O maior conquistador não é aquele que conquista grandes coisas, mas sim o que conquista as pequenas e as torna grandes!


terça-feira, 20 de abril de 2021

Orange Walnut Cake

 



Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 stick unsalted butter (1/2 cup), room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest (only the outer orange skin and not the white part), about 1 large orange

2 large eggs, room temperature

1/2 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed (about 1 – 1 1/2 large), 

Preparations:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pan with non-stick cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment paper.

2. Into a food processor, combine flour, walnuts, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Process for one minute and 30 seconds, until finely ground. Transfer mixture to a bowl and keep aside.

3. Into the same (now empty) processor, add butter, sugar and orange zest. Process for 45 seconds. Add both eggs and process for few seconds until smooth (scrape the sides of the processor to mix in any butter sticking to the sides).

4. Add half the ground flour mixture, process for 10 seconds, then orange juice, process for 10 seconds and then finish off with remaining flour mixture and process for additional 10 seconds, until combined.

5. Transfer batter into the prepared pan, spread evenly and bake in the middle rack of the oven for 33 minutes (if using 8-inch pan) and 30 minutes (if using 9-inch pan) or until a tooth pick inserted in the middle comes clean.

6. Place pan on a wire rack to cool (awesome when warm), 

Makes one 8-inch or 9-inch cake.

www.kitchenathoskins.com 

Today's Story - PRICE OF A MIRACLE

 


A little girl ran to her bedroom and pulled out her piggy bank from a secret drawer in her closet. She broke the piggy bank and took the change and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total has to be exactly perfect as there shouldn’t be any chance for mistake here.

She carefully placed the coins in a jar and twisted on the cap. She took the jar full of coin and slipped out of the back door. She made her way six blocks to a drug store. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was too busy attending other customers at that moment. She tried several times to get his attention, but she wasn’t successful.  Finally, she took a quarter from her jar and banged on the glass counter , which was finally able to get her some attention.

“ And what do you want little miss ?” the pharmacist asked the tiny girl in the front of his counter.

“My brother is really, really sick… and I want to buy a miracle.,” the girl answered back.

“I beg your pardon?” said the pharmacist.

“My brother  is really sick and my daddy says only a miracle can cure him now. So, I want to get a miracle for him. how much does a miracle cost?”

“I’m sorry but I can’t help you, We don’t sell miracles here, little girl.” the pharmacist said, softening a little.

“Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn’t enough, I will get more. Just tell me how much it costs.”

Next to the little girl was a tall well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, “What kind of a miracle does your brother need?”

“I don’t know,” the girl replied with her eyes filled with tears. “I just know he is very sick and has something bad growing inside his head. Doctor says he needs an operation. But daddy can’t pay for it, so we need a miracle to save him now. I can to use all my money to save my brother .”

“How much do you have?” asked the man.

“One dollar and twelve cents, it’s all the money I have now, but I can get some more if needed” the girl answered barely audibly.

“Well, what a coincidence,” smiled the man. “A dollar and twelve cents, that is the exact price of a miracle for a little brothers.”

He took her money in one hand and with the other hand; he softly held her hand and said, “Take me to your brother. I want to meet your parents and see your brother. Let’s see if I have the miracle your brother needs.”

The man was a reputed neurosurgeon. He was just the right person needed to save the little boy’s life. The operation was completed without any charges and it wasn’t long until the little girl’s brother was home again and doing well.

Mommy and daddy were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this happy place. “That surgery”, her Mommy whispered, “it was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?”

The little girl smiled, as she knew exactly how much a miracle costs. One dollar and twelve cents, plus the faith of a little child.

alltimeshortstories.com

domingo, 18 de abril de 2021

Note to self:

 












Iconic Gowns on display


Mary Jane Russell in Balenciaga's "flamenco dress" of black velvet with a kick of hot pink ruffles, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe as seen in Harper's Bazaar Sept. 1951




Julia Roberts wore a Valentino creation when she won an Oscars 



Christian Dior by Marc Bohan. Dress in mousseline figured with green panne velvet, decorated with ostrich feathers, fall-winter 1971 haute couture.PHOTO: PALAIS PRINCIER DE MONACO COLLECTION. © LAZIZ HAMANI


Grace Kelly’s coral jersey gown with gold embroidery from the fall-winter 1968 haute couture collection is on display at the Christian Dior Museum in Granville, France.






Christian Dior by Marc Bohan. Long evening gown in white silk jersey decorated with white ostrich feathers, fall-winter 1968 haute couture.PHOTO: PALAIS PRINCIER DE MONACO COLLECTION. © LAZIZ HAMANI
www.galeriemagazine.com





Here's a dozen of my favorite things never to apologize for:


1) Never apologize for acting on your instincts.
2) Never apologize for being passionate.
3) Never apologize for being smart.
4) Never apologize for demanding respect.
5) Never apologize for saying no.
6) Never apologize for not embracing someone else's agenda.
7) Never apologize for disagreeing.
8) Never apologize for your faith.
9) Never apologize for your own sense of creativity.
10) Never apologize for ordering dessert.
11) Never apologize for being funny.
12) Never apologize for living your truth.


Every one of us casts a shadow.

There hangs about us, a sort of a strange, indefinable something, which we call personal influence--that has its effect on every other life on which it falls. It goes with us wherever we go. It is not something we can have when we want to have it--and then lay aside when we will, as we lay aside a garment. It is something that always pours out from our lives . . . as light from a lamp, as heat from flame, as perfume from a flower.

The ministry of personal influence is something very wonderful. Without being conscious of it, we are always impressing others by this strange power that exudes from us. Others watch us--and their thinking and actions are modified by our influence."

"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity." Ephesians 5:15-16

~J. R. Miller, "The Shadows We Cast"

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