Pastel Tres Leches♡ (Three Milk Cake)

Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Isaiah 58:7

I have participated in a sandwich run before with a volunteer group in UT - GHVAUT - and I have to say, I was a little intimidated at first. Talking to strangers was my fear, and those in high school can testify - quite unfortunate - but still, my eyes were opened. Everyone has their own stories, strangers do too, and one can be opened to a totally different world just by listening. It's truly amazing :) I did have a great time getting to know others in the community, and enjoying time with others as well.

This time, it was a little different. The sandwich run was organized by New Hope Fellowship and it started around dinnertime, as the sun begins to set on a Wednesday evening (27th). With a hopeful heart and a mindset of hearing stories (from previous experience), I set out and we brief and we walk.

Different areas were ventured, and this time, I didn't get to hear stories from the

ones living it, but I saw life. I saw the brokenness of the city, the urgency of seeking, and the need for God's salvation. It was overwhelming. I felt guilty - guilty that I'm living this life, and they are living theirs. I felt disgusting - who am I to feel happy doing something so small like this? What was my mindset coming into this? Why am I doing this?

A memorable time was walking through Seaton Street, with the largest men's shelter and addiction control centre. It was heartbreaking to see. When we went, it was getting dark. The building was barred off, and when we were near, people would come out - a few in the beginning and as they go in and tell others, more so come out and ask for food. We didn't even have enough as it was our last stop to the sandwich run. Ashamed to say, I was hesitant at first. I was scared. Middle aged men coming out one after another, reaching for food, the joy in their eyes - but somehow I see sorrow, emptiness, lost. Who can they turn to? Surely not to each other, it's known as 'satan's house' for a reason - with all the hurt, steal, darkness,

happening inside.

Finally I give, and their soft smiles and sincere thanking crushed me even more. I felt the warmth and I was certainly happy when they were happy. But I'm so unworthy of this, they're not suppose to be thanking me, glory should be given to God - so then, why are they thanking me? It shouldn't be something so special, it should be done all the time.

Walking out of the street was literally like walking towards the light - as the street was very dimly lit, and the end of the street were big lampposts and flashing restaurant signs..it was like stepping into a totally different world. Walking towards the light..how can I even say that, when there are so many left behind? I felt tugs, I had to turn around, but it was dark. Standing at the end of the street, with brightly lit lamps behind me, looking towards where I just came from, was scary. I can't imagine what continues to happen there.

Unfortunately, we didn't have the opportunity to debrief, but I guess this gave me time to digest. It was all in all a great experience. I did enjoy time with brothers and sisters, and walking around, learning more about the community and the city was really great. I gained and learned a lot from this trip - now I am wondering how I can respond and give back what I took out - not only towards those I saw, but to those who don't know - of His love, of this need, of the urgency.

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The Pastel Tres Leches is from Spanish, meaning Three Milk Cake, as it is a sort of half dense/half sponge cake soaked with whole milk, evaporated milk, and condensed milk - topped with a layer of whipped cream, tasting a hint of coffee liqueur. Mucho bueno!!

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Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 5 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
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• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 3 tbsp Kahlua, coffee liqueur

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9x13 inch baking pan.
2. Sift flour and baking powder together and set aside.
3. Cream butter or margarine and the 1/2 cup sugar together until fluffy.
4. Separate eggs. Beat egg whites until stiff peak forms.
5. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract into egg whites; beat well.
6. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture 2 tablespoons at a time; mix until well blended.
7. Fold in butter batter to eggs whites. Pour batter into prepared pan.
8. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Pierce cake several times with a fork.
9. Combine the whole milk, condensed milk, and evaporated milk together. Pour over the top of the cooled cake.
10. Whip whipping cream, the remaining 1/2 cup of the sugar, and 3 tbsp of Kahlua - can also replace with 1 tsp of vanilla extract, or run - together until thick. Spread over the top of cake.
    Refrigerate for about an hour, serve (can sift a mixture of cocoa powder with a bit of powdered sugar on top of the whipped cream before serving, to garnish). Enjoy! :D
    

Adapted from http://allrecipes.com/recipe/tres-leches-milk-cake/detail.aspx

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Lemon Squares♡

PTL!!! Father God, Lord of all creation, thank you for once again showing your great power, love, and grace to me. Another brother in Your heavenly family, yayyy! Thank you for showing me that this is truly what faith can do - healing of the body, mind, and spirit!

So it all starts with PJ's sharing one Sunday school class of a boy who is called to ER due to a brain tumour the size of a table tennis ball. Upon hearing this a friend and I were moved to pray for him, so we asked PJ after class of an understanding of his situation and how we can pray for him. Though, of course, specifics were not told, but to pray for him as he endures a surgery.

That morning, at his scheduled time of surgery, along with many other brother and sisters, we prayed. Getting up 10 min before, beginning to pray, knowing that many brother and sisters are doing the same, was amazing. Though I was tired, I tried hard to focus, and with more focus, the more the urgency came into realization.

As a student, hearing about this of another student, I can't help but feel helpless. At this stage, he must be searching, planning, mapping out future endeavors, but this curve ball is thrown at him. Experiencing many curve balls of my own, it's heartbreaking to know that someone else may be feeling as helpless. However, feeling as down as I was, I need to divert that feeling into hopefulness in God, hence I came to pray, and praying is what I did for him.

About 2 weeks later, PJ once again shared about this student, and good news came that he became a brother in Him. His surgery went well and he accepted Jesus as his Savior!! :D

Tears of joy streaming, praise resounding in my heart, hands clasped. Praise Him for the joys He brings, the breathe of life He breaths, and the wonderful works of His hands. :)

And this is what faith can do.♡

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~Lemon Squares~

So here's a little dessert of tartness yet sweet. Sometimes things may seem sour at first, but through that, we find sweet love, hope and joy.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  
  
• 3 lemons, juiced (2/3 cup)
• 1 full lemon zest

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Butter a 9x13 inch pan.
3. In a medium bowl, blend together softened butter, 1/2 cup sugar, and 2 cups flour. Press onto bottom of greased pan.
4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in preheated oven, until firm and golden.
5. In another bowl, whisk together remaining sugar and flour. Add in lemon zest.
6. Gradually whisk in eggs and lemon juice. Careful not to over mix.
7. Once crust has cooled to touch, pour mixture onto crust.
   
   
8. Bake for an additional 20-25 minutes in preheated oven. Let cool. Bars will firm up as they cool.
9. Sift powdered sugar onto warm lemon bars so that it will stick.

Enjoy!

*Can replace with limes instead of lemons, and can add a drop of green food coloring to give it a very pale green. Cut in uniform 2 inch squares, and you can create a checker board pattern with lime and lemon bars! :D

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Applesauce & Cinnamon Cupcakes♡

Sanctuary walk with Zion.....

So today we walked. Walked around downtown, went to places, and talked to people. Yep, basically my everyday activities. However, today was a little different - it was with a purpose - a walk for Poverty and Justice hosted by Sanctuary.

Early Saturday morning I wake up at Fi's with the anticipation and nervousness of talking - talking with strangers, perhaps? It's scary, but a thrill. What will I hear today? In what will I see God?

Joining in as a member of fellowship of the I go to, it was really fun to be able to participate in an event together. Yay!

Throughout the walk, along with others that may be a part of sanctuary or those in the community, I got to hear stories. Experiences that others went through. It's amazing to see God

working through a conversation. From not knowing to know, from sad to hopeful. Confusion, pain, suffer, disgust, fatigue, rest. All on beautiful Saturday afternoon.

I'm listening, Father, tell me.

After the walk, we got to rest a little at Fi's apartment - eating, playing, chatting. Standing behind the counter, a little scorched by the sun, I indulge in my salad, thinking. What a beautiful sight, what a blessing it is to laugh wholeheartedly, to have loving brother and sisters, such a grace from God.

After the rest, we prep for another event - this time only with Sanctuary. This time it's reflection time, as we walk through the community in groups of 4 to 5, with questions. See, the goal is to answer these questions whilst wandering around downtown Toronto with a mere $1.50 in one's pocket.

Where will I sleep?

What can I eat?

Where is a safe place, away from harsh wind and rain?

What will happen tomorrow?

Where is warmth?

And many other questions, that one is forced to discover the answer to - often a disappointment - when one is without a shelter, on the streets.

As a sister puts it, it's very unfortunate that it is until we are forced out of where we usually hang out, where we usually get together, into an area of unfamiliarity - that is where we discover that which we were ignorant of, or that much more that we are clueless of. If I wasn't forced to walk around downtown in unfamiliar areas, I would not have known of such beautiful parks, such memorials of those unnamed, such makeshift shelters that one proclaims.

But thankfully I now do. There are many more that I do not know of, but I take delight in knowing that my eyes and my heart are opened just a little more because of today's event.

I was tired. Exhausted and overwhelmed by the lack of satisfactory answers I could give myself. It's brutal. The uncertainty.

It's a blessing to be able to be uncertain but know of a great love from our Creator and know that He wants what is best for us.

It's a blessing to be able to be uncertain but know of those that can help us and arms we can run back into in times of struggle.

It's a blessing to be able to be uncertain of life, but be certain of love from Him.

How many of those on the streets do not know Him? How many are not able to know of this blessing - despite their misfortunes - of the certainty of Great Love.

It hurts to know that many do not know. And its painful to see many who don't want to know - but are struggling, searching to know the wrong.

But this pain is what drives. Drives my life, my goal, my faith in Him. It is through Him that we can love. Through Him that we can live.

They need to know, they need to know.

The night ended at around...and i went back home. With the $1.50 I had on the side, I went to Mcdees and bought a nice, cold, large, ice coffee for $1 on the way back.

Okay, I lied. I added another 50 or so cents to get two. That was all I had the energy for, to consume, for dinner.

An ice coffee, after a long day of walking.

And it was only a day.

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So this is another good possibility for a dessert run item as it's small, sweet, and filled with goodness :) Great for sharing too♡

Applesauce & Cinnamon Cupcakes

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) sweet butter, softened
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp. superfine sugar
• 1 cup self-rising flour
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup (3 1/2 oz.) chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup (3 1/2 oz.) golden raisins
• 1 small red eating apple, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp. granulated sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F (175C). Grease a 12-cup muffin pan.

2. Place the butter, sugar, flour, and egg in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth and pale, about 2-3 minutes.

3. Stir in the applesauce, cinnamon, pecans, and raisins.

4. Spoon the batter into the cups. Lay the apple slices on top and sprinkle with a little sugar.

5. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. Then remove the cupcakes and cool on a rack. Serve warm.

Store in airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

This makes about a dozen and a little more depending on the size of your cupcakes :)

*I didn't put in pecans or raisins due to possible nut allergies and

dislikes from others, but if you like it, then put them in! They should be really yummy!

And i drizzled warm caramel on it! so yummy!

Some possible variations:

• applesauce & pear cupcakes – prepare the basic cupcake recipe. Substitute 1 ripe and firm, medium pear for the apple. Lay slices on top of each cupcake and sprinkle with sugar.

• applesauce & warm caramel cupcakes – Prepare the basic cupcake recipe. To make a caramel topping, place 2 cups (6 oz.) caramels in a medium pan with 3 tablespoons evaporated milk. Heat gently, stirring until all the caramels have melted. Prick the top of the cupcakes with a toothpick and spoon the melted caramel over the cooled cakes. Then lay slices of apple on top of each cupcake.

• applesauce & brandy drizzle cupcakes – Prepare the basic cupcake recipe. To make the drizzle, combine 4 tablespoons apple brandy with 3 tablespoons sugar in a medium pan. Simmer gently for 5 minutes, then spoon over the cupcakes. Then lay slices of apple on top of each cupcake.

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Cranberry White Choco Chips Cookies♡

Now that I'm home alone with nothing to do and thinking about life, I am somehow able to act on impulse. It's not a good practice - I know - but just this summer? :)

Had this sudden urge to bake recently, looked for some cookie and cupcake recipes and found lots that I want to try. With no one at home anymore =( there's no one to eat the stuff I make.

It's interesting, but I really wanted to go for a cookie/cupcake run - giving it to the homeless - sometime ever since an encounter back in March.

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Anyhow, was just browsing, and found this wonderful recipe! Had a random cranberry craving and ta-da! Yummy cookie recipe :D so excited to make this!

(so because I didn't want to make so many, I halved the recipe into making 18. Hence a lot of the measurements are in tablespoons.

for reference: 1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons, 1 ounce = 28 grams)

18 tbsp all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup butter

2 tbsp white sugar

6 tbsp brown sugar

1 package (30 grams) instant vanilla pudding mix

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 egg

1/2 of a 6 ounce (84 grams) package of white choco chips

1/4 of a 6 ounce (42 grams) package of dried cranberries

1. Preheat oven to 350˚ F (175˚ C). Lightly grease baking sheet and place on prepared pan.

2. Combine flour and baking soda in a bowl.

3. Beat butter, white sugar, brown sugar, and pudding mix in an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth.

4. Beat in egg and vanilla extract until smooth.

5. Mix in flour mixture until just incorporated.

6. Fold in white choco chips and cranberries until evenly combined.

7. Make about 1-inch spheres of dough and flatten them out on the cookie sheet, l

eaving about 1-cm between each flattened dough. (They tend to rise rather than expand - possibly because of the pudding mix - so flatten them a little more than you probably would with other cookie recipes :) )

8. Bake in preheated oven until edges are golden brown (9-12 minutes).

9. Take out of oven after and cool on cookie sheet for another 10-ish minutes before fully cooling on a cooling rack.

10. Enjoy!

so...i didn't flatten them enough....=[..but they look good already, before baking! :D

An hour later...

Sooooo good! haha I think I'll make this more often...yummm

And this recipe halved really well! Maybe I'll try making the full amount next time, I'm sure they'll be gone in no time :)

Other possibilities: choco pudding, mint chips (favourite!!)

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Update: So I made this again on the 19th for my fam in ottawa...but I remembered halfway that I was using a diff recipe...=.=

I think I like the first one better because this one had a bit of a doughy taste..? But it was still pretty good...so here's the other recipe just in case some don't have all the ingredients for the first one.

• Makes about 24 cookies~ yummmmm!
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
  
  
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup dried cranberries

Just follow the directions from the recipe above, but omit the pudding mix, and spread the the dough a little further apart. :D

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Japanese Cheesecake♡

So as I start posting, I guess my aim is just to have a place where I can put all the recipes I've tried and loved, so that when I want to make it again, I won't have to go through pages of saved websites/books looking for it. And most are probably tweaked. They won't be perfect, but I'll edit, I guess, as I try different little things and it came out more successful than before.

My very first attempt on baking, is a Japanese Cheesecake. I absolutely adore it's soft, moist, fluffy cake texture. Tastes wonderful with it's slight sweetness and cream cheese aroma. YUMM ^-^"

I have to say, it was a success hence giving me confidence in continue baking and trying out different things :)

Since I didn't take a picture of my first attempt, this was just one of my attempts back at home during winter break :)

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Ingredients:

• cream cheese - 200 gr
• softened butter - ~1/3 to 1/2 cup
• granulated sugar - 1/2 to 2/3 cup
• eggs (yolks and whites separated) - 6
• flour - 1/2 cup
• cornstarch - ~ 1 1/2 tbsp
• milk - 100 ml
• lemon juice - 1 tbsp

http://www.cuisine-airlines.com/2010/03/16/cheesecake-japonais-%E3%83%81%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BA%E3%82%B1%E3%83%BC%E3%82%AD/

Directions:

1.

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Proverbs 14:10

Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy. - Proverbs 14:10

It's really interesting how things work out sometimes, and how people become.

I realize that I've came to be one who just somehow has trouble expressing myself. Good times and bad. Ohwell, I guess I'll express through food.

Bitterness and joy. Why is it that I like baking? I guess I like eating - hehe - and to be able to make something from my own hands and watching it turn out well - whether it be affirmation from others or myself - is just so amazing :) Maybe God feels this way about His creation, just watching us being silly and stumbling, finding our way through life. Through one's unique life by the creator. And no matter how much we try to be someone else, or let someone else be us, no one else can understand.

Though, through it all

He loves us with who we are, and He is happy when we spread His love, so that others can be joyful too.

At times, I guess the process of baking can be a tad tedious - having to measure out and mix everything - but once it's made and I see the smile on people's faces, it's all worth it.

Anyhow, I♡food...teehee ^-^"

yummmm!

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