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Using Cookie Dough For Other Delicious Purposes

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The cookie dough mix was just sitting there in the pantry, staring at me every time I opened the door. There was a matching tub of frosting in there, too, which made the situation even worse. But who wants to make boring cookies? Anyone could do that. Instead, I made tiny cookie cups and filled them with frosting. Doesn't that sound more scrumptious than flat, simple cookies? Trust me, they were amazing. To make cookie cups, press a ball of cookie dough into each part of a muffin tin to make little bowls. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown, about 11-12 minutes. Lightly press the middle of each bowl to create a hollow for whatever goodness you plan on, then let them cool completely before removing them from the muffin tin. So what else can you do with a batch of cookie dough? I'm so glad you asked. Add cookie dough to your favorite ice cream treats. Roll tiny balls and freeze them on a baking sheet. Pop them off and use them as topping for sundaes or stir them into softened
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I'm Loving My Used Book Sale Mega-Finds

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I could not be happier with the way our yearly used book sale, Pages for Pennies, went last weekend. It is one of my favorite times of year, as our CVB is one of the sponsors. There's something amazing about matching people up with the perfect books and make them lifelong friends. It also means I get to do the same thing for myself! Reading has been part of who I am from the very beginning. I adore books, so it's easy for me to 100% support an event promoting literacy. I was able to find dozens of Bible study books (the two tall piles in the picture above), plus several commentaries of certain books of the Bible. I look at every table - we have more than 20 categories to choose from - to see what's been donated. Some are my favorites, though: history, cookbooks, Little Golden Books, fun movies, and the occasional novel. This year I even found a Dave Berry joke book I don't have. And, of course, I always find some books for Danny. He's much more selective about what
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Words For Wednesday

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Rainbow Bracelets And Keychains Make Everyone Happy

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When the majority of your youth group is guys, it can be hard to find crafts and activities that they'll enjoy, too. But that's where creativity comes in. A couple of modifications to just about anything will make them gentleman-approved! These adorable rainbow bracelet kits came from Oriental Trading and fit perfectly with our lessons on Noah. They had detailed directions on how to make them one single way. And that's no fun. Not to question authority, but how much fun is it to venture off the beaten path and do something no one's done before? So we poured out all the bracelet kit contents onto a paper plate, strung them on a shorter string and turned them into key chains. All I had to get were packages of clasps and jump rings to change the strands over.  The finished products turned out perfectly, and they were able to be even more creative with their beads and charms. And they didn't have to wear them. For guys who are usually told to just make a craft and give
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Our Omniscient God Knows Me Intimately

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I have different Bibles for different reasons. Can you relate? I have a spiral-bound, lay-flat Bible of Genesis through Deuteronomy for my verse-by-verse study. I have a Bible that has all of the verses that talk about women highlighted in pink. And I have a note-taking Bible that I'd gone all the way through with so much information in it that it has a special place on my shelf for future reference. And then there's my Bible that only goes with me to church. I started it in 2015, and it's been my go-to sermon notes Bible ever since. It's been written in, highlighted, prayed through and cried on more than I can tell you. That's why, when we turned to Psalm 139 during the message last Sunday, my heart was tuned for the topic of God's omniscience. I already had some notes in the margins that framed Pastor's sermon in such a special way. David had such a way with words, and the first six verses of this Psalm can be echoed in each of our hearts as we begin a new
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Words For Wednesday

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Sheet Pan Top Sirloin Steaks And Sweet Potatoes

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Everyone is looking for easy weeknight dinners, and sheet pan meals are where it's at. In less than an hour and with only a handful of ingredients and spices, you'll have your meat and potatoes all taken care of - just add vegetables and dessert! Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite foods in the world, and these oven-roasted ones are tasty, crispy, and all kinds of wonderful. They go into the oven while you're prepping the steak in a skillet, which is my kind of multi-tasking! Feel free to play with spices for the steak and the sweet potatoes until you find a combination you love. Then let me know what you choose! Ingredients: 4 top sirloin steaks 10 small sweet potatoes, cut into quarters olive oil Italian seasoning Steak seasoning 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 2. Toss sweet potato quarters with olive oil in a large bowl. Season with Italian seasoning and toss to coat. 3. Spread sweet potatoes in a single layer on a sheet pan. Roast at 450 for 35-40 minutes, stirring on
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