Sunday, February 28, 2016

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

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These are some of my favorite cookies to make, especially when my chocolate snack stash is all gone! If baked just right, they're oh so soft and perfectly chocolaty on the inside. :)

What You'll Need:

3 eggs
1 1/2 cups white, granulated sugar
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted (I just buy those unsweetened baking squares)
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted (I use unrefined)
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla (For best taste, don't use imitation vanilla)
2 cups all-purpose flour (I like to use King Arthur flour for my baking)
Powdered sugar (about 1 cup or more)

What You'll Do:

1. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, granulated sugar, melted chocolate, melted coconut oil, baking powder, and vanilla with an electric mixer until combined. Beat in as much flour as you can, then stir in any remaining flour. (I like to stir flour first, so it doesn't blow all over the place when I start mixing!) You can cover and chill for 1-2 hours if you wish, however, I do not do this. I move on to the next phase right away . . .

2. Shape dough into 1-1 1/2 inch balls. Roll cookie dough balls in powdered sugar to coat generously. (I pour about 1 cup of powdered sugar into a cereal-sized bowl to do this step, but I don't really measure. Add more if needed.) Place cookie balls about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet (I line mine with foil). Bake at 375° for 8 minutes. Adjust time depending on oven. DO NOT over cook. Cookies should have crackles on top but still look a little bit doughy. Let sit on cookie sheet for just a minute and then transfer to a wire rack. Store in airtight container or on plate wrapped tightly in saran wrap. Makes between 30 and 40 cookies, depending on size. If you like them bigger, you may need to cook a tad bit longer.

Tips:

1. Make sure coconut oil is thoroughly melted. Stir in first before beating so it doesn't splatter everywhere. Since coconut oil begins to solidify at about 76° F, don't let it sit in bowl for any length of time. I add the oil right before beating the mixture the first time. (Before the adding flour step.)

2. I personally don't let the cookies cool entirely before storing. This keeps them soft the next day. In fact, they taste better the next day!

3. Lining cookie sheets is important because the stray powdered sugar that gets on the cookie sheet turns liquidy during cooking and likes to stick to the pan. I prefer less mess. :)

4. If you don't have 4 oz. unsweetened baking squares on hand, you can substitute 12 tablespoons of cocoa powder and 4 tablespoons melted coconut oil mixed together. I've had to do this a couple of times, and the cookies turn out just fine. In fact, that's what I had to do this last time! ;)

Enjoy!!

Linked to Try A New Recipe TuesdayWorks for Me Wednesday, Tasty Tuesdays

***Excited to share my first published children's story ~ Mysterious Moon! Download on Amazon today. :)

Tuesday, February 09, 2016

Pattern of Love True + Free Printables

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I love Valentine's Day. I love celebrating the ones I love. I love eating CANDY in colors red & pink! I love making this Taco Heart Ring for dinner every year! Most of all, though, I love focusing on what LOVE TRUE really is.

As Valentine's Day approaches, let us be sober minded about what true love is. As Christians we know that a true love model CANNOT be found in the pattern of this world. Just like the devil can appear as an angel of light, there are many things in this world that can appear as love but are anything but. And vice versa is true as well. For instance, disciplining a child, though it involves discomfort, is far more loving than spoiling which, for the moment, provides much pleasure. Pleasure and warm, fuzzy feelings don't necessarily = love.

The Bible is really the ONLY place we can go to find a pattern for a love that's true. And that's because it's the ONLY place where we meet the One who not only created love but IS love. :)

Pattern of Love True according to 1st John chapters 4-5:

Love comes from God.

God is love.

God showed his love toward us by sending his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

We can love God because He first loved us.

We show our love for God by keeping His commands.

If we love God, we must love others.

Be sure to read 1st John chapters 4-5 this Valentine's Day! Also, feel free to print these 10 True Love Bible Verses. I'll be reading through these with my kids on Valentine's Day. :)



Click here to print these verses.


Bonus: here's a free For God So Loved the World printable I made a couple of years ago. Follow this link to print if you wish.

Valentine Printable

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