Monthly Archives: December 2011

happy new year!

Posted on by Hannah

Sparkling Cranberry Pomegranate Juice
25.3 oz sparkling water
1 c fresh juice (about)
3/4 t stevia extract

Juice fresh fruit. I used two 8 oz. bags fresh cranberries and 3 fresh pomegranates. Now, as healthy as it may be, juicing pomegranate seeds and pith make for a bitter juice. SUPER good for you, but it’s an acquired taste. If you aren’t feeling bold quite yet just use cranberries : ) Slowwwly pour juice into sparkling water. I used 5 bottles for the above listed amount of fresh fruit. Stir in stevia and enjoy!

Looking forward to what the Lord has planned for Immer Wachsen in 2012!

orange chocolate truffles

Posted on by Hannah


We had to postpone our traditional Christmas morning a couple days this year. The 25th was spent with church family and praying for my Momma who has had a rough time the past several months. Just a few years ago, this would have ruffled my feathers to the point of no return, but now I wouldn’t have had it any other way. There is such peace and freedom that comes with knowing God is in control. No matter the struggle or rearranging of my plans, He knows best. That’s where faith comes in and trusting through even the toughest of times.

“A great many things in God’s divine providences do not look to the eye like goodness. But faith sits down before mysteries such as these, and says, 
‘The Lord is good, therefore all that He does must be good no matter how it looks.
I can wait for His explanations.’” – Hannah Whitall Smith*

Orange Chocolate Truffles
1/4 c extra virgin coconut oil
1/4 c raw honey
1/2 c cacao powder
1 t orange extract
cacao powder (for rolling)

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Dollop 1/2 teaspoon amounts onto a shallow dish or plate. Freeze. Remove from freezer and roll** into balls. Roll in cacao powder, return to plate, and freeze or refrigerate. Enjoy!

**If you pull them out at the right time they should be moldable, but most likely you will have to wait for them to thaw a bit before you can roll them.

*This is merely a good quote. I do not advocate or support everything this person said.

Next: sparkling cranberry pomegranate juice.

marzipan

Posted on by Hannah

I was always the type to read one book at a time cover to cover. I don’t know what’s gotten into me! I’m reading several and it doesn’t even faze me for a second when I pick up another and start reading. Not that I need to add to my list, but what book(s) are you reading? Here’s a quote from one of the books I’m reading:

“Help me to be in reality before thee as in appearance I am before men,
to be religious before I profess religion,
to leave the world before I enter the church,
to set my affections on things above,
to shun forbidden follies and vanities,
to be a dispenser as well as a partaker of grace,
to be prepared to bear evil as well as to do good.
O God, make me worthy of this calling, that the name of
Jesus may be glorified in me and I in him.”
-The Valley of Vision

Marzipan
2 3/4 c almonds (soaked, peeled, dehydrated)
2/3 c raw honey
2 t almond extract
dark flax seeds (optional)

Process almonds in a food processor until flour becomes moldable. It should be right between a flour and almond butter. Add honey and almond extract and process until it rolls into a ball. Roll into teaspoon sized balls and top with flax seed stars.

Next: cranberry punch orange chocolate truffles.

Christmas collard wraps

Posted on by Hannah


After a long semester that continually sucked the life out life, I started exercising again. I am getting back to what I can’t believe I could ever go without. I sure eat healthy, but when I get out of the exercise habit…I feel ewww. Chubby, stiff, old, just ewww. When I exercise I feel limber, thin, strong, and just plain good! And the hurt-so-good sore muscles are…awesome. How do you get exercise?

Christmas Collard Wraps
collard greens
raw cheddar cheese* (cubed)
coconut butter (optional)
green apple (sliced finely)
celery (chopped or cut longways)
walnuts (soaked and dehydrated)
cranberries
honey

First make the dried cranberries. Slice in half, cover with honey, and dehydrate until chewy. Roll (with a rolling pin) a collard green and cut away the hard spine. Rolling the collard green helps break down the normally thick and tough leafy green. The collard green will soften, which allows for easier wrap rolling and chewing. Fill the collard green with the above ingredients and enjoy!

*Use almond cheese if you’re vegan :)

Next: marzipan.

A link up to a dear friend’s blog Deep Roots At Home.

almond panna cotta

Posted on by Hannah


It is very important that this recipe is made in a high speed blender.

Almond Panna Cotta
3 c water
2 c almonds (soaked only)
1 handful fresh Irish moss (about 1 c soaked, not gel)
1/3 – 3/4 c honey (to taste)
2t – 1T vanilla extract (to taste)
pomegranate arils (optional)

First make almond milk by blending water and almonds, and strain through a nut milk bag or flour sack cloth. Thoroughly blend almond milk, Irish moss, vanilla, and honey. Pour into desired molds, glasses, or bowls. The mixture will begin to thicken so work quickly! Let set up in refrigerator and top with fresh pomegranate arils. Tastes best when eaten with a small spoon :)

Like.

I like being liked. I like getting comments, emails, tweets, letters, and… likes. I don’t like feeling left out, ignored, invisible, alone, or unwanted. I like being liked. Don’t you?

There have been a handful of times in my life where I felt completely alone. Unliked. I remember a particular time when someone else who was not liked was brought to my attention and he was perfect. He wasn’t perfect – wealthy, popular, successful, or attractive. He was perfect, but was hated and then killed.

His name is Jesus.

Next week: Christmas collard wraps.