I went to the library yesterday to type up my book proposal and I left with an unexpected surprise. After a couple hours of typing away, getting closer and closer to making this book come to life one day - realizing more and more how much perseverance and courage you need to become an author - I paused for a moment to check out a few books before I left.
One of the first places I look at the library (or bookstore) is always at the faith section. Since my book is non-fiction and about my faith in Jesus Christ, I love to hear what others are also saying and writing about, listening in and joining in on the conversations they're having.
I was super excited to find a book by one of my favorite authors on the shelf - extra happy because it was one I hadn't read yet! I've been following Shauna Niequist ever since I first read Cold Tangerines when I was in college. I love how she writes with so much description and detail, making even the most mundane and routine things in life seem gloriously important and significant - because they really are. Every part of our lives matters to God - not just when we stand on a stage and share our story, or when we publish our book and see it in the bookstore, or when we walk down the aisle and say "I do." Those moments might matter more than washing the dishes after dinner, going for a run around the neighborhood at sunset, or interrupting your schedule to have a simple conversation with a neighbor, but everything matters to God. And when we choose to notice His presence - not in just the moments we deem important, when we choose to see the importance of every moment because it's a gift from Him, we are able to see the glorious invade the everyday life. And that's truly what makes life with God so extraordinary.
On the shelf was Shauna's book, Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table. Finding it there after working on my proposal was such a blessing, a gift from God. Shauna is one of my biggest inspirations. I remember reading her book, Bittersweet at the Borders bookstore at the mall (when they still had those at the mall) over four years ago. The idea for the book I'm working on right now was in my heart then, but it seemed so far away. Her words and encouragement made me believe deep down in my heart that it would happen, even if it was a dream that stayed a dream a little while longer before becoming a reality.
Thinking back to that moment now, I am utterly astonished with God's grace and guidance to get me here. I couldn't have planned any of this and I certainly didn't. I told God my dream to write a book and get it published, but I always prayed for His will to be done, His kingdom to come. It's truly remarkable: time goes on and we live each day, being faithful with the seasons and the people He brings into our lives - and all the while, He's behind the scenes writing a story and directing our path in ways we never could have imagined. As we are simply faithful with each 24 hours He's given us when we wake up to a brand new day, He takes all of our daily choices - even the littlest ones - when we decide to be brave and apply for a position as a writer at the school newspaper that leads to becoming Editor which prepares me to write this book. And it all started with an email, a conversation, a moment of bravery.
God's Word says that He shows Himself faithful to those who are faithful...and it's a steady unfolding over the course of our lives, a tapestry woven at midnight that's yet to be seen, a symphony played over the span of years. And it is so beautiful. I know I use that word entirely too much. Beautiful is probably my favorite word in the English language. God is beautiful, He makes life beautiful, His glory is beautiful. Beautiful. That word encompasses so much and I could try to explain what life following Jesus is like in other terms. I could break out a thesaurus and write down a bunch of synonyms. But I won't. Because as often as I say it, as simple as it sounds, it doesn't make it any less true or powerful. Life following Jesus is and always will be beautiful.
When I got home, I set down my purse and my stack of books from the library, and immediately opened up Shauna's, Bread and Wine. Reading her writing is like a conversation with a good friend, and even though we hadn't talked in a while, it was like no time had passed. That same voice that encouraged me when I was in my early twenties, beckoning me to write, to share, to tell my story, to believe in my dreams, - to write, to be a writer, to be an author. That same voice was still encouraging, still inspiring. Not just me, but countless others. I love how God allows our lives to bless each other - so often without our knowledge. I don't know Shauna and yet her story has impacted mine. I'm sure there are people who have been impacted by my story - people I went to college with, those I keep in touch with on Facebook, Twitter followers I've never met. And somehow God could be reaching them, helping them through my story, my life - in ways I'll never know. That's why I write. I pray that my life reaches more than I know for God's glory. That's what our lives are for. Our stories intersect and overlap and God uses each of us to strengthen each other along the journey.
The first chapter ends with a recipe for Blueberry Crisp. I had wanted to pick blackberries later in the day, something I do every August - a tradition my mom started when I was just a little girl. We would always do that before school started. So I planned on making the recipe, adapting it a little - a blackberry crisp instead. And being the overachiever I am, or maybe not that but because I wanted to truly enjoy this book (instead of read through it as fast as I can), I decided that I am going to bake, cook, create each recipe at the end of the chapters. And I told myself that I can't read the next chapter until I make the recipe from the previous one. Why not?
I've been blogging about praying for my future husband and I will continue that series along with this one. Who knows - maybe my future husband is out there praying that I'm a good cook and that I know how to bake! Thanks to my mom's excellent cuisine over the years, I know he won't starve with me. But I could brush up on my skills in the kitchen and learn a couple new things (or a lot) in the process. I feel a little bit like Julie from Julie and Julia, where she decides to cook through one of Julia Child's cookbooks.
What I love is that most of the recipes are gluten-free or easily adaptable. I've been eating, cooking, and baking gluten-free for about a year and a half right now and I LOVE it! Sometimes I feel sad when I go to the grocery store and it seems like everything has gluten in it, but the health benefits are awesome and I wouldn't change it!
Last night, I made the blackberry crisp and it was delicious!
The recipe calls for 4 cups of fruit. The topping ingredients are pictured below: 1 cup of old-fashioned oats, 1/2 cup almond meal (I ground up almonds in a food processor - a delicious substitute for flour), 1/2 cup raw unsalted pecans chopped, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup olive oil (I used Bertolli's extra light), and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
Mix all the crisp ingredients together:
Sprinkle over washed and dried berries in an 8 inch by 8 inch baking dish.
Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes until the fruit is bubbling and the crisp topping is golden.
Enjoy with some vanilla frozen yogurt!
This afternoon, I made the next recipe in her book, Mini Mac and Cheese! I couldn't find gluten-free elbow macaroni as the recipe called for, so I substituted gluten-free penne, one of my favs!
I used about 2/3 of the box of pasta, 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 2 Tablespoons of butter for the cheese sauce, and about 1 Tablespoon for coating the muffin tins, 1 Tablespoon of Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese (the recipes calls for only 1/2 cup, but I found I needed more), 1 egg yolk, paprika to sprinkle on top when they're done, and hot sauce.
First, brush the muffin tins with the melted butter and sprinkle the grated Parmesan on the bottom of the muffin cups.
Melt the butter and cheese together, whisk until smooth. Add Dijon, egg yolk, salt, 2 dashes of hot sauce and whisk. Stir in pasta until evenly coated.
Scoop the pasta into the muffin cups and sprinkle a little more grated Parmesan on top of each before putting into the oven. Bake at 425 for 10 minutes (the recipe says 12 to 14 minutes, but 10 worked the best for me).
IMPORTANT TIP: Allow mini pasta cups to cool for at least 10 minutes before removing them from the muffin tins. They will set up as they cool and will be easier to get out of the pans.
They were super yummy and it was a fun recipe because I hardly ever make mac and cheese. Sprinkle with a little paprika on top. Perfect for a dinner party, appetizer dish, or lunch paired with a green salad.
I flipped them over and took this picture so you could see how they set up and are actually little pasta cups. So cute!
Bonus: I found this video of Shauna making the blueberry crisp from her book. So fun!
Hope to update soon with the next couple recipes! Thanks for reading! Happy baking and cooking!