Desperate {Book Review}

My sweet friend Sarah Mae has just launched a new book that she co-wrote with Sally Clarkson, Desperate - Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe! I was so happy to receive a copy of the book because I've known Sarah Mae online since she started blogging {getting close to 5 years!}. I finally met and hugged her in person at the Allume conference last October! I know that Sarah Mae has a deep desire to help and encourage other moms - because she herself has needed that encouragement along the way!

Sarah Mae is able to speak to desperate moms so well because she has been a desperate mom. She knows what you are going through! And she wants to share the mentoring and help she received from Sally Clarkson during her motherhood journey so far.

Though I am not in a season of having little ones and feeling desperate {I have 1 son who is now 13.}, I still enjoyed the book. Desperate is inspirational, encouraging, and full of good practical advice for moms. And hello - I can still totally relate to the chapter on Selfishness - that is a struggle for many of us no matter what the age of our children!

I love this quote from Sally:

I recommend reading this book if you are an overwhelmed mom with small children, if you are a mom feeling discouraged and/or isolated, if you want to know how best to help and encourage a desperate mom that you know, or if you just want to be inspired to join the desperate mom movement and help other stressed-out moms {with babysitting, ladies night out, words of encouragement, a big hug, cooking a meal, etc.}!

You can also buy multiple copies of Desperate and lead a small group study. There are great Scriptures and questions at the end of each chapter to help you. And you can get a free small group study guide from the website! Plus at the end of each chapter there is a handy QR code {or URL} to watch a video - what an awesome resource to have! I love the videos! It's like Sarah Mae and Sally joined you in your living room to give you a little boost. :)

You can buy the book from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Check here for more places to purchase Desperate. If you are thinking of buying multiple copies in order to lead a small group, please check Sarah Mae's blog first - by submitting proof of your purchases, you'll receive some wonderful free gifts!!

And how about giveaways?! Sarah Mae has been hosting awesome giveaways all during this launch week, and they're not over yet! Go right now and get yourself entered to win something fabulous! You can still enter to win a spa/mentoring weekend, free coffee for a year, and an ipad mini with a $300 Target card! But hurry - these last giveaways and the free gifts for multiple purchases are ending Saturday evening!!

Disclosure: I received a free copy of Desperate in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own of course!  

Are you a desperate mom who needs encouragement? How can those of us who are past that season best help and encourage you? Have you been a desperate mom in the past? What do you wish other moms would have done for you?

Have a blessed day friends! And give another mom a big hug today!

Mocha Oatmeal Frappe {Recipe & Better Oats Review}

I was recently given some dark chocolate oatmeal packets to review {yes, chocolate oatmeal - yum}. This instant oatmeal with flax has a yummy twist - dark chocolate! Cocoa flavor and actual pieces of chocolate help make breakfast fun!

I tried the oatmeal using the microwave method {you can also use stove top}. After you pour the oat mixture into your bowl, you can actually use the empty packet to get your water! Just fill it to the measuring line and pour into your bowl. No leaks! Not only does this make it easy for kids to use, but also comes in handy in the workplace.

The oats were good - rolled oats with a chewy texture - and of course the chocolate flavor was great! I do think stove top would be even better and you could use milk instead of water.

About Lavish Better Oats:

Lavish is a great way to start the day with an indulgent—yet nutritious—breakfast. Made with real chocolate morsels and 100% whole grain oats, Lavish is also a good source of ALA Omega-3 and is naturally cholesterol free with 0g of trans fat. It's a win-win breakfast for any chocolate lover who's also health conscious!  And at a price of about $1.69 a box it’s easy on the pocketbook, too. Our fans on Facebook also tell us they like to put a spoonful of peanut butter in their Lavish as an afternoon or late-night snack!

I thought it would be fun to try Lavish Dark Chocolate oats in a recipe. If you're in a hurry in the morning, what better way to get your oatmeal and coffee than having it all together in a frappe? Blend it up and out the door you go! It's also great as an afternoon pick-me-up.

Mocha Oatmeal Frappe

1 packet Lavish Dark Chocolate oatmeal
1 cup milk
1 packet Starbucks Via instant coffee {or 1 heaping teaspoon other instant coffee}
10-12 ice cubes
Protein powder, if desired

Combine ingredients and blend thoroughly until frothy. I used my Magic Bullet, but you can use any blender. Pour into a glass; add a straw and enjoy!

Yum - coffee and chocolate with oats for fiber and flax already included! Drink up! :)

Have you tried any Better Oats varieties like the organic or RAW? What's your favorite add-in for oatmeal?

Disclosure: I received some free packets of Better Oats Lavish Dark Chocolate oatmeal to review. As always, my opinions are my own!

Have a blessed day friends!

Maybe I Need To LET. IT. GO. {Giveaway}

**Giveaway Closed.**

Not too long ago on my blog, I shared my post ~ Will You Hold My Hand? ~ with you. In it I mentioned feeling like I needed to loosen my tight grip on the steering wheel of life. Like I shouldn't be trying to control things so much.

Then I attended the Allume conference and received so many lovely new books, one of which was LET. IT. GO. by Karen Ehman. And then I started reading the book and was invited to be a part of the blog tour! Hmmm...maybe *somebody* is trying to tell me something?


A little bit about the book:

LET. IT. GO. How to Stop Running the Show & Start Walking in Faith
 
By Karen Ehman

Foreword by Candace Cameron Bure

Women are wired to control. We make sure the house is clean, the meals prepared, the children are dressed, and everyone gets to where they’re going on time. But sometimes our strength of being conscientious can morph into the weakness of being a slight—or all out—control freak! This humorous, yet spiritually practical book will help you to:

• Take control of your schedule yet welcome interruptions from God
• Draw the line between mothering and micromanaging
• Influence your husband instead of manipulating him
• Learn to control your emotions when you can’t control the circumstances
• Stop pursuing the appearance of perfection and start pursuing the person of God

NOTE: A 6-week teaching DVD and Bible Study guide is also available for group and individual use.





Karen Ehman is the Director of the Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker team and the author of six books. Her passion is to provide practical inspiration and biblical encouragement to help women live their priorities and love their lives. She’s been a guest on The 700 Club, Moody Midday Connection and Focus on the Family. She and her college sweetheart Todd are raising their three kids in the boondocks of central Michigan. Connect with her at karenehman.com

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 In the book, Karen mentions a couple of issues she discovered that led to the need for control.

"1. We want to feel indispensable.

2. We want to get our own way."

Oh my. Sounds like me!! Though I may not always outwardly appear as an overbearing control freak, on the inside I'm stomping my foot and yelling when things don't go according to my plans. How about you? Who's with me {And Karen. And so many other women.}?

I would love to hear about your own LET. IT. GO. stories! Do you have a story about learning to let go? Do you know of specific control issues you struggle with? Have you come up with one or two ways you can give up control in the next couple of months? Please link up an old or new post sharing your own LET. IT. GO. story! If you don't have a blog, share with us in the comments!

~ Giveaway Closed~ **And let's not forget the giveaway!! I've been blessed with 2 copies of Karen's book to give to my readers! You can enter the giveaway just by leaving a comment on this post telling me about a control issue that you or *ahem* a friend is dealing with.** :)

You can purchase a copy of LET. IT. GO. here or here. And feel free to help spread the word about the book and the giveaway! Be sure to check out Karen's blog for more info and giveaway opportunities.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book at the Allume conference and was blessed with 2 copies to give away on my blog. I chose to be a part of this blog tour and share my thoughts about the book with you.

Giveaway Fine Print: Giveaway will be open through Sunday 11/18. Winner will be chosen randomly from comments on this post. Winner will be notified by e-mail. Winner must be 18 and have a U.S. address to ship the book to.

Have a blessed day full of letting go moments friends!

Keeplets ~ Wear and Keep God's Word {Review & Giveaway}

**Giveaway closed.**

I get to share a little more about one of my May sponsors with you today - Keeplets! 

Keeplets are bracelets, key fobs, and key fob wristlets that hold small cards with Scripture verses. They come with a set of Scripture verse cards so that you can swap them out whenever you like!

Jennifer from Keeplets blessed me with a bracelet and key fob wristlet to review. And she sent me pink, which just so happens to coordinate with my blog. :) They are both well-made and the bracelet is adjustable with the snaps, which ended up working great for my small wrist. It's a very comfortable bracelet and it's simple to put in a favorite Scripture verse card. I decided to start mine out with Galatians 6:9 to encourage myself not to weary in homeschooling for these last couple weeks! :)

The key fob wristlet is definitely a great help for a busy mom with her hands full. Keep your keys on your arm so you don't lose them while keeping your hands free for all your other mom duties! Of course you don't have to be a mom to find a great use for Keeplets! The bracelets are also a great idea for homeschooling  kiddos, youth groups, VBS and more to help each child memorize Scripture verses.

Guess what?! I get to give away one set of a Keeplets bracelet & choice of wristlet or key fob - winner chooses the print for both!! So one of you will get to try these lovelies out for FREE!! Thank you to Keeplets! But you don't have to wait - you can purchase your own right now and take advantage of the 1 of Each Special {Get a key fob AND a bracelet for just $18!!}!

**Giveaway Closed.**  How to Enter:

 ~ Stop over at Keeplets and come back to leave a comment telling me which product ~or~ print ~or~  pack of verse cards are your favorite.

Extra Entry {optional & maximum of 1 extra entry}:

 ~ Share about the giveaway using your favorite form of social media and come back to leave 1 comment letting me know.

Giveaway will remain open through 9pm PST Thursday 5/24. Winner will be chosen by Random.org.

Be sure to "Like" Keeplets on Facebook to hear about current offers and specials {no extra entries given, but maybe virtual hugs - LOL}!!

Disclosures:  Keeplets is currently a sponsor on my blog. I received a free Keeplets bracelet and key fob wristlet in order to provide an honest review. As always, opinions are my own!


Have a blessed day friends!

That Works For Me {Review & Giveaway}

**Congrats to the giveaway winner - Kim from Homesteader's Heart!!**

By now, you may have heard about the new e-book: That Works For Me ~ Tried and True Tips from Works for Me Wednesday.

If you haven't heard of Works For Me Wednesday - it's a linkup that occurs every Wednesday at the blog We Are THAT Family. I've linked up many times myself. There are hundreds of helpful tips, new ideas, great recipes, and so much more! You can find just about anything you might need to know there!

The great thing about the book That Works For Me is that hundreds of the best tips {over 800 in fact!} have been pulled together and organized {by Kristen Welch & Jennifer De Groot} so you can have the info you need right at your fingertips! I am honored to have a couple of my tips included in this book! I love the way the book is laid out - the tips are organized into 24 different categories. The categories include Baby, Blogging, Garden, Travel, and Recipes, just to name a few.

Every tip listed tells you what category it belongs in, has a brief description and a link directly to that post. You can also look through the list of tip titles by category to find the page number for each one. Very easy to use! I recommend purchasing the PDF of this book and downloading it to your computer. Take some time to browse through lots of great tips and then keep it on hand to be your go-to tip finder before you even have to "google" how to do something. And you already know these tips are tried and true - even better!

If you stop by thatworksfor.me right now, not only can you get more info about the book plus a sample page, but through 4/30 you can enter a contest to win free housecleaning - woo hoo! :)

**Giveaway Closed.**  I get the privilege of giving away a copy of That Works For Me to one of you!! Yay!!

To enter:
 ~ Leave a comment on this post!

For 1 extra entry:
 ~ Follow It Works For Me on Twitter, Facebook, and/or Pinterest {follow any or all, but only 1 extra entry permitted} and leave a separate comment!

Giveaway open through Wednesday 5/2. Winner will be selected using a random number generator.

Save $1!! If you'd like to go ahead and purchase a copy of That Works For Me right now {$8} - use code SAVE1 to get $1 off your purchase! You'll be helping a charity at the same time as a portion of the proceeds go to Mercy House.

Disclosures: I received a free copy of That Works For Me to give an honest review and received a copy to give away. All opinions are my own, as always! The links to buy the book are affiliate links and I'll receive a small percentage if you choose to buy the book through me.

Have a blessed day friends!!

DaySpring ~ Perfectly Loved {Review & Giveaway}

** Giveaway Closed. **  Congrats to the winner ~ Sarah A.!!

I just love DaySpring products - I've purchased and used many of them.  It's so nice to have a combination of good quality, inspiring messages, and pretty colors.

I was blessed to receive some DaySpring items to review!  They were part of this month's (in)spired deals at (in)courage.  So pretty - a set of 2 mugs and a block.

I just love those colors!  But I love the message more.  Just look at what the block says:

It's such a comfort to know that I'm loved just as I am - because I sin every day and can never be "good enough" on my own but through God's grace I am forgiven and loved!

And the cup says: She didn't have to be perfect because she was...Perfectly Loved. {1 John 4:8}  It's a great message for many women who are trying to live up to a standard of perfection that isn't achievable.  I am blessed to have received the gift of a perfect love that can only come through Jesus Christ - even though I am far from perfect!

I was able to get this set at the perfect time - I knew the colors and the message were just what one of my friends could use on her birthday!  It was lovely to be able to share the set and I still have a matching mug of my own to use.  :) These pretty items were released to go with Holly Gerth's new book: You're Already Amazing. 

Of course, there are lots of wonderful DaySpring products to choose from and one of you will get to choose some for free!  That's right - I'm blessed to be able to offer a DaySpring giveaway!!

One fabulous reader of mine will win a $35 coupon code* to spend on what they love the most at DaySpring!!  Giveaway will be open until 9pm PST on Wednesday 3/21.


** Giveaway Closed. **

How to enter?

• Just leave a comment on this post!

Extra entries?

• Leave a comment telling me one of your favorite DaySpring products.
• Share about the review/giveaway using your favorite social media and leave a comment telling me about it.

* Coupon is good for minimum $35 purchase and shipping charges will apply.

Disclosure:  I received this set of 2 mugs and block from DaySpring for free to review on my blog.  All opinions are my own of course!

By the way, I think YOU are all amazing and thanks for sticking with me even through times when I'm not blogging as much!  Virtual hugs to all!

Have a blessed day friends!

Entenmann's Big Book of Baking {Review}

Most of us know that Entenmann's has been making delicious baked goods for years.  You know that if you buy something in an Entenmann's box from the store - it's sure to be moist and delicious!  They have just come out with a cookbook and of course I had to try it out!

Entenmann's Big Book of Baking is a combination of original recipes for baked goods inspired by their products and recipes that use Entenmann's baked goods from the store to create new delights!  Most of the recipes in the book sound delicious to me! And the pictures really are drool-worthy.  In the Almost Homemade section, I can't stop drooling over the Cafe Caramel Tiramisu made using Entenmann's frosted donuts - um, yum.  :)  There are plenty of recipes to make from scratch too.  There are donuts, muffins, cakes, pies, and more.  I could see myself baking all the way through this cookbook.  I could also see myself "outgrowing" some more clothes if I did that - LOL!

I did try out the Loaf Cake with Orange Glaze.  Yum!  It was so moist and delicious with just the right amount of orange flavor.  It was like having an orange sponge cake, but in loaf form so it was much easier to slice up and share!  To be honest, I found a couple of errors in this recipe - nothing that ruined it, just a couple minor ingredients that were listed but got left out in the directions.  I always carefully read recipes so I caught this and didn't leave anything out (it still would have been good).  And I do find errors in cookbooks all the time, so that doesn't keep me away.

Since it's Fall, I really want to try the Pumpkin Crumb Cake recipe.  But I also want to try the Lemon Sponge Pie.  BUT then there's the White Chocolate Mocha Cake.  Decisions, decisions.  :)

You can order Entenmann's Big Book of Baking through Amazon, though it looks like it's temporarily out-of-stock (you can still pre-order).  The book is also available through iTunes for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.  If you go to Entenmann's Facebook page, then to the Big Book of Baking section and click "Like", you'll get a free download for a few of the recipes from the book!  If you're a fan of Entenmann's, you can find them on Twitter too.

Disclosure:  I received a free digital copy of Entenmann's Big Book of Baking to review if I wished.  As always, my opinions are my own! 

Have a wonderful day friends!

The Stocked Kitchen {Review}

I wanted to review this cookbook because I liked the sound of the idea.  The concept is a good one to get busy moms back into the kitchen who have been relying too much on eating out or eating convenience foods because they're overwhelmed by the planning and prep time.

The Stocked Kitchen has several copies of one main grocery list.  As long as you keep mostly stocked with the items on that list, you can make any of the 300 recipes in the book.  Recipes include appetizers, salads, soups, breads, pastas, meat/chicken, beans/potatoes/veggies, desserts, and breakfasts.

I went through the list and actually had most of the items in my kitchen already.  It wouldn't take much to get the extra things.  And there aren't too many convenience/packaged foods on the list other than some canned goods and cake and brownie mixes.  The list can be easily adapted to your specific dietary preferences.

Though I saw several recipes in The Stocked Kitchen to try, I wasn't quite as excited about them as I had originally hoped to be - but that could just be my own food preferences.  Keep in mind that the recipes are supposed to be simple with a variety of types of meals and not a lot of specialty ingredients.  I did try the Chocolate Peppermint Bars (they were fine, but I would have to add something more) and the Baked Penne Pasta (my family enjoyed this and classified it a "keeper").  There are a few pictures of the recipes, all with white backgrounds, grouped in the middle of the book.

Overall, I think Sarah Kallio and Stacey Krastins came up with a great concept!  And even if you don't love every recipe - if stocking your kitchen keeps you from eating out even one extra time a week or reduces your stress level in the kitchen, then it's worth it.  To get a little more info, watch the authors talk about the book, try out some of the recipes from the website, or just buy the book here!

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of this cookbook to look through and post a review if I wished.  My opinions, as always, are completely my own!

How often do you rely on convenience foods or eating out for dinner?  I admit - I used convenience foods (frozen - just heated up) last night for dinner as the boys had to head to Boy Scouts.  The food was fairly healthy as it was all from Trader Joe's, but still definitely cost more than if I had cooked from scratch!

Have a wonderful day friends!

Ever Had An Urge To Write An eBook? Then You Need *This* eBook! {Review}

My sweet blog friend Sarah Mae (from Like a Warm Cup of Coffee) recently wrote a very successful eBook called 31 Days to Clean (affiliate link).  Not only is it a helpful book, but it has brought in a nice income for her family.  Sarah Mae has just written her newest eBook How to Market and Sell Your eBook - everything you need to know to make money in ePublishing in order to share how she found success in ePublishing.

A little about Sarah Mae:

Sarah Mae, listed as one of The Christian Broadcasting Networks Six Women Leaders to Follow on Twitter, is an influential blogger, conference host, and author of the bestselling Ebook 31 Days to Clean-Having a Martha House the Mary Way, which sold over 11,000 copies in its first two months of release.

This book is easy to read and easy to follow.  Sarah Mae takes you through all the steps of the eBook process.  I think the book is best used by reading through the whole thing to get inspired to write your eBook, then going back through it in detail as you work on your book, using all of the resources Sarah Mae has given you.  There are so many great tips and links to more information - you get more than your money's worth for sure!

I have had a few book ideas swirling in my head for years and then as I heard Sarah Mae talking about eBooks, I had a couple of new ideas.  But then I read How to Market and Sell Your eBook and got another new idea that I may just try!  That is Sarah Mae for you - real, helpful, encouraging, and inspiring.  Whether you're just starting to think about writing an eBook or you've already written one and need marketing ideas, Sarah Mae has the info you need.  I like what she says near the beginning of the book:

If you’re reading this eBook, I know you’re ready to go for it…and I’m excited to be your guide and to share my experience and knowledge in the world of successfully launching an eBook. I want to see you succeed and grow something incredible. I know you can, and you will. Let’s do this. ~Sarah Mae

Are you curious?  Are you ready to write?  For more info on the book, stop by the website.  To buy the book, you can go here (note - this is an affiliate link, so yes I'll make a teensy bit of $ on the purchase.  That did not influence my review - if anything, it shows you how much I like the book because I was willing to sign up to be an affiliate!).

***Giveaway Closed*** Congrats to the winner - Mandy!!
But wait!  I have an extra copy of Sarah Mae's fabulous book to give away!  All you have to do is leave a comment and you'll be entered in the drawing.  If you spread the word on Twitter, Facebook, or any social media of your choice - feel free to come back and leave another comment telling me what you did for an extra entry!  I'll draw the winner on Monday 7/11.

Ready...Set...Go.Buy.Read.Write.Market.Sell.   :)

Disclosure:  I did receive a free copy of the book and offered to give an honest review.  I also received an extra copy to give away.  My opinions are my own as always! I have also signed up as an affiliate for Sarah Mae's books because I happen to think they're great books!

Have a great day friends!

Review: Just Too Busy

We always talk about how busy we are as moms - whether it's at home or on the go.  I'm less busy than many, but I have friends that are on the go all day long and I wonder how they do it!  I get cranky if I have to run more than 2 errands!

Joanne Kraft found herself stuck in busy mom mode and stressed out.  She knew it wasn't good for her or her family and it led to an interesting experiment: the radical sabbatical.  Joanne wrote her book Just Too Busy ~ Taking Your Family On A Radical Sabbatical about how that experiment went and the lessons learned.

Joanne's family took a year off from all activities outside of the family - no sports, choir, theater, etc.  And they went on one family outing each month of the year.  I love how she includes her children's perspectives in the book.  It helps to see the lessons learned by all of the family.  Joanne isn't suggesting that you do the exact same thing that her family did, but she asks you to look at what the Lord wants for your family and think about ways to slow down and spend more time together.

You'll enjoy the book!  It's easy to read because it's just like Joanne is talking to you - and she's funny!!  She shares entertaining stories, but then at the end of each chapter is a prayer and some questions/suggestions for you to consider.  You can use this book as a group study and download the Leader's guide for free!

A little about Joanne:

Joanne Kraft loves to encourage women.  A sought-after speaker, Kraft has been published in Today's Christian Woman, In Touch, ParentLife, Kyria, and P31 Woman Magazine.  She serves as Marriage Study group leader, leader of Inspire Christian Writers, and a 911 Dispatcher in Sacramento County, California.  She is married and has four children.

I was honored to be asked to review Joanne's book since I've "known" her as a blogger (at Blessed) for quite some time!  She even lives fairly close by though we only had the chance to meet in person just last week at her book launch party!  So nice to hug a blog friend in person!  And I can assure you that Joanne is just as nice, funny, and real as she seems in her book.

Joanne and me at her book launch party!

Um, I know Joanne won't mind if I make a side note to tell you that this was indeed a bad hair day for me.  I was baking for a ladies' tea and had my hair pulled back, then ran out of time to make it pretty for the party - even though I *knew* there would be photos!!  Sigh.  We can't all be glamorous ALL the time you know.  ;)  Oh, and I'm pretty sure the camera adds 50 lbs - at least on the right side of the photo - heh,heh.

You can get more info about Joanne Kraft on her website, buy her book at Amazon, and follow her blog.

I'll leave you with a few questions from Just Too Busy:

~  Are you addicted to busyness?
~  Do you think you might be suffering from Activity Denial Disorder?
~  When was the last time you fell flat on your face while trying to overachieve?
~  Which activity in your busy schedule has eternal rewards?

Have a wonderful day friends and may the Lord bless your attempts to slow down!  Take a little time to stop and smell the chocolates.  ;)

CHOCOLATE Friday ~ Crazy About Cookies

 The end of another week - how about some chocolate to celebrate?  That's what CHOCOLATE Friday is here for!  I'll share some chocolate with you and you can share some by linking up your chocolate posts at the bottom!

I recently had the opportunity to review a cookbook.  Who could refuse checking out a cookie cookbook?  Not me!  I was sent the cookbook Crazy About Cookies by Krystina Castella to look through.  What a great book!  It's not your typical cookbook.  The whole beginning section is all about equipment, ingredients, and techniques for making cookies.  Very helpful if you're not not a cookie expert (I'm no expert!).  Recipes include everyday cookies, party cookies, occasions cookies, holiday cookies, and basic dough, frosting and filling recipes.  So many to choose from!

There are some fun recipes I'd like to try such as Potato Chip Cookies, Matcha Chocolate Swirl Cookie Pops, Cinnamon Swirls and the Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie.  There are even several healthy cookie recipes included!  Everything is easy to understand and the pictures are great.

I wanted to try out a recipe right away and this one just spoke to me.  Not sure what spoke to me - the cocoa powder, the semisweet chocolate, the chocolate chips, the white chocolate - hard to say really.  :)  These are full of yummy ingredients, including raisins.  In my world, the raisins take these right into the breakfast category.  ;)

These cookies are fantastic!!  So rich and chocolatey - just one will satisfy your chocolate craving!  I was graciously given permission to share the recipe with you!

Chunky Candy Cookies

Reprinted with permission of Crazy About Cookies, by Krystina Castella, copyright 2010, Sterling Publishing Co, Inc.

1 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup ( 1 1/2 sticks) butter
9 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup walnut halves
6 oz white chocolate chips
3/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup coarsely crushed toffee

1.  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.  Butter 2 cookie sheets.

2.  Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.

3.  Stir the butter and chocolate in a double-boiler over simmering water until melted.  Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla; set aside.

4.  Beat the eggs and sugars in a bowl until creamy.  Beat in the melted chocolate mixture.

5.  Gradually add the flour mixture until just blended.

6.  Stir in the chocolate chips, nuts, white chocolate, raisins, and toffee.

7.  Drop 2-tablespoon mounds of dough on the cookie sheets 2 inches apart, and flatten slightly.  Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until slightly cracked on top.  Transfer to a rack to cool.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you get to try out these delicious cookies and to check out Crazy About Cookies by Krystina Castella!

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of Crazy About Cookies to review.  The picture of the cookies and my opinions are completely my own!

Since I shared yummy chocolate with you, won't you share some chocolate too?  I know you have a chocolate post somewhere!  Go find it and bring it back to link up!  Feel free to share chocolate links and/or recipes in the comments too!

Have a chocolatey day friends!

CHOCOLATE Friday ~ Chocolate Pudding With Almond Milk

Sorry I'm so late in getting CHOCOLATE Friday up!  It got too late last night and my eyes wouldn't stay open.  Now the kiddo is at school and I got Starbucks for the hubs and me so I can finally finish!  I knew that CHOCOLATE Friday people are a generally friendly bunch and would forgive me.  :)  Let's get to the chocolate!!

I have a recipe and a review for you today!  I was recently contacted to try out some new almond milk.  I couldn't say no as my son LOVES almond milk and this is organic!

Almond milk is gaining in popularity as it's delicious, good for you, and a great non-dairy option.  I've been able to find it at most grocery stores now.  But Whole Foods Market has improved it!  Their 365 Everyday Value Organics brand now has organic refrigerated almond milks!  It's so great to have organic almond milk available!  You can use almond milk on your cereal, in your coffee drinks, and so much more.  How about trying this recipe for Cherry Almond Smoothies (yum)?

There are currently 3 flavors of 365 Everyday Value Organic Almondmilk that you can buy:  original, vanilla, and unsweetened.  My son really likes the original and the vanilla.  In fact, he noticed that they taste better than the other brands we've tried.  Not only do I like the flavor, but I really like knowing that I'm serving my family a quality (and affordable) almond milk.  And I HAD to try it out in a chocolate recipe!

Did you know that you can make your own chocolate pudding mix?  Forget the box with the long list of ingredients and try this!  It's easy to mix up and you can store the mix for when those chocolate pudding cravings hit.

Chocolate Pudding Mix

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder*
1 5/8 cups (1 1/2 plus 1/8) powdered sugar
2/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt

In bowl, combine all ingredients.  Stir with whisk until well-sifted.  Store in sealed container for up to 4 months.  Makes 3 cups mix (enough for 3 batches of pudding).

*I recommend Dutched cocoa powder for this recipe if you have it on hand ~ (What is Dutched cocoa?).

This is actually a half batch that I made because I knew we wouldn't be eating chocolate pudding often enough to need 6 batches in the next few months.  You can easily double the mix recipe to have more on hand.  Isn't that a cool recipe to have?!

I made the mix into chocolate pudding, but I used my 365 Everyday Value Organic Vanilla Almondmilk!  Yum!!

Chocolate pudding all cooked up.

Chocolate Almond Pudding

Chocolate Almond Pudding

1 cup Chocolate Pudding Mix
2 3/4 cups Vanilla Almond Milk
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/4 teaspoons almond extract

In saucepan, combine pudding mix and almond milk.  Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils and thickens (takes a while, but it does thicken!).  Remove from heat, stir in butter and almond extract.  Pour into 6 serving bowls.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least an hour.  If you like "skin" on your pudding, cover top as usual with plastic wrap.  If you don't want the "skin", then push plastic wrap down onto the top of the pudding in the bowl (the skin will come off on the plastic - think of George making pudding skins to save and eat on Seinfeld).

To make regular chocolate pudding, substitute regular milk for almond milk and vanilla extract for the almond.

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Now go make your own chocolate pudding mix to have on hand!  And head over to Whole Foods Market to try out the 365 Everyday Value Organic Almondmilks!

Do you have a chocolate post?  I know you do - it might have posted this week or it might be buried in your archives!  Either way - go grab it and bring it back here to link up so we can share the chocolate!  Click here for more Chocolate Friday info or look at last week's yummy post and links.  This post will be up all weekend, so there'll be plenty of time to stop and smell the chocolate!  :) 

Have you ever made pudding from scratch?  Have you tried almond milk before?

Disclosure:  I was sent a Whole Foods gift card so that I could purchase almond milks to try and review if I so chose.  As always, my opinions are my own!

I'm linking this post up to Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam - lots of yummy recipes there!

Have a chocolatey day friends!!

Tea For Two-sday ~ Tea With a Twist Review

Recently I was blessed with the opportunity to review a book about tea.  The book is called Tea With a Twist: Entertaining and Cooking With Tea by Lisa Boalt Richardson, certified tea specialist.

Photo by Lauren Rubinstein. Used with permission for promotional purposes only.

This book is delightful!!  It's a pretty book to look at - you'll enjoy all the pictures of tea party ideas.  The tea party ideas are different from your standard tea parties.  These ideas will appeal to all sorts of people and make your tea parties fun!  A tea party doesn't have to be only for the ladies all dressed up (though that's fun too)!

Here are a few of the tea party themes that Lisa covers:  Flower Power Tea Party, Bubble Tea Party, Mexican Fiesta Tea Party, Under-The-Table Tea Party (for children), and All About Chocolate Tea Party (hello - you know that one's my FAVE!).  Just look how fun the Bubble Tea looks:

Photo by Lauren Rubinstein. Used with permission for promotional purposes only.

Each tea party has a menu with recipes and finishing touch ideas.  You could easily follow these ideas to throw a fun tea party for your friends or family! 

I received the book right before helping out with a ladies' tea party for church and quickly added one of the recipes to my menu!  I decided to make Artichoke and Asiago Cheese Sandwiches.  They were delicious and cute!  I forgot to get a pic of them, but here they are from the book (the ones with the tomato in the middle):

 Photo by Lauren Rubinstein. Used with permission for promotional purposes only.

Lisa Boalt Richardson kindly gave me permission to share the recipe with you!  Thank you Lisa!

Artichoke and Asiago Cheese Sandwiches

8 oz. softened cream cheese

3/4 cup shredded domestic Asiago cheese

1 clove garlic, pressed

2 tablespoons basil, chopped

2 tablespoons sweet onion, finely chopped

1 14-oz. can quartered artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed

3 tablespoons sundried tomatoes packed in oil, patted dry, and finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

cherry tomato slices for garnish

fresh white bread

Mix all ingredients, except tomatoes and bread, together in a large bowl and refrigerate  for 1 to 2 hours.  Spread mixture onto fresh white bread and cut into flower shapes using a flower-shaped cookie cutter.  Garnish with a thinly sliced cherry tomato in center.

I did use pickled asparagus spears to look like flower stems, similar to the picture. 

Tea With a Twist is such a lovely book and I look forward to trying more recipes and tea party themes!  If you enjoy tea and tea parties, you'll love this book.  It would also be a wonderful gift for a tea-loving friend.  You can buy the book through Barnes and Noble (they have a cute trailer for the book that you can watch) and through Amazon (just click the links to get more info).  I do suggest checking it out!

Find out more about Lisa Boalt Richardson by stopping at her website: www.lisaknowstea.com or at her blog: www.lisaknowstea.blogspot.com (hint: she has some recipes listed there!). 

Disclosure:  I recieved a free copy of Tea With a Twist to review on my blog.  My opinions are my own, as always. 

I hope you enjoyed the book review and that you get to try the yummy sandwich recipe!  I'll leave you dreaming about an All Chocolate Tea Party with Triple Chocolate Scones, Chocolate Strawberry Salad, Chocolate Tea and Spice-Encrusted Wild Salmon with White Chocolate Green Tea Sauce, and easy Microwave Bittersweet Chocolate Truffles...

 Photo by Lauren Rubinstein. Used with permission for promotional purposes only.

Have a lovely afternoon friends and enjoy a cup of tea - iced if it's hot where you are!