Daily Inspiration Activity and Food: Baking Cookie Dough Truffles

So I'm not the biggest baked goods fan but when I stumbled upon this recipe, I knew it had to be made for someone. Baking is so satisfactory it's like being a parent but less expensive and there are no legal issues if you throw the final product in a dumpster.  I felt all grown up because I made something from scratch and well it has been I while since I have baked anything (silly dorms kitchens are for grown-ups).  So my suggestion is that you bake something and give it to someone you love and make it with a friend (like a roomie!).  Here's the recipe and the original site.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

Makes approx. 3-4 dozen.

ingredients
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup milk or soy milk
1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

14 oz dark chocolate candy coating

directions
Beat butter and sugars and in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add soymilk and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt and mix on low speed (or by hand) until incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips.

Cover and chill dough for 1 hour.

When dough is firm enough to handle (it may help to lightly flour your hands), form dough into 1″ balls and arrange on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. Place sheets in freezer and let chill for 30 minutes.

Melt chocolate candy coating in a double boiler or in microwave according to package directions. Using forks or a dipping tool, dip cookie balls into candy coating to cover. Tap fork on side of pan to remove any excess coating, and return to waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Chill until set. Store, chilled, in an airtight container for up to 1 week (though good luck making them last that long).

http://www.loveandoliveoil.com/2010/01/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-truffles.html 

Daily Inspiration Spiritual: Psalm 6

I love this scripture.  What college student hasn't 'watered their couch with their tears' probably with an pint of Ben and Jerry's that David forgot to mention.  The best part is verse 9 where after you empathize with the misery, you realize it's okay because the Lord heard me and know's what I am going through and it will be okay.  If we didn't have trials would we remember the Lord, would we be grateful...good can come from everything if you look for it.  There's a lot of meaning in this psalm take what you need from it.

  1 O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

  2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am ^aweak: O Lord, ^bheal me; for my bones are vexed.

  3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long?

  4 Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.

  5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the ^agrave who shall give thee thanks?

  6 I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my ^atears.

  7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

  8 Depart from me, all ye workers of ^ainiquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

  9 The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.

  10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

Daily Inspiration Song: By My Side

As I have been rehearsing this song for the past two months, I have also been learning a lot about myself as a spiritual being.  I know now that I always want Christ to be a constant companion and I do want him 'by my side'.  If you aren't Christian than I you could replace the word Christ with love.  By love of course I'm refering to more of a help-Mrs.-Henderson-with-her-lawn kind of love than a make-out-with-Jimmy-in-your-Volvo kind of love (besides thats more of a lustful thing).  Either way I think a soul quenching satisfaction comes into our lives when we strive to make them Christ or Love centered.  I used to just say that but now I know that.  

Here's a clip of the song although there is probably a version out there that you would like more.

Daily Inspiration Fictional Person: L. Butters Scotch

From the womb of quite a notorious show comes the sweetest cartoon character ever!  He has a dark tap dancing past but remains cheery and optimistic most of the time.  In one episode he has this epiphany when he realizes that he can chose to weep about this girl or he can choose to be happy.  Happiness is choice or goal that we have to set for ourselves.  I think Butters nailed as he put it
"Well yeah, and I'm sad, but at the same time I'm really happy that something could make me feel that sad. It's like, it makes me feel alive, you know? It makes me feel human. And the only way I could feel this sad now is if I felt somethin' really good before. So I have to take the bad with the good, so I guess what I'm feelin' is like a, beautiful sadness. I guess that sounds stupid." 
I also agree that Hello Kitty Island is way more fun than World of Warcraft.

Daily Inspiration Real Person: Mae West

This woman is the source behind the expression "Is that a pistol in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?".   Mae West may be the sole reason for censorship in cinema.  I'm not encouraging you to be 'dirty' but to say funny things when they come to you and find friends that appreciate that.  If the people around you glare when you exclaim "that's what she said" (and that has happened to me) then maybe you should find some more friends.  I also admire because she was older and curvier yet still considered sexy, perhaps because she had confidence.  Well since I think it's time for a laugh I will share my list of West's quotes that I compiled some time ago.  

·        I didn't discover curves; I only uncovered them. 

·        I used to be Snow White, but I drifted. 

·        I've been in more laps than a napkin. 

·        It's hard to be funny when you have to be clean. 

·        Love thy neighbor - and if he happens to be tall, debonair and devastating, it will be that much                   easier. 

·        Why don't you come on up and see me sometime -- when I've got nothin' on but the radio.

·         Good women are no fun. The only good woman I can recall in history was Betsy Ross. And all she ever made was a flag.

·         Good sex is like good Bridge. If you don't have a good partner, you'd better have a good hand.

·         Kiss and make up -- but too much makeup has ruined many a kiss.

Daily Inspiration Movie: Goofy Movie

This is a movie I distinctly remember seeing it in theatres (I was 4!).  I mean one of the first words uttered is my name -just sayin'.  What I'm trying to get at is the double shot of nostalgia this film provides.   Not only does one get a warm hug from the little kid vibe, you also get the 90s vibe as well.  The music is also great, as well as the many goodies found in the film like Lester's Opossum park.  The movie inspires me to dare to do; you learn more that way.  Let's all harness ourselves and glide around an auditorium to Lady Gaga...or not but if we act on our impulses, we may one day discover 'how many cups of sugar it takes to get to the moon'.

Daily Inspiration Food: Tuna Melts

So this sandwich represents cooking no matter what the situation.  I live in a dorm where if we want to cook we have to rent every utensil and go to the basement where scary piano playing monsters live.  Plus you can only rent at night (get your mind out of the gutter!).  So to accommodate my inner Julia Child I have decided to make foods without stupid utensils with ingredients I can buy with the monopoly money of a meal plan.  Tuna melts fall into that category because you can stick them in the oven on broil -voila!  All you need is tuna, bread, cheese, mayo, and maybe a can opener.  So whether you like tuna or not, I'm sure there is something you can make for yourself with whatever means you have.  And if you're too lazy to cook one for yourself I highly recommend the Tuna Melts at the Red Arrow.

Daily Inspiration Activity: Running

I have never run outside just for the sake of running, until today.  Of course it was more of a slow jiggly jog but I did it. After warming up I'd walk a minute then run a minute for a total of 20 minutes.  Essentially I ran for ten minutes but hopefully one day I will move from tortoise to hare.  I kinda felt like this poor dude although I ran through the 'scenic' streets of Provo instead of on a treadmill.  Start to learn something you've never been able to do or become a more fit runner.  Who knows when you might have to actually run from something like a psychotic clown with giraffe-balloon-animals of death....you'll be glad you had the practice.

Daily Inspiration Spiritual: Forgiveness

I have watched an inability to forgive vaporize healthy relationships.  I have watched communities suffering in pain instead of healing through forgiveness.  If you cannot forgive then you may end up bitter and alone talking to your self loathing cat as you read Camus or an angry soul that screams at people buying bacon at Wall-mart.  Forgiveness is something we should show everyone but I recognize that for some this is a long road.  I found this beautiful site which shares stories of forgiveness from those that have been on the brutal end of hateful acts.  Perhaps one of the most important reasons to forgive is that it is an opposite to hatred and if we want hatred to stop, then we have to do our part.
Read one of the stories on this site; they're a little dark but full of hope.

Daily Inspiration Song: Lucky Lucky

How can you not feel happy when listening to this song?  I guess you could feel annoyed but that is your choice.  Its best to sing in the winter in your car and maybe as you scare pedestrians while trying to share the love. There are worse lyrics to have stuck in your head....

Daily Inspiration Fictional Person: Judy Funnie

Being a drama geek, I may or may not have modeled my job as an older sister after her.  She prances about the house as a ninja or a toreador and watches Shakespeare on Ice...I'm pretty sure it doesn't get any better than that.  So embrace your inner Judy; be the weirdo you know you are and accept it

...and should someone stand in your way simply scream "DROP DEAD FOOD FACIST" over your megaphone.

Daily Inspiration Real Person: Ethel Merman

Go ahead laugh...but I idolize this woman.  She embodies a confidence and power that is lacking in modern performance.  Singing like her is therapeutic for me and it could scare away rapists.  If you have never heard her sing, you have to (think of all the inside jokes you're missing out on).  One thing is agreed, there will never be another singer like this.

Daily Inspiration Movie: Food, Inc

Watched this film today.  I already was a vegetarian because I don't like how the meat industry works and am too poor for quality meat but the sections about suppressed farmers being sued was so unconstitutional something must be done.  It may look bleak but that's how it looked at the beginning of every revolution...We can do it!


Tips in making a difference