"A 10 minute vacation for the soul."
“Everything is working together for my good.”
“The joy of brightening other lives, bearing others burdens, easing each others loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of the holidays. — W.C. Jones
Years ago I was a student sitting in a seminary classroom studying Greek. The word angelos came up, interpreted as messenger. Angel Martinez, grinning ear to ear said, “that’s me.” The professor, Dr. Moller who was usually quite serious also had a wide grin on his face.
The truth is that we can all be messengers of God’s love, grace and sometimes judgment. God does sometimes send warnings, but we must not let them overshadow the messages of love and grace.
So this holiday season, be an angel.
“Christmas is forever, not for just one day. For loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away.”
– Norman Wesley Brooks
“Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most.”
– Ruth Carter Stapleton
The word for today is centered. The Webster’s definition for this is “emotionally stable and secure.” I’d like to go bit deeper. For some, centering is when we go within and connect with the Spirit of God within us. It is where we find peace, calm and God.
I am bigger than my doubts,
bolder than my fears
and stronger than my obstacles.
Source: The Balanced CEO
I love a good challenge. Some of my best works of art have come from challenges requiring working around a theme, colors, materials, techniques etc. So several years ago when I was invited to participate in a recipe challenge using caramel and apples I was ready to give it a go. After dreaming about mouth-watering caramel apple donuts, dip and other goodies I decided to try a caramel apple upside down cake.
This wonderful, slightly decadent cake is perfect for fall entertaining, including Thanksgiving dinner. It has become one of our favorites. Of course this cake is gluten-free, but your guests will never know unless you tell them. 🙂
Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake
Ingredients:
½ cup butter or margarine
½ cup chopped walnuts
¼ cup packed brown sugar
2 apples, sliced thin — core removed, but I don’t peel mine
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
¼ cups agave nectar (or 1/3 cup sugar)
1 Tablespoon flaxseed meal dissolved in 3 Tablespoons hot water (or 1 egg)
1/3 cup molasses
1 ½ cup buckwheat flour
¾ teaspoon nutmeg
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon aluminum free baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup warm water
Directions:
Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
Put butter or margarine in round 9 inch cake pan and place in oven while preheating.
When butter or margarine is melted, remove from oven. Sprinkle walnuts and brown sugar over bottom of pan and arrange apple slices overlapping over top.
Mix together applesauce, agave nectar, flaxseed mixture and molasses.
Add flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, baking powder and soda to wet ingredients, mixing well. Add water and continue beating to incorporate into mixture.
Spread batter over apples. You may need to use a spatula or wet, clean hands to smooth the batter.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool for 10 to 15 minutes before removing from pan. To remove from pan place serving plate over cake pan and invert.
Serve warm.
Of course you may “guild the lily” with whipped cream or ice cream if desired.
Serves 8
“Be mindful. Be grateful. Be positive. Be true. Be kind.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
“It’s a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack.”
― Germany Kent
espirational.com