Thanksgiving thankfulness.

I am thankful for...

Tasty treats (aka: food)

Health

Awesome friends

Nice family (I think I have the best...)

Kitchen Aid mixers

Siblings

God's love

Incredible parents

Vacations

Inventions (the lightbulb, the computer, the telephone)

Nice weather, all year round

God's forgiveness

...and a WHOLE lot more. I am blessed with blessings I don't deserve and it is kind of sad that we only have one day of the year dedicated to remembering to be thankful! Every day should be a day of thanksgiving...and I wouldn't mind the year-round pumpkin pie.

Persimmons!

Words (and sounds) that have been uttered in regards to these muffins:
"Oooh."
"Mmmm."
"Fabulous."
"Killer."
"These are MY muffins, right?"
"Awesome."

Seriously, they are THAT good.

I love persimmons and I was a little afraid that I would waste 6 precious persimmons on a mediocre recipe...but this is well above mediocre. The cognac adds a great touch, the persimmon adds a subtle sweetness, and they are nice and moist like a muffin should be!
The recipe is for 2 loaves of bread, but I made 12 muffins and 1 loaf...we are a muffin family.


Persimmon Bread (or muffins)
3½ cups sifted flour
1½ teaspoons salt
2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1-2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 to 2½ cups sugar
1 up melted unsalted butter and cooled to room temperature
4 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
2/3 cup cognac
2 cups persimmon puree (from about 4 squishy-soft Hachiya persimmons)
2 cups walnuts or pecans, toasted and chopped (optional...I didn't use nuts)
1 cup raisins (or other dried fruit, chopped)

Grease loaf pans or line muffin tins with paper.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Sift the first 5 dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center then stir in the butter, eggs, liquor, persimmon puree then the nuts and raisins. Bake the bread for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The muffins bake for about 25 minutes.

L.i.f.e.

Let me start with a somewhat funny story because it has been so long...
Context: I was teaching 1st graders.
"Miss Heinz, Lucas said that camels are like dwarves."
"Oh?" (me)
"Yes, and it hurt my feelings because I like camels."

So, it's not THAT funny, but come on...it's a little funny.
Camels are like dwarves?!?
And saying that camels are like dwarves offends someone enough to hurt their feelings?!?
I had to hold in my smile and laughter.

Today is an exciting day. I got a long-term job!
As I sit and reflect on my life in the past months, I know, without a doubt, that I am where I am supposed to be (for now, anyways).
Yes, I am working A LOT. Yes, I am tired and tend to complain about the occasional 13 hour workdays (teaching + WS = exhaustion), but deep down, I truly love it. I love being busy. I love teaching. I love working at WS. I love long shifts and being friendly. I love answering questions. I love being a light to my co-workers.
I am home for a reason. I am in other peoples' lives for a reason. I am in the schools and workplace that I am in for a reason. It is exciting to know that God has me in His hand and He is working His plan in my life...
...and God has a bigger, more amazing plan than I could ever dream up for myself.

As for baking, I just bought a new cookbook! I had to. They had me dusting and re-stocking the cookbooks at WS and I happened across a clearance book that just happened to have my name on it. It also spoke to me and said "open me," so I did...that was my first mistake.
Anyways, there are a bunch of recipes that I would LOVE to create. If only I had a little free time...