second half of December!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

It's Beginning to Look a Like Christmas...

In My Apartment! I know, I know...Advent is not over. I do celebrate Advent, but I also decorate for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving. I travel for Christmas every year so it is my chance to enjoy the lights in my home. I am not the most talented at decorating the home. For example, there is not one item hung on my walls. Christmas is the exception as I have accumulated quite a few items between my purchases, gifts, and items inherited from my mom. It looks pretty good!

And, now for the tour...

On my coffee table, I placed a candle holder that I already owned with these glass ornaments. The coffee table is actually the trunk my Great-Great-Great-Grandfather Ring used when he immigrated from Sweden.

My two stockings and a snowman...I'm still not clear on why I own two stockings. The story never quite made sense.

I love my Nativity! There is a really long crazy story about how I ended up with this Nativity which I'll save for another day. The two giants in the photo with me...my brothers. Yes, I am a shorty!

The peace item was from a white elephant exchange! Does anyone else remember the ceramic trees with lights? Scored big getting this one. I hope my brothers actually forget about it.

Just love this simple little Nativity. It is hung on the interior side of my front door.  

Please ignore the plastic hook!

My mom's friend made the glass block gift, and I cobbled together the other items. Biggest coup...the amazing table for only $30! I found it while visiting friends in Milton NC. I did not expect to find it so a friend, Mrs. Farmer's Wife, fronted me the cash. I had been searching for months for a new table in my entrance area.

Two of my mom's nutcrackers...we divided them up between my dad and siblings. I have my mom's Spode collection, and the little crystal candelabra is from my great grandmother.

The very full tree!

With a signed copy of The Polar Express with jingle bells underneath!

Yes, even decor in the bathroom! I can't believe I have turned into a person with a mini-tree and holiday towels in the bathroom!

College Men Will Talk Values!

There are definitely moments when I stop, look around, and think, "How in the world is the awesome experience part of my life?" Earlier this month, I had such a moment while facilitating an officer transition for six fraternity men.

I advise a fraternity chapter at the higher education institution where I work. I used to work with the men below the required GPA. This fall, I decided to move into a different role and was asked to organize and facilitate a leadership retreat.

It was an amazing 24 hours! The men were so enthusiastic, and we covered teambuilding, leadership, goal setting for individual offices and the board as a whole, mission creation, etc. Talking about values with college men is pretty amazing.

What do they want to gain from this experience?

A little game that sneakily leads to a discussion on values. 

Incoming and Outgoing Officers

The outgoing officers joined in for the fun...reviewing responsibilities, discuss successes and challenges of the last year, and a little flag football. I really appreciate their positive attitude about giving up about 7 hours of a Saturday.  They had some great conversations with the new officers. 

Me with the incoming board. I only look their height because Ms. GreenKeen is standing on a rock!

We sat around the campfire talking about our fraternal experiences, challenges, and successes and eating marshmallows. Yes, that is right! I spent almost three hours on a Saturday night talking with college men about how they have grown and changed in college.

As I sat there listening, I could not help but think how random my career has been. No one enters college planning a career in higher education. It something that we all fall into due to our involvement on campus and mentoring from amazing advisors. As an introverted, science major, I could never have imagined that I would talk with students about study skills, goals, career planning, respect for self and others, and smart decision-making in and out of the classroom. How I ever learned to do this is still a bit of a mystery!

Big thanks to my co-facilitator from the fraternity's traveling staff!

Lentils...One of the Best Foods Ever!

Lentils are one of my absolute favorite foods! Seriously, they are amazing... versatile, stick to your ribs full of protein, easy to prep, cheap when bought in bulk....I could go on and on and on.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes to get started. Even meat-lovers will go for these!

Snobby Joes - http://www.theppk.com/2009/11/snobby-joes/

I have to credit this find to my fellow simple-living friend and co-worker Jill. She discovered the great vegan cooking/baking blog Post Punk Kitchen. This recipe was a hit in her house (with two elementary age children), and she knew I would love it. Why? The lentils! It is easy to prepare, a great blend of flavors, and freezes and reheats well.

Lentil Soup (via my mom and a Trader Joe's recipe from a years ago)

To tell the truth...this recipe has been the hold up on this post. I kept forgetting to bring a copy of the recipe to the office. This morning, I remembered that the recipe is also on my computer.

¼ c olive oil

4 c diced yellow onions

4 c chopped leeks (optional)

2 large minced garlic clove

1t kosher salt

2 t ground black pepper

1 T minced fresh thyme leaves*

1 t cumin or to taste

3 c medium-diced carrot

3 c medium-diced celery

2 quarts liquid (water, leftover lentil water, vegetable broth, or chicken broth)

4 T tomato paste (preferably double concentrate in tube - really, it is worth the money and the hunt)

3- 4 cups prepared lentils

2 T red wine or red wine vinegar

Parmesan cheese

If wanting meat: 1 lb uncured polish kielbasa or a similar variety

In a large stockpot over medium heat, heat the olive oil and sauté the onions, leeks, garlic, salt, pepper, thyme and cumin for 20 minutes or until the vegetables are translucent and tender. Add celery and carrots and sauté for another 10 minutes. Add stock, tomato paste, cover and bring to a simmer for about 30 minutes. Add lentils and wine to pot. Slice sausage into desired shapes and add to pot, keeping it at a simmer to warm sausage and lentils. Check for seasoning.  Serve sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

* I just throw in a sprig or 2 or 3 thyme and fish out the stems later!

Chicken and Lentil Tangine - http://leitesculinaria.com/5329/recipes-chicken-lentil-tagine.html

Mark Bittman is amazing, and that is a topic for another blog post. Anyway, this recipe is in a couple of his cookbooks. I can't find my exact version right now so I found this one online. I know the combo of flavors looks interesting, but they blend so well. I made this with chicken once, but now I usually prepare it without the meat.

I know this is a boring post without pictures, but I know that a few people have wanted me to post recipes for a few weeks now. The camera will move the kitchen tonight!

Advent!

It's Advent, and I love it!  I think it has to do with the shorter days, candles, the ideas of waiting and watching, light in the darkness, holiday lights.

It think it goes back to this place....

The Chapel of the Resurrection at my undergrad which is gorgeous inside and out, but especially at night.

It is so peaceful at with the low lights like little stars. If you look closely you can
see the candles in the walls at Advent-Christmas Vespers.



Gorgeous view of the chancel with the Christus Rex during a Christmas concert.

On to my advent...

My first attempt at an Advent wreath. Last year, I just had the candles in Styrofoam. How sad! 

I straightened the candles after this picture and definitely plan to paint the Styrofoam.

I love lighting my advent wreath during dinner each night. With the lights low and the Christmas tree and other decorations lit, it is easy to remember the true meaning of the season and to reflect on the year past year. I read a little advent reflection which has been on target each day this week. I feel so refreshed after taking a little bit of quiet time to pray and think and relax before the crazy weeks of travel and events.