Christmas {is}

Christmas is becoming more and more bittersweet, and in an effort to be honest, I will note that while these pictures paint a rather fairytale looking life, they are merely the beauty weeded out of the chaos. I am so greatful for every good thing I recived from His hand this Christmas... and there were plenty of them! I also recognize that there we hard parts, and things that made me cry, and things that we not so Joyeux Noel. But God remains good, my heart is not light... but greatful. This isn't what you want to hear in a "Christmas Post" but I am not the pretending type. Bittersweet is an honest word. I'm glad God created it.

Here follows what I captured of my Christmas. So thankful God allows me to see HIS perfection in the midst of the biggest messes.



 { Winter Wind }

 {Reading by the fire}

 {Cards at the kitchen table}

 {Woodstoves}

 {hooray for the only time of year we get to bring the outside, inside.}

 {Things that are wrapped thriftily}

 {Wrapped up in mist}

 

{Simple things}

{Hannah's chocolate chip cookies deserve a moment of silence. _________. I can't post the recipe, it's a secret.}

 

{We Wait}

{Belanger family tradition, follow the trail of tootsie rolls to wherever the presents are, baskets in hand, gathering as we go. Mayhem.}

 {Pajamas all day long}

 {The stillness of sleeping siblings}

 {Home}



 {Candles lit}

 {Two christmas's, 14 stockings, making it work.}

{The Afterglow}



Marshmallows and Wrapping

I had a ball with this one...

 

 

Honey Vanilla Marshmallows

 

Ingredients:

- 3 Tbs unflavored gelatin

- 2 Cups raw honey

- 1 vanilla bean split, with the seeds scraped out

- 1/4 tsp sea salt

- Warm water

- Lots of arrowroot powder

 

Prepare a 9x13 pan by rubbing with some coconut oil and sprinkling with arrowroot powder. Then line it with parchment paper and some more arrowroot on top of that. These will be sticky!

 

 

In the bowl of a stand mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup of warm water and let it dissolve. Meanwhile in a saucepan on the stove, combine the honey, vanilla pod and seeds, and sea salt. Stir until the honey is completely dissolved. Once that happens, bring the mixture to a boil, and simmer until the syrup reaches 240 on a candy thermometer. Turn on the mixer on to break up the gelatin, and here's the tricky part... begin to pour the sugar syrup into the bowl of the mixer while its on in a very small, slow, and steady stream. Continue this until you have poured all the syrup, the process should take all of 5 minutes if you are doing it right. Slow, remember. Bump the speed up to high, and beat the mixture until light and fluffy and looks like marshmallow cream. Should take 10-12 minutes.

At this point work quickly before the cream sets. Pour it into your prepared pan, sprinkle with another layer of arrowroot powder, and cover with more parchment paper. Let is sit at room temp for at least 3 hours to over night.

 

 



 

When you cut them up, do it on a greased cutting board and knife and toss with more arrowroot once they are finished. If you want them sweeter, them you can dust them in powdered sugar, cocoa, or anything your heart desires!

Next I hit the fabrics, twine, tape and brown paper to create little masterpieces. (I wrapped presents.)

 



 

I found some lovely old tins at my favorite antique shop Serendipity and packaged up the marshmallows. A perfect evening spent.

 



Merry Christmas!



Cold Nights and Berry Shortbreads

Still on the detox. This is a little something I made up to satisfy my ever present sweet tooth on a cold and cozy night. I also drew in the frost on the window, lit a candle, and wrapped presents.

Berry Shortbreads

Crust:

-1 cup of almond flour

-1/4 cup of coconut flour

-1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

-1/4 cup almond butter

-3 Tbs coconut oil 

Mix together everything but the oil briefly. Add the oil until the dough comes together. Shape into little cups and place on a greased cookie sheet. 

Filling: 

- 1/4 cup blueberries

-1/4 cup raspberries

-1/4 cup pitted dark cherries

-1 Tbs coconut milk

-1 tsp vanilla 

-1 tsp cinnamon

- 1/4 cup chopped or whole pecans

Simmer the fruit and coconut milk in a small saucepan until soft and saucy. Smash the fruit the rest of the way into a kind of chutney. It will boil down most of the way on it's own. Add the pecans, vanilla, and cinnamon. Spoon a little generously into each cup, and bake at 350 for 15 min. 

Keep in mind, these contain no sugar, so if you are ok with sweetening it up a bit in addition to natural sugars then throw in some honey to the fruit filling. 

Wanna Join Me?

This post is going to be about me. And food of course. Never without food.

 

To any, and all of you who supported me in my mission work and
discipleship training with KBM this past summer.... THANK YOU! You
have no idea what a huge miracle you have been a part of in my life
and the lives of those around me! God has acomplished in me the kind
of stuff that leaves your jaw on the floor, and if I had several days
I would love to tell you about it. :) For any of you who have no clue what I'm talking about, you can take a look at my blog from last summer, www.breakgroundwithme.blogspot.com.  Let's leave it at this. He has
transformed me to the very core of who I am, and given me a clear
mission/purpose in life.

 

Of course it involves lovely food.

 

 

I have been asked back on staff with Kingdom Building Ministries this
next summer! And with a unuiqe roll. My love and education in cooking is something I am watching God shape
into a ministry. This upcoming summer I am going to be advancing God's
Kingdom through FOOD! It is absolutely possible if you are somewhat
skeptical. :)
Here's how: when people sit down to eat there is a transparacy that
happens. We talk, we laugh, we share things we wouldn't normally
because we feel comfortable. Jesus himself did much of his ministry
around the meal table! Remember when he had dinner with zacchaeus at
his house? or when he cooked his disciples breakfast on the beach?
With God as our provider, a meal becomes a celebration of community
and promotes healing within our midst.

" When you supply it, they gather it.
You open your hand to feed them,
and they are richly satisfied.
When you give them your breath, life is created,
and you renew the face of the earth."
- Psalms 104:28,30

 

This is the call God has placed on my life according the way He has
gifted me. I would love for you all to be a part of what He is doing!
Follow the link below to read more about my ministry partnered with
Kingdom Building Ministries.

http://kbm.donorpages.com/Experience2013/rachaelbelanger/

Excited to share more beauty, prayers, recipies, and adventure with you all!

 

 

For Winter Days ( and also days when you are not allowed to eat anything)

It's winter. In Kentucky you have to say that to yourself over and over until you believe it because the sky certainly won't bear you any proof. It's winter. 

Along with grey, and rose colored skies, lots of rain, and above average temperatures, winter has brought me a detox. I can't complain because most of it is quite enjoyable and brought on by my own decision... but other parts are not so lovely. Especially the part where I don't get to eat corn, soy, dairy, peanuts, sugar or grains of any kind. Times like these call for desperate, and Colorful Measures.

Limited food can still be enjoyable food. This is something I have learned. Color is really key too. It just makes you feel much better about everything. 

Recipe for Colorful Measures.

- 2 Cups thinly sliced red cabbage

- 2 cups kale, roughly chopped

- 2 large apples, sliced

- olive oil

- sea salt and pepper

- nutmeg

- any sort of citrus juice (I used blood orange) 

- 1 tsp cayenne pepper

Combine the oil, seasonings, and citrus juice in a small bowl. Pour over cabbage, kale, and apples. Toss. Roast for about 25 minutes at 375.

The kale will crisp up and the apples will be soft. 

Feel free to detox or not detox. But above all.... 

Be Thankful. 

On Pie.

One, this post is because half the pictures I took over Thanksgiving were of pie in it's various stages. 

Two, because I believe pie is a universal love language, and not only does it deserve it's own post, but it is the bringer of much joy. And we just need joy. 

Spiced Pear Pie, with Toasted Walnuts and Gorgonzola Cheese in a Buttermilk Crust. 

I took this little wooden mold and made acorns out of the leftover pie crust. Brushed them with cream and sprinkled with cane sugar and allspice. Perfect. 

 

 

~Recipe Here~

"Where there is life, there is hope. And need of vittles."

-J.R.R Tolkien