Teacups and Toasters

Everyone has their own comfort foods and I’m really going to have to do a post about that soon, but tonight I’ll share one of my comfort foods. I love, love, love, a banana drizzled in chocolate. I know. Simple. Almost silly. Really though, chocolate and bananas were meant for each other. Really, chocolate and fruit were meant for each other.
Whether it be this banana drizzled with chocolate syrup, or my new favorite candy; chocolate covered blueberries from Trader Joe’s.

I call them candy and I guess that’s what they are, but somehow the word, candy, doesn’t give the appropriate connotation to this particular treat. The chocolate is lovely, not bitter, melty, and the blueberries are not very large in most of the pieces. They’re just right.

What’s your favorite chocolate and fruit combo? (Please don’t tell me the fakey chocolate covered cherries! ) Do you agree that chocolate and fruit were meant for one another?

The newsboys are my favorite band. I love lots and loads of music, a variety of genres, and sounds, but I truly enjoy the newsboys the most. They’re a little bit of everything and they are a Christ centered band. This means I can rock out with a bunch of crazy, dancing, jumping, people and praise God all at the same time. It doesn’t get much better than that. However, I didn’t get that experience until last night at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg. I’ve wanted to see the newsboys for several years, but hadn’t had the opportunity. Earlier this year, their lead singer, Peter Furler, took a step back to stay home and focus on writing, while their long time friend, Micheal Tait, and former dcTalk band member, stepped up to take the lead on tour. I was a bit worried. Sure Micheal is a wonderful singer, but Peter has such a unique voice. I was afraid that the sound of the newsboys would be lost. Well, it was a little different, but it wasn’t bad. It was rockin’!

Complete with runway stage, flashbacks to old newsboys and dcTalk songs, and loads of fun. Everything, but the rotating, lifted, drum stand was present. So, we’re definitely going to have to check them out again soon. Sooner rather than later. I know the picture doesn’t quite convey the “rockin’” element that was present, but it’s hard to describe in adequate detail the emotion, sound, and ambiance, and presence that was happening at this venue. It was just a beautiful experience!

newsboys are currently on their “In the Hands of God” tour.

Rather some chocolatey- peanut buttery- frosted love..

Because you know, sometimes a girl just needs some simple dark fudge frosting whipped with peanut butter and spread atop a German chocolate cupcake.

Yes, I probably will be sneaking down to the kitchen in the middle of the night…

{And this little drug of a cupcake was so cheaply done. Taboo to use a box and two tubs? Not when it’s friendly to your time and your budget. 1 box of German chocolate cake mix by Duncan Hines, 1 tub of of their dark chocolate fudge frosting, and a 1 tub of Jif peanut butter. Bake the cupcakes via directions on the box. Spoon and swirl the frosting and peanut butter together in a bowl. Apply to cooled cupcakes. Voila. I don’t care if it’s not from scratch. It’s dreamy and comforting. }

Moving is expensive. House repairs are expensive. Thus, we’ve decided that we really do need to eat in more often. We already ate in quite a bit before the move, but moving calls for a bit of take out and well, enough is enough. So here’s a budget friendly recipe that is light, easily altered, and pretty to look at.

Spirals and Spinach starts with 12oz of tri-color spiral pasta cooked till soft. While the pasta is cooking/boiling, fix up about 1 cup of frozen spinach in a frying pan. Be careful not to let it get too soft. Mine did get a little soggy..oops. Just make sure it’s thawed out in the pan. Medium heat should do. When the spinach is thawed out add some bits of bacon. I used five pieces of microwaveable bacon, but I didn’t microwave it and I didn’t use all of it. I pulled off the fat and discarded it. (My mother, grandmothers, etc. would be highly disappointed. I grew up eating foods cooked in bacon grease, which of course comes from bacon fat. It’s a southern thing and while it provides great flavor, it’s not the greatest friend to my stomach.) Anyways, toss the meaty part of the bacon in the pan with the spinach and let them heat up together.

Once the pasta is cooked, drained, and ready- keep it on medium heat and add the spinach and bacon. Also add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tbsp of white vinegar and toss well. Serve immediately and add some garlic salt, or Parmesan cheese.

The dish is light, filling, and on the cheap!

At last I have internet again and am able to write this from our new home. It feels good to be in and mostly settled. There are still a few things to be done, but at least most of the boxes are unpacked. Today I had the chance to finish reading Heaven and the Afterlife by James L. Garlow and Keith Wall. I know I know…it sounds preachy, but really it’s not “preachy.”  I posted before about receiving this book via LibraryThing. If you’d like to receive books before they’re published and review them on their site, or your blog you should check out their Early Reviewers Group.

I was really pleasantly surprised by this book. I didn’t  know what to expect. I’ve read books in this category before that were blatantly misdirecting, mushy, glossy, crowd pleasers. This book is not that. So in fact, I wouldn’t even put it in the same category as those others.  Heaven and the Afterlife is a well researched piece of work. (Footnotes actually appear on the page, not at the back of the book!) The author does a really nice job of looking at and comparing different theologies, philosophies, and ways of thinking, while at the same time presenting his own beliefs.

A variety of subjects are covered such as: near death experiences, heaven, hell, ghosts, reincarnation, purgatory, etc. The chapters are informative and thought provoking. Some sections are frightening, but honesty is best. Even if this is not your typical choice for a read, it really is worth giving a shot. Everyone asks questions about these things and Garlow’s answers are straight forward.

The one thing that I would change, is that on the back cover it reads, “Bestselling Author Demystifies the Afterlife.” The word “Demystifies” is a little misleading. There is nothing mystical about this book.

I’m quite firm in my faith and this book got me thinking even more on some matters involving what I believe. It didn’t change what I believe, but simply got me thinking about some issues that are hard to think about, but are worth every bit of that perplexion.  The book is due out July 1,2009.