Author: The Wild Gems

We are all like precious stones. We all come in different shapes and sizes. It is when we are cut and polished that we begin to live a more radiant life.
The Wild Gems hopes to inspire you to live life to the fullest and to enjoy every moment!

Homemade Carrot Cake And Frosting

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Carrot Cake:


2 cups granulated sugar
1 ¼ cups vegetable oil
4 large eggs room temperature
1 (1-pound) package baby carrots, finely grated
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons salt
2 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon


Cream Cheese Frosting


12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened to room temperature
8 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees then line the bottom of two 9″ cake pans with parchment paper. Spray the pans and paper with non-stick cooking spray or rub with butter and set aside.

(You don’t have to use parchment paper but the cakes can become a little hard to get out if you choose to butter your pans instead)

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the sugar, oil and eggs together until completely blended then set aside.

3. Finely shred the carrots with a cheese grater or if you have a food processor you can use that.

(If you have kids they can help shred the carrots with the cheese grater. Makes for a bonding moment.)

4. Then add the finely shredded carrots to the sugar, oil and egg mixture, stirring to combine.

5. In a separate mixing bowl combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Sift the wet ingredients onto the dry ingredients and mix until completely blended.

6. Divide the batter evenly into the two prepared cake pans and bake 20-30 minutes or until a butter knife comes out clean (oven time varies) .

7. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow them to cool for an hour and half. (Remaining in the pans)

8. While the cakes are cooling, start on the cream cheese frosting. Add the softened butter and cream cheese to a medium-sized mixing bowl and cream together until completely combined. Then, sift in the powdered sugar, stirring until perfectly smooth.

9. Add the vanilla and stir once more to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and store at room temperature until you are ready to frost the cake.

10. When the cakes are cool and the frosting has been made, remove the pans to uncover the cakes. Place the first layer on a serving plate or I use a big cutting board sometimes and evenly coat the top of the cake with frosting. Place the next layer upside down on top of first layer and press gently but firmly into place. Spread the frosting on the top and all sides of the cake evenly with the remainder of the frosting. Top with some cinnamon for some extra whimsy!

Enjoy now or refrigerate until ready to serve! So yummy!

***Original recipe here****

Stuffed Peppers

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Ingredients

  • 2 – 4 large bell peppers (I like the colorful ones)
  • 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
  • 1 can black beans or white beans, drained and rinsed
  • 3/4 cup of corn
  • 1–1½ cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Mexican blend, Monterey Jack, etc.)
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • Salt & pepper, to taste
  • 1–2 tbsp olive oil
  • Optional: ½ cup salsa or a little tomato sauce

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350°F.
  2. Prep the peppers:
    Cut the peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and membranes. Place them cut-side up in a baking dish. Drizzle with a little olive oil and bake for 10 minutes to soften them slightly.
  3. Cook the meat:
    While the peppers bake, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef/turkey and cook until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess grease if needed.
  4. Season:
    Add garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Stir well.
    If you have salsa or tomato sauce, stir in about ½ cup—it keeps the filling nice and juicy.
  5. Add beans and corn:
    Stir in the drained beans and cook for another 2–3 minutes.
  6. Stuff:
    Spoon the meat-and-bean mixture into the softened peppers. Top generously with cheese.
  7. Bake:
    Cover loosely with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 5–10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the peppers are tender.

Note: I like to serve this entree with rice. Any leftover mixture I have I eat it with tortilla chips and guacamole and it’s like having nachos. So yummy!

Soften The Heart #35

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“Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations;

You established the earth, and it abides. They continue this according to your ordinances, for all are your servants.”

Psalm 119: 89-91

Watch nature. Study it. It’s fascinating. Nature really does just know what to do.

For example, this is random, I smashed my finger awhile back and my thumb is currently growing a new nail. I never told my body to do that, it just knows what to do. To me that right there is miraculous. How does my body know how to just do that?

We witness this in so many ways. Birds migrating, caterpillars becoming butterflies, trees speaking through their roots, bees making honey, and how?

How does nature just know what to do? The answer is pretty simple and it says it in the scripture.

Because God says.

They continue this according to your ordinances. Ordinance means an authoritative law. Nature is following its own commandments from the creator himself.

They are all following the rules and how incredible to bear witness of this.

The earth has been around a very long time, and it abides (it sits and remains here for us) because God told it to.

We search and search for bigger explanations but it really is as simple as God just saying,

“hey earth, you’re going to chill here until I say, okay?”

And earth is just like, “yup, got it.”

This is evidence in itself that something bigger is at play.

I feel as we get older we become so accustomed to this place, this world, that we slowly stop wondering and asking questions.

And then we forget. Some of us forget entirely that this is all so temporary.

We forget that we have a creator. We forget that we have been gifted this gift of life to noticed and observe how incredible our creator is. We forget to ask questions. We don’t seek anymore like children. We become dormant.

Many people are searching for truth. And the truth surrounds them everyday, yet they can’t see it or they may be scared of it.

Which truthfully can be a little scary. However God tells us numerous times to not be afraid.

It is our responsibility to help others tap into that inner child, because it is that inner child that will ask the bigger questions. It is that inner child that is curious and wants and craves answers. It’s that inner child that will not stop asking, why?

Children are so incredibly thirsty for knowledge.

When we slow down enough to study nature, we begin to notice the order, the wisdom, and the wonder woven into creation.

And perhaps, in getting to know creation, we begin to know the Creator.

And the more we know God, the more our thirst changes.

We don’t become less curious.

We become more alive.

Because maybe the goal was never to stop searching.

Maybe the goal was to discover that what we have been thirsting for has been surrounding us—and calling us back to the One who gave us life.

And in knowing Him, we learn what it truly means to abide.

Bell Pepper Beef SUBS

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makes 6 rolls

What You Need:

3 bell peppers (yellow, red, orange)

1 onion

1 14oz package of beef shaved steak

Provolone cheese slices

6 Sub rolls

Butter

Steps:

  1. Slice bell peppers and onion. Sauté with olive oil in skillet with a little salt until caramelized and charred. Remove from skillet.
  2. Cook up shaved steak meat on skillet until fully cooked through.
  3. Preheat oven to 350. Place parchment paper on sheet pan. Lightly butter both insides of sub rolls. Then place steak meat in each roll, top with bell peppers, and then provolone cheese. Bake for 7 to 10 mins or until cheese is melted and bread is toasted.

Enjoy!

Miso Soup Recipe

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What You Need:

4 cups water

1 teaspoon hondashi powder or can use onion powder

¼ cup seaweed cut or broken into smaller ½ inch pieces

8 ounces tofu drained and cut into ½ inch cubes or smaller

4 tablespoons of miso paste

1 stalk green onion thinly sliced (optional)

Steps:

  • Heat the water to a boil and add the hondashi powder, wakame seaweed, and tofu cubes. 
  • Bring the soup back up to a boil, then reduce the heat to a high simmer. Let the soup simmer for about 3 minutes or until the wakame seaweed is rehydrated.
  • Turn off the heat and use a strainer to dissolve the miso paste into the soup.*If you don’t have a strainer, you can scoop out a small amount of soup to dissolve the miso paste, then add it back into the soup.*
  • Add the sliced green onions and serve the miso soup while hot and enjoy!

Teriyaki Sauce Recipe

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What You Need:

  • 1 tbsp corn starch
  • 2 tbsp cold water
  • 1/4 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame seed oil
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Steps:

1. In a medium size bowl, whisk together corn starch and water. Add remaining ingredients (chicken broth, soy sauce, honey, and toasted sesame oil, red pepper flakes) and whisk to combine.

2. Warm up in medium sized skillet. Once warmed up add your chicken and vegetables.

So yummy and easy!

Note: I roast broccoli, chopped onion, and carrots in the oven with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

I cook the chopped chicken on the skillet, seasoning with just a little bit of salt and pepper.

Then I add all of the meat and veggies to the sauce and serve with white rice.

I Hate My Phone Sometimes, I Really Do

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What app eats up most of your screen time — and do you even feel bad about it?

Instagram most likely.

And truthfully it’s like the same stuff over and over again. And rarely do people show rawness it’s all so strategic.

But yet, it’s so easy to get sucked in. Sometimes I really hate it.

Sometimes I hate it all. Sometimes I legit just hate my phone.

Everything is so connected and not in the good way.

Sometimes I just want to delete everything. All my social medias. Yet, the attachment to memories and nostalgia is real.

The phones, the internet, the apps….sure there is some convenience but also……I don’t need to be so reachable.

It’s like wanting to be seen and wanting to share things but at the same time not wanting anyone to know what the heck I’m doing.

And yes, I know I could deactivate social media but it’s not the same. There’s still an invisible chain.

Also I don’t feel bad when I am on instagram. I do feel I have pretty good awareness on the whole thing so I don’t allow it to consume too much of my time. Most of the time I may go to share something and then immediately get off so I don’t become distracted by other people’s posts.

But again overall, I do have some envy towards those who never opened the pandora box of social media.

This Writing Prompt Makes Me Want To Cry

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Which outdated technology do you miss the most, and why?

I just want to say that this has been a wonderful writing prompt.

Reading many responses to this question has legitimately made me want to cry.

So many people experiencing nostalgia with this one.

Many say they miss old fashion letter writing and the cassette tape.

And many long for the slower pace of things.

Someone said we’ve come so far but along the way we have lost some of the human touch.

With letter writing and cassette makings it took time and effort. There was someone on the other end that truly cared and was putting the time in.

Makes me sad reading some of these……

How do we slow down?

I will add I miss disposable cameras. I don’t know if that truly falls under outdated technology but I miss the excitement of picking up your photos and being completely surprised because you had forgotten what photos you had taken. It was just so fun. There was no “let’s retake that”.

You took it in the moment and hoped it came out good.

I may write a blog now on how we can really slow things down and get back in touch with our past joys.

100 Faith Collection Lunch Box Notes

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  1. God made you wonderfully. 💛
  2. Jesus loves you so much.
  3. You are a gift from God.
  4. God has good plans for you.
  5. You are never alone today.
  6. God goes with you wherever you go.
  7. Shine your light today.
  8. Be brave. God is with you.
  9. You are deeply loved.
  10. God’s mercies are new this morning.
  1. Be kind and courageous today.
  2. You are God’s masterpiece.
  3. Let your light shine.
  4. God sees your hard work.
  5. Be strong and take heart.
  6. God delights in you.
  7. You were created with purpose.
  8. Choose kindness today.
  9. God hears your prayers.
  10. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
  1. God is cheering you on.
  2. Your kindness matters.
  3. God’s love never runs out.
  4. You are precious in His sight.
  5. Trust God one step at a time.
  6. Be the reason someone smiles today.
  7. God made you exactly as you are meant to be.
  8. Pray first, worry less.
  9. God gives strength for today.
  10. You belong to Him.
  1. You can do hard things with God.
  2. God’s peace is with you today.
  3. Be patient and gentle.
  4. God is working in your story.
  5. You are chosen and loved.
  6. Grace upon grace for today.
  7. God made your heart special.
  8. Keep going—you’ve got this.
  9. Be quick to love and slow to anger.
  10. God is bigger than your worries.
  1. You are a blessing.
  2. God smiles when He sees you.
  3. Love others well today.
  4. Be joyful in little things.
  5. God knows every detail about you.
  6. You are never forgotten.
  7. His love for you never changes.
  8. Be a helper today.
  9. God made you to shine.
  10. You are brave because God is with you.
  1. Pray about everything.
  2. God gives wisdom generously.
  3. Your words have power—use them kindly.
  4. God made you for such a time as this.
  5. Be thankful today.
  6. You are loved more than you know.
  7. God cares about your big feelings.
  8. Nothing can separate you from God’s love.
  9. God is your safe place.
  10. You can always talk to Him.
  1. Choose joy today.
  2. God can use small acts of kindness.
  3. Your smile is a blessing.
  4. God made you unique on purpose.
  5. Be gentle with yourself and others.
  6. God understands your heart.
  7. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
  8. God loves hearing from you.
  9. You are important to God.
  10. Share God’s love today.
  1. Be faithful in small things.
  2. God can do amazing things through you.
  3. Walk in love today.
  4. God sees the good you do.
  5. You are treasured.
  6. God gives courage for today.
  7. His peace guards your heart.
  8. You are His beloved child.
  9. Trust Him with today.
  10. God is writing a beautiful story.
  1. Be a friend to someone today.
  2. God gives hope.
  3. You are never too small to make a difference.
  4. God made your laugh special.
  5. His love is your anchor.
  6. Be generous with kindness.
  7. God is your helper.
  8. Keep your heart soft and kind.
  9. God rejoices over you.
  10. You are stronger than you think.
  1. The Lord bless you and keep you.
  2. God is near to you today.
  3. Be still and know He is God.
  4. You are surrounded by love.
  5. God made you for a purpose only you can fulfill.
  6. Be a peacemaker today.
  7. God will never leave you.
  8. You are held in His hands.
  9. Remember whose you are.
  10. Go be a light in the world today. ✨