Coconut Macaroon with Raspberry Chia seed jam {cookies}

I have the yummiest {healthiest} cookie recipe for you to bake. Mmm I want some now.

Before I start, I need some prayers and positive thinking. Alex is applying for a job within this field and this would be the start of an amazing opportunity for him and us. It's a step up and a much deserved promotion. 

Okay, the recipe. I made these paleo cookies for Alex's family last weekend when we met for Christmas, they were gone fast and they didn't know the cookies were paleo! Score. 

Coconut Macaroon's with Raspberry Chia seed jam

Yield: 10 macaroons

For the macaroons:

1.5 cups unsweetened flaked coconut

1 cup almond flour (or almond meal)

scant 1/2 tsp fine grain sea salt

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 cup coconut butter, softened (no subs- this binds the cookies together)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

For the chia seed jam (makes about 1 cup)

3 cups frozen raspberries

1/4 cup pure maple syrup, or to taste

2 tbsp chia seeds

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1. For the chia seed jam: Add frozen raspberries and maple syrup into a medium pot and bring to a simmer. After 5 minutes or so, stir in the chia seeds. Continue to cook down the mixture for about 15 minutes, or until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Chill in the fridge for a couple hours to thicken it up even more.

2. Preheat oven to 275F and line a baking sheet with a non-stick mat or parchment paper. If you have a non-stick mat, use it because it will help prevent browning on the bottom.

3. In a large bowl, combine the coconut, almond flour (or meal), and salt.

4. Melt the coconut butter over a very low heat. I suggest using a double boiler so it doesn’t burn.

5. Add the maple syrup, softened coconut butter, and vanilla into the dry mixture and stir very well until combined. The dough will be very wet and sticky, but this is normal.

6. Grab a couple tablespoons of dough at a time with your hands and drop it onto the baking sheet. With a wet finger, press a well into the middle and lightly shape the outsides if necessary. Repeat for the rest. Fill each well with jam. The macaroons don’t spread out so there’s no need to space them far apart.

7. Bake at 275F for 20 minutes. Rotate the pan and bake for another 10-20 minutes (I baked for 40 mins. total – but you may need less depending on your oven) until the bottoms are lightly golden and browned, but not burned. If you have a hot oven, I suggest watching it closely or even reducing the heat to 250F. Place pan on a cooling rack for 5-10 minutes and then transfer each macaroon onto the cooling rack until completely cool. The macaroons will be very soft at first, but will firm as they cool. I enjoy them the most chilled, straight from the fridge.

http://ohsheglows.com/2013/03/25/coconut-macaroon-thumbprints-with-raspberry-chia-seed-jam-vegan-gf/

And for your viewing pleasure...taken from Monday's Christmas party

The most cheesy post eva!

I've been so excited to write this post.

To introduce y'all someone really special to me.

His name? Alex.

Yup, that's right. Sarah's smitted with the best thing ever. Maybe I'm a bit biased though.


Because this guy, is the da bomb.

....Back in December I remember a blogger saying she would be praying that 2012 would be the year that I find that special someone. I guess her prayer came true. And mine too.

Grateful Monday's-edition 2.

Where did this week go?! Seriously though? It flew by.

I loved writing in my book of blessings this week. So many things to write down and share!

Monday Jan 9th: First day back at school. Loved seeing old friends, still meeting new ones and a fresh start.
Tuesday Jan 10th: Random cheques from the government
Wednesday Jan 11th: A textbook costing only $56!
Thursday Jan 12th: knowing tomorrow is friday!
Friday Jan 13th: Safe travels/arrivals to the 20's weekend re-treat
Saturday Jan 14th: Amazing lessons from the speaker this weekend.*
Sunday Jan 15th: a weekend away from twitter/facebook.*

hppy

I had an amazing weekend at Waterloo's annual 20's weekend re-treat. Every once a while I need those weekends of endless fun, being in the word and strenghing my faith. The speaker was actually my friends BIL and he did an amazing job. The weekend theme was from the book of Luke, might be my favourite book. It was so nice to see old friends, spending time with them all. The most exciting part? Being asked to come back to counsel at camp again this July. Of course I said YES!!!

Since I was super super busy this weekend, I had hardly no time, except for late at night or right after my shower, to check/update twitter and facebook. I was so busy that I only tweeted once! I didn't know how much I needed it the weekend away from the web. It's so easy to tap on the twitter app and away I go, updating and tweeting.

Soaking up Greg's lessons and not being so attached to twitter are amazing blessings. I highly reccommend taking a day away from the facebook "liking" and just be present in your own life. Try it.

Happy Monday, Friends.

He DOES answer prayers!

I had a breakdown last night. I knew it was coming, you know that feeling? Ya, I got it.

I have two weeks left of school, including exams and its crunch time. Next week I have a paper and 3....THREE tests! Two are which are the end of semester term tests, so they cover at least 7 chapters. Death I tell ya, it is death.

I feel like I handle stress well but not in this case.

So yesterday I got home at noon from class and started on my project that was due tomorrow (which is today). I knew I would have to work on it after work which was fine. I had my coffee at hand so I was ready.

As I was working I thought about how I was telling my dad on wednesday that all I want is to sit down on the couch with a cup of tea and read my glamour magazine. I just want to relax. I could do that but what's more important? Magazines or getting good grades so I can get into teacher's college so I can teach? My point.

Now I had 2 hours to finish the first part of the assignment, get to work, make my dinner for work and pack my running gear to run on my break.

At that point I lost it.

Totally broke down in tears sobbing and praying my heart out. I've never had that praying and crying thing happen at the same time. It's either one of the other but not both at the same time. I told God that I know I can get through this next couple of weeks but I need him to take away my stress and walk beside me. After my amen I got a cold drink of water, took a few deep breaths and started writing again.

Here is the good part.

About 40 minutes later my boss calls my house phone telling me that a pipe burst in the pool and he was told to shut down the programs tonight! ::insert choir singing Hallelujah here::

I told my boss "A" thank you because I have so much to do tonight and could use the night off. I did think of taking the night off but I already took tuesday and next thursday off. He laughed but I meant it.

I knew while talking to my boss that  I shouldn't just be thanking "A" but God.

I truly believe that was an act of his power. See? He does answers prayers.

Have a wonderful day, friends :) i love you all. 

Thankful Tuesday

Lately I haven't been myself. Maybe it's the stress of school and finding out that 24 hours is not enough time to get things done but I'm very moody and my poor parents are the ones who are paying for it.
I need to do this post to remind myself that everything will be okay in the end.

~I am thankful for my family who loves me and tells me daily to keep pushing through the exam period and tell me that I will make a great teacher.

~I am thankful for friends. Not just Karen but my new friends I have made at school. The days that I don't want to go to class, I remember the fun times we have before, during and after class and  this makes me go. Of course I feel used when they text me the night before our class to see what readings we have to do and when the next test is but I am thankful that they know that they can come to me for answers and a listening ear.

~I am thankful for Jesus. Every second Saturday is Ladies Class at my church and this past Saturday my church decided to hold a Ladies Retreat day and invite the 3 local churches (20 minutes away or less) to come. It was an all day event and I needed it. I have realized that going to church weekly isn't enough for my faith and I need to go to the re-treats held by the churches in Southern Ontario more often.

~I am thankful that I have 2 weeks left of class until exams!

~I am thankful that yesterday I was able to pick up my younger cousins from school. I hardly get to watch them at lunch/ after school because I don't go to class from 9-3pm now. Last night there was a scary family emergency on my aunts side of family that she needed to deal with so I spent about 2 hours with the kiddo's. I loved it :)

~I am thankful for a job. Enough though I complain about my co-workers, I know come January I might not have a job as the Mayor will be locking us out! That is a totally different post. So right now I am thankful for one!

~I am thankful for my high school friends who I still talk to a few times a week, my one friend Meghan and I are have plans to hang out lots this Christmas break I love her :) . I let go of a few friendships this spring that were really toxic and haven't looked back. I still get texts from the girls and I'll reply but  I won't be treated like dirt anymore.

LASTLY

~ I am thankful for blog friends. I love hearing about the everyday stories and reading the "I'm pregnant posts" and following along as some plan their weddings! I hope to meet most (or all!!!!) one day :)

Trust

My good friend Carey has started a month long bible study of the Proverbs 31 wife. Go check her out, even if you aren't married, a church-goer or a mother.

                                        Today's verse is from Proverbs 31:11.
11: Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. (The Message)


While I am not a wife nor a mother, I a lot struggle with trust. I have the hardest time trusting God. I know God has plans for me, as he has my life time-line laid out in front of him but? Sometimes I want to know what those plans are. For instances, I would love to know if I will ever fall madly in love and get married and of course make beautiful babies. God has said that that he doesn't want people to be alone, it's not healthy he has said. I remind myself of that a lot. Even though it calms my fear and puts my trust back in God, sometimes it's not enough. I have to put my trust in God, because worrying about marrying/kids isn't going to get me a husband or children.

I know that when I spend time with God in prayer, study and listening to songs those fears and the lack of trust goes away for a bit. One of the songs that is dear to my heart is by Jeremy Camp called Everlasting God.

Strength will rise
As we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our strong deliverer
You are the everlasting God

The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our strong deliverer
You are the everlasting God

The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

via

I don't want to that girl who obsesses over who will she marry and when she will have kids. I want to trust our Lord for all things. I want to be a confident child of God.

happy monday, friends.

 

spiritual "high"...hope you're around for a while.

I know I talk a bit about my faith and how important it is to me. Making the step to become a Christian is one of the most specials decisions I've made in my life. Being a Christian in this world, in 2011 is pretty hard with things all around me that are tempting and how many people are quick to jump down my throat, or let me know when I've not done the "christian thing"...but so re-warding.

Being a Christian is hard because,  for me, I'm developing a relationship with someone (God) who I can't see. It's like having a bff who you can't see at all and if you listen very closely you'll hear her speak to you. That's where I struggle.

I might come across as someone who has a great relationship with God but the truth is, I go through long periods of time (a couple of weeks, once or twice a year) where my relationship is just "meh" to me. Yes, I still go to church, and believe in God ::during these hard times, I have never stopped believing in god or started to wonder if it all exists::

I remember back in 2006, when I was thinking of being baptised, I was encouraged to talk to the older teens at camp about their Christian faith and ask if they could pray for me. Basically the whole camp knew that I was going to do so I had loads of people saying how proud they were and such. I remember this guy giving me a big hug and saying "sarah, you're going to have such a spiritual high."

Before that I had never heard that phrase and after he explained what it meant, all I could think was "that is so freaking cool!

He was right. For months after that day, I had a spiritual high. Every time I prayed, sang songs, went to church. It was like I was addicted to God and everything God related.

I would say just after Christmas time, the "high" went away. Going to church was boring, it was hard to get out of bed sunday morning. To sum it up, my heart wasn't in it.

Luckily, the "high" came back in april when I went to the youth rally and then at camp in august. This is how its been for a few years. Spiritual high then ::boom:: dropped.

Back in Febuary of this year, the "high" went away. I was angry at God for a reason (which I'm sure if you look back on my posts you'll know what it is) and worship wasn't doing anything for me. I left church each week not feeling "charged" up for the week and uplifted.

Instead of lasting a few weeks, it lasted till may. Then I went out west, there was my aunt, the loving Christian and bible-thumping uncle and they lifted me up that two weeks, it was great. I made sure the high lasted longer and before you knew it, it was camp time, camp was amaizing and good for my relationship with God.

Lately, I've been praying a lot on my own, listening to my favourite worship music and reading the bible.

I'm happy to say that once again my "high" is back!

I hope it stays around for a very long time.

happy sunday!

5 years a go today...

5 years a go today I made the best decision of my life.

5 years a go today my life changed for the better

5 years a go today I accepted that Jesus came, lived and died on this earth for our sins.

5 years a go today I was baptised.


happy 5th birthday to me!
happy friday :)

I am...

I am a Christian

When I say.."I am a Christian"

I'm not shouting "I'm clean living"

I'm whispering "I was lost"

Now I'm found and forgiven

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I don't speak of this with pride

I'm confessing that I stumble

and need Christ to be my guide

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I'm not trying to be strong

I'm professing that I am weak

When I say..." I am a Christian"

I'm not bragging of my success

I'm admitting that I failed

and need God to clean my mess

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I'm not claiming to be perfect 

My flaws are far too visible

But God believes I am worth it

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I still feel the sting of pain 

I have my share of heartaches

So I call upon his name

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I'm not holer than thou

I'm just a simple sinner

Who received God's good grace, somehow.

-itsyourlord.tumblr.com

happy sunday.