Monday Fun-day!

Don't you just love a good weekend? Well I do & I hope you had a fantastic one.  I had a really exciting one filled with food trucks, cotton candy, lemonade slushies, bounce houses, popcorn machines, & best of all: Photobooth with my friends!  My church that I've been going to here in CA, Newsong, threw it's annual Town Hall Meeting.  We got together, had games & fun & food, worshiped for a while, talk just a tiny bit about some things and shared vision for the future & where the Lord was bringing them from, and then worshiped some more!! Needless to say it was a blast!  One thing that I loved about this day was I felt like a kid again.  No time frame, no worries, just being myself, laughing a lot, eating whatever I wanted, dressing up with my girlfriends, and laughing even more... I realized that I need to do that more, and if I'm not mistaken I think a lot of us do.  Here are some of the memories that were made! Enjoy!

Falling In Love...

So... I have recently fallen in love, all over again, with Jesus.  I love that no matter how deep you go inside His heart, into the depths of intimacy, in Truth... Deeper is always the next place you go. And deeper, & deeper, & deeper.  I've never experienced that more in my life than the season I am in right now.  I have found though, that it's come out of a place of needing Him, & my realizing I need Him more than any other time in my life.  It's crazy how good and loving He is.  I feel like the past couple months I have began to experience more sides of Him than I thought I ever would.  The fighting side, the loving side, the jealous side, the true side, the compassionate side, the hurting side.  I have always found that He really does work all things for the good of those who love Him.  Like I said, He's amazing & I'm completely in love.  I hope you find this encouraging, & that you know how much He loves you and fights for your heart and for it to be completely whole & alive in Christ!!

So we went on two dates.  One was to a park and I was able to sit in some shade & just journal our hearts out.
And the second was at another park, under big! trees and I just read His word & listened to His voice.

Head Warmer!

 


Hooray it's Thursday & I finished crocheting my first head band :)  It was going to be a scarf, then I quickly realized I was not going to have nearly enough yarn to do that.  So I turned it into a headband!  I used Charisma Yarn (which can be found at Michaels) & did a Double Crochet for the whole thing and then sewed on two buttons to connect it so it's easy to take on and off!

One of those "Family Days"...

Blast!! I missed Tuesday & I have no good excuse except I just got busy, I'm sure you know how that is though.  I hope your day was amazing & that this day just continues to get better for you.

Have you ever had one of those family days?  Nothing is going wrong, but you just feel the urge deep within your heart to be with your family... The ones who have been around you your whole life... Who know you... Who know how to make you laugh and you know how to do the same for them.  That's how I'm feeling today.  I'd love to just be around them, kick back on the couches & chairs, sip on our cups of coffee (which are always in hand), and just laugh.  Or go on the back porch and listen to the birds make their music while the ones around you create their own.  Or have a dance party (which I always love)!
Anyways, I thought since I was having one of those days, I'd introduce you to my beautiful family.  This is a pretty dated picture of all of us, but it's the last one we've taken with just us.  I get to go home and visit them for a few months here soon and I'll make sure to update that picture for you.  So meet The Steins:

Here we have: mom and dad, 4 amazing brothers, 3 sisters-in-law (but really just true sisters), 3 nephews & 4 nieces (one not photographed).  These people mean more to me than words could ever say.  Through thick & thin they have been my best friends & I really cannot imagine going through any of the stuff I have without them.  They are some of the most cheesy, funny, full of love, down to earth, pure-hearted & in love with Jesus people I know.
Until we are able to take a new picture, you should check out their own amazing blogs.  They have everything from writings to art to music to clothing... They are super creative & I think you will be super glad you checked it out!

My Last Feather

His Peculiar Treasure

bordersBEgoneART

Love Discovered Beauty

Shake Your Foodie

Bleu Cloud

Have a blessed Wednesday & remember to Love!

Straight from Tyler's Kitchen: Crab Cakes

Crab Cakes with Buttermilk-Basil Dressing & Marinated Tomatoes & Corn...
Now if you aren't already drooling at the sound of this recipe, I don't know what else could!  I will admit, I have not tried this... But after looking at the pictures I couldn't help but post it so that somebody with a little more time on their hands could try it out (if you do please let me know)!  This recipe is from the amazing Tyler Florence.  If you would like to check out more of his recipes you can at either www.housebeautiful.com or at Food Network-Tyler Florence.

1. The ingredients at a glance.  2. Mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk & basil in the blender.  3. Blend the dressing until smooth; season with sea salt.  4. Slice roasted corn off the cob into a mixing bowl.  5. The tomatoes - don't cut them too small.  6. Tomatoes & roasted corn in a blend of Old Bay, lemon juice, & olive oil.  7. Forming the cakes with chunks of crab.  8. Sear the crab cakes until golden on both sides.

For the Crab Cakes

1 1/2 lbs. jumbo lumb crabmeat
1 1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs (made from

4 or 5 slices of white bread with the crusts

removed and processed in the food processor)
2 Tbsp mayonnaise, plus more if needed
1 large egg white
1/2 lemon, juiced
Sea Salt and freshly cracked black pepper

For the Dressing

1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
A few drops of fresh lemon juice
Sea salt to taste

For the Marinated Tomatoes and Corn

2 ears of fresh corn
2 vine-ripened tomatoes, cut into wedges
2 cups grape tomatoes, cut in half
1 Tbsp Old Bay seasoning
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 fat Tbsp of tiny fresh basil leaves
Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Let's Get Cookin'!

1.  Mix crabmeat, bread crumbs, mayonnaise, egg white, and lemon juice until just blended.  Season with salt and pepper.  Shape into six large cakes.  Put them on a plate, cover loosely, and place them in the refrigerator to chill.

2.  To make the dressing, combine all ingredients in a blender and puree on high until smooth; salt to taste.  The flavor should remind you of classic ranch dressing.  This sauce should be served at room temperature, so pull it out of the refrigerator 15 minutes before you plate up. 

3.  Roast the unshucked corn in a 350-degree oven for 30 minutes, until the husks are brown and parchment-like.  The corn will steam in its own jacket, creating an unbelievable, naturally sweet flavor.  Once the ears are cool enough to handle, peel the husks back.  Using a sharp knife, slice the kernels from the cob into a mixing bowl.

4.  Cut up the tomatoes, but don't make them too small and delicate.  Toss the tomatoes and corn with the Old Bay, lemon juice, olive oil, basil, sea salt, and pepper, and let it marinate in the fridge to chill.  (This can be done up to an hour in advance - if it sits longer than that, the salt will pull too much water out of the tomatoes.)

5.  Take the crab cakes out of the refrigerator.  Heat 3 Tbsp olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat.  Add the crab cakes and cook for about four minutes on each side until they are nice and crisp.  To assemble, spoon some dressing on each plate and place a crab cake in the center.  Sprinkle tomato and corn mixture over the top and serve immediately.

Serves 4-6

 Enjoy!