Cozy Caves Own Page

First prose of the year by Jere

A New Year Poem

A new decade is upon us
We have new things to do
We have new books, new pages
To write our life's adventures
With hope to carry through.

And now let us welcome the New Year
With things that haven't been
And add fullness to our hearts
In the parts that have worn thin.

Our Clubbies Accomplishments for 2019

My Clubbies accomplishments for 2019
GarlandsOfGrace 21,652,895
AUTUMN_FALLS 15,002,299
Ghosts40k 2,502,069
Tinkerbel 2,011,940
Sparklekitty123 1,473,822
Mirror 1,262,580
Mommabear 1,014,332
nichelle 500,444
chloe2414 212,177
Gingko 128,307
oyamu 36,234
Katieeh98 25,017
gabbygirl95929 19,487
Mits07 17,795
it030303 6,800
faeriegrl9 2,989
Sugoi 83
AuraQueen 5
Myrawolf 4
celestica 4

Tasty Treats

Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies ( from gimmesomeoven.com)

2 eggs
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup natural peanut butter
1 cup old fashioned oats
opt: 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips or chopped nuts ( plus maldon salt for sprinkling)

Heat oven to 350F line a cookie sheet with parchment paper

In a large bowl, whisk eggs and brown sugar together until smooth. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt evenly over the top of the mixture, and stir until combined. Add in the vanilla and peanut butter, and stir until combined and smooth. Stir in the oats (and chocolate chips, if using) until combined.

Use a large cookie scoop (approx. 3 tablespoons) to scoop the dough onto your prepared baking sheet. Use your fingers** or a spatula to slightly flatten the tops of the dough balls, and sprinkle with a pinch of flaked salt if desired.

Bake for 10 minutes. Then remove from the oven, and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet itself.

Serve warm. Or store in a sealed container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.


Betty Crocker Brownies

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate ( 25gr kakao powder)

2/3 cup shortening ( 125 gr butter)

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt ( i omit)

1 cup chopped nuts ( i probably use half)

Heat oven to 350f (177c) Grease 13x9x2 inch baking pan.

Melt chocolate and shortening in large pan on low heat. Remove and allow to cool then mix in sugar and vanilla... mix eggs in one at a time.. then add the rest of the ingredients. ( i mix the flour and baking powder together )

Bake 30 min or til brownies start to pull away from sides of pan. Dont overbake. Cool slightly and cut into desired squares/bars... enjoy

EASY BANANA BREAD ( Super duper easy)

325 oven

blend together by hand:
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup melted butter ( i used olive oil)

in another bowl mix together and then add to the wet mixture just until blended ( dont over beat)
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt ( i used about half)

I also added 1 cup chopped walnuts and about a tsp of vanilla extract

pour into a greased loaf pan,
bake for 1 hour

Enjoy!

DEPRESSION ERA CHOCOLATE CAKE

This recipe is perfect for those times when you have run out of eggs, butter and milk!

1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder ( or black cocoa)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tbls white or apple cider vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 tbls vegetable oil
1 cup water ( or cooled brewed coffee)

Preheat oven to 375F Grease an 8 inch round or square pan

Mix the dry ingredients then poke 3 holes into the mix... pour vanilla, vinegar and oil into each hole.. add the water and stir the ingredients till well blended... pour into pan..

Bake 35 minutes or till top is set but springy.. cool then frost as you desire..

This really did turn out nice!!!!

Things Will Never Be The Same Again

Things will never be the same again .... And that's a good thing!

So why can't we just fix things and make them like they used to be?

1- Because we can only remember our version of what happened, and our version is only part of the whole truth.
2- Because we cannot remember things accurately. As time passes the details become faded and so our mind automatically fills in the missing pieces according to our current beliefs.
3- Because every situation is unique and has its own timing.
4- Because things change. Our age has changed since it happened. Our acquaintances have gotten older or passed on. Our knowledge and understanding has grown and we see things differently. The environmental, economical, and political situations are not what they used to be.
4- Because people have agency given to them, and they are allowed to make their own choices no matter what you think or how you feel about them.
5- Because there are natural consequences for all actions. And if it weren't for consequences, we could not learn.

So many of us long for "what was". There is a part of us that wants to remain in a place where things are safe, known, and familiar. We may wish we could pick up the pieces, put things back together, and recreate what we thought we once had. We may believe that it is the only way to bring happiness and peace back into our lives. But even when we are successful in putting it all back together, it never seems to have quite the same impact or luster as before.
It is a fact that we can never be the person we once were, and things will never be the same again. Welcome to life! As soon we we can realize this, we can free ourselves from our past and begin to embrace "what IS".
One of the secrets to a happy life is to be grateful for every moment, because every moment is unique. All of the elements have come together to make this very moment absolutely amazing! So quit pining for the past. Quit trying to make things as they were. Move on! Find the beauty in each and every moment! Live intentionally!
If you can do this, you will soon discover that you are exactly where you are supposed to be, and everything has happened exactly as it was supposed to happen. You will discover that life has many wonderful things to offer no matter what it might throw at you! You will realize that you are where you are and "here" is the most important place you can be. You will realize that "Now" is the only time you can act and create.

Note: Posted from a social website and just HAD to share this pearl of wisdom!