Strawberry Glazed Doughnuts

   So, I tried this baked strawberry doughnut recipe I found online, and used my new doughnut pan! They turned out pretty good! The only thing I changed about this recipe was the glaze. I only used 1 cup powdered sugar and 1/4 tsp of salt and vanilla. Also I used some of the strawberry mixture in the glaze instead of milk, which made it taste super strawberryish!  We decided that they tasted like strawberry short cake. We just needed some whipped cream to add to the top. :)

Recipe found at Mary Quite Contrary. When I looked at her pictures, I noticed that my doughnuts turned out not as fluffy as hers, and also they were not so pink on the inside. I'm not sure why. Oh well, they were tasty so I'm satisfied. :)

Strawberry Glazed Doughnuts

Servings: 10 doughnuts

Ingredients:

Doughnuts:

1 cup flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 cup milk

1 egg

1 tbsp melted butter

10 strawberries, pureed with 2 tsp seedless strawberry jam

1 tbsp pure maple syrup

Glaze:

3 cups powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cups cold milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Grease a 6-doughnut pan with baking spray.  To make doughnuts combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk together.  Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add in milk, egg, butter, and maple syrup.  Stir until well combined.  Stir in strawberry mixture, starting with 1/2 of it and adding more only if needed.  Batter should be wet, but not runny.  Put dough into a pastry bag or plastic bag and snip approx 1-inch off end.  Pipe batter into each well, reserving extra batter.  Bake for 7-9 minutes until doughnuts spring back when touched.  Let cool five minutes and turn onto a cooling rack to cool completely.  Spray pan again and continue with the rest of batter until all doughnuts have been made.  While doughnuts are cooling make glaze.  To make glaze, stir all ingredients together until smooth.  When doughnuts are cooled dip each into glaze and place back on cooling rack to let glaze set.  When glaze has set enjoy!

d,

Jessica

Fishing in the city... from the tank to the frying pan.

   This past week we've had quite a change in weather, we went from beautiful sunny days, to rainy and quite cool. Such is spring. I'm thankful that we can know spring is on the way, having a taste of it just makes me want to experience more of it. 

   I think you will begin to notice some kind of central theme in my highlights through the months, I really love beauty! Especially the beauty of nature. To me it reflects the creativity and beauty of our Creator. I hope you are enjoying experiencing a bit of the beauty with me. 

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fresh new life

One day I saw these plants ready to bloom outside of our apartment building.

 The next day I saw these beauties!

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garden growing

   This week I decided I should start my garden. I am not letting our great rooftop area go to waste! So I spent some time in the dirt and planted lots of seeds in all kinds of small containers. They will remain in our shed/workshop/game room until they are big enough to transplant to a garden plot. I'm hoping that they will grow! Some seeds I bought in the States and some here, so we shall see in a few weeks which ones are successful! I planted cucumbers, tomatoes, cilantro, green onions, lettuce and spinach. It felt so good to get my hands in the dirt for awhile. I can't wait to show you the first sprouts! 

successful fried fish

From the tank to the mouth, all in 2 hours!

Yes, we leave the head on. :) 

   Sorry I didn't have my camera with me when we went to the market to pick out our fish for dinner. Otherwise you could have experienced the whole thing with me! Oh well, maybe next time. :) I have to admit I struggled a little bit watching the fish be chosen, beat on the head, and its guts pulled out while it was, I think, still alive. Okay, well it was probably at least unconscious so it didn't really know, but I did! For some reason this was harder for me then the whole cutting off its head process that I am used to in the States. Thankfully it was all over quickly for the poor destined to die fish.  I'm glad my friend was gracious enough to clean him out in the sink, not because I'm a wimp because I'm actually not, but because he was still having reflexes and yeah...anyways...he was delicious and worth the effort :).  I thought you would enjoy picturing the process since you couldn't go with me. Hehe.

Love,

Jessica

Granola

   Our main breakfast food here is: Granola! We call this our manna because we eat it pretty much everyday for breakfast. We do switch it up sometimes with a box of amazing cereal (costs $7-10 US dollars here) that we brought from the States or that we got as a Christmas gift or special splurge. (We sometimes give cereal as a gift here in Asia...kinda funny I know.)

   Large ovens are not available, so I bake my granola in a large toaster oven (you can see it in the lower right picture), which I am sooo thankful for because without it I could not bake and I love to bake.

   Here is the recipe if any of you want to try it. I got this recipe from a friend who also lives here in Asia.

 By the way 180 Celsius equals 355 Fahrenheit.

Love,

Jessica

Soaking up some Vitamin D

 Highlight of the week #1 The Sun!! 

   Its just starting to become warmer here, and this week has been incredible because we have seen the sun FOUR times! And in a city that is sunless 250-300 days of the year...It really is a big deal! Usually we are lucky to see it once a week. 

   I am so thankful for a rooftop to sit on and enjoy the sun, whenever it appears that is where I want to be, soaking up some much needed vitamin D!

#2 Wind Chimes  :)   A few of my friends gave me these two wind chimes for my birthday a couple of years ago. On the beautiful sunny days we had this week, I was also enjoying listening to these chimes. Somehow, it takes me back to the States to people I love. I feel at home. I feel peaceful. 

#3 Strawberries  This was a special treat, as strawberries are not really in the peak of their season yet so they haven't really went down in price much, but they still are not that expensive. I paid about $2.00 for these. Will be making smoothies soon!

#4 Our little Hydra There is no need to explain, just look at her cuteness. :)

#5 A walk with my love.  There is nothing like walking in the warm weather hand in hand with Ian. We also enjoyed some good chocolate caramel bubble tea.

You are the best for me.

Love,
Jessica

Highlights

Hi again! I'm working on becoming a more faithful blogger...so we will see how that goes. :) I want this blog to be a way for you to get to know me more and see bits and pieces of my life. :)  So today I would love to share with you some recent highlights.

Ian's parents came for a visit! Here are some pictures from our time together:

Making Liquid Soap together

Highlights from the past week:

 Spring is coming! I took a walk one day and captured a few pictures of some flowering trees. They give me hope that warm weather is really coming even though its still chilly outside.

Ian made an indoor climbing wall! With some help from friends, Ian finally had his dream of making his own wall come true.

Laughter...I had some great times laughing with Ian and with my friends this past week!

Playing Badminton with friends. I'm so thankful the weather was nice this weekend so I could play badminton again. This was obviously also one of the great laughter moments I've enjoyed lately. :)

What has been a highlight for you lately?

Love,
Jessica