Sunday, April 5, 2015

Happy Resurrection Day!

It is Easter Sunday, a day of celebration for Christians all over the world, as we go to church and give glory and thanks to God for Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who was crucified and paid the price for our sins, then defeated death just three days after his crucifixion. Hallelujah indeed!!

On Easter Sunday most of us gather together after attending church as family, either at our mothers', grandmas', aunts' or even at restaurants to have special family time; or we cook dinner, have Easter egg hunts for the children, and most importantly, show off our new clothes. After all, what good is Easter if we don't get to dress up, right?

This year my family didn't do any of the above. No one planned anything to celebrate the day, so I decided that going to church was all I would do. Though I miss getting together with family, I feel a sense of accomplishment and revelation as I spent time with my other family, my church family. Some of us arrived before 6:00 am for Sunrise service; others for the 8:00 am service; and still others for the 11:00 am service. Many, like me, did all three. Too much, you think? Not at all! Each service brought different messages that fed my soul; each had something different to offer, and that's where my sense of accomplishment and revelation comes from.

For 40 days I observed Lent trying to experience what Jesus went through in the wilderness; I prayed, I fasted, I served, but none of these things brought me any closer to experiencing what Jesus did. In fact, though Jesus withstood temptation, I failed at it. There were times when I said I'd fast for 24 hours and at the end of 12 I couldn't resist the hunger pangs. I admitted to myself what I've known for a while but failed to accept: I cannot do it; I don't have the strength or will power to do it on my own, I need Jesus! I am weak and he is strong! Only he can fortify me and lead me out of the wilderness; only he!

That is why today I'm holding on to the blessings I received at the Easter services at church, for I know that because he lives, I have the strength to carry on; because he lives, I can live on the Bread of Life only he can offer, I can drink the water that quenches my thirst, I have hope for a new life, a new beginning, and I can tap into the endless possibilities open to me because of his Resurrection.

Jesus' resurrection means I don't have to do things as usual; it means I can "flip the  script" and do something new, something that allows me to step out of the box I have traced for myself and paint new lines that have no boundaries, and give wings to my vision and embrace the calling God has placed on my life.

So to you I say, resurrect your dream, expand your horizon and step outside your comfort zone to the possibilities that await you. Happy Resurrection Day!

Though I didn't cook, I did one thing I usually do for Easter Sunday -- I baked a cake and guess what, it was a first for me: a Key Lime Cake with Coconut frosting.  Talk about doing something new! Mind you, this was no ordinary cake, for if you knew me you'd know I make all my cakes from scratch, so it's not a walk in the park, as I have to experiment with new ingredients and adjust measurements, lol!

I leave you with this photo and the recipe. Feel free to try it!


Key Lime Cake

Ingredients:

1 lb. butter ( I prefer salted or unsalted, no sweet cream)
2 cups sugar ( I use sugar cane, not white sugar)
6 eggs
3 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 taps. baking powder
1 package Key Lime gelatin
1/2 cup orange juice

Frosting:
1/2 stick butter
1 package cream cheese
4 cups powdered sugar
3 tbs. fresh lime juice
1 package flaked coconut (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients (except gelatin) and set aside. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy; add eggs one at a time until well mixed; add Key Lime gelatin; add flour mixture until all mixed, then finally add the orange juice.

This batter will make enough for three layers baked in 8" round pans or two layers in a 9" round pan. Because I was making it to give away, I just did two layers.

Bake cake for 35-40 until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Set cakes aside to cool (15-20 mins.) then transfer to a rack for complete cooling.

Mix butter and cream cheese until fluffy; add powdered sugar and lime juice. You can also add green food coloring to frosting if you want to color the frosting the same color of the cake, but that's up to you. Once the cakes are cooled, cover with frosting, then top with coconut flakes, and voilĂ , your cake is ready to share.

Enjoy!!