COCONUT MOCHI CAKE

Although I love the flavor of coconut, I am not especially fond of biting into flakes of it. However, this yummy snack is the only dessert that I would make an exception for. I've been wanting to make this mochi cake for awhile now and finally found the motivation to the other night. 



*If you've never heard of or tried mochi before, be prepared for a very chewy and dense texture. 

Ingredients

1 box (16 oz.) of mochiko (sweet rice flour)

2 C sugar

1 tsp baking powder

5 large eggs, beaten

1 - 13.5 oz. can of unsweetened coconut milk

1 C of 2% milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 C coconut oil, melted

1 C flaked coconut, sweetened

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9 x 13 pan with parchment paper.

Combine the dry ingredients (mochiko, sugar and baking powder) together in a large mixing bowl and stir well.   

Combine and whisk the wet ingredients (eggs, coconut milk, 2% milk and coconut oil) together in another bowl and slowly add this mixture into the dry ingredients. 

Pour in the vanilla and coconut flakes and whisk everything together until there are no lumps.  

Pour it into your lined pan and bake for 1 hour.  Let it cool for 10 minutes before cutting. Delicious when served warm!

Another family favorite of ours is mochi ice cream... especially ones filled with mango and green tea ice cream!

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Do any of you share our love for mochi?  :)

BLOGGERS, IT'S TIME TO CHANGE YOUR OIL!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pompeian for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you've been following my blog for awhile you'll know that I often use grapeseed oil in my cooking. It has a light odorless taste, is high in antioxidants. provides the same health benefits as olive oil and has a high smoke point (the maximum usable temperature of the oil).   

Pompeian and Hungry Girl Lisa Lillien are challenging bloggers to change their oil for a chance to be featured at BlogHer Food '13 in Austin, TX on June 7-8. All you have to do is:

• Create a recipe using Pompeian Grapeseed Oil or OlivExtra Premium Mediterranean Blend.
• Post the recipe on your blog with an accompanying picture.
• Submit the recipe to Pompeian’s Time to Change Your Oil App on Facebook.
• Enter your recipe link into the Pompeian and Hungry Girl Sweepstakes for the chance to win an all-expense paid trip to BlogHer Food '13. Your winning recipe will be featured with Pompeian throughout the event.
• Share your post via Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest and send all Social Shares to rhia@izea.com.

Also, just for entering, Pompeian will send you a voucher for one free bottle of Pompeian oil! You'll be able to try out recipes like this delicious smoky fried chickpeas:

Smoky Fried Chickpeas

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So don't wait! Go ahead and submit your favorite recipe to enter this awesome contest! Please comment below to let me know why YOU would love to win this contest. Good luck everyone!

FRIDAY TREATS + 'TIS SO SWEET

Check out this adorable baby shower from Fabric Paper Glue... too much cuteness! 

Speaking of too much cuteness... love this baby announcement from Done Over Decor. :)

I've been craving lemon-flavored everything lately... these lemon bars from The Chronicles of Home look too good to pass up!

Learn how to cut your own swoop bangs from Girl Loves Glam...

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’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His word;

Just to rest upon His promise;

Just to know, Thus saith the Lord.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er,

Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust Him more.

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to trust His cleansing blood;

Just in simple faith to plunge me,

’Neath the healing, cleansing flood.

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just from sin and self to cease;

Just from Jesus simply taking

Life, and rest, and joy, and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/568#ixzz2RbMfbd7q

AND THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS...

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I know it's been awhile. I wish I could say it's because I've been extra busy, but I'd be lying. Tired and uninspired would be more like it. 

On a happier note, countdown to baby #2 is in the single digits now! :) There are a million things that I feel like I still need to do - mainly things around the house like going through closets and cabinets, purging, organizing, laundry (lots of laundry), more purging (there's nothing more stress-relieving to me than donating/throwing things out!). 

Then there's the hospital bag that's been sitting by our dresser that I need to finish packing...

And trying to deal with my mini-panic attacks from time to time when I realize just how soon baby #2 is coming and how my bonding time with E will never be quite the same... I know he's not even 3 yet, but I already feel like he's growing up too fast. Maybe it's just pregnancy hormones, but even the thought of it has been bringing on immediate waterworks... can any mommies relate? 

So instead of panicking or letting myself get carried away with nesting, the Lord's been reminding me to slow down and take a few moments to turn back to Him, to breathe in His sweet name, to spend more time in prayer... I've been enjoying this passage from The Meaning and Purpose of Prayer:

"To pray is to come to God just as we are... We do not need to pretend when we come to God. To tidy oneself up before contacting God is not the principle of prayer. Prayer does not require self-improvement. The more that we are in our true condition when we pray, the better. Our condition is our condition. To change ourselves is human work. We do not need to change in order to contact God. Our need is God and to let Him change us... As long as we come to Him, He has a way because He is the the way."

And of course having lots of ice cream/bubble tea dates with E lately hasn't hurt either... ;) 

Until next time,