One lucky person will win a $20 Domino's gift card! Please sign up with using this link: http://www.thanksmailcarrier.com/2012/10/dominos-new-handmade-pan-pizza-review-giveaway.html

Delicious Dishes by Debbie: Taste of Home Best Loved Recipes

Delicious Dishes by Debbie: Taste of Home Best Loved Recipes: What would you say if I told you that I have a new favorite cookbook?  Well, I do.  Taste of Home Best Loved Recipes arrived...

Ground Turkey Steamed Dumplings

This was my first place winning recipe that was chosen for Taste of Home Healthy Cooking April/May 2012

Dumpling Ingredients: 1/2 lb. ground raw turkey 2 green onions, thinly sliced 2 tbsp. cornstarch 2 tbsp. minced fresh ginger 1 tbsp. light soy sauce 1 tsp. sesame oil 20 wonton wrappers  (see note below) Lettuce leaves Oriental Dipping Sauce Ingredients: 1/2 cup light soy sauce 1 tbs. sesame oil 1 tbs. minced scallions 1 tsp. minced garlic

Instructions 1. In a medium bowl combine ground raw turkey, green onions, cornstarch, ginger, soy sauce and sesame oil. 2. Place a rounded teaspoon of turkey mixture on each wonton wrapper. Brush edge of wrapper with water. Fold wrapper over filling making a half moon. Press edges to seal. Keep filled wontons under a damp cloth. 3. Line a steamer basket with lettuce. Place dumplings on lettuce. Cover steamer basket. Place steamer basket over simmering water and cook for 30 minutes. 4. While dumplings are cooking, combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, minced scallions and minced garlic together and mix thoroughly. Place the dipping sauce into a serving dish.  Drizzle the dipping sauce over the hot steamed dumplings before serving. *Note: Wonton wrappers are sold in the produce section. If wrappers are square, fold them into triangles. Or, cut them into three-inch rounds with a metal cookie cutter. Preparation Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 1 hour

Mini Frittatas & a Bite-Sized Brunch {giveaway}

Check out the giveaway and yummy recipe for Mini Frittatas & a Bite-Sized Brunch {giveaway}

Shannon's Shanonigins: Vintage Easter Cards

Shannon's Shanonigins: Vintage Easter Cards

Be True to Who You Are!

http://mangia-bella.blogspot.com/2012/03/courage.html

To be nobody but myself - in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make me somebody else - 

means to fight the hardest battle any human can fight, and never stop fighting." 

~ e.e. cummings 

Are you consumed with living up to other people's expectations? 

Trying to win their approval?

If the answer is yes, are you exhausted yet?

Mind if I intervene? 

A complete, idle, fruitless waste of time.

Trust me on this.

John Eldredge said "Without a deep and burning desire of our own, 

we will be ruled by the desire of others." 

I concur.

It's easy to let the opinions of others dictate our course, isn't it?

To succumb to the pressure.

Allow ourselves to be persuaded against our gut instinct.

Even at some level allow ourselves to be manipulated.

And why... because we dare to be unconventional?

Because we choose to go against the flow?

"The truth is, we will exhaust ourselves by performing for a world that does not want to praise us.

Let us choose to live for God's approval, and find freedom from others controlling our confidence!" ~ Sheri Rose Shepard

Yes! 

My dear friend said that quote is front of the fridge material....I couldn't agree more.....*print*

It will take courage sweet bellas, to be who you are destined to be. 

It will upset the comfort zones of those around you.

And it will cause a ripple effect.

I'll close by sharing a story that Max Lucado recounts of a legend from India that tells of a mouse who was terrified of cats until a magician agreed to transform him into a cat. That resolved his fear...until he met a dog, so the magician turned him into a dog. The mouse-turned-cat-turned-dog was content until he met a tiger - so, once again, the magician changed him into what he feared. But when the tiger came complaining that he had met a hunter, the magician refused to help. "I will make you into a mouse again, for though you have the body of a tiger, you still have the heart of a mouse."

I looked up the definition of courage...it is defined as: 

"a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain with confidence and resolution."

The definition of resolution: "1. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination. 2. A resolving to do something."

"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord." Psalm 31:24

Let us resolve to walk through the rest of this day with courage and receive the strength that comes from Him.

That is my hope for myself today.

And for all of you...

Shannon's Shanonigins: Freshwater Pearl Give-Away

Shannon's Shanonigins: Freshwater Pearl Give-Away: Happy 2012! I hope you all had a joyful, loving holiday season :) I thought it would be fun to start the new year off with a great give...

Outrageous Banana Cupcakes

Luscious peanut butter filling hides inside my moist banana cupcakes that are crowned with a fluffy buttery-tasting chocolate frosting. This winning flavor combination is supreme!

Banana Cupcakes:

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 ripe bananas

4 tablespoons sour cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

½ cup cream cheese, softened



Directions:
Preheat to 350. Grease cupcake tins with non-stick flour spray.

Combine flour, baking powder & baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk or sift.

In a different bowl, mix banana, vanilla and sour cream, or do this in a food processor like I did to make it go a lot faster, and come out a lot smoother.

In an electric mixer, beat brown sugar and butter together until blended.

Add cream cream cheese, and blend.

Add dry mixture to this alternately with the wet mixture in 3 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.

Divide among 18 cupcake tins.

Bake approximately 17 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with only a few crumbs on it.

Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes, and then remove cakes from pans and place on racks to cool completely. Once cooled, cut a cone out of the top of the cupcakes and reserve the cone.





Peanut Butter Filling for Cupcakes:

2/3 C peanut butter (I used the crunchy style to snazzy it up a little)

2 Tablespoon butter, softened

7 tablespoons of confectioners sugar

Directions:
Beat peanut butter and butter together until creamy (Tip: I did it a quicker way and microwaved the peanut butter on 30% power for 30 seconds first to make it a little softer to blend easier)

Sift confectioners’ sugar into the bowl and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

Spoon the filling into the hole created in the top of the cupcake. Then, trim the bottom pointy portion of the cone a bit to make it easier to fit back on top. Place the trimmed cone back on top and gently press down


Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:

6 ounces semisweet chocolate (if you only have unsweetened, you can substitute 6 oz unsweetened + 6 tablespoon sugar)

1 1/4 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar

2 sticks butter (1 cup), softened

2 Tsp heavy cream

1 Tsp vanilla


Dirctions:
In top of double boiler, melt the chocolate until it’s totally smooth, or use your microwave if you know how to safely do that with yours. Remove from heat and let cool while you prepare the rest (approx 5 – 10 min).

In medium sized bowl, beat butter for 3 minutes, until very, very creamy.

Add the milk and beat until smooth.

Add the cooled melted chocolate and beat well. Add vanilla and beat for 3 more minutes.

Gradually add the confectioner’s sugar and beat on high until it gets nice and fluffy. Pipe onto your filled cupcakes and for a pretty garnish; decorate with white chocolate curls, and/or chocolate sprinkles, and/or mini marshmallows.

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Shannon's Shanonigins: Thanksgiving Giveaway

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Shannon's Shanonigins: 4th of July Give-Away by Eco-Glam Events

Shannon's Shanonigins: 4th of July Give-Away by Eco-Glam Events: "I'm so excited to be bringing you a really fun holiday give-away from a really fun ETSY shop. One Shanonigins follower will win these fun c..."

Shannon's Shanonigins: Black & Pink Vintage Glamour Give-Away

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Delicious Dishes by Debbie: Ham-I-Am-Giveaway Starts TODAY, Green Eggs and Ham...

Delicious Dishes by Debbie: Ham-I-Am-Giveaway Starts TODAY, Green Eggs and Ham...: "Do you like Green Eggs and Ham? Would you eat them in the rain or on a train? If so, it’s time to say cheers to 50 years of Dr. Seuss’ G..."

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Delicious Dishes by Debbie: Introducing Pillsbury Simply...Biscuits and Breads...: "WE HAVE A WINNER....IT'S MINDIE HILTON....Mindie....send me your address to have this great package mailed to you by Pillsbury withing 24 ho..."

Bacon Time With The Hungry Hungry Hypo: Charming Free Give Away From Charm Factory!

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Delicious Dishes by Debbie: Introducing Pillsbury Simply...Biscuits and Breads...

Delicious Dishes by Debbie: Introducing Pillsbury Simply...Biscuits and Breads...: "You really need to try this wonderful new product by Pillsbury.  I have been sent some coupons to try this product and it is heavenly.&..."

Delicious Dishes by Debbie: Introducing Pillsbury Simply...Biscuits and Breads...

Delicious Dishes by Debbie: Introducing Pillsbury Simply...Biscuits and Breads...: "You really need to try this wonderful new product by Pillsbury.  I have been sent some coupons to try this product and it is heavenly.&..."

Coco-Peanut Butter Surprises

These cookies are reminiscent of a chocolate peanut butter cup candy. And I’ll guarantee that these cookies will disappear in a snap, whatever the audience: from hungry kids after school to your co-workers—these cookies will be a hit!

Prep time: 45 minutes |Cook time: 9 minutes |Total time: 54 minutes |Servings: 26

•1/2 cup(s) of confectioners
•3/4 cup(s) of Balance® Natural Peanut Butter (Divided into 1/2 & 1/4 cup)
•1 cup(s) of unbleached all-purpose flour
•1/2 cup(s) of 100% whole wheat flour
•1/2 cup(s) of (unsweetened) dark cocoa powder
•1/2 tsp. of baking soda
•1/4 tsp. of salt
•1/2 cup(s) of cane or raw sugar (turbinado) (plus extra for dredging)
•1/2 cup(s) of brown sugar (sucanat works too)
•1/2 cup(s) of (1 stick) Earth Balance Buttery Stick, softened
•1 tsp. of vanilla extract
•3 tbsp. of Earth Balance™ Soymilk

Steps
1.Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease (or line with parchment) two baking sheets.
2.To make the filling: In a small bowl, stir together the ½ cup peanut butter and confectioners’ sugar until smooth. With floured hands or a teaspoon scoop, roll the filling into 26 one-inch balls.
3.To make the dough: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. In another medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the sugars, buttery stick, and the
4.To shape the cookies: Scoop 1 tablespoon of the dough (a lump about the size of a walnut), make an indentation in the center with our finger and place one of the peanut butter balls into the indentation. Bring the cookie dough up and over the filling, pressing the edges together cover the center; Roll the cookie in the palms of your hand to smooth it out. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. Roll each rounded cookie in sugar, and place on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between cookies. Grease the bottom of a drinking glass, and use it to flatten each cookie to about 1/2-inch thick.

You have to check out this posting on Shannon's Shanonigins: Chocolate Mousse Cake

Shannon's Shanonigins: Chocolate Mousse Cake: "If you are looking for a delicious, decadent, dessert (that's not difficult) to make for your Valentine, look no further.  I'm going ..."

Please check out Shannon's Shanonigins: "Indulge Yourself" St. Valentines Giveaway

I am privileged to know Shannon personally! She is a multi-talented and very wonderful lady. Just one look around her website will show you some of the talent she has. However, she is also a great cook and home chef and was just chosen to have her recipe she entered into a Philadelphia Cooking Creme (New product soon coming to your grocer) showcased on the Real Women Of Philadelphia Website for everyone to see her recipe being made by her.

She has recently launched this wonderful and indulgent Valentine’s giveaway that you need to sign up for!
Shannon's Shanonigins: "Indulge Yourself" St. Valentines Giveaway: "I thought it would be fun to have a St. Valentines Day  give-away that would be great if you have a Valentine to share it with, and fu..."