Tuesday, February 7, 2012

"Hearty" Cooking

Here are some other fun Valentine's Day-inspired dishes to show a little extra love throughout the day!!

For breakfast: Heart-shaped Pancakes...sooo cute...however, I will not be making these because I had blueberry pancakes 3 times last week (yes, by choice). Did I just admit that?!

For lunch: Arugula salad with red and yellow heart-shaped beets

For dinner: Chicken soup with heart-shaped carrots.

For dessert: Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies (Can you tell this is my new favorite cooking blog?!)

(All pictures from google)

Happy February!!

February means...
1. I get an excuse to celebrate my love, Cole. 
2. GIRL SCOUT cookies
3. A new wreath (below)
4. My rotation schedule for next year is released
5. New baby cousin soon!!
6. Valentine's Day baking (below)
7. Fun MUSC events: Charity Ball/Auction and wine tasting
8. I get to wear my Christmas reds once last time
9. Almost Spring Break...hurry up March 2nd!

A new season calls for a new door wreath. I made this one (when I should have been studying for my tests!) out of a grapevine wreath and nandina berries. 

Do you need any Valentine's Day baking ideas?
I made these festive sugar cookies last year. When the cookies are still warm, wash your hands and then press your thumb into the cookie to make the heart shape for the filling. I chose to use cream cheese icing and raspberry jam.

This week I want to try these!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Super Bowl Munchies and Thankful for Community

Every Sunday evening we share a meal with our community of believers. It is so important for us to not only to reach out to unbelievers, but to take time to nourish our own souls as well. We don't have a particular study or agenda since we are all in other Bible studies, but instead we use this time to encourage one another, give and take advice, laugh, share struggles and needs, and even pray for whatever is at hand. We appreciate the Lovelace's, Crumpler's, Joyner's, (almost) Tyner's, Braddy's, Voskuil's, Kroll's, Kornegay's, and the Patterson's for their positive influence, accountability, and encouragement to Cole and me.

I remember being anxious when Cole and I committed to MUSC about leaving our communities in college and starting over here in Charleston. We immediately started praying for friends and a community of believers, because we knew how vital that had been to our faith. I'll be honest and say that I prayed pretty much unexpectedly, not believing we could have a community as great as the ones in college. But, the Lord had greater things in mind, and we have been blessed with a great group of friends, that extends way beyond this list above! Thanks be to God!

"We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the 
gospel of God but out lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." 
-1 Thess. 2:8

" They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, 
to the breaking of bread, and to prayer...They broke bread in their homes and 
ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
 And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." 
-Acts 2:42, 47

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, 
but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." 
-Hebrews 10:23-25

Last night, we shared our meal over the Super Bowl. Here are the munchies I took to share...

Summer Sausage, Cheddar Cheese, Ritz (I was so bummed the grocery store didn't have the football shaped ones!), and Raspberry Honey Mustard Sauce...always a hit!

Molly recommended these Peanut Butter Granola Bars to me, and I have been awaiting an occasion to make them. I was able to throw them together quickly this evening. I ended up tripling the recipe so Cole and I could have them for snacks this week. Yum!!

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup natural peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup crisp rice cereal
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup dried fruit (I used craisons)
  • I added chocolate chips :)

Directions

  1. In a small saucepan over medium, heat honey, peanut butter, and butter. Stir until loosened and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in cereal, oats, and dried fruit. Wait another few minutes and add in chocolate chips. 
  2. Drop mixture by the tablespoon into mini paper cupcake or candy liners. Place on a rimmed baking sheet, and refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes.


















Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Every Day with Jesus

Here is an excerpt out of my daily devotion book "Every Day with Jesus".

"The secret of my identity is hidden in the love and mercy of God... Therefore I cannot hope to find myself anywhere except in Him." -Thomas Merton

"We take another promotion, seeking status in our work. We build bigger nest eggs (or I say "barns"), seeking power in our money. We take exotic vacations, seeking adventure in our trips. We relieve our past through our children, seeking a lost youth."

"We are looking for ourselves as though we were searching for hidden treasure. Yet our gift is the presence of Jesus. Consider his love to us. Despite our faults, he runs to us. Seeing our sin, he forgives us. Knowing we deserve death, he grants us life. Our identity is hidden in the love and mercy of God. In him, our veneers of self-preservation are sanded off; the scaffolding of stuff to hold is removed. We are loved (and redeemed) by God. What better gift could you find? Receive it as your own."

Where do you find your identity? Is it in physical appearance, material things, approval of others, success, busyness, perfectionism, past, etc.? We are told in Phil 3: 8 to count these things as NOTHING compared to knowing Jesus the Lord. The Bible also says to SEEK GOD FIRST, and THEN these things will be added to you as well (Matthew 6:33). Take time this week to notice who, what, and where you choose to put your identity. 

John 1:12 - Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

Colossians 2:13-14 - When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

Romans 8:35-39 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Charlie Post Classic 2012

Yesterday morning I ran the Charlie Post Classic 15K on Sullivan's Island. This is the third year I have participated, and it is one of my all-time favorite races. It is a small race = no hassle with parking and crowds. The distance is great and I get to enjoy the beautiful scenery while I listen to worship songs.
The other nice thing about a small race is that I can place! I finished 4th in my age group and 99th overall. 

4 268 ASHLEY SIMS 01:12:46 7:49 F 24


99     268   ASHLEY SIMS            01:12:46   7:49    F       24        

Crossing the finish line!
 I finished exactly a minute faster than last year, so I was pleased! I believe it was because I had Cole there cheering me on! Getting out of bed this morning was a challenge...every muscle in my body hurts...Not because I wasn't well-trained, but I did run it faster than my normal daily pace. Could it also be that I took a speedy shower and went to work for the day (on my feet for hours)?!

We did make a pit stop at Triangle to grab a free mimosa on our way in from SI. No worries people...just 1...I am a responsible pharmacy intern!

Hopefully my body will feel better before the Folly Beach Half Marathon next weekend!


Pepperoni Spaghetti Bake

Cole and I stayed in and cooked Pepperoni Spaghetti Bake Friday night. This is a favorite from the cookbook of a friend of my Aunt May-May.  

Pepperoni Spaghetti Bake
8 oz. spaghetti noodles, cooked according to package directions and drained
1 lb. lean ground beef
8 oz. sliced pepperoni
1 cup green bell peppers, finely chopped
1 cup onions, finely chopped
8 oz. canned mushroom slices or stems and pieces
2 cans (26.5 oz each) spaghetti sauce
1 tsp. each garlic powder, basil, oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
3 oz. sliced olives (optional)

Brown beef and drain. Cook onions and peppers until tender. Add beef, pepperoni, spaghetti sauce, olives, and spices. Stir to mix well. Spoon 1/2 of meat sauce into a casserole dish. Place noodles over sauce and cover with the remaining 1/2 of meat sauce. Sprinkle top with both cheeses. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes of until hot and bubbly in the center. 

My modifications: ground turkey instead of beef, no olives or green peppers

Pepperoni Spaghetti Bake
I decided to double the recipe and stock the freezer. I am always thankful to have meals that are easy to pull out during a busy week. 

Salads and beer bread topped off the meal! I usually steer away from having bread at dinner, but once in a while I will...and beer bread is usually Cole's choice carbohydrate. 
Salads with homemade italian dressing
Beer Bread

Monday, January 23, 2012

Free Parking = New Shoes

Earlier this semester I had the great idea of selling my parking pass and parking at a friend's house for school. She lives about an extra block away, but I thought the extra money might be nice. It costs $90 a semester to park in the MUSC garage, which is ridiculous! Sweet Cole told me to keep my pass, and I obliged... until I got an email offering the $90 plus a hefty profit for it! I quickly offered it up. Being so resourceful, Cole told me I could use the money on whatever I wanted to! After weighing my options... saving it (the mature option), getting a massage at The Charleston Place Spa (they are half off until the end of January for MUSC students and staff), giving it away (the selfless option), putting it towards our upcoming trip (the predictable option)...I decided on two pairs of shoes from Gwynn's biannual sale. (See my previous post here.)
Vaneli's Black Suede Booties
All Black Kitten Pump
Probably not what Cole had in mind that I do with that money... but it was fun seeing him enjoy me being excited about my new shoes!
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