To Come. To Follow. To Believe – Part 1

Winter weather in Southwest Iowa, where I grew up, was harsh. Snowfall was often measured in feet, not inches. My sisters and I would sled down the hill of our yard and make incredible snow forts with the aid of the wind blown drifts. There was plenty of fun to be enjoyed. Yet also tasks associated with our winter wonderland. Often, I was the daughter selected to go out and help my dad shovel the sidewalks in front of our home.  

The winter sky darkened in the late afternoon. By the time Dad returned home from work, the streetlamp reflected the snow, giving a strange illumination to our task. The rhythmic sounds of the shovel scraping the sidewalk and Dad’s breath as he worked quickly became sounds of comfort to me. 
I remember a particular evening after dinner that Dad had assigned me to help shovel the walks. I was a young girl, short and scrawny, yet determined. There had been a large storm dumping plenty of new snow that day, combined with wind, forming deep drifts. Mom helped me bundle up as Dad headed out to the front sidewalk. 

From the front porch, I could see that Dad was already shoveling the sidewalk down the hill of our front lawn. As I stepped out into the snowy drifts from the porch to the sidewalk, in an attempt to catch up to Dad, I could barely move. Each time I put my boot down in the fresh snow, it sank and snow packed around my leg up past my knee. Dad kept turning around and calling for me to catch up, unaware of my struggles.
I was trying to be tough, certainly a trait I was known for. I wanted to quickly move towards Dad, but I was truly having a hard time moving at all. I began to get frustrated. Tears fell down my cheeks. Dad turned around again to call to me and saw me crying. He came back to where I was struggling and pointed to his footsteps. They had been carved by his boots, marking a path in the snow. He told me that if I walked in his footsteps, I wouldn’t get stuck. He had paved the way with his larger boot. 

We were both headed to the same place, and all I needed to do was follow him…

Learning to boldly live the gospel of Jesus Christ and claiming the happiness it brings is much the same. We may be headed in the right direction, yet still find ourselves struggling to move forward, stuck -at times. The path can feel overwhelming, and sometimes we become frustrated when we cannot seem to make progress on our own due to weakness, distractions, or feeling insufficient. 

But Christ has already walked the difficult path before us. He knows the way. 

He knows us. 

He understands our struggles and invites us to follow Him.

When Jesus extended the invitation, “Come, follow me,” He was not asking us to find our own way or to walk without difficulty. He was inviting us to walk in His footsteps, to trust Him, and to learn from the life He lived.

-JC

Iced Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

½ cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 ½ cups canned pumpkin puree, measured, then moisture reduced to ⅔ cup
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup mini chocolate chips
—
Cream Cheese Icing:
2 tablespoons softened cream cheese
1 ½ tablespoons soft butter
2 tablespoons whole milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup+ 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Dash of salt

• In a large bowl, cream the oil, and both sugars with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
• Reduce the moisture of the pumpkin puree by blotting it with paper towels for several minutes. Blot, replace paper towel, repeat.
• Add the eggs and pumpkin puree. Stir just until combined—do not overmix.
• Add the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices. Mix until the dough is fully incorporated.
• Fold in chocolate chips.
• Scoop the dough into 24 equal balls. (Approximately 1.75 oz each.) Place on a greased or parchment-lined aluminum baking sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 18+ minutes. 
• Let cookies cool completely.
• Make the Cream Cheese Icing by combining the ingredients all at once and use a food processor or electric mixer to blend thoroughly. 
• Drizzle with Cream Cheese Icing. Dot with additional mini chocolate chips.
• Let the icing set. Share!

Lean In to Curiosity – Part 3

Faith begins with Christ meeting us where we are. He invites us to come with questions, assuring us that- right where we are- is the perfect place to begin to deepen our understanding. 

Two women. Two ordinary days. Two moments that changed the course of their lives.

One stood at a concrete basketball court, searching for an answer from God. The other stood at a well, carrying the weight of her past, searching for something she did not yet understand.

Neither had all the answers.

These stories remind us that faith doesn’t begin with certainty. It begins with a question.

I’ve felt the hesitation that I’m not good enough to represent Christ through the title of disciple. Clearly- that’s the message the adversary wanted the woman in Samaria to feel too. Yet, she showed her faith in accepting a simple invitation to come into Christ, to learn of Him. Next, she and I had choices- to follow Him…

Growing in faith and deepening our understanding of Jesus Christ works as we learn, step-by-step, with the opportunity to choose hope and belief. We will need to make adjustments. We will learn to replace fear with faith. Change will be a little at a time. Confidence in Christ will follow. We all become part of His story.
There is a place for you in His story too.

You’re invited to come as you are.
Where you are is the perfect place to begin. 
Lean into curiosity.
Become eager to learn. 
Build on simple experiences.
Trust that you are surrounded by those God has placed in your path to help you. 
Share every part of your journey with them-now, as you are. You do not need to be polished or proficient to brighten another day as you share your learning.

And yes- 
We are talking about cookies and Christ. 

-JC

Cookies and Cream Fudge Bars

Oreo Crust:
24 regular Oreos, finely crushed
4.5 tablespoons (2.25 oz.) softened cream cheese
Dash of salt
—
Oreo Fudge:
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
2 ½ cups vanilla baking chips
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Dash of salt
20 Oreos cut into small pieces
—
Fudge Topping:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons whipping cream
Dash of salt
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

• Use a food chopper or processor to finely crush Oreos. 
• Mix in cream cheese and salt until well combined. 
• Press into the bottom of a parchment lined 8″x8″ square baking pan.

• Combine sweetened condensed milk, white baking chips, and salt into a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute and additional 10 second intervals until the mixture is melted and can be stirred smooth. 
• Stir in vanilla extract.
• Gently fold in Oreo pieces.
• Spoon mixture onto Oreo Crust. Spread evenly.

• Melt chocolate chips into whipping cream and salt in a microwave safe bowl. (Begin with 30 seconds, stir, and add 10 second intervals until melted.) 
• Stir until smooth.
• Stir in vanilla extract. Spread onto the top of the Oreo Fudge layer. 
• Refrigerate until serving. (2+ hours) Remove bars from baking pan and cut into 36 squares.
• Garnish with melted vanilla candy discs and mini Oreos, as desired.
• Let set.
  Share! 

Lean Into Curiosity – Part 2

It began with leaning into curiosity for truth. 
What was she supposed to learn of Christ that would aid her on her journey?
What did it mean to become a woman of faith?
What encompasses Christ’s invitation to “Come unto me”?

Centuries prior to the day I returned to the concrete basketball court, a woman was going about her daily tasks. She too, experienced a pivotal moment on a day that began as ordinary and routine.

Jesus was traveling through Samaria. He sent his disciples to a town nearby for food. Tired from his journey, He stopped to wait for them at a well. A woman, carrying her vessels, and the weight of past mistakes, comes to the well. Christ, a Jew, asks her for a drink.
She is a Samaritan. In that day, Jews and Samaritans avoided each other and men did not typically speak to women in public. Upon Christ’s request for water, the woman cautiously tells Him that He should not have asked.
Christ’s response invited deeper understanding. He tells her that those who drink of the water in the well get thirsty again. He offers her “living water”- referring to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He tells her that those who drink of it won’t thirst again. 

She is initially hesitant of His teaching.  Christ continues by telling the woman at the well things about her that only a God would know. She leans into her curiosity.
Christ tells her who He is – that He is the promised and prophesied Messiah. As a woman, striving for faith, despite past mistakes, she wants to have hope. She leans into this and chooses to believe. Change followed that choice. Undeniable freedom and joy filled her soul. The woman of faith, overcome with truth, left her water pot. She returned to the city to tell others of her experience with Christ.

Faith begins with Christ meeting us where we are.
He invites us (me, the woman at the well, and you…) to come with questions, assuring us that- right where we are- is the perfect place to begin to deepen our understanding. 

What’s your question?

-JC

S’mores Cookie Bars

1 cup soft butter
1 cup granulated sugar
⅔ cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
—
3 cups milk chocolate chips
¾ cup whipping cream
—
10 oz. jar marshmallow creme
12 standard size marshmallows
—
1.55 oz chocolate bar

• In a large bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until well combined. 
• Mix in the eggs and vanilla just until combined. Do not overmix.
• Add dry ingredients: flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking soda, and salt. Stir until just combined.
• Press dough into a greased 9” x 13” aluminum baking pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 28-30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and use the back of a fork to press down raised crust edges.
• Melt chocolate chips with whipping cream. Stir until smooth and shiny.
• Top cookie bars with dollops of chocolate mixture. Carefully spread evenly.
• Spoon dollops of marshmallow creme onto the chocolate layer. (Return to the oven for one minute to make the marshmallow creme layer easier to spread evenly.)
• Toast marshmallow creme layer in the oven on broil setting for 30 seconds, or until toasted.  Watch closely!!
• Cut the marshmallows in half.
• Layer marshmallows on top of marshmallow creme (sticky side down)and toast in the oven on broil until tops are toasted. (Watch Closely!!)
• Garnish top with small pieces of chocolate bar.
• Let set. Share!

Lean Into Curiosity – Part 1

I was recently challenged to think about –
“What decision has most shaped your life?”

When I heard this question, 
My mind immediately returned to the scene as it played out again.
I was seventeen.
I had stopped at the concrete basketball court where I had spent many summer nights the previous year playing in a non-high school-sanctioned basketball league. 
I played my best basketball there. 

It was just a group of girls from school- 
No coaches, no fans, and no parents to watch. Just me, the ball, and my favorite teammates. 
It was there that I became my best version of a basketball player. I played with my heart, for the love of the game. 
It was on this upward trajectory that I entered my senior season. 

It wasn’t long before the letters began arriving at the house. At first, they seemed special so I kept the first few. Then they arrived at a more rapid pace. I deemed them ordinary and just tossed them. 
I thought everyone got them…
I didn’t know or understand any level of their significance until a college coach followed her letter with a phone call. 

Coach called every week for the rest of my senior basketball season. 
We talked about basketball and life. I looked forward to her calls. I felt seen, heard,and chosen.
She asked me to come play for her. 
Other offers were at more prestigious universities with better programs and larger fan bases. But I felt connected to her.  I agreed to come to play ball for her at a small college community in the remote mountains of Pennsylvania.

A few months later, on a typical chilly spring Sunday morning, I was at church with my family. After class, I was invited into a room where my parents, teachers, and clergy expressed concern about my college decision. 
I left that meeting angry- very angry- and drove straight to that same concrete basketball court. 
I was alone that Sunday afternoon. 
I talked with God, boldly. 
I told Him I didn’t need the support of my parents or anyone from church. I told God I knew I could play ball and that all I needed was His vote and His blessing on my decision. 

I waited.

In time, I received a clear message.
I needed to pivot. 

And I needed to do so well I still had the God-given courage I received at that concrete basketball court.

With complete peace, surety, and sadness, I called Coach when I got home. 

I don’t understand all of the reasons or perhaps any of them as to why playing basketball for Allegheny College wasn’t the best course for me. 
I simply had exact knowledge from God himself that it wasn’t. 
I didn’t have a strong testimony of Christ, modern-day prophets or their revelations. 

I only had God. 
And it was enough. 

That experience completely, changed my path and shaped my life. I knew of God. But I had more to learn about Him and His Son.
Since then- I’ve searched for a greater understanding of my Savior, Jesus Christ, His personal role, and the accompanying blessings He can bring to my life. I’ve searched for understanding with faith in scriptures and prophets and their place in religion. My initial curiosities became building blocks of faith. I put lessons I learned of Christ to the test, searching for truth.
Testimonies of such have been deepened and I’ve received enlightenment as I prayed to God, whom I trusted, for answers. 

The defining moment to pivot-
To trust God-
And then to lean into the knowledge of Him proved to be important. 

My next few years were not filled with statistics of glory or championships, but instead- hard days, hungry days, and more questions than answers. 
It was then, and continues to be today, the decisions that followed shaped the resulting trajectory of my life.
I had the ability, belief, and knowledge of how to talk with God. 

To tell Him.
To ask Him.
To listen to Him.

Peace and joy now accompany me as I journey. Peace, I’ve learned, is available through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 
As I work to receive the invitation to come unto Him. I then better understand God, the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and Their constant, uncompromising love for me. 

Now, as I replay the scene at the concrete basketball court, I do so with gratitude. I carry no regrets in a life that became one of searching to better understand God, the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, their purposes, and my purpose in them.
It began with leaning into curiosity for truth. 

Did God talk to me?
Did He re-route me?
Why then did life have hard days as I took steps to listen to Him?
What was I supposed to learn of Christ that would aid me on my journey?
What did it mean to become a woman of faith?
What encompasses Christ invitation to “Come unto me”?
Is He talking to me?

I had questions, but steadied myself on the one truth I had gained from God, about God…

-JC

Browned Butter Pretzel Toffee Dark Chocolate Krispy Treats

6 tablespoons butter, browned. 
10 ½ cups (16 oz.) mini marshmallows
½ teaspoon salt
7 oz. marshmallow creme
6 cups krispy rice cereal 
4 cups mini pretzels, broken into pieces. (break, then measure.)
1 cup toffee pieces
1 ½ cups dark chocolate chunks
2 cups (additional) mini marshmallows

• Brown butter by melting butter on medium heat, stirring constantly, until butter melts, then foams, and toasted brown bits appear.
• Heat mini marshmallows and salt in the microwave for 1 minute.  
• Stir in marshmallow creme and browned butter until smooth. 
• Add krispy rice cereal and pretzel pieces.
• Fold in toffee pieces, chocolate chunks, and additional mini marshmallows.  
• Spoon into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Spray hands with non-stick cooking/baking spray. Use your hands to gently flatten and even out treats.
• Let set. Share!

Right where you are is the perfect place to begin. And yes – we are talking about Cookies and Christ.

Mistakes will be made.
Even with the best of intentions, we all fall short–
Be it in action, speech, progressing in spirituality, or experimenting in the kitchen.​

Recently, I was walking with some friends while finishing up a phone call. Seemingly without warning, I stumbled. Literally, I went from being upright and leisurely walking to tumbling. My phone went flying ten feet in front of me, and my left shoulder braced my hard fall.  I was “fine”. My friends gasped, gathered my phone, and quickly joined me in laughter as I simply had no explanation for the near face-plant.  

​I fall.
I fail.

​But it’s okay. I know exactly how to get up.
My character and relationship with my Savior are strengthened not by obsessing about avoiding the fall- but by getting up, over and over, and trying again.

​Like discipleship, becoming a great baker and treat maker takes effort, attention to detail, and the ability to let go of mistakes. It takes being willing to start over and try again when things in the kitchen turn sideways or end up upside down – literally and figuratively.

​Growing our belief in Jesus Christ will take continued desire, effort, and study. And, just like in baking, letting go of mistakes.

God the Father sees and understands all of our efforts. He meets us right where we are and sends His Son, Jesus Christ, to do the same. We don’t need to reach a certain level of spirituality to be able to deserve all that the Savior can be for us. You and I simply get to choose, every day, how much we let Jesus Christ into our life, and how much we share His light with others.

In this season of Cookies and Christ, You will note a different format than past seasons. Most of the posts are portions of a three-part series. There are extended invitations to grow your faith.  I’ve contemplated the stories that seemed to matter most as I’ve grown my own faith. Some are re-told this season paired with what I note as compelling thoughts as I continue my discipleship today.

​As you journey through this season of Cookies and Christ, don’t be afraid to fall— in growing through your discipleship for Christ, and in the kitchen.

You will occasionally fall.
Just get up and try again…

And yes, we are talking about Cookies and Christ!

-JC

Reese’s S’mores Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup soft butter
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 egg and 2 egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
___
15 Campfire size marshmallows
30 Reese’s Thins peanut butter cups
___
⅓ cup additional peanut butter
3 oz. milk chocolate bar

• In a large bowl, beat the butter, oil, and brown sugar until well combined.
• Mix in the egg, egg yolks, and vanilla just until combined. Do not overmix.
• Add dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir until just combined.
• Divide or scoop dough into 30 equal balls. (approximately 1.65 oz. each)
• Gently roll into a ball and  place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake for 12 minutes.
• Slice 15 campfire size marshmallows in half (width-wise, preserving circular shape).
• Place the cut side down on the center of each baked cookie.
• Return to the oven on the Broil setting for just 30 seconds or until tops are toasty.  
• Place Reese’s peanut butter cup in the center of each toasted marshmallow, slightly pressing down.  
• Melt ⅓ cup additional peanut butter, then drizzle the top of each cookie. 
• Drizzle the top with melted chocolate bar.
• Let set. Share!

One winter as a small child in southwest Iowa, I lingered after school for a few minutes to play in one of the season’s first big snowfalls. 
I only had knitted mittens to protect my tiny fingers. 
Before long– I was cold and wet and headed for home. 
My friend wasn’t walking with me that day, and my sister had walked with her friend. 

I was alone.

Less than half-way home-
My hands felt like they had a cold burn. 
It’s the only way I knew then, and remember now, how to describe it. 
I quietly sobbed as I tried to hurry awkwardly in snow boots and soaked pants. 

My choice to stay and play would have a lifetime of consequences. 

I arrived home. 
My fingers were ashen white. Mom warmed them slowly in front of a heating vent as I cried. 
I’ve had a hypersensitivity to cold ever since. 

So what did I learn?
Perhaps to follow sound advice…
Staying to play in the snow after school was against our family rule. 

The rule didn’t make sense to me–
until it did. 

Is our spiritual learning the same?
How do we feel about God’s rules?
Do we test our faith in ways that help or hinder our spiritual progression?

Sometimes, the effects of our decision making follow us the rest of our lives- for good or for bad. 
Repentance is always available.
And God gives us unlimited chances to get it right. 
Yet I’ve left a small wake of unavoidable consequences when my lack of efforts hurt others. 
My only path out is to repent and try again and truly recognize freedom from the guilt and shame of mistakes is to utilize the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

How about baking…?
Making mistakes?
Getting frustrated with recipes not working out?

Today–
It’s about preparing for the season of Cookies and Christ that lies ahead. 

On the cookie side of things–
I’m including a section of Treat Making Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting. 

On the Christ side of things–
Come prepared next week with a question– or even a few. 
Let your spiritual heart ponder and prepare to learn something that will carry you through the season of potential imminent snow storms – the literal and figurative ones. 
Work to let God answer your questions as you learn to better understand who Jesus Christ is and how His entire ministry is designed to bless you. 

His ways don’t always make sense to us– 
until they do…

Coming soon-
Cookies and Christ 2026!

-JC

Treat Making Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

Ingredients
Not all ingredients are created the same. Eggs come in different sizes, flour has different amounts of gluten, butter varies in fat and liquidity by brand… and the list continues. Play around with what you buy – and when you find a brand that works well and creates the treat the way you like it stick with it. Be mindful of leveling agents and their expiration dates. Baking soda should be stored in an air-tight container. Left in its box, it will absorb any smells that linger near it.  These odors transfer into your baked goods, affecting the taste. 

Let’s further address eggs, flour, and butter. These main ingredients contribute to different results more than anything else.
An egg should be just shy of 1/4 of a cup. Large eggs typically fit this amount. If your eggs are too small, and the recipe calls for two eggs, consider adding an extra egg yolk to bring the measurement to just shy of half a cup. I always crack my eggs into a half cup measurer. This way if I accidentally get a shell, I’m able to retrieve it before I dump it into my batter. It also serves as a measurement to make sure I’m getting the right amount of binding agent with my eggs.
Flour is less of a problem brand to brand, and a bigger problem with how it is measured. I address that below. 
Butter is a huge variability in your baked goods. European butter is elite due to its fat content. But it also has an elite price tag. The difference lies in how much fat/water is in the butter. The more water, the flatter your baked goods will be. Whether you use salted or unsalted becomes preference. In recipes, salt’s purpose is to enhance flavor and balance sweetness. A different baker will have a different opinion on which one they think is best. I use salted butter. 

Measuring
I’ve been baking for over 30 years. I measure every ingredient exactly – every single time. If you try to eyeball it, and your recipes don’t turn out consistently, go back to basics. Measure exactly.
Brown sugar needs to be packed. This could be done by spooning it into a measuring cup and packing it down with the back of the spoon.  Flour should never be packed. If you take your cup measure and scoop from the bag or large container to fill up a cup all at once, you’re essentially packing the flour. This drives more product into your recipe and will result in a dry texture. Flour should be spooned into the cup measurer one spoonful at a time. Once your cup is full, then level off the excess. All other dry ingredients such as granulated sugar, powdered sugar, oats, baking soda, baking powder, salt, spices, etc. should be measured and leveled. The back of a knife works great for leveling.

Butter, eggs, sour cream, and cream cheese are best to use at room temperature, unless otherwise directed. This eliminates lumps and creates a better, more uniform texture with the end product. Using cold butter can sometimes fast-forward a recipe that suggests chilling. But it is imperative to make sure that it is completely mixed with an electric mixer to avoid clumps that will independently melt.

Add-ins
Add-ins of chocolate chips, flavored chips, candies, coconut, nuts, etc. vary in quality from brand to brand. As you experiment, you’ll typically find that the higher the quality, the better the end result.

Mixing
Attention to detail is necessary when mixing your dough. Follow the instructions specific to each recipe. If you use cold butter, cut it into small ½ “ size pieces to ensure it is properly mixed. To cream butter and sugar, I prefer to use an electric mixer. You can mix by hand. Just be thorough and prepare for a great arm workout. Once you add the eggs, avoid over mixing. If you mix too aggressively after the eggs have been added to cookies, you will add too much air and either create more of a cake-like texture or your cookie may rise, then collapse.
Dry ingredients are stirred just until combined. Over mixing at this stage will over- engage the gluten and result in an overly tough or dense texture.

Dough Size and Consistency
Each cookie recipe suggests the number of cookies the dough should make. Obviously, you can make them smaller or larger, depending on preference. Understand, the biggest change you will need to make is how long you bake them. No matter what size you choose, cookies need to be consistent in size so they will bake evenly. I prefer to use a cookie scoop to ensure this. After you form a cookie dough ball, gently roll them. Do not apply excessive pressure as you roll, or you will compact the dough and change the structure of the cookie, making it more dense.

Elevation
There is no exact science as to the adjustments you can make in regards to baking at high elevation (approximately 3000+ feet). The easiest changenis to add a couple of extra tablespoons of flour. Again, given so many variables, experiment with what works best.
The elevation can cause cookies to collapse and flatten. Additional tweaks in moisture, leveling agents, and oven temperatures can be addressed. But I would leave these adjustments to an expert baker.

Chilling
Chilling cookie dough before you bake it will change the structure of your cookie as well as enhance the flavor and texture. Unless I’m in a hurry. I always chill my dough after I form it into dough balls. I actually usually have a freezer full of different flavored cookie dough balls. Then, anytime I want to bake, my dough is ready to go. I bake my dough straight from frozen. Therefore, I bake it for an extra minute or two depending on the size of the dough ball. Frozen cookie dough, stored in an air-tight container, is good for at least a few weeks, potentially longer. I lazily store mine in a freezer-strength Ziploc and typically use it within two weeks. Cookies in this cookbook have been photographed using the chilled dough method.

Ovens
Oven temperature will absolutely determine the success of your baked goods. You can get an oven safe thermometer to check to see how accurate your oven comes to temperature. If it is not accurate, you can adjust your oven. See the owner’s manual for how to do this. Or, adjust the dial a little bit higher if your oven runs colder, and lower if your oven runs hot. A gas oven versus an electric oven will absolutely change your baked goods as well. A gas oven turns on and off during the baking cycle, oftentimes creating a hotspot. Be mindful of this. If there’s always a cookie extra well done in the back right corner on your baking sheet, leave that spot empty. Gas ovens are great for bread and cakes because they offer a more humid climate. They are less ideal for cookies. If you have a gas oven and your cookies lack the exterior crunch, you love—it’s not you—It’s your oven.

Be mindful of where your oven racks are placed. I prefer to bake my cookies about 1/3 from the bottom of the oven. Experiment with where you find yours turn out best. And be consistent once you find a finished product you like.

Baking pan
When it comes to cookies, bar treats and brownies, the baking pan you choose matters significantly.
Both the size and material will affect your end product.
I avoid glass and prefer straight edges versus rounded edges. I stick with high-quality aluminum baking pans. Avoid dark, enameled, baking sheets. These are pretty, but will often burn the bottom of your baked goods. For cookies, I prefer an edgeless insulated aluminum baking sheet. I always use parchment paper, and then slide the entire sheet of parchment with the cookies onto my counter once they’re out of the oven to better halt the baking process. For crisp bottoms, you can transfer to a baking rack. I do not use them. Be mindful of using a hot baking sheet for batches after the first one.  Never place cookie dough on a hot baking sheet and let it rest while another batch bakes. This will result in pre-mature spreading. Depending on your baking sheets, subsequent batches may bake for a minute or more less. 

There are a lot of variables when it comes to baking. Experiment until you find what works best for you. Then be consistent.

A year ago I uncomfortably lay in a hospital bed. A slew of tests had been ordered and I was awaiting my results while receiving an IV. 
I was sick- very sick.  I understood completely what it felt like to know that death would be a welcome relief. Nevertheless, I made it out and was simply sent home with some meds as I was told to follow up with a specialist. 

I knew I’d probably live tomorrow and the next day-
But all of my symptoms (according to the internet…) proved rough waters were ahead. 

I have literally swam in rough waters…
It was during my first triathlon. The swim portion had been mis-marked and thus represented a significantly longer distance than specified in my race packet. I panicked as I hit the waves and felt my body thrashing within them. My options were to stop swimming and call for help from a kayaker, or to re-focus and trust the work and training I had done. My training partner swam by me and the mantra shouted by the race organizer, moments before I hit the water, calmed my mind and restored rhythmic breath…
“I am a swimmer…”
My race cadence was restored and I finished well. 

I’ve also swam in seeming calm waters that were actually exactly not what I was expecting…
Our first trip to Kauai, Hawaii was complete with snorkeling at a bay down the road from our rented condo. I was an inexperienced ocean goer… However, I was excited to explore this unknown (to me) world of water. 
We began with many other snorkelers that day near an incredible coral reef where we saw amazingly beautiful fish and ocean life. 
On the edge of the coral was a drop-off into a crystal clear deep ocean floor. 
My gaze to my right, shortly after I entered this area, left me in complete panic. 
There was a large shark swimming along the reef. 
I knew nothing about sharks of any kind, nor my likelihood of becoming their lunch. I feared the worst. 
I swam in nearly one breath, as fast as I could the distance to the beach. 

“Rough waters” had been redefined. 

Decades later-
Here’s what I know-

Life is hard.
Life is amazingly good. 
Life is filled with God’s perfect love for us. 
Jesus Christ will return to the earth. 
I believe, soon…

What we do and say each day in the meantime matters.
Repentance matters.
Sharing God’s love and light matters.
Spreading peace matters. 
Choosing connection matters.
Choosing God’s ways matters. 
Choosing Christ to help us matters.

Living tomorrow isn’t promised. 
But if it becomes a gift-
What we think and do, who we see, what we say, how we show up…
It all matters. 
It all draws us closer to or farther away from God. 
Our closeness to God affects any and all within our circle. God’s light emanating through us is either shone or dimmed depending on our choices. 
They all matter. 

We are not here by chance-
Rather by choice. 
And choosing God-
Choosing discipleship in Christ-
It all matters. 

I’ve learned that my tomorrows will include mountains to climb. 
Wisdom is the utilization of God’s grace and teaming up with the Savior to not rely on my own strength. 
I am weak on my own. 

2025 has been hard- really hard…
The hardest so far of the 55 I’ve navigated. 
My mountains needed the strength of my Savior to aid me in all ways -physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually- in my climb. 
My resolve to do so has been coupled with absolute peace and the lens of God’s mercy and miracles. 
Thus, in many ways, 2025 has been the most blessed of my 55 years…

Throughout the hard-
I am not expected to journey alone. 
I choose not to. 
I know that I am a daughter of God. As such, I continue to work to more fully understand the power and truth that statement holds. 
I also know to pray to look through a different lens- the one where God will allow me to see more-
More of His love, miracles, and light. 
The lens, in which I can see beyond the physical and better comprehend the truths of the eternal. 

Bring on the rough waters that will no doubt accompany 2026!
I’m committing to deepen my study and understanding of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I’m praying to be ready to face the storms and climb the mountains to come to better understand God and His ways as I cling to the truths:

He is mine. 
I am His. 

Thank you for journeying with me for Cookies and Christ 2025. 

-JC

(The Best Ever) Rice Krispy Treats

6 Tablespoons butter
10 ½ cups (16 oz.) mini marshmallows
½ teaspoon salt
7 oz. marshmallow creme
9 ½ cups Rice Krispies (Or ½ fruity pebbles)
1 ½ cups (additional) mini marshmallows

In a large microwave safe bowl, melt butter, mini marshmallows and salt in the microwave for 1 minute.  Stir in marshmallow creme. Stir until smooth. Add krispy cereal and additional mini marshmallows.  Fold over thoroughly until combined. Spoon into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Spray hands with non-stick cooking spray. Use your hands to gently flatten and even out treats.
Let set. Share!

A couple of years ago I lost my voice— three times within a year. 
The worst stretch lasted almost four weeks. 
I didn’t have a sore throat or a seemingly accompanying virus. 
I joked around in a whisper that God had silenced me and I was trying to pay attention and listen to the voices around me that mattered most. 

Maybe I wasn’t joking-
The few times I would speak, 
I worked to make what I used my energy and effort in flexing ailing vocal cords- to be deliberate communication. 

Growing up in a large family of girls-
Our house was noisy. 
Sometimes it was simple, cheerful chatter. But as the years drew on-
There was plenty of drama and tears. 
I added to it in unhelpful ways. 

My senior year of high school-
Our school offered a class called “Speech”, taught by the very popular Mr. Bergstrom. 
It filled an “English” requirement. 
The alternative was a class designed to read lots and lots of books and then write lots and lots of papers about them. 
Perhaps there was a class choice for introverts and another for the extroverts. 

I was a bit intimidated by the Speech class, but I easily chose it over the alternative. 
Throughout the semester, Mr. Bergstrom assigned topics and we were instructed to write and present our oral speeches to the class.
We all took turns.
Some classmates stuttered, turned red, and fumbled over their words. 
Others stood straight, shoulders back, and eloquently delivered their messages. 

I was in between. 

My presentation skills improved throughout the semester.
However, my least favorite class policy was when Mr. Bergstrom gave us verbal feedback in front of the entire class. 
The idea was that we could all learn from each other-
A good idea in theory-
But potentially humiliating in practice.
Here I was in a vulnerable position to stand before my class to share-
And then be verbally corrected and graded in front of my peers. 
I did not delight in this extra way to “learn” more verbal communication skills. 

Towards the end of the semester, we had been assigned our final speeches. 
I allotted more effort in this class and specifically this assignment than my typical haphazard (I’ve already been admitted to college) efforts.
We were to have our Speech memorized, speak with clarity and confidence, and stand with good posture. It was a lot…

Our final grade would encompass the critique of all of it. We were encouraged to dress our best. I hated wearing dresses—
Nevertheless, the rest of the class donned their best and I followed suit. On the day that I was scheduled to present, my mid-heeled pumps and accompanying attire added an uncomfortable awkwardness to my already strained nerves. 

My name was announced and I took the position at the front of the classroom.
“I stood amongst my teammates, at our last home volleyball game of the season.
The National Anthem blared through the staticky speakers…”
I strongly said, as I began my speech, scanning my classmates looking for a safe place for my eyes to land. 

The next few minutes were a blur. 
I finished and stood in silence waiting for Mr. Bergstrom to deliver feedback. 
He paused-
Called me by name-
“Jackie” 

I shifted my eyes upward from the scuffed-up pumps I had worn with my best dress…
“You have important words to say. Don’t be afraid to say them.”

“What on earth does that mean?!?!?!?!” were my silent racing thoughts. 
I sheepishly looked at him, said nothing, and waited, before he motioned for me to sit down.  

I desperately waited for what his feedback meant for my grade but after a few days, I was delighted to receive an “A” on my written submission. I sighed a relief, but throughout the years, I have worked to try and understand (what felt like) his cryptic message. 
I didn’t feel like I had much importance to share. I was mostly content to sit silently in all formal learning situations. 

Throughout the following years, as I sought clarity in thought and deed in my spiritual conversion process, I was often asked to teach a simple class to children or teenagers at church. 
I began to understand the power of my voice as I sought truth and then shared my convictions. 

This has proved to be of pivotal importance in understanding what it means to be a strong woman. 
I needed to first—
Do the work to identify truth. 
Who was speaking it?
Who was not?

There were times throughout the years when I would strongly disagree with another and would boldly defend truth. 
I was becoming valiant in my belief in God, and His perfect love for all of His children. 
In turn—
I was understanding the importance of a strong voice for truth.  I was learning to find my God-given voice and the strength to share what I had done the work to come to know…

This strength carried God-enhanced power to motivate and compel others to find out truth for themselves. As I improved in my teaching—
I usually felt like God gave me the words to speak as I was speaking them. The messages came from Him. I often had no recollection of the things I said. 
I did not need to be an expert on anything I taught about…

What I came to understand, was that when God blessed me with a mantle—
His most important message was delivered to me, for me, to share. 
In so doing—
I came to know and understand more deeply that God did not need me to be strong and wise in all things.

In truth- 
I was weak.
The most important truth I’ve learned about strength-
Is that-
In my mortal state-

I alone am not strong.

God, my Heavenly Father, is. 
Jesus Christ, my Savior, is. 
My strength is amplified through them to do the work they call me to do-
To be the daughter, mom and disciple they need me to be… 

-JC

Biscoff Molasses Cookies

1 cup soft butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup molasses
2 eggs
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon nutmeg
—
4 oz. crushed Biscoff cookies

Cream butter and sugars with an electric mixer on medium high for 1 minute or until fluffy. Mix in molasses. Hand stir in eggs; don’t overmix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Scoop out approximately 24+ 2” balls of dough. Gently roll each dough ball after scooping and immediately roll into crushed Biscoff cookies. (Dough balls will dry out quickly and Biscoff crumbs will not stick if you don’t immediately roll the dough and then place into crumbs. I do one cookie at a time.) Gently flatten dough balls. Place cookies on a greased or parchment paper lined aluminum cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12+ min. Drizzle with melted Biscoff cookie butter (pre-made, jarred).
Let set. Share.

I don’t know Erika Kirk. I’ve never met her. I’ve come to know of her in the past few months as I’ve watched videos and clips of what she stands for. 
I don’t know Erika Kirk —
But I stand with her. 

In the emergence of her unimaginable heartache, following her husband‘s assassination, she is bold with her beliefs. She understands perfectly that her strength does not come from, nor is it amplified by, hate, anger, or revenge. She knows the answer is Christ. 

I’ve let hate, anger, and revenge power me to act — compete even, letting it become the narrative of how I worked to become my “best”…

In November of my senior year, a few weeks into my senior basketball season, I was in weekly contact with a few recruiting coaches. The mailbox had letters and pamphlets working to “sell” me on their universities. I had individual goals regarding my play and recruiting status. I was excitedly anticipating climbing the ladder rungs of a productive season.
My teammates were my “ride or die”. No one could come between them and them. I would defend them, protect them, and unite with them…
The competitors from other schools were the clear enemies. What I lacked in skills or strength—
I made up for it in sharp words. Some might chalk it up to just a competitive nature, but I never wanted them to do their best. I worked to break them down— one rough play, hard foul, or trash word at a time…
It was extremely effective. Coach paired me against their top player every game. I loved it. My mission was to do whatever it took to stop her—
Whatever that would come to mean as the four quarters progressed… 

A few weeks into the season, I was sitting in math class. My math teacher was also my basketball coach. Over the school loudspeaker, I heard my name, followed by “Please report to the math office “.
This was so confusing. I was in math class. I was an A student. I loved math. I looked up as my coach/teacher nodded toward the door and the hallway. 

My heart raced with concern, confusion, and consternation as I wondered what I had done wrong. This situation had “that” tone.
I knew it well. Unfortunately, at home – it’s who I was. I was a troublemaker amongst a family of nice and conforming girls. I learned to get comfortable being in trouble – and then I would double down as I took punishments with smirks and sarcastic verbal swings at my mom. (Sorry, mom!!❤️)

As I took the few steps to the math office down the hall from my classroom, another math teacher was waiting for me. He was not my teacher, nor had I ever taken a class from him. He closed the door behind us as he asked me to sit down.
“I was in a meeting last night…“ he began.
I was puzzled… (He noted such.)
“You know I’m a high school girls basketball referee?”
“Yes –“ I quietly mumbled.
He told me that they had discussed number 32 from Eisenhower High School in their meeting the previous evening.  (That was me.) 

I was stunned and in disbelief. I sat in silence as he sternly warned me to clean up my play and my mouth or I’d see a lot more bench time because fair or not, the referees were all told to watch me closely and call “everything” until I cleaned up my game. 

I sheepishly returned to math class. I was caught in uncharted emotional territory. 
Was I mad? 
Was I worried?
I didn’t know. 
I also didn’t know how to navigate my “next “.

I felt stuck. How did I play this game differently? How was I supposed to play lockdown defense, while keeping my mouth shut and my hands, elbows, and body checks clean…?
I had lost the privilege to be treated fairly… I now had to play within the rules and the high standards that the referees were told to keep me to.

Challenge accepted… 

It turns out you can still be strong, fierce, and competitive, without being mean, disrespectful, or filled with spite.
I changed. 
And in so doing, I became a far better basketball player. 

I can’t say, whether God was in these details of a November basketball referee meeting – 
But He was in the details of my life. I was beginning to let God in…
I was working more to turn to Him- to connect to Him.
I was beginning to lean into the curiosity of a spiritual realm and any truth associated with God‘s light and power. 

And in time, like Erika Kirk, I knew that true strength does not come from hate, anger, or revenge.
True strength comes from aligning my will with God’s. It comes from uniting in prayer and purpose in my discipleship. 

Erika Kirk closed her remarks at her husband’s memorial service with the following invitations – 
“Choose prayer – 
Choose courage – 
Choose beauty – 
Choose adventure – 
Choose family – 
Choose a life of faith – 
And most importantly, choose Christ. “

These choices feed my strength—
A strength that is amplified by God as he meets me where I am and compounds my efforts. He always has, and will continue to, make more out of my life than I can on my own.

Try this thought on-
Strong women and men through Christ are not who we need to work to become – 
It is absolutely how we are created. 
We simply need to choose – and work to remember. 

-JC

Chocolate Fudge Cookies

1 cup melted butter
2 cups dark chocolate chips
—
1 ¼ cups brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup dark cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Melt butter in a microwave safe bowl. Stir in dark chocolate chips. Let sit until melted.
Mix sugars and eggs on medium-high speed of an electric mixer for 7 minutes. Stir in butter and chocolate mixture, and vanilla extract. Stir in cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt, just until combined. Add chocolate chips and stir until combined. Let the dough sit for 10 minutes.
Spoon out 24 cookies. Gently roll. (If the dough is still too sticky to gently roll, let sit for 10 more minutes.) Chill for 30+ minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. Top with sea salt or grated chocolate as desired.
Let set. Share!