Rebecca Stark is the author of The Good Portion: Godthe second title in The Good Portion series.

The Good Portion: God explores what Scripture teaches about God in hopes that readers will see his perfection, worth, magnificence, and beauty as they study his triune nature, infinite attributes, and wondrous works. 

                     

Thursday
Dec132007

Bundles of Energy

110642124-S-1.jpg

Scientist have possibly confirmed what they’d previously suspected about the energy source for the Aurora Borealis (aka the Northern Lights). All they need is one more geomagnetic storm and they’ll know for sure.

New data from NASA’s Themis mission, a quintet of satellites launched this winter, found the energy comes from a stream of charged particles from the sun flowing like a current through twisted bundles of magnetic fields connecting Earth’s upper atmosphere to the sun.

The energy is then abruptly released in the form of a shimmering display of lights, said principal investigator Vassilis Angelopoulos of the University of California at Los Angeles. (Source from CNN.com)

Like a 5.5 magnitude earthquake travelling four hundred miles a minute, those Aurora producing geomagnetic storms.

“Nature,” says Angelopoulous, “has been very kind to us.”  Because, you know, we don’t deserve such a shimmering display of beauty and power, but nature loved us anyway and sent us northern lights. For the beauty of the earth, nature, we thank thee.

Okay, then.

Photo copyright © 2006-2007, Andrew Stark. All rights reserved. Click for larger view.

Wednesday
Dec122007

Light (3)

Candle_000.jpg

 

 

[T]he sunrise shall visit us  from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Luke 1:78-79 ESV

Wednesday
Dec122007

Recipe Round Up:

recipe%20round%20up.JPG

 

The Cookies, Bars or Squares, Candy, Etc. Edition

100_4091_1.JPGLet’s start the party with a recipe from Nicole of 168 hours, who tells us that Coconut Ice is an Australian Christmas favorite. “Perfect, says she, “to make with kids - easy and no actual cooking involved.”

Kim of Hireath gives us three recipes she will be making this Christmas: Neiman-Marcus Cookies, which she says are good for a crowd; plus G’ma S’s Ice Cream Cookies and Magic Cookie Bars, which are good if you’re in a hurry.

santasurprise_textmedium.jpeg

Kevin Sorensen of Random Thoughts from a Cluttered Mind contributes a recipe for Santa’s Surprises, which his wife makes every year. He’d like to keep them all for himself, he says.

What really irks me is when she makes them and then has the audacity to share them at gatherings (family, church, neighbors). 

poppycock.jpgViolet, however, does share, and you’ll find her recipe for Poppycock, which she makes for gifts, at promptings

Tina of Sufficient Grace has a gift suggestion, too: Swedish Pecans.

Everyone I have ever offered them to loves them and asks for the recipe (which is exactly how I got the recipe!). Just package them up in a cellophane bag with a bow and your gift will be enjoyed and remembered!

ch048-mince-pies-18631.thumbnail.jpgAnn B. of Whatever Things has posted two recipes for traditional mince pies like her “mum used to make”—Meringue Topped Mince Pies and Viennese Mince Pies.

Average Jane gives us a variation of lemon bars, Coconut Lime Bars, which she calls “very tasty.” And I believe her!  

RussianTeaCakes.jpgEllen B, The Happy Wonderer tells us how to make Russian Tea Cookies, a little cookie that melts “in your mouth. There is no other way to express it.”

From Karen of Simply a Musing Blog we have recipes for a whole list of Christmas goodies, like Orange Cream Candy, Microwave Peanut Patties, Microwave Peanut Brittle, Butterscotch Haystacks, and Graham Cracker Squares.

jam-filled-cookies.jpgIt a recipe for a family favorite - Jam-Filled Cookies, from Rosemary of Seasonings of the Heart

At titus2talk, it’s Catriona’s Mum’s recipe for tablet, and authentic Scottish treat.

Tablet is fudge which has been beaten to give it a crumbly, melt-in-the-mouth consistency (and to give you a sore arm - but it’s worth the effort!).

chai-tea-mix.jpgKelly Curtis of Pass the Torch contributes a recipe for a great teacher’s gift—Chai Tea Mix. You can save yourself money with this fun family project, and your kids, like hers, will probably love giving a gift they’ve helped make.

Oops! I almost forgot my own contribution, my mother’s recipe for Frosted Sugar Cookies

And don’t miss these added recipes:

Leslie of Lux Venit has a shortbread cookie recipe that is good “for those with allergies to dairy, nuts, eggs, and soy.” We have to eliminate nuts from the treats made in my family, and in the family I grew up in, there were dairy and egg allergies, too, so I know how much work it can be to find recipes that can be adjusted to make treats the whole family can eat when there are food allergies.

It’s Peanut Butter Crinkles from mummymac of Home, but not alone, which she says “can be mixed up by hand and are ready for the oven in a few minutes.”

Robin of Pensieve posted the recipe for Noni’s Melt-in-your-mouth Buttermints in last month’s Recipe Round Up, but it fits this month’s category, too. My mother used to make mints just like these and reserve them in the freezer for special occasions. I’ll let you in on my secret: They taste even better straight from the freezer.

Rosemary of Seasonings of the Heart has added yet another cookie recipe, this time for Butter Horn Cookies. (See Rosemary’s Jam-Filled Cookies above.)

More recipes added on the 13th:

 Christmas Truffles from Naomi, who blogs at A Threefold Cord.

Carla shares her recipe for Christmas Fudge at Reflections of the Times.

And one more important addition:

Since this is a collection of recipes from bloggers world-wide, some of the measurements from the different recipes may be confusing to you. Kim of Hiraeth has posted a British/American Recipe Ingredients Conversion Chart that should be help get rid of some of the confusion.

Doesn’t that wonderful collection of recipes make you want to head for the kitchen now?

Thank you to everyone who participated. Throughout the day, I’ll be adding any links sent to me, so it’s not too late to add your recipe to the mix. Just put your link in the comments of this post. Remember, the recipe you contribute does not have to be recently posted, nor does it have to be your own recipe. You are welcome to contribute links to recipes you’ve seen posted at other blogs as well. And if you don’t have a blog, but you have a good recipe that fits this month’s category, send it to me in an email and I’ll post it for you.


The Recipe Round Up is a monthly collection of recipes collected from participating blogs. If you need more information about it, look here.

Kim of Hiraeth is compiling each separate round up into folders (Word Documents) which will end up in a Blogger’s Cookbook and she’ll email them to you if you ask. You’ll find her contact information in the sidebar at Hiraeth.

We are still looking for future hosts of the Recipe Round Up. You’ll find details about hosting the Round Up at the information link, too.