Thursday 27 March 2014

Recipes: Mug Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS CAKE
1 box (15.25 ounce) Betty Crocker Triple Chocolate Fudge cake mix
1 1/8 cups water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
CREAM CHOCOLATE GANACHE
5 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
MUG CAKE WRAPPERS AND FOAM
30 ounces white modeling chocolate
Golden yellow gel or paste food coloring
1 (8 ounce) tub frozen whipped topping, thawed
SPECIAL SUPPLIES
10 half-pint (8 ounce) Mason jars
Non-stick cooking spray (with flour)
Cupcake plunger/corer or knife


DIRECTIONS

1.       Pre-heat oven to 350ºF.
2.       Make cake mix using water, oil and eggs according to package instructions.
3.       Spray Mason jars with non-stick cooking spray, then set on a baking sheet.
4.       Equally divide batter among jars.
5.       Bake for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean.
6.       Cool cakes for 10 minutes. Turn jars upside down and remove cakes. Cool completely.
7.       Make Cream ganache: Pour chopped chocolate, heaving whipping cream and powdered sugar into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high power for 30 seconds. Let bowl sit in microwave for 3 minutes. Remove and stir until smooth. If all chocolate is not melted, heat for 10 second increments, stirring after each.
8.       Cut each cake to be 3 inches tall.
9.       Use a cupcake plunger, apple corer or knife to create a well in each cake.
10.   Cream ganache into each well.
11.   Color 20 ounces of white modeling chocolate golden yellow with food coloring.
12.   Roll out to about 1/8 inch thickness on a non-stick mat (or on a cutting board that has been lightly dusted with powdered sugar). Cut 3 1/4 inch wide by 8-inch long strips.
13.   Press wooden dowel at 1/2 inch intervals across each strip, creating the indentations in the beer mugs and leaving a 1/2 inch border along one edge. That will be the bottom of each beer mug.
14.   Wrap one yellow strip around each cake, cutting the seams to match up. Brush seam edges with water and press together.
15.   Pinch off pieces of white modeling chocolate and roll into mug handles. Attach with water.
16.   Just before serving, spoon whipped topping into mugs.
 See more pics below:




 



Wednesday 26 March 2014

DO YOU THINK IS TOO LATE, THEN YOU GOT TO READ THIS

It was an unusually busy day for the hospital staff on the sixth floor. Ten new patients were admitted and Nurse Susan spent the morning and afternoon checking them in.
Her friend Sharron, an aide, prepared ten rooms for the patients and made sure they were comfortable. After they were finished she grabbed Sharron and said, “We deserve a break. Let’s go eat.”
Sitting across from each other in the noisy cafeteria, Susan noticed Sharron absently wiping the moisture off the outside of her glass with her thumbs. Her face reflected a weariness that came from more than just a busy day.
“You’re pretty quiet. Are you tired, or is something wrong?” – Susan asked.
Sharron hesitated. However, seeing the sincere concern in her friend’s face, she confessed, “I can’t do this the rest of my life, Susan. I have to find a higher-paying job to provide for my family. We barely get by. If it weren’t for my parents keeping my kids, well, we wouldn’t make it.”
Susan noticed the bruises on Sharron’s wrists peeking out from under her jacket.
“What about your husband?”
“We can’t count on him. He can’t seem to hold a job. He’s got . . . problems.”
“Sharron, you’re so good with patients, and you love working here. Why don’t you go to school and become a nurse? There’s financial help available, and I’m sure your parents would agree to keep the kids while you are in class.”
“It’s too late for me, Susan; I’m too old for school. I’ve always wanted to be a nurse, that’s why I took this job as an aide; at least I get to care for patients.”
“How old are you?” – Susan asked.
“Let’s just say I’m thirty-something.”
Susan pointed at the bruises on Sharron’s wrists. “I’m familiar with ‘problems’ like these. Honey, it’s never too late to become what you’ve dreamed of. Let me tell you how I know.”
Susan began sharing a part of her life few knew about. It was something she normally didn’t talk about, only when it helped someone else.
“I first married when I was thirteen years old and in the eighth grade.”
Sharron gasped.
“My husband was twenty-two. I had no idea he was violently abusive. We were married six years and I had three sons. One night my husband beat me so savagely he knocked out all my front teeth. I grabbed the boys and left.
“At the divorce settlement, the judge gave our sons to my husband because I was only nineteen and he felt I couldn’t provide for them. The shock of him taking my babies left me gasping for air. To make things worse, my ex took the boys and moved, cutting all contact I had with them.
“Just like the judge predicted, I struggled to make ends meet. I found work as a waitress, working for tips only. Many days my meals consisted of milk and crackers. The most difficult thing was the emptiness in my soul. I lived in a tiny one-room apartment and the loneliness would overwhelm me. I longed to play with my babies and hear them laugh.”
She paused. Even after four decades, the memory was still painful. Sharron’s eyes filled with tears as she reached out to comfort Susan. Now it didn’t matter if the bruises showed.
Susan continued, “I soon discovered that waitresses with grim faces didn’t get tips, so I hid behind a smiling mask and pressed on. I remarried and had a daughter. She became my reason for living, until she went to college.
“Then I was back where I started, not knowing what to do with myself – until the day my mother had surgery. I watched the nurses care for her and thought: I can do that. The problem was, I only had an eighth-grade education. Going back to high school seemed like a huge mountain to conquer. I decided to take small steps toward my goal. The first step was to get my GED. My daughter used to laugh at how our roles reversed. Now I was burning the midnight oil and asking her questions.”
Susan paused and looked directly in Sharron’s eyes. “I received my diploma when I was forty-six years old.”
Tears streamed down Sharron’s cheeks. Here was someone offering the key that might unlock the door in her dark life.
“The next step was to enroll in nursing school. For two long years I studied, cried and tried to quit. But my family wouldn’t let me. I remember calling my daughter and yelling, ‘Do you realize how many bones are in the human body, and I have to know them all! I can’t do this, I’m forty-six years old!’ But I did. Sharron, I can’t tell you how wonderful it felt when I received my cap and pin.”
Sharron’s lunch was cold, and the ice had melted in her tea by the time Susan finished talking. Reaching across the table and taking Sharron’s hands, Susan said, “You don’t have to put up with abuse. Don’t be a victim – take charge. You will be an excellent nurse. We will climb this mountain together.”
Sharron wiped her mascara-stained face with her napkin. “I had no idea you suffered so much pain. You seem like someone who has always had it together.”
“I guess I’ve developed an appreciation for the hardships of my life,” Susan answered. “If I use them to help others, then I really haven’t lost a thing. Sharron, promise me that you will go to school and become a nurse. Then help others by sharing your experiences.”
Sharron promised. In a few years she became a registered nurse and worked alongside her friend until Susan retired. Sharron never forgot her colleague or the rest of her promise.
Now Sharron sits across the table taking the hands of those who are bruised in body and soul, telling them, “It’s never too late. We will climb this mountain together.”

By Linda Carol Apple

TRY THESE MINI CALZONES ARE EASY TO MAKE AND YUMMY IN TASTE

These mini calzones are easy to make and yummy in taste
Ingredients:
·         2 sheets of pie crust prepared or make your own.
·         or use this recipe for frybread
·         5 tomatoes sliced thin.
·         a Tablespoon Herbs (Rosemary,oregano, basil or any Italian herbs)
·         Cream cheese, Parmesan, Mozzarella, Romano (or a blended package of fine shredded cheese)
·         salt and pepper to taste.
·         Blend the herbs and cheeses together
Directions:
1.       Roll out one crust…lay slices of tomatoes all over the crust about 2 fingers apart. Place a spoonful of the blended herbs, cream cheese, and other cheeses on top of the tomatoes. Salt and pepper to taste.
2.       add another sprinkle of cheese over the top of the tomato. Gently place the top pie crust or pizza crust over the top. Seal all the way around. Take a drinking glass and gently cut out each bump of tomato. Make sure each round Calzone is sealed. Use a little egg well beaten to ensure seal.
3.       Give each Calzone a bath of garlic and melted butter then drop gently into hot grease until they brown or float to top…(You could also bake at 375 until brown. Serve with a good marinara sauce.





Let God Arise

TEXT: PSALM 18:1-19
Key verse: “The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire” (Psalm 18:13).
Thick clouds often precede the claps of thunder, and the darkest hour is before dawn. Sometimes, life’s situations might confound the saints of God like a thick cloud. Yet, and in the tunnel of life, when nothing but darkness and gloom are found, God always arises for them with His thunder to discomfit their enemies and usher in a glorious dawn.
We must admire our God with hearts full of praise and exaltation. He is the One Who has proved Himself to be the Rock upon which we stand to hack down any Goliath who would abase the holy name of our God. He is our Fortress against the Saul who would leave his bed and throne to pursue us into the wilderness. He is our Deliverer from the Absalom who would gun for our God-ordained rights and privileges; our Strength, who would energise us to vanquish the lions and bears that would devour the sheep under our care. He is our Buckler against the fiery swords and staves of the uncircumcised Philistines. God is the Horn of our salvation when our feet slip and we despoil Bathsheba and blood stains are in our hands. He is our High Tower when the combined forces of our hitherto trusted friends, Abner and Ahitophel, pursue us out of our throne into the wilderness. Indeed, God is our All in All.

Are you encompassed by the floods of ungodly men? Are you besieged by the sorrows of hell? This wonderful God arises on behalf of His saints. His concern for you makes the earth to shake and tremble. The foundations of the hills shake too.
God does all these to “draw (you) out of many waters”. Praise the Lord! You must trust and believe that God will certainly arise for you whenever sorrows and sickness become your bedmates.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: In the valley of the shadow of death, God abides with the righteous.
See video below and be bless by this song Let God Arise by Chris Tomlin.


 



Tuesday 25 March 2014

The 8 Sleeping Positions and Their Effects on Health

Getting enough sleep is the most important thing – but did you know that how you sleep can also impact your health? Let’s take a look at eight common sleeping positions and what they do to your body.

1. On Your Back, Arms at Sides

Sleeping on your back with your arms at your side is generally considered to be the best sleeping position for spine health and it’s good for your neck, too, as long as you don’t use too many pillows. That said, back sleepers tend to snore more than those in any other position and sleep apnea is strongly associated with sleeping on the back.

2. On Your Back, Arms Up

This so-called “starfish” position is also good for the back. Whether you have your arms up around your pillow or not, sleeping on your back may also help to prevent facial wrinkles and skin breakouts. However, like the arms-down back sleeping position, this one can also result in snoring and problems with acid reflux. Plus, having your arms up can put pressure on nerves in your shoulders, leading to pain.

3. Face Down

Sleeping on your stomach can improve digestion but unless you’ve developed a way to breathe through your pillow, it most likely leads to you tilting your face in one direction or the other. This can put a lot of strain on the neck. Sleeping face down can also cause back pain, as the curve of the spine is not supported.

4. Fetal Position

Sleeping all curled up into a ball with your knees drawn up and your chin tilted down might be comfortable but it’s probably one of the worst sleeping positions to consider as it can do a number on your back and neck.
The extreme curl of the fetal position can also restrict deep breathing. That considered, sleeping like a fetus can have you sleeping like a baby if you typically have problems with snoring or if you’re pregnant.


5. On Side, Arms at Sides

When you’re sleeping on your side with both arms down, the spine is best supported in its natural curve. This can definitely help reduce back and neck pain while also reducing sleep apnea. The downside? Sleeping on the side can contribute to skin aging due to gravity, meaning facial wrinkles and sagging breasts.

6. On Side, Arms Out

This position has many of the same benefits of sleeping on your side with your arms straight down. However, any side sleeping can cause shoulder and arm pain due to restricted blood flow and pressure on the nerves, which may be exacerbated by having your arms out in front of you.

7. On the Right Side

If you’re a side-sleeper, which side you sleep on also makes a difference. Sleeping on the right side can worsen heartburn while sleeping on the left side can put strain on internal organs like the liver, lungs, and stomach (while minimizing acid reflux). For pregnant sleepers, doctors typically advise sleeping on the left side, since this can improve circulation to the fetus.

8. Pillow-Supplemented

Choosing a proper sleeping position is important but regardless of which sleeping position you prefer, it’s highly likely that you can get a better night’s rest with less pain in the morning by supplementing your body with a pillow.
Back sleepers can put a small pillow under the arch of their spine, side sleepers can place a pillow between their knees, and stomach sleepers can place a pillow under their hips to support the joints and allow for full, pain-free relaxation.
Of all the Sleeping positions mentioned, which one gives you the best night’s rest without pain?

Source: dailyhealthpost.com

The 7 Meaningful Touches Every Husband Should Use When Reaching for His Wife

I recently called to check on my father, who wasn’t feeling well. After talking for a few minutes, I asked about his wife (not my mother). They’ve enjoyed a wonderful relationship for 45 years of marriage. He said, “She is doing well, sitting here holding my hand.”
I must admit, I thought of that as a Hallmark moment—a seasoned couple sitting in their cabin on a mountain in Arkansas, still in love and holding hands.
The human touch has amazingly powerful benefits to both parties—physically, emotionally, physiologically and even spiritually. Studies have revealed innumerable benefits. Unfortunately, some men have allowed their hands to withdraw from reaching for their wives.
Here are seven meaningful touches every husband should when reaching for his wife:
1. Reach for your wife first thing in the morning. It may be a gentle pat as you’re getting out of bed or a hug when you first see each other, but reach for her before you get busy about the day.
2. Throughout the day, a text or quick phone call is a great touch of affection. A simple “I love you” or “Just thinking about you and looking forward to the evening” will go a long way in letting her know she is on your mind.
3. Write a note the old-fashioned way. We’re so tech-savvy these days that sometimes an old-fashioned approach is more meaningful.
4. Whether your wife loves flowers, chocolate or shoes, sending these on “regular” days rather than typical celebration days will be a huge touch.
5. Save some energy so you can give your wife special attention when you return home. Embrace her warmly and greet her when you first enter the home.
6. Hold her hand at random times —while charting, walking or just sitting at home.
7. Give her a back rub.
Bonus Touch
I want to add one more to the list that is a real standout and will take your relationship to another dimension: Lay your hand upon her and speak a blessing over her and her dreams while praying in agreement with her. This may take you out of your comfort zone, but I promise you this will be a game-changer in your spiritual walk and leadership with your wife and family.
Reach out and touch your wife. The benefits are immeasurable.


MORE THAN YOU CAN THINK

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. Ephesians 3:20

God is unlimited in power. He can and is willing to do great things for us if we can trust Him in faith. To access His power:
• Know His power. To experience the power of God, we have to know the kind of power He has and how that power functions.
God's power does not override human will. His power works when we willingly invite Him to intervene in our situations.
• Think and ask. God works with our desires and our thoughts. We must know what we want from Him and be specific about our needs. When we ask without being definite, we receive indefinite answers.
• Know that He can exceed your request. God takes pleasure in giving His children bonuses they did not ask for.
In addition to answering our specific requests, He is able to go beyond us and load us with unusual benefits.
• Know His power works in us. Our requests to God do not travel from earth to somewhere in outer space in order for them to reach God. His power is not far away somewhere 'beyond the blue'.
The truth is that, His power is so very near. He is at work within us and all around us. When we call, He hears because He is close to us. You have no idea what God wants to do with your
life.
The thoughts and the plans He has for you are far higher than you can imagine. All you need to do is believe and be obedient.
Prayer: Lord, I open my heart not only to receive answers to the requests I have made to you but also the bonuses of your blessing.

Scriptural Reading: Ephesians 3:14-20
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