You Make Beautiful Things

I was having a rough morning when I heard this on my way to class today on a Christian radio station. First time I heard this song. It's called "Beautiful Things" and it's by Gungor. The chorus says, "You make beautiful things out of the dust" and sings about how Heavenly Father makes things better and new. I kept hearing "out of the dark".

It's true. He can make beautiful things out of the dust, out of the dark, out of the pain. What now hurts will someday be healed. Someday.

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Buttermilk Chocolate Cookies

I found this recipe at Carly's Kitchen, who found them at Baking Bites. Carly's photo of the gooey, chocolatey cookie is what made me copy the recipe and finally try them today. They have a kinda crunchy exterior, but the inside is all soft and gooey with this egg-free recipe. I was really craving chocolate after being really good for a while, so this was quite a treat.

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Buttermilk Chocolate Cookies

2 c. flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/2 c. butter
3/4 c. cocoa powder
2 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla extract
2/3 c. buttermilk
2 c. chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.

Melt the butter in a small, microwave safe bowl.

In a large bowl, combine the melted butter (still warm) with cocoa powder and whisk until very smooth. Whisk in sugar, vanilla extract and buttermilk. Gradually stir in the flour mixture until completely mixed in. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Drop dough in 1-inch balls into prepared baking sheet, leaving about two inches between cookies to allow for spread. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until cookies are set around the edges.

Cool for 2-3 minutes on a baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack with a spatula to cool completely.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies

Gluten Free Hummus & Sesame Chips (Not a Recipe)

This is especially for any gluten free friends and family, but can be for anyone. I don't eat gluten free, but my brother Jared introduced me to Boulder Canyon Hummus & Sesame Chips and they are so good. I'm not much of a chip-eater, but these are not like any other chip.

They look like tortilla chips, but have a flavor pop and are very addictive. So after Jared let me taste some of his and I loved them, he said he would pick some up at Costco next time he went since I don't have a card. The next time he went, they were not there. So after a while he asked about them and Costco said they stopped carrying them. What??? So I looked around at all the grocery stores and health stores with no luck.

Then recently Jared was at Costco and spotted them again. He so nicely picked me up a couple of bags of them and now I get to enjoy them again. I have no idea how to explain the flavor so you'll have to try for yourself. They are $5.25 for a 22 oz. bag of crunchy goodness here in Utah.

Ingredients: Corn, garbanzo beans, sunflower and/or safflower oil, pregelatinized cornstarch, corn masa, potato starch, black sesame seeds, evaporated cane juice, salt, minced tomato, onion powder, cumin powder, garlic powder, cayenne powder

(This is not an advertisement or paid opinion. It's just my real opinion and me sharing an awesome product.)