almond citrus cookies

These are good. Perfect for the spring time.

Some people make them as Lemon Crinkle Cookies, I was missing some stuff and added some other stuff, so in our house (at least for now) they are the one and only Burnham Almond Citrus Cookies.

Cream together:

     1 c salted butter

     2 c sugar

Whip in:

     1 t vanilla

     1/2 t almond extract

     2 eggs

     2 t citrus zest

     2 T lemon juice

Pile these ingredients on top of batter:

     3 c flour

     1/2 t salt

     1/2 t baking powder

     1/4 t baking soda

Flop around dry ingredients a little bit with fingers to make sure it'll all get mixed in when you combine everything. Combine everything. Scoop teaspoon size (really--teaspoon) lumps of the wettish batter into a 

     bowl of powdered sugar

and roll to cover. Place on prepared cookie sheet. Lightly press a

     dry, roasted almond

into the top. Bake at 350* for 9-11 minutes, til cookies appear matte. Enjoy!

oatmeal bread

This has been slowly becoming a part of my weekly routine. For us it's perfect because although it's slightly sweet, it can also be used with soup. The more often I make it, the easier it gets--not many ingredients, the KitchenAid does most of the work and it's yummy! I'm sure my recipe will sound awkward to people who really know about bread baking, but this is all still new-ish for me :)

Combine in mixer:
   1 c quick oats
   1/2 c whole wheat flour
   1/2 c brown sugar
   1 T table salt
   2 T butter
Pour over:
   2 c boiling water
Stir to combine. Dissolve:
   1 T or 1 pkg yeast in
   1/2 c warm water
Let it just sit there for awhile until the batter is no longer hot, add yeast solution. Stir in:
   2 c wheat flour
   3 c white flour (reserve about half c of this to mix in as needed, depending on conditions)
   3 T flax seed
Knead with dough hook in mixer for 5 min, adding reserved flour as needed so dough sticks to bottom, but also forms a ball. Scrape into a ball in the middle of bowl, cover with towel, let rise until doubled. Dump onto clean surface, form into a ball, cut in half and kneed lightly, using either flour OR water to keep hands and surface from getting dough-y. Shape into two loaves (rounds or greased bread pan). Let rise til doubled again. Bake @ 350 for 30-40 min. Cool on rack. Use or freeze.

Adapted from More-With-Less Cookbook.

rather make than buy: refried beans

We try to eat a beans and rice meal at least once a week. Here's the most simple, easy bean recipe I use. It's great for burritos, taco salad, chikilikis, etc. No pre-soaking necessary.

      2 lbs dry pinto beans, rinsed
      9 c water
      2 dried chilies (New Mexico, CA or ancho)
      3 cloves garlic, peeled
      1 sm onion, roughly chopped

Cook at least 3-4 hours and up to all day in the crockpot on high. After the beans are soft, use a potato masher to squish them all up and season with:
      2-3 t salt (or to taste)

The time really doesn't matter too much because you're cooking the beans til they're really squishy. (I usually leave them for about 5-8 hours on high.) Everything's loose in this recipe. Like the water never makes them the exact same runny-ness so you may start with less and add more if they're not covered. Or if you finish up and they're too runny, leave the pot open and on low so they can reduce down.

Personal preferences:

• Sometimes I try different beans. 
• Sometimes I vary the chili situation--just one of those chilies or fresh or pickled. 
• Pickled jalapeño juice, cumin or oregano added at the end give a nice flavor.
• I freeze all the leftovers in dinner portion sizes in Ziplock bags. Usually this gives me about 3 cans worth in the freezer.

I love how easy and cheap this is. It takes me 5 minutes to get it all in the crockpot. Washing up is the biggest trouble...and David usually is the dish washer :)

never alone

My favorite person is working very late on the anniversary of one of the best days of my life. I came home from work to our quiet apartment and started working on taxes, tried not to think about it too much, tried to figure out what I could eat without much effort, tried not to play pity party.

And then the parade started. Gifts from God. Fun things and reminders that he sees me in every state.
--First came Karla, knocking with a surprise dinner--tortillas and chicharrón (?) Wow!!
--Then came a phone call with dear Sarah Stepanian.
--While we were still talking another knock, it was another Sara. She brought apples, oranges, avocados, strawberries, basil and a very long cucumber. Just a gift from their abundance.
--I ate dinner and then another knock. And it was Patty coming to show an absolutely beautiful five-day-old baby. An absolutely perfectly made little person with lots and lots of curly black hair.
--And then a very delightful phone call from Debby Burnham. They want to have a baby shower! And she said very encouraging things.

Karla, Patty and Sara are the three women from the three other apartments in our building. Sarah are Debby are our good family. Five women we pray for often. In the last few hours I've been blessed by five wonderful women. What a gift! Even on a day when really...um, uh...I should already be overly, amazingly overflowing with thankfulness for God's incredible gift and provision. Our God is gracious and abundant.

-----
Dear David, you are truly God's provision for me.

Yes. I am YOUR wife! Happy two years!
Come home soon! :)
We miss you!

spear fishing

When I thought of spear fishing, I envisioned something I think I'd read about in fourth grade.

Now, I have a different picture in my head. Our neighbor, Abi, has been bugging David to go fishing with him for about nine months. Originally, Abi would head down to the river and sit on the side, fishing pole dangling over the cliff, pretty normal-style, relaxing fishing. More recently, Abi's taken up spear fishing. By this he is talking about under water, foggy snorkel mask, slippery rocks, five-pronged spear, fish hunting. David's gone a few times and we've eaten a few really yummy (and free!) small mouth bass.

  

Yowzers! What a wild and crazy man I'm married to!

We were laughing at our weird life last night.

I laugh at it every few days. I got to have coffee with Celina and Bobbi, who we found out is quitting her job and starting school, which seems like a totally risky and brilliant and hopeful idea. Our friend Birgitta had her 34th birthday party in her front yard last night and her husband wore a Brittney Spears microphone and told stories and then led a sing-a-long of pop songs. All the kids were dancing into the dusk and we were talking and laughing and celebrating. We just had berry shortbread for breakfast (because we haven't been home to have it for dessert and I was tired of it sitting in the refrigerator) and I got to talk with a neighbor girl who is not doing well at all. We really have no idea what's actually going on in their home, but we know it's bad. So we decided we just need to pray and lean in, but not go off of the info they give because it's all muddled up. It's really great for us to wrestle through this kind of thing--like what the heck to do when we are the closest godly people to a disasterous situation and feel completely untrained and unprepared--but it's a huge and dangerous mess. David just left to go spear fishing with Abi and I'm about to go to a bridal shower for Becca (who I worked a the coffee shop with, who is marrying Kennan, whose parents are in our home community). Tonight we're going to another birthday party--for Marina, the Schwary's daughter, who are also part of our church. Lots of adventures and parties!

While we ate our eggs and shortbread this morning, David and I were talking this about how we feel confused and taken aback in the situation with our neighbors, but deeply encouraged by the fact that God gives his Spirit WITHOUT limit. And wondering what in the world that looks like and how to live like it. I think we typically act and perceive the world as though there is a roof to how much God intervenes, how much authority he's given us, how much he will respond when we pray, how much he can save a person from, what he can really do in a situation and how much/if he will give wisdom. However, in reality, he says there's not a limit or roof...

Any thoughts or wisdom or prayers about this or the last post are invited.

a rich, rich trip

Showing David the home where Christina and I lived.

Together with the Jackson family at one of my favorite places.

A meal David can't stop thinking about.

Beautiful family, good commercial :)

Hope and future.

Reflecting.

Kind of like Coca-Cola...

Our sister, Mana.

Light.

Mateja translating for David.

Zvonko baptizing Ana.

And a most beautiful sight--disciples making disciples.








Other wonders...
Meeting babies and seeing new parents.
Visiting people long loved.
Experiencing God's continuous and powerful movement.












 All over the world the gospel is bearing fruit and growing. Just as it has been doing among you from the first day you heard it until now... (Colossians)

baked potato soup

I originally got this recipe from Laurel Jenkins when I visited their newly-three family in Germany :) Now it's one of our winter favorites. I bake the potatoes when I'm hanging around the house doing chores and leave them on the counter to cool until it's time to make dinner.

8 slices bacon, cut up into little pieces

     Cook over medium heat in Dutch oven til rendered and crisping. Remove with a slotted spoon onto paper towels. Pour off about half of the fat from your pan. Add:

1 medium onion, chopped

     Cook in drippings until translucent. Add:

2/3 c flour

     Stir to prevent lumps. As they turn golden slowly pour in:

6 c hot chicken stock

     whisking until liquid thickens. Bring to a simmer. Return bacon to pot and add:

6 medium baked potatoes, partially peeled and diced

2 c whole milk or cream

1/4 c chopped parsley

2 t garlic

2 t basil

1 t Tabasco or a few chopped up little red chili pepper

1 t salt
1 1/2 t pepper
     Simmer 10 minutes. Don't boil! Add:

1 c grated cheddar cheese

1/4 c chopped green onions

Yum!

Serves 6.

thoughts

Could we be missionaries in a foreign country before we pay off all our student loans?

Death and mourning--How to do it well? Why is it always so uncomfortable? It feels stupid.

Grandma is NINETY-EIGHT!!

Becoming a praying wife.

When do I say 'no' to something that will drain me/us and when do I say 'yes'? Not accidentally saying no to the things that are actually my top priorities.

How do I help a kid remember the sound that a letter makes?

Why do I get so distracted?

How to be a friend.

Are my five loaves and two fishes enough? Ha ha! No--of course not!

How does ongoing forgiveness fit with covering the shame fit with telling the truth?

In the process of forgiveness, how important is it that the offender ask for forgiveness?

What is a church? What do we do on Sunday?

Hurt, people and pain in the church.

Finding new recipes. Getting out of this cooking/eating rut that we're in.

When to think about money and when to not think about money?

Keeping the house on the cleaner, more inviting end of the spectrum so that it is a welcome place for us and others.

I don't need to own something to enjoy it.

Celebrations.

Love. Hope. Victory.

He daily bears our burdens?!

mexican salad

Although I’m sure it would earn an enthusiastic What the hell is this? from our dear and authentically Mexican neighbor, this is a new favorite among the authentically non-Mexican Burnham family.

I wish I had a picture because it's really pretty.

Salad

1 head Romaine
1/3 bunch of cilantro, roughly chopped

      Toss together.

2 tomatoes, deseeded and chopped
red onion, sliced, to taste

1 avocado chopped

1/2 can black beans

1/2 can whole kernel corn

1 1/2 c cheddar and/or jack cheese

      Combine into salad.

corn chips

Dressing (My variation of Catalina. Bottled would work fine, I’m sure.)

1/4 c ketchup
slight 1/4 c sugar
1/4 c red wine vinegar
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 t paprika
1/4 t Worchestershire sauce
1/2 t minced garlic
s & p

      Whisk together.

1/2 c oil

      Blend other ingredients and slowly drizzle oil while running the blender to emulsify.

Set corn chips and dressing on the side for people to assemble it themselves. This is the trick to not making this into a disgusting and/or soggy taco salad.

Serves 6.

Optional: Grill and slice a chicken breast on top. Fajita seasonings or blackened chicken would be good. Corn chips can be easily made by brushing corn tortillas with oil, lime juice, and salt, slicing and baking at 350 for 10-20 minutes. Watch closely.

christmas and all it's ornaments

For any party, any celebration, for any pre-meditated giving of hospitality there is a normal preparation process: grocery shop, clean the bathroom, vacuum the floors, chop, cook, bake, snap at David, tidy the kitchen, say sorry to David, light the candles and set up the patio or the table and then wait for the first knock.

Last time we were getting ready for guests I got frazzled (as usual) and David asked if it will always have to be that way.

Um........
......
.........
no....

And I realized, hey! No! It doesn't have to be this way! And, good grief, why is it that way? Why do I get snappy? Stress is normal and fine. But two questions--what exactly am I feeling pressure about? And why?

I have this vision of what "right" or "put together" looks like. And then anything less than that is a failure and makes me look bad. Uh...what kind of pretty is that? It's empty and certainly not welcoming.

Desire for a guest to be welcome, blessed, loved--those are good reasons for a pretty home. Those are good reasons to give a pretty present. Those are good reasons for a little pressure, but not good reasons to be rude or snide. A good intention is so easy to accidentally squeeze lifeless. I have to hold the intentions gently, with an openness and joy that generosity requires.

So, I've been wondering about Christmas. Thinking a lot about why we all do what we do. Why am I already feeling stressed and a little snappy about Christmas dinner? Why did I demand a Christmas tree (in the nicest possible way, of course)? Why do I feel like a chicken with my head cut off when I think about the procurement of Christmas gifts?

I think of the celebration. This is one of our happiest times of year. We celebrate Emmanuel--God with us! We celebrate a bright spot in all of eternity, but it's so easy to accidentally get tangled in the lights and ornaments. So easy to accidentally squeeze the life out of it.

Instead, I'm pondering reality.
Pondering the great generosity of our Good Father.
Pondering a heavy Maria riding on a donkey, stumbling into a damp stable toward a scratchy manger.
Pondering a star in the darkest night.
Pondering angels singing over shepherds.

Thinking about how I can give Jesus a good gift. How we can really celebrate him--have a real party for his birthday!

It's a little bit of pressure. A little stressful. And so real, so normal. We will celebrate with family. Celebrate with an unmarried mother. Celebrate with lights in the darkness. Celebrate with rich food and tired people. So profoundly real and true and right. I long for beauty on the inside and the outside. I long for people to be welcome and blessed and loved. I long to give and I long to receive.

pumpkin cheesecake

16 oz cream cheese, soft

1/2 c sugar

1 t vanilla

      Beat til smooth.
2 eggs
      Add one. Blend in. Add the other. Blend in.

1 graham cracker crust (9 inch size)

      Spread 1 1/2 c on bottom of crust.

1/2 c pumpkin puree

1/2 t cinnamon

pinches cloves, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom (use any or all)
      Add pumpkin and spices to cheesecake mixture. Pour as a second layer into pie shell. Set pie in a pan of water and bake at 325* for 40-55 min until golden and center is almost set. Cool and refrigerate.

Top with whipped cream made of ginger, powdered sugar and heavy whipping cream.

Thank you for inviting us to celebrate Thanksgiving with you, dear Stepanians! We love you! 

The recipe is my version of the one found here.

autumn Sabbath

We sat down to eat oatmeal boiled in milk with ginger, honey, apples, cranberries, walnuts. I've finally discovered that I like this mush. The Sunday mugs and coffee. It's bright and sunny and cold outside. The leaves are brilliant.

Today is a day to stop and to worship.

burnham berry blast

Not long ago I accidentally picked a whole lot of berries. My friend and I were chitter chattering and--boom, 4 hours later--22 pounds of strawberries, 17 pounds of marionberries and 76 pounds of blueberries. Needless to say, it was quite a shock to our postage-stamp sized kitchen. After much fretting and washing and sharing and eating and cobbling, the berries are safely tucked away in the bellies and the freezer. Fortunately, they were only a buck a pound. David and I decided on a 25 pound max limit from now on.

And just thought I'd tack it on: we have a very favorite crisp recipe. We have it for dessert and then the leftovers are wonderful with coffee for breakfast.

Berry Crisp (serves 9)

4-ish c berries
1/2 c sugar (use more for raspberries, less for very sweet berries)
2 T cornstarch
1 3/4 c quick oats
1 c flour
1 c brown sugar
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 c butter

Crush 1 c berries; add enough water to measure 1cup. In saucepan, mix sugar, cornstarch and berry mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in remaining berries. In bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar and soda. Cut in butter to make crumbs. Press half into a greased 9x9 baking dish. Spread with berries. Sprinkle with remaining crumbs. Bake at 350* for 25 minutes or until it's golden and bubbly. Eat warm or cold. YUM!

8/2011 Now I do 4-6 cups of berries. We like it even better with more! And less sugar if the berries are particularly sweet.