Matcha Green Tea Shortbread

My life has been crazy! Midterms are being dumped on me like no other....so here's to baking therapy sessions that were much needed. A lot of people have been asking me...HOW DO YOU HAVE TIME TO BAKE? Honestly, it's kind of like my way of taking a break. And it doesn't take me that long, I guess, so it's my way of destressing. That's how I have time! Although, I have been cutting down a lot..because midterms are sucking away all my time. -.- Still though, God has constantly reminded me to fight the good fight. This past Sunday at Reality LA was just what I needed. See below for more on that. 
Anyways, I made these cookies over a period of two days. I made the dough and then later baked it, and I'm really happy with the results. It seems light, even though its like pure butter and sugar, and my friends really enjoyed it! You can't go wrong with matcha! The green tea powder was bought on Amazon. It's pretty good quality, so I'd recommend it. I was going to use this cool cookie cutter I bought at World Market to make the cookies. But I ended up just making them into squares, for the sake of time. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• a pinch of salt
• 1 cup butter, cut into small pieces
• 2 1/2 - 3 tablespoons  high quality matcha (green tea) powder
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1-2 tbls of oil, if dough seems dry

DIRECTIONS

1. Whisk flour and salt together in a small bowl.

2. In a separate bowl, beat butter until creamy.  Add matcha powder and beat until mixture is a uniform green color. Add sugar continue beating until light and fluffy.

3. Add about half of the flour, then mix on low speed.  Gradually add remaining flour, mixing just until blended. The mixture should look crumbly; but if you squeeze it between your fingers, it will come together. If it seems dry, then add oil until it comes together nicely. Gather the dough into a large ball.

4. Roll out dough to 1/3-inch thickness between two pieces of parchment paper.
Peel off top parchment paper.

5. Cut out as many cookies as possible using cookie cutter and place on cookie sheets 1-inch apart. Re-roll remaining dough and repeat until all of the dough is used up. Refrigerate cut outs for one hour.

6. Preheat oven to 325 F. Bake for about 17 minutes or until the cookies are dry and firm to the touch. The edges might just start turning brown.

Adapted from: Kirbie Cravings

1 Timothy 6:6-19

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal lifeto which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

If it feels like a fight for you right now, that’s because it is. In fact, I would say that if it doesn’t feel like a fight who are you actually following? Paul says, “this is a fight!” He’s describing what it should feel like. Each falling away from sin and turning to righteousness is going to be a mini victory. But FIGHT! And fight the good fight! -Pastor Tim Chaddick [RLA]

Think of this as a life long athletic story with an incredible underdog story.

If you are on the verge of giving up, LOOK TO CHRIST! 
For an amazing sermon, watch this: http://realityla.com/teachings/against-the-odds-courage/