Secrets by Kristen Heitzmann

I've read this book a couple of times because I like it so much.  The story is great and the characters are interesting.  I think Lance is the most interesting character.  I wish I knew a real-life version of him or his grandmother, Antonia.  I would love to know someone who could fix authentic italian food the way they  do.  My family doesn't do much ethnic cooking and I envy families that are rich in their heritage, even if they are fictional.

Hawaii - Our Favorite Place on Earth

My husband and I went to Hawaii when I was four months pregnant with our first child.  Neither of us had ever been there before.  He wasn't sure he was going to like it since he's not much of a beach person but he loved it!  He can't wait to go back.  We probably talk about it once every two months.  Maybe someday...

The Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Recipe EVER!

This is a sample of the cookie next to a Hershey Kiss so you can get an idea of how big it is.


As many people know, my husband LOVES chocolate chip cookies so I've experimented with a variety of recipes. He has selective taste so I was pleasantly surprised to hear him say that (with my new favorite recipe) I make the best chocolate chip cookies of everyone he knows (and he knows a lot of people who use different recipes). I must admit that I got the recipe from Alton Brown of "Good Eats" on Food Network. The man is awesome! Every recipe of his that I've tried has gotten rave reviews. So here is the chocolate chip cookie recipe:

Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes per sheet

Ingredients
2 sticks unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Hardware:
Ice cream scooper (#20 disher, to be exact)
Parchment paper
Baking sheets
Mixer

Directions:
Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom medium saucepan over low heat. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside.

Pour the melted butter in the mixer's work bowl. Add the sugar and brown sugar. Cream the butter and sugars on medium speed. Add the egg, yolk, 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Chill the dough, then scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets, 6 cookies per sheet. Bake for 14 minutes or until golden brown, checking the cookies after 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet for even browning. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

Yields 2 1/2 dozen.

Hopes and Dreams

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) meeting and spent some time with new and old friends. As I sat at a table talking with other moms, the conversation turned to the spacing of our children and the pros and cons of having them close together or far apart. There were several opinions based on a variety of experiences and life circumstances. One woman made the comment that life rarely turns out the way we plan or expect anyway. I tucked that statement in the back of my mind for the rest of the day.

That evening I had the opportunity to spend some time with some dear old friends. I went out to dinner with a couple of women whom I've know since high school and two mothers (who are also dear friends) of other friends with whom I went to high school and youth group. We all get together, give or take a few other women, every year to remember our friend who passed away nine years ago at the age of 21. Her mother is part of our standing dinner date every year. She is a strong, Christian woman who has been through a lot in the past nine years. Years after her daughter died, her husband left her for another woman. However, she has been very blessed to have her son remain close to her and she is now recently remarried to a great man who loves her deeply. She probably thought she'd be spending her retirement alone but God has blessed her with someone with whom to enjoy it.

I'm sure when she was my age she never thought her life would turn out this way. We all have our hopes and dreams but rarely do they come to fruition the way we have planned in our minds. Dreams are a great thing but if we get too stuck on them we can't move forward when they don't turn out the way we want. If my friend had chosen to dwell on her dreams from the past, she would have missed out on the blessing of her new husband. We may go through difficult times but God works through it all if we allow Him into our lives. He has better plans for us than we could ever dream.