Buttermilk Waffles

This is the waffle recipe I used at the Waffle Party.

Ingredients:
4 eggs, separated
4 c flour
1 T baking soda
1 t salt
1 cup oil
4 c buttermilk

Directions:
Combine dry ingredients, then add oil, buttermilk, & egg yolks. Whip egg whiltes (for fluffy batter) and fold into batter.

Birthday Waffles!

Come to my birthday party!!

On Saturday 10 February I threw a birthday waffle party - for myself.

The original was 4 years ago when I received a heart waffle iron from my mother for my birthday. It was a Wednesday night at BYU and my friend stopped by between 7 and 9 to eat waffles. My friend Natalie brought her mother's kitchen aid and buttermilk waffle recipe and we had some extra waffle irons - it was very memorable and I had thought about doing it again.

I decided 2007 is my year and it was time to do it again - but I decided to go big or go home. I bought 25 lbs of flour from Costco, five dozen eggs, and had 4 waffle irons cooking. We decorated the dining room with purple, red, and yellow streamers and the living room was full of 20 bright balloons. (ask me later about the balloons... there's a great story there.) I invited way too many people, but in the end they all fit in our house fine:

Some of my friends hijacked the kitchen so that I could mingle. They set up a pretty streamlined machine. Jes (not pictured), Jenna, and Tanya were major producers. (Note: the heart shaped waffle iron in the middle is mine):
Brad was also a big deal in the kitchen. He brought a retro/antique heart waffle iron that works on the stove (lessened risk of blowing a fuse) AND (like the balloons) it has a great story. He also issued special edition waffles by signing the paper plates (Note: that is my pink apron):

We had a plethora of toppings available: strawberries, bananas, nutella, jam, peanut butter, whipped cream, and, of course, gallons of maple syrup.

Even the guest list was big: my best friend from BYU Dave flew in from Arizona. My cousin Steve flew in from Seattle, and I timed it so that one of my best friends from DC Jocelyn would be there. My cousin Steve even volunteered to be the party photographer, which is why these pictures are so incredibly awesome. You can see the full set here.

The beautiful part of the party was not the waffles (although, as you can see, they were very beautiful):
But it was that I could see so many of my friends come together. I particularly enjoyed introducing them to each other. My family also came and I was delighted that they could meet so many of my friends.

Here are three people I love: my dad, my older sister Laura (beautiful at 6 months pregnant), and Dave. As you can see from their faces, waffles really do make the world a better place!
I wish you all could have been there!

Quote of the Day

How can you come to know yourself? Never by thinking, always by doing. Try to do your duty, and you'll know right away what you amount to. And what is your duty? Whatever the day calls for.
- Goethe

Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear

Motivating, transforming faith in Jesus Christ is like spiritual oxygen. As we allow faith to flow freely within us, it awakens and enlivens our spiritual senses. It breathes life into our very souls.

As faith flows, we become sensitively attuned to the whisperings of the Spirit. Our minds are enlightened, our spiritual pulse quickens, our hearts are touched.

Faith fuels hope. Our perspective changes; our vision becomes clearer. We begin to look for the best, not the worst, in life and in others. We gain a deeper sense of life's purpose and meaning. Despair gives way to joy.

Faith such as this is a heavenly gift, but it can be sought and cultivated. As our Bible Dictionary suggests, often "faith is kindled by hearing the testimony of those who have faith." Faith is then nurtured as we allow ourselves to believe. Like all other virtues, faith is strengthened as we practice it, as we live it, and act as if our faith were already deep. Faith is the product of righteous desire, belief, and obedience.

(Faith, Service, Constancy by Elder David S. Baxter)

So, in keeping with this idea of despair becoming joy - through the gospel of Jesus Christ - I read this scripture for the month of February and wanted to share it:

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear. (1 John 4:18)

What a beautiful thought - a remonstrance, even - that we must build love for the Savior, for each other, and for the plan of salvation. And that by so doing we will let go of our fear of doing good, our fear of failure, our fears of life. When we love each other and teach each other to love the gospel and the life the Lord has given us, then we are also giving each other courage. For this is the gospel: hope, courage, gladness, and rejoicing, love instead of fear.

19 Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that bring glad tidings of good things, and that say unto Zion: Behold, thy God reigneth! As the dews of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God descend upon them!

22 Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage , brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing . Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.

23 Let the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever!
(Doctrine and Covenants 128)