Sweet Baked Brie

This is a very simple recipe for a very delicious
cheese dip. It's perfect for showers, tea parties,
and just for a snack! Eat it with crackers,
or on breads. Once it is removed from the oven,
it will start to firm up, so just warm it up
to get it 'wonderfully melty' again.


Ingredients: brown sugar, pecans, and a brie
wheel.
Set your oven to 350F, and get out a sharp knife.

1. Shave off some of the white topping on the top.

2. You can shave the sides too, if you'd like.

2. Place brie wheel in a baking dish, then
press brown sugar on the top and sides of the wheel.

3. Chop pecans finely, and press
on top of the sugar. You'll
have to press the sugar and
nuts firmly, since the cheese
is not very soft.

4. Bake at 350F. for about 20 minutes, and then
turn off oven and leave the cheese in until you are
ready to eat. If you have shaved the sides of the brie,
the sides will 'sag' to show you it is done.

This is SO yummy, you probably won't have leftovers!

Allison-Maiden of Truth

Come with us into James chapter 1...

Hair care tips from Maiden of Truth

Did you know that curly/wavy hair should not be shampooed or brushed?

I didn't for several years, then I heard about, and read the book "Curly Girl" by Lorrraine Massey! Though I don't advocate her philosophy behind having curly hair, her instructions on how to care for it are great and very helpful. Wavy girls can use a little shampoo, but curly girls should only use conditioner(slightly diluted). Believe it or not, curly hair is very fine and easily damaged, even though it looks thick and voluminous :) Conditioner will release the oils and dirt in your hair without stripping the hair shafts of all the natural oil that is necessary for good hair health. A quick comb-through with a pick comb after showering is fine, but brushing only ruffles the hair shaft and gives you tons of frizz! (The hair shaft is made up of overlapping plates, like cuticles, that will shine and give a smooth look when laying flat.) Clip your top layer of hair in bunches, to keep the the under-hair from being flattened, after showering and let it air dry. When dry, take out the clips, and you will have more curls! If you desire, a dryer on cool/low with a diffuser works for the times you need fast drying.

For my straight-haired friends: a minimal amount of shampoo is best for you too( even dilute it with water), and conditioner should be applied to the hair below your ears. Use water that is as cold as you can stand when you wash your hair. The cold water will seal the hair shaft and keep it from ruffling and will make your hair soft and shiny! Letting it air dry and using a wide tooth comb or a boar-bristle brush to untangle it is advised, though a hair-dryer on cool is fine too. Straight girls may want to check out the Curly Girl book as well in order to get some lovely recipes for homemade hair 'treats' :)

Now once you embark on the above hair-washing treatments, you may be wondering what you should do with all those hair products you have!?!? Weeelll....what I did was to dump out the products and rinse out the bottles to use for:
:: my diluted conditioner: as I had two kinds of conditioner on hand, I mixed them together, added 1 1/2-2 parts water, and filled up some of the empty bottles.
:: Clear gel is one product you don't need to throw out, and it can be used by straights and curlies.
:My empty hairspray bottle I filled up with water and about 3-4 tablespoons of conditioner, shook it up, and will use it on my hair to give a little more moisture as needed.
:: A brown sugar scrub: 1 tablespoon brown sugar mixed with 3 tablespoons conditioner. Double or triple as you like and bottle. Use when washing hair, it feels great!

Other products that I still have and like are:
::Special Effects Extreme Shine (spray) -use sparingly, a little goes a long way!
::Herbal Essences Frizz Defying Spray Gel -passion flower/patchouli/vetiver scent
::Herbal Essences Style Refreshing Mist- iris/water lily/lemongrass scent
::Marc Anthony Rich Reds Anti-Fade Serum
:: John Frieda Wind-Down Relaxing Creme-for the days I'd like a little less curl

Annick, Maiden of Grace, has straight hair and really likes these products:
::got2b crazy sleek Shine Lock (spray)
::got2b crazy sleek to smooth Flat & Blow-Dry Iron Lotion-protects, and keeps hair smooth when using a straightener
::got2b curl vacious hot twist curl iron styler- for when she wants to be curly too :)
::got2b kinky curl defining mousse

Evvie, Maiden of Life, is curly/wavy, and Catrina, Maiden of Purity, is straight. For special occasions, they like curly hair so we use either the got2b kinky mousse or Suave mousse on their hair, and we curl with Wrap, Snap and Go curlers or regular foam curlers. They can sleep in them and keep them in until the last moment. Hot curlers work really well on my hair, especially after a night's sleep rearranges my freshly washed curls, and Annick uses either a curling iron or a Conair straightener on her tresses.

P.S. In case anyone was wondering, I'm going into the 4th month of no shampoo...

"Quality of your hair depends on your general health. Protein rich diet, with a profuse use of fruits and fresh vegetables is good for beautiful and healthy hair. So, before you look for a magical product to make yourself beautiful, be sure to remember the basics: lots of water and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Vitamin E can help your hair to have more shine, and you can get this much needed vitamin by incorporating brown rice, nuts, wheat germ and leafy green vegetables into your diet."

Until I see you again

In February when we went to the princess tea,
we each received, before leaving, a poem which

I would like to share with you.

Until I see you again
Oh child, precious one
Let your life shine like the sun
But you say " How long 'til I can come home
"Til can rest in you arms again"
And I say 'Not long but don't miss this life and I'll be
Waiting 'til then"

Live with the wonder of all a child
Pray with your arms thrown open wide
Love with a love that has no end
Until I see you again

Oh child, precious one
With each breath know you are loved
But you say "How long 'til I can come home
"Til I can rest in your arms again"
And I say " not long but don't miss this life and I'll be
Waiting 'til then"

Live with the wonder of a child
Pray with you arms thrown open wide
Love with a love that has no end
Until I see you again.

~ Mark Schultz

~Maiden of Purity