My perspective on life is gradually changing. Actually it has probably shifted and matured throughout my life, but I have especially noticed a change in recent times.

I think as a young adult it is very tempting (and natural) to fixate on those big life events that we would like to see come to reality. And I think it is also important to be goal-oriented and imagine possibilities for the future – this is what moves us forward in life. But I’m also trying to remember that, since (unlike God) I am stuck in chronological time, the past is mostly confined to memories, and the future is not part of my current reality. I have no control over it really, and I don’t even know how many days I have in front of me in this life.

So – today is the day! My perspective has changed to focus on Today. I’m trying to breathe, simplify, focus, listen, and take a moment to look around and also really notice the people I encounter throughout my day.

This doesn’t have too much to do with oatmeal, except that morning and breakfastime is sometimes a good time to contemplate The Meaning of Life. And this is one seriously sweet way to do it.

This is a dramatic statement, but this is probably the best-tasting oatmeal I’ve ever had. Here’s why:

Cookie butter, dark chocolate chips and sweetened coconut make for a dreamy combination that takes this oatmeal into the indulgent dessert category of comfort food.

I’ve mentioned this cookie butter before (see No Bake Cookies). It’s from Trader Joe’s. If you don’t have one near you, it looks like  Biscoff Spread is very similar (although I haven’t tried it).

I hope you give this a try! It would be great for breakfast, but also at the end of a bad day at work when you just need something indulgent and comforting. The combination of buttery, gingerbready flavor with melting chocolate chips and crunchy coconut should heal you up just fine.

Cookie Dough Oatmeal

Loosely inspired by Eat Like Me

Makes 1 serving

Ingredients
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1 tablespoon cookie butter
1-2 tablespoons sweetened coconut flakes
1-2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips

Directions
Cook oatmeal as directed on the package (be sure to include a pinch of salt). Stir in cookie butter, coconut flakes, and chocolate chips. Enjoy!

Note: These measurements are approximate – feel free to add or subtract per your preference. Also, I used old-fashioned oats, but feel free to use whatever kind you like (quick-cooking, steel-cut, etc).

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
- Matt. 6:33

The weather here in Seattle has been beautiful, clear, and golden the last couple of days. It is so refreshing to wake up in the morning to an enthusiastic chorus of birdsong, and then join the rest of the people bounding out of their homes to soak up as much Vitamin D as possible while we have this sunlight!

I did exactly that last Saturday as I ran the 5K mentioned in my last post. The race was put on by World Concern to support their efforts to fight human trafficking. I had such a good time, and the weather could not have been better.

Here we are post-race – my friends Ally, Erin, Sara, and me.

In light of the sunshine, I had summer flavors on my mind as I thought about what to bake this weekend. I kept coming back to a recipe I tried a few years ago after seeing a contestant make it on a Food Network show – Key Lime Coconut Cupcakes with White Chocolate Frosting.

I remembered these as being delicious and was encouraged by the 5-star rating on foodnetwork.com. I thought about adapting them, but sometimes there’s just no reason to mess with a good thing!

I highly recommend these. They are absolutely scrumptious, especially if you’re a lime, coconut, or white chocolate person (which I am, am, and am).

As I didn’t really adapt it I’ll just send you straight to the source. The recipe can be found here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/key-lime-coconut-cupcakes-with-white-chocolate-frosting-recipe/index.html.

I did make the change of garnishing with coconut flakes on top instead of lime zest (either option is great). I was also pretty generous with the lime juice/zest in the cupcakes – I added in nearly double what the recipe said. (The original amounts are perfectly fine – it just depends how much lime flavor you want.) I might also recommend doubling the recipe as it is (a little) more labor-intensive than some recipes but only yields about 12 cupcakes.

I hope you give these a try! These cupcakes have earned a permanent spot in my collection of favorite recipes.

5K season is officially here! I am fully aware of this because I signed up for a race this weekend that I am not really prepared for. I have a bad habit of doing that and then training hysterically at the very last minute…

I like running. I’m not very good at it though. I pretend I’m legit by checking my watch urgently and looking upset when I have to pause at crosswalks, but it’s all a farce. I will probably never feel like running is easy.

But there are so many good reasons to do it, and I actually do really enjoy it. For one thing, 5Ks are always exciting and fun to do with friends.

Another reason I run is that there is a lot of dessert in my life, and if running enables me to experience things like these Grasshopper Pie Bites, then so be it!

I love Grasshopper Pie and was inspired to see if I could make it into “bites” after seeing a recipe for Cheesecake Bites. I adapted a pie recipe to include Mint Oreos, because it seems a shame to waste the cookie filling.

I noticed the “Open with Pull Tab on Top” instructions as I was taking this photo….hehe. Next time!

The Oreo fillings are mashed up and mixed with marshmallow creme, whipped cream, mint extract and food coloring (if desired).

It’s a very simple recipe. It would be a low-stress option if you’re hosting an event or party.

Just FYI, it is VERY hard to have just one of these…you may want to go on a run first. But I promise you they will be worth it!

Grasshopper Pie Bites

Inspired by Cooking Classy
Adapted from allrecipes.com

Makes 35 bites

Ingredients
20 Cool Mint Oreos
1 cup marshmallow creme
1 teaspoon mint extract
1/2 teaspoon green food coloring (optional)
1 cup whipping cream

Directions
Separate 20 Cool Mint Oreos. Set the filling aside in a little bowl.

Of the 40 separate wafers, set aside 5 to be crumbled and used for garnish later. The remaining 35 will be the base of the bites.

In a large bowl, whip the marshmallow creme, mint extract, and food coloring together until smooth. Mash the Oreo fillings with a fork, then add to the marshmallow mixture and whip until completely combined.

In a separate bowl, whip the cream until soft peaks form, then fold it into the marshmallow mixture. It will be hard to combine the two at first but don’t despair – just keep folding until combined. Place mixture in the freezer for 20-30 minutes.

Use this time to set out the 35 base wafers and crumble the remaining 5 wafers (to be used as topping).

Remove mixture from the freezer, and scoop it into a piping bag or a regular Ziploc bag with the tip/corner cut off. Pipe a dollop of the mixture onto each wafer. Sprinkle with crumbs.

Freeze for at least 2 hours before serving. Enjoy!

The weekend is almost here AND The Avengers is coming out. Holla!

I’m pretty excited about this movie, although I’ve only seen a couple of the Marvel films. My brother made me watch Iron Man and I loved it. I saw Captain America in the theater. That one was pretty good, but the experience was overshadowed by a major embarrassing moment….I got up to go to the bathroom halfway through, got confused about where we came in, and suddenly found myself walking out a door next to the screen and into the bright sunlight…I laughed so hard as I jogged around the entire building to get back to the front. I was kind of afraid the whole theater had flooded with light but fortunately it wasn’t really noticeable. Moral of the story: don’t be like me.

I hope you have a fun weekend planned too. If you’re in the mood for baking, here is yet another brilliantly simple and delicious recipe from Paula Deen. She is becoming my favorite source for dessert recipes.

The cookies are soft and chewy, and the cream cheese frosting is….cream cheese frosting. No further description needed there.

I made a couple small adjustments to this recipe after reading the comments on the original. The cookies will spread out quite a bit as they cook, so the dollops of batter should only be the amount of a tablespoon or just a little more. I also cut the frosting recipe in half, as the original recipe makes too much. (Although the concept of “too much frosting” is a little hard for me to grasp.)

These are indulgent, fun to eat, and perfect for the weekend. I hope it’s a great one whatever you do!

Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies

Recipe adapted from Paula Deen

Makes 13-17 sandwiches (depending on the size of the cookies)

Ingredients
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons buttermilk
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon red food coloring

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a small bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In the large bowl of an electric mixer (or using a hand mixer) cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs one at a time, then beat in the buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla and red food coloring. Beat until combined. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and mix until combined.

Drop batter onto baking sheets. Each dollop should be about 1 tablespoon of batter, or a little more for big cookies. Leave plenty of room in between as the cookies will spread.

Bake for 10 minutes or until baked through. Cookies will be cakey and light. Let cookies cool for a minute or two on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the frosting: In the large bowl of an electric mixer, combine the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth. Add powdered sugar on low speed until incorporated, then mix on high until frosting is light and fluffy.

Spread frosting over one cooled cookie and place another cookie on top. Enjoy!

Three good things happened to me this past week. I would like to share them with you.

First things first: cookies!

I’ve mentioned before that there are three different cookie recipes that my mom and sisters and I bake on a regular basis. These are the best we’ve found, and they are all A+ recipes.

I’ve shared the first two with you already: Chewy Chocolate Cookies, and Cowboy Cookies.

Here is the third and final of my trio of favorites: Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies.

This recipe is so good. It’s just perfect. There is no need for frills or surprising ingredients – the cookies are just right. They are chewy and puffy and perfect with milk (of course).

I also like making these because it’s likely all the ingredients are already available. No trip to the store needed, no extra money spent. Sweet and simple!

The second good thing is that I met Pioneer Woman last week! She is on a book tour promoting her second cookbook, Food From My Frontier. This was actually my second time meeting her, but she was as sweet as ever and extra hilarious this time around.

This event was also fun because I went with my aunts, Linda and Karen. They are two of the funnest ladies I know and we had a great time at the event.

Me and Ree!

The third good thing is that Lauren Conrad featured my Lavender Cupcakes on her Friday Favorites post last week! I was getting my Starbucks before work early Friday morning and scrolling through some of my blogs for the day when I saw my cupcakes on her site….I had a little bit of a moment. So cool!! You can see her post here: http://www.laurenconrad.com/post/friday-favorites-53-lauren-conrad-cupcake-hair-braids-shoes-print-2012.

So those are three good things that happened to me this past week! I hope your week is as good as mine was, or even better. If you make these cookies I can guarantee you’ll be off to a great start.

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe slightly adapted from the back of a bag of Gold Medal All-Purpose Flour

Makes about 6 dozen cookies (or less if you make them huge like I do)

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large bag (24 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (4 cups)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In the bowl of a large electric mixer, beat the butter, sugars, vanilla and eggs on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add in the flour, baking soda and salt. Stir until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Use spoons or an ice cream scoop to drop dough 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 11-13 minutes or until cookies are slightly golden brown. Cool for a minute on the sheet and then transfer to a wire cooling rack. Enjoy!

I have a lot of pictures to share with you. Several are from my DSLR but many are just from my iPhone (usually with an Instagram filter) – it’s just so much easier sometimes!

On Wednesday we hopped off the plane and headed straight to Sprinkles in Beverly Hills.

We sampled the red velvet, chocolate marshmallow, and chocolate coconut. These cupcakes totally lived up to the hype – the cake was so moist.

Next we walked around Beverly Hills and along Rodeo Drive. We were just so happy to feel the warm sun!

While we were wandering through Saks Fifth Avenue, we bumped into NeNe Leakes (from The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Glee). She was friendly and willing to chat.

Next we went to the Grove, which is an upscale outdoor mall. There was also a Farmers Market next to the mall. We got dinner there at a place called Loteria Grill. It was SO GOOD.

Those were possibly the best nachos I’ve ever had. It was a good first day.

The next day we were up bright and early. My good friend Kathy, who lives in CA, picked us up just after 6am for a morning hike in Griffith Park.

Kathy and Ally

Hi Kathy!!

Ally and I

After hiking for awhile we walked along Melrose Avenue, then back to the Farmer’s Market for lunch! There were so many interesting things to see there.

Then we wandered over to see Mario Lopez filming Extra at the Grove. I have to tell you, those dimples were pretty epic in person.

After lunch and gazing at Mario, we explored Hollywood, Chinatown, and Venice Beach. We covered so much ground that day, thanks to our guide Kathy!

Here is a picture of the three of us with cream puffs, and also a pole…

That night Ally and I stumbled across an excellent restaurant near our hotel in Anaheim. It’s called Papa Hassan’s Grill and it fully lives up to its 4 1/2 star rating on Yelp! It is middle eastern food and it was not only delicious, but they were so friendly there and made us feel right at home.

The next day was full as well, including a visit to the Getty Museum. The architecture was so beautiful there. It just felt so fully Californian around there with the intense sun, vivid blue sky, and elegant white structure all around us.

We spent the next couple of days exploring San Diego and nearby La Jolla. I really liked San Diego. It was a totally different feel from LA – way more laid back with a beach town feel.

Our last evening and morning were spent in Santa Monica. That area was one of my favorite places as well.

The best thing we ate in Santa Monica was omusubi at Sunny Blue on Main Street. Essentially it is a rice ball with fillings – our favorite was the spicy salmon. SO GOOD!!

It was a great vacation. My favorite sort of trip is when there is time to just walk around a city and get a feeling for what it’s like. I certainly feel like I have a full impression of both LA and San Diego. It’s always a blessing to share trips like this with good friends as well!

Hello! I hope you’re all having a good week so far. I’m having an excellent week because tomorrow morning I’m going on vacation! I’m so excited to head to Southern California. I bought some new sunglasses today and I am ready to use them!

I will keep this post short as I have some packing to do. I just wanted to make sure you knew about this absolutely scrumptious, refreshing frozen key lime pie.

This is an Ina Garten recipe, and it is one of the best I’ve tried so far. The lime flavor comes bursting through each bite. It’s frozen and a little like ice cream cake, but lighter. I’ll definitely be making this again this spring/summer.

I didn’t adapt this recipe at all (besides using lime zest on top instead of lime wedges) so I’ll send you directly to Ina for the recipe. You can find it here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/frozen-key-lime-pie-recipe3/index.html.

I hope you give this pie a try!

Sharing a room as a little girl with my sister Maren, clutching the sheets in suspense at bedtime as my mom read The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe out loud to us.

Sitting in a big comfy chair, holding Little Women, which was one of the first big books I read on my own. My dad telling me he would take me to McDonalds if I finished it.

About 10 years old, reading the Lord of the Rings series, and dissolving into anguished tears at the part when somebody dies after a certain “You shall not pass” chapter.

Lazy summers as a young teenager, lying in the grass and absorbed by the vivid world of all of Lloyd Alexander’s books.

Then, several years later, the summer after graduating college, walking to my car after a shift at Starbucks and too absorbed by Memoirs of a Geisha to even drive home until I finished it. It was a victorious feeling to know that I would have time to read for fun again!

The last three books I’ve read were really excellent. You’ve probably heard of all of these, but if you haven’t read them yet I highly recommend all three.

Emma – by Jane Austen
I’ve mentioned before how I love Jane Austen. I pretty much keep all of her novels on a regular rotation, and I’ll probably keep reading her for the rest of my days.

I always forget how much I like this one. Emma herself is possibly a little less likeable than other Austen women, at least initially. She is a meddler and a matchmaker, but not as perceptive as she thinks, and it stresses me out! But when I actually start reading the novel, the world of this group of people pulls me in. I just enjoy living within it. This time around, I was especially struck by the character of her father, who is pitiful and hilarious.

Mockingjay  – by Suzanne Collins
Probably enough has been said about the Hunger Games series by me and others. I’ll just say that I was surprised and actually somewhat satisfied about the way the series wrapped up. I had my suspicions about what was going to happen, and Suzanne Collins surprised me in a couple areas, which I always appreciate. This book was a little bloodier than I like, and I had a couple of violent dreams while reading it, so I finished it up quickly in order to get it done with. All in all a very interesting series.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? – by Mindy Kaling
I absolutely loved this book!! I laughed out loud so many times, which continually startled and annoyed Woody. (He hangs out with me sometimes when I read, but he doesn’t like sudden noises and has been particularly hostile since his new haircut. I think he’s cranky because he doesn’t like to be cold, which I totally understand.)

Anyway, this book was interesting because it was about her life as a writer for The Office (and the journey it took to get there), but she is also a really relatable and interesting person. I highly recommend!

This week has been Spring Cleaning Week for me!

I just love it. I love organizing, and I especially love throwing things away. I had some extra motivation today after last night’s episode of Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis. Their client was an extreme hoarder (see this clip) and anytime I see that on tv it makes me feel the need to jump up and vacuum something immediately!

All that to say, I knew I would be busy sorting and tossing today. But Thursdays are also my baking days, so my priority was to find something quick and easy to make so I wouldn’t get overwhelmed with projects.

I decided no-bake cookies would be perfect because they are fast! Also, I’ve been looking for a recipe that I could adapt to include Speculoos Cookie Butter.

Have you heard of cookie butter? It’s just as perfectly wonderful as it sounds. It is SO GOOD. You can get it at Trader Joe’s.

I found a highly rated recipe for chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies, and simply replaced the peanut butter with cookie butter.

This was an excellent recipe, and I am bookmarking it to use for potlucks or anytime I need to make something quickly. The cookie butter added something a little different – just a hint of gingerbread and biscuit cookies. If you’re going for something a little avant-garde or have a peanut allergy, this is the way to go. If you are more into a classic experience, I’m sure these are delicious with regular peanut butter.

Chocolate Speculoos No Bake Cookies

Recipe adapted from foodnetwork.com

Makes about 25 cookies

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 stick butter
1/2 cup milk
1 cup Speculoos Cookie Butter or peanut butter
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups oatmeal

Directions
Place sugar, cocoa, butter and milk in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Let boil for 1-2 minutes (be sure it is definitely boiling before you begin timing).

Add the cookie butter or peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal. Stir until mixture is combined. Use spoons to drop onto waxed paper. Let cookies cool and set, and enjoy!

My Easter was perfect. I attended an early morning church service with my family, then hurried back home to make these Lavender Cupcakes.

I had also prepared this Easter Bark (see also Valentine’s Day Bark). I love this recipe because it’s so easy!

Then we packed everything up and headed north to spend time with our extended family. We had a delicious Easter lunch, and lots of dessert. In addition to what I brought there was angel food cake and chocolate coffee-flavored cookies, as well as extra candy. We take dessert very seriously in my family…

After that several people just sort of collapsed onto the grass, soaking up the warm spring sunshine. It was so peaceful, in spite of all the mournful groaning due to full stomachs…

This was a good Easter for me. I felt such a sense of the Father’s love. I’m in awe of the sacrifice that gives me hope and strength to walk through each day with peace in my heart. God is good! Happy Easter!