Lemon Squares {recipe}

Courtesy of My Recipes

These amazing, tangy, sweet, crunchy and absolutely delicious dessert squares are the best you will ever have. I made them over the weekend and it were amazing! Easy to make, even though I don't have a food processor, and very yummy! With the summer wrapping up, I don't feel like ice cream anymore, but these sour-sweet treats were just perfect for an afternoon tea on the porch.
I was enjoying them so much that forgot to snap a pic ;-)

Ingredients

3.4 ounces all-purpose flour (about 3/4 cup)

1/4 cup powdered sugar

3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

2 tablespoons canola oil

Cooking spray

3/4 cup granulated sugar 

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind 

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice 

2 large eggs 

1 large egg white 

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Place flour, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, pine nuts, and salt in a food processor; pulse 2 times to combine. Add butter and canola oil. Pulse 3 to 5 times or until mixture resembles coarse meal. Place mixture into the bottom of an 8-inch square glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray; press into bottom of pan. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Reduce oven temperature to 325°.

3. Combine granulated sugar and next 5 ingredients (through egg white) in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Pour mixture over crust. Bake at 325° for 20 minutes or until set. Remove from oven, and cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours. Sprinkle squares evenly with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar.

P.S. I changed couple things. 

First, I am not going to spend $5 for 3 tbsp of pine nuts, so I substituted in almonds. It gives the crust some crunch and saves you some $$.

Second, I bought Meyers Lemons, because they have a little bit more of a taste and not as sour. Therefore, reducing sugar by 1/2 cup of sugar

Ladies Who Lunch

top: Banana Republic, blazer, clutch: H&M, pants: LOFT, shoes: Ann Taylor, 

Yesterday my mom and I took a much needed break from our busy lives and had long, restful and absolutely delicious lunch. In the little village cafe, while we set outside, it was plain nice to catch up. Mom has been working lots lately and now it's her turn for a trip back to mother land, so I won't see her for about 3 weeks.

While we were sitting around and chatting, it dawned on me - life too short not to savor moments like these. We are so caught up in the little things we have to do, and why we do what we do, that many times we forget the most important things, like family.

 When I am 90 years old and on my death bed, I don't want to have regrets like that. I want to think back to the day when mom and I lunched in a beautiful village cafe on a beautiful summer afternoon. It's the moments like these that take your breath away. 

They make you stop and just enjoy life.

From Pooch and I

As you may have noticed, I haven't posted many outfit pictures as of lately. That is not because I lounge in my PJs all day long or don't even want to look at my heels. I get dressed up every day (except Friday), do my hair and make up, and go to work. I teach two times a week and the other days I tutor at the community college. There are plenty of heels in those outfits.

So what's the deal you say? 

I'm starting to feel fat. Yep. That dreaded word, when you waistline is starting to expand and you actually starting to notice it. This would be the time when I pick up 3 mile jogging exercise but not now. 

I'm told to take it easy. To do some walking everyday for 30 minutes, absolutely no dieting and, of course, getting some bigger clothes. 

Easy to say.

Yes, I am happy that the baby growing inside of me is healthy and developing normal. 

Yes, I'm glad to be pregnant with our first child. 

Only at this stage in the game, I don't really have a belly - it's just some fat bulging out.

I don't look particularly slim with a little pooch sticking out but not yet very pregnant, with a nice full belly.

There is nothing more precious then a baby and I know (in mind) that it's all going to be worth it. 

Only right now I can't help but feel hungry half the time and then a little angry at my clothes that are getting a bit snug on me. 

I guess, I haven't thought about the process of growing a baby. You always see these women with bellies sticking out but it doesn't come to mind how much that woman has to go through to get there.

In 20 weeks I will be the one walking like a duck with belly in front of me. 

But until then it's lil poochie and me.

P.S. Currently at 17 weeks pregnant and hormones are running wild. 

You can pretty much never mind all of the above.

When It Rains, It Pours

Matthew 5:45

That ye may be the children of your father which is in heaven

For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good

And sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust

Sometimes you feel like giving up. Moving away. Far away, into a different country where no one knows who you are and there are no heartaches. That's called heaven and we aren't there yet.

Well, where we are is Earth. With its people, unstable economies, unknown future, and unbearable heartache. I really cannot go into much detail, but life here hasn't been easy the past year. It has been completely opposite of easy - struggles.
It isn't pretty and it isn't fair, but it is what it is.

Life is hard kids. It doesn't warn you, there is no sign "bumps ahead"  - it just strikes against all odd, against all understanding and we are left standing alone. Alone in cold pouring rain. 

But I am not alone. I know God. I do not understand any of it. I feel like I'm buried in trials and there is no end, but somewhere in the mess that my life is now - God has an answer. He has a plan.

It's hard to go through pain knowing that God in His foreknowledge planned it. Why would He? I know why, just don't want to admit it.

God knew what to put into my path for one reason - to soften my heart. To make me better.

So after it's all set and done, even if I don't see His plan, even if I won't ever understand,
God has me in His hands.

Live and Learn

blouse: Banana Republic, skirt: Talbots, shoes, clutch: H&M

I bet you guys thought I'm going to talk about some profound statement that I found, judging by the title of this post. Well, there are other ways to learn stuff, like by experience. And there are two things that I can tell you:

1. Taking pictures in the broad daylight won't give good results. All the shades of pink are going to look exactly the same or almost white. Yes, this outfit was supposed to be pretty pink 
2. Sometimes it's good to listen to your hubby when he says that the light is too direct and it's going to ruin my picture. {Don't tell him I said that}

Take it from someone who's stubborn and determined to prove herself. Learning lessons the hard way (a.k.a by experience) is not fun. Be that how/when to take pictures or when just learn to shut up - learning by banging your head against something hard isn't fun. So next time, just go ahead and listen to that advice your grandma/hubby/mother/pastor is giving to ya. It may save you lots of frustration.

 And camera footage in my case.

Have yourself a great week!