Do not refuse to regain your youth

"A man grows old; he is full of complaints. The world is old; it is full of pressing tribulations. . . . Do not hold onto the old man, the world; do not refuse to regain your youth in Christ, who says to you, 'The world is passing away, the world is losing its grip, the world is short of breath. Do not fear. Thy youth shall be renewed as an eagle.'"
-Saint Augustine

{HT: Ray Ortlund

Image: traditional Chinese representation of a phoenix, legendary bird that rose from the ashes of its own funeral pyre with "youth renewed"}

Just for fun [avocados, party hats, and cinnamon]

The other day, Jared came into the kitchen while I was making guacamole and commented on how disproportionately large the avocado seed is. It's really comic if you think about it (so are mango seeds).

He then asked if I had ever planted one.


I pooh-poohed this idea, assuming that growing an avocado tree would require far too many "special conditions." But then I looked it up . . . and I must eat my words. You can indeed sprout and plant an avocado seed with nothing but a glass of water and some toothpicks. We're trying it. (Whether it will last past the initial sprout is another question. Alas, we don't live in California, but in the snowy northlands.)

---

Hip Hip Hooray is a blog devoted to parties. But not just any parties: kids' parties. Cutest ideas EVER. Basically, it makes me want to open a party-planning business and wander through the world dispensing balloons, paper lanterns, and cookie jars.

---

Cinnamon, vanilla, and a satisfying crunch? I'm sold! In our house, these candied nuts vanish like frightened prairie dogs (and that's pretty fast). I have been craving "fancy food" lately: cucumber sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, spring rolls, all impractical and time-consuming. Why do I always make life difficult for myself? Anyhow, these fit the bill without being impractical OR time-consuming.

Spiced Vanilla Nuts
(swiped from The Nourishing Gourmet)

1 large egg white
1/3 cup raw sugar*
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne (optional- for a spicy version)
3/4 teaspoon each dried marjoram and thyme (optional- for a savory version)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups walnuts, almonds, or pecans**

1. Preheat oven to 300 and line a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
2. In medium bowl, whisk egg white until bubbly. Whisk in sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt (also the cayenne and herbs, if using). Add nuts and stir thoroughly to coat with spice mixture.
3. Spread evenly on prepared pan, trying to get a single layer (you might need two pans depending on how large yours are). Bake for 25 minutes, or until the nuts are dry and crispy. Don't let them burn! I usually stir mine halfway through.
4. Let cool, stirring occasionally to break up the nuts (they will want to stick together). Nom nom nom.

*You could use regular white sugar instead, but I like the slight crunch raw sugar gives.
**I have used halved walnuts and slivered almonds with success.

{image credit: umamigirl on Flickr}

He must retain what is his own

"If we wish to have one God, we should remember that we must not pluck away even a particle of his glory and that he must retain what is his own . . . It is enough to recognize that whenever any observances of piety are transferred to some one other than the sole God, sacrilege occurs. And first, indeed, superstition contrived divine honors either for the sun and the stars or for idols. Then followed ambition, which, by adorning mortals with the spoils of God, dared profane everything sacred . . . So inclined are we to lapse into this error that what God rigorously reserves for himself alone we distribute among a great throng."

-John Calvin, Institutes

---

Through idolatry, says Calvin, we "distribute God's glory among a great throng." Of course, these days it's easy to excuse ourselves from this topic. I don't have any golden calves sitting around my house, and you probably don't either. So are we off the hook?

No. The issue goes far beyond literal idols, for if anything enraptures our hearts more than God-- brings us more joy and satisfaction than God-- comforts us more than God-- inspires more awe than God-- well, that is an idol. And we're giving "particles of glory" to that thing, person, or activity, when all glory belongs to the Lord.

Stealing what belongs to God and wasting it on idols? I do it every day. Praise the Lord for His mercy on sinners like me!

{image: The Idolatry of Solomon by Frans Francken}

Adding to the arsenal

Slowly and steadily, during college and over the past year of marriage, I have been adding to my breakfast arsenal. Such an important meal deserves attention, says I.* And I've never lacked willing guinea pigs. So . . . I've worked my way through eggs of all kinds, biscuits and scones, French toast, baked oatmeal, coffee cake and fried potatoes and bread. We are also big pancake fans, and when I make something on a weekly basis, I like to have several varieties up my sleeve. More reasons for maple syrup are always welcome!

But oatmeal pancakes have confounded me; they never come out right. No matter what recipe I try, they are too dense, sticky, sloppy, flat, and boring. I have been trying to find a good way to make oatmeal pancakes for a long time. Like, a year. Failure.

But victory is at hand! I've conquered the oatmeal pancake thanks to this delightful cooking blog that I just discovered. (The author, Bridget, also has a wonderful pizza dough recipe. I'd actually recommend it above what I posted earlier.)

Here is my slight adaptation of her oatmeal pancakes, which in turn are an adaptation of another recipe that I tried and discarded months ago; Bridget fixed the problems with that recipe and voila! Perfection. They were pretty simple to make. Jared gave them his stamp of approval ("THESE are GOOD"), and the leftovers were delicious toasted. What more could I ask?

---

Oatmeal Pancakes
(originally from The Way the Cookie Crumbles)

2 cups rolled oats
1 cup plain yogurt
1 1/2 cups milk, divided
1/2 cup oat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, beaten with fork
4 tablespoons melted butter

1. In large bowl stir together oats, yogurt, and 1 cup milk. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let soak 12-24 hours. I just leave it on the counter, but refrigeration works if your counter space is lacking.
2. In the morning, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl. Pour remaining 1/2 cup milk, beaten eggs, and melted butter into oat mixture, and whisk well. Fold in flour mixture.
3. Heat griddle or skillet over medium heat. I have an electric griddle and set it to 325, which was perfect. Usually I set it to 375 but a dense batter like this requires a lower heat. Also, my griddle needs no greasing, but yours might,
4. Use about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. Cook first side until golden brown on the bottom and set around the edges, then flip and cook until golden brown on the second side; you may need to adjust heat or cooking time after the first batch. Remove to platter or to wire rack. Serve with whatever you want, as long as it involves butter.

*Yes. I KNOW that's the improper form of the verb. Don't give me your silly English major jokes.

{image: the annual Pancake Race in Olney, a town in Buckinghamshire, England}

Storm and mist fulfilling His word

Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war? What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?
Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt . . . From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the frost of heaven? The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. -Job 38


Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun.
You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter. -Psalm 74

He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? -Psalm 147


Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! -Psalm 148

{photos: our backyard and driveway today; the third picture was taken through a second story window, so the first bank of snow you see is actually piled up on the roof of the addition}