Labor Day ~ Red Velvet Mug Cake

I am over at Tales of Beauty for Ashes guest posting for our Labor Day Giveaway, Starting tomorrow, there will be 3 days of giveaways and then a link up! Go over and check out my lovely friend Becky's blessed blog! 

~Here is a sneak peak of my guest post~

Since Labor Day is almost here, I thought let me make Red Velvet cupcakes, but with a twist, so today we have Red Velvet Mug Cake (Whole Wheat) this is the easiest, yummy midnight snack for one.  Head over to my guest post, to get the recipe!

SO YUMMY!!

Book Review: Hope for Today, Promises for Tomorrow

Link to buy the book:

http://ow.ly/d336C 

About the Book: 

No mother ever expects to grieve the death of her child before or immediately after the child is born. But the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences reports that as many as 31 percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss. When the unthinkable happens, where do women turn for help? 

Written from the perspective of one grieving mommy to another, Hope for Today, Promises for Tomorrow is a ten-week study that will encourage and challenge women to delve into a deeper understanding of God's Word. As women engage in biblical teaching, they will learn to embrace God's promises of love, goodness, purpose, comfort, peace, refinement, restoration, hope, and eternity. 

"Hope for Today" verses peppered throughout each chapter, journaling cues, prayers, and the stories of other women who have experienced loss will help readers move from grieving in silent solitude to living life in the richness of God's love.

While other books suggest a one-size-fits-all method for grief management or focus on understanding specific causes of child loss, Hope for Today, Promises for Tomorrow offers comfort for the reader, whatever her situation, by helping her focus on the light of the ultimate Promise, the hope of a Savior, Jesus Christ.


About the Live Webcast:

In coordination with the launch of their fall releases, Kregel will be hosting a live webcast event on September 20 at 8 PM EDT featuring authors Kim Ketola (Cradle My Heart), Teske Drake (Hope for Today, Promises for Tomorrow), and Dawn Scott Jones (When a Woman You Love Was Abused). The webcast will allow women to come together to share their struggles and fears in order to move toward healing and hope. Women will able to support one another and discuss shared experiences in a non-threatening, open and loving environment. 

Cat Hoort of Kregel says, ""We are seeking to provide safe means for Christian women to be vulnerable with each other, to seek help and guidance from authors and counselors, and to find encouragement from those who have shared similar experiences. Our hope is that the Women Redeemed webcast will become a forum for hurting women as well as for those who can help. Kim, Teske, and Dawn are all survivors and their stories will surely inspire and equip other women to move toward healing and hope."

To register for the event, just click here. {https://www.facebook.com/KregelBooks/app_241719209283045}

My Review:

This book really touched my heart!  I can relate to everything in this book, I really love the title of this book it sets the tone for the entire read. I too had 2 miscarriages after having 5 kids, I took for granted getting pregnant, having babies, but when it happened to me I didn't know how to feel, what did I do wrong, my first miscarriage was at 7 weeks, before I went to the doctors.  But my second miscarriage was at 14 weeks, that was the worse time of my life, my babies heart stopped beating in utero, I had seen the little person twice before this happened, I thought God was punishing me for asking God to give me a girl after I had 5 boys.  I thought that after this, I wont be able to get pregnant anymore, what was wrong with me, and I to old now or what.  But then my gracious and loving God blessed us a year and a half later to have a baby girl Jayda Grace and she completed our family.  God is an awesome God, he will turn your grief to joy if you let him in your heart.  I will be passing this book on to others that I know that have gone through the same situation, and need to understand WHY!  This is a must read and I give this book 10 stars, A+!

I was given this book by Litfuse Publicity for an honest review! 

Blog Tour Schedule

http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/13532793/teskedrake

Cinnamon Banana Whole Wheat Mini Muffins

Today I am over at Addicted to Recipes where Dawn has a wonderful blog where she shares her delicious recipes each day! Make sure to go visit and comment.  I have made for you a delicious and healthy treat.

 Cinnamon Banana Whole Wheat Mini Muffins

40 Second Chocolate Cake

Now I have seen alot of mini cakes / 1 serving cakes that have been made in the microwave.  I was very skeptical about how these would come out, I never cook in the microwave, but I wanted to give this a try, and I must say it worked, and the 40 Second Chocolate Cake was born, I made mine in a ramekin.  This is a nice, late night snack if you are wanting something chocolate just make this and it will satisfy your taste buds.  I also made it nice and healthy, so you don't have to feel guilty. 

Ingredients

2 tablespoons whole wheat flour

1 1/2 tablespoons light brown sugar

2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Pinch of salt

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon canola oil

Drop of vanilla extract

Directions

Spray a coffee cup or ramekin (like I used) with cooking spray.  In the cup combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until no lumps remain.  Stir in the milk, oil, and vanilla until smooth.

Bake in the microwave on high for 40 seconds, it might not look done but don’t be tempted to overcook or it will be rubbery!  It should be moist on the bottom and will continue cooking as it sets.

Serve with a sprinkle of powdered sugar! There you have it a 40 second chocolate midnight healthy snack!

You can find me linking up Here

Buttermilk Powdered Donuts (Whole Wheat)

This is the first time I ever made homemade donuts, I was excited when I received my mini donut maker this week.  I started to look for recipes, to see how I could  incorporate my whole wheat flour and healthy ingredients into making a delicious donut.  It worked really well I made Buttermilk Powdered Donuts (Whole Wheat) and the kids went crazy.  This is a real treat for them, I never buy donuts from the store, once in a blue moon I will buy donuts from Dunkin Donuts but that's like twice a year.  These are homemade and healthy for you!  You can expect a donut recipe every week from me now!

Ingredients

1/2 cup canola oil

1 cup light brown sugar

2 eggs

1 1/4 fresh buttermilk

1/2 tsp vanilla

2 cups whole wheat flour

4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

powdered sugar

Directions

Mix oil, sugar, eggs, buttermilk and vanilla together.  Stir in your dry ingredients until blended well.  Grease the donut rings, and fill each donut ring with about 2 tbsp of batter and close down and bake for 4 to 5 minutes.  Toss donuts with powdered sugar.

You can find me linking up Here

Heavenly Treats Sunday Link Party #14

Welcome to 

Last week we had almost 70 links posted, so this week lets strive for 100! I know we can do it, I loved seeing all your creativity last week from Recipes, DIY, Crafts, Desserts etc.

Featured from Link Party #13

1. Mexican Mac and Cheese from Lemons for Lulu

2. No Flour Black Bean Brownies from Practical Stewardship

3. Repurposed Tshirts to Handbags from Practical Stewardship

4. Sweet Potato Hummus from Fort Mill SC Living

This was kind of hard this week, because we had other things linked up besides desserts, next week I will have dessert features, recipe features and craft features!

~ Please grab a featured button if you were featured on 
Heavenly Treats Sunday~

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Just a few rules:

Link directly to your post

No giveaways or shops

Please grab party button or link back to my blog

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~Please make sure you visit and comment on other posts~

I would love it if you would become a follower of Pamela's Heavenly Treats

Please check back next week to see who is featured!

REMEMBER (You may link up crafts, recipes, desserts, DIY etc)

Book Review - Cradle my Heart

About the Book: 

Abortion continues to be a hot topic in politics, women’s rights, and medical practice. But for the eight to ten million American Christian women who have had one, abortion is a spiritual issue as well, raising questions of life and death, heaven and hell, grief and loss.

Writing from her own experience, Kim Ketola sheds light on one of the darkest and most neglected personal issues of our time: the widespread need for healing and spiritual recovery after abortion. “After abortion brought the worst trouble into my life I had ever known,” writes Ketola, “I just couldn’t see my way free to believe in God’s love.” 

With a compassionate heart, Ketola offers ten true stories of healing promise from the Bible to help women answer the most common spiritual torments they face: Is abortion a sin? Does God hate me? Where can I turn in my shame and distress? How could I ever tell anyone the truth? And more.

Inspired by Romans 6:4--“just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life"--this is a definitive resource to help women see themselves and God anew and--finally--to find spiritual healing.

Meet Kim: 

Kim Ketola is a sought-after writer and motivational speaker with the Ruth Graham and Friends conference. After thirty years in the broadcasting industry, she founded a nonprofit organization through which she presents professionally accredited conferences to equip counselors and help individuals recover from the emotional and spiritual wounds of abortion. Kim lives in Atlanta, Georgia.  

Visit her website: www.cradlemyheart.org

In coordination with the launch of their fall releases, Kregel will be hosting a live webcast event on September 20 at 8 PM EDT featuring authors Kim Ketola (Cradle My Heart), Teske Drake (Hope for Today, Promises for Tomorrow), and Dawn Scott Jones (When a Woman You Love Was Abused). The webcast will allow women to come together to share their struggles and fears in order to move toward healing and hope. Women will able to support one another and discuss shared experiences in a non-threatening, open and loving environment. 

Cat Hoort of Kregel says, ""We are seeking to provide safe means for Christian women to be vulnerable with each other, to seek help and guidance from authors and counselors, and to find encouragement from those who have shared similar experiences. Our hope is that the Women Redeemed webcast will become a forum for hurting women as well as for those who can help. Kim, Teske, and Dawn are all survivors and their stories will surely inspire and equip other women to move toward healing and hope."

To register for the event, just click here. {https://www.facebook.com/KregelBooks/app_241719209283045}

Link to buy the book:
http://ow.ly/cTF02  

My Review:

What can I say but God's Love is oh so true, even when you think that he is not there for you, or he does not love you anymore! This book was an awesome living testimony about how God will forgive you for all that you have done and Cradle Your Heart with his compassionate love.  I couldn't put this book down, this book is a must read for everyone, man and woman.  It will help you understand why people turn to abortion, and it will help you understand the devastation that people feel after it all over, the hurt, anger, feeling no love, shame, beat down.  But we serve an awesome and forgiving God, that as long as you come to him he will take all that heaviness from on top of your shoulders.  This is happening everyday, I will be passing this book on to others, because you never know who is going through this right now and needs to hear from the Lord.  I received this book from Liftuse Group for my honest review.

Blog schedule:
http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/13531421/kimketola

Zillions of Zucchini Link Party - I am a Co-Host

This year we planted two tiny zucchini plants, forgetting that just one tiny zucchini plant will become huge and produce zillions of zucchinis.  

This happened last year, too.  You'd think we would have learned....

Luckily, zucchini is one of those rare foods that is well done both sweet and savory, perfect for appetizers to desserts and everything in between. My coping method for dealing with the zucchini was to bake. Zucchini Bread with Oat Topping! Zucchini Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting! Zucchini Bread with Chocolate Chips! Chocolate Zucchini Cake! Mr. Juggling Act began sauteing zucchini with onions and garlic every night. When my family tired of it all, I took to ignoring the zucchini growing in the garden, until they were the size of a small groundhog.

That was a bad idea.

Now I have zillions of ginormous zucchini.  What the heck am I going to do with it all?!?

So please, dear friends, share with me your favorite zucchini recipes - feel free to link up two or three, after all, I have zillions that need to be used up!  Two of my favorite foodie bloggers are here to co-host with me - say hello to Jamie Mom's Test Kitchen and Pamela Pamela's Heavenly Treats.

  Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Google+ ~ BlogLovin'

Twitter ~ Etsy ~ Pinterest ~ Google+

Twitter ~ Etsy ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Google+ ~ BlogLovin

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Please note, kindly do not link up giveaways, other parties or shops. Thanks!

Vanilla Pudding Filled Lemon Cupcakes (Whole Wheat)

I am geared up for Back to School snacks for next week, here is a after school snack that the kids will love, Vanilla Pudding Filled Lemon Cupcakes (Whole Wheat) another easy and YUMMY recipe, when you bite into these you will get a taste of lemon and vanilla what more do you need!   Anything with lemon in it is a winner in my book!

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp vinegar

1 cup fresh buttermilk 

1 1/2 cups canola oil

2  zested lemons and juice

1 cup light brown sugar 

2 cups already made vanilla pudding 

powdered sugar

Directions

Sift your dry ingredients and set them aside.  Mix your wet ingredients together and then add in your sifted dry ingredients on low.  Fill cupcake tins half way, bake on 350 for 18 minutes, let cook on wire rack.

Spoon vanilla pudding into piping bag, and insert the pudding into each cupcake, then for decoration, sift a little powdered sugar on top of cupcakes, and there you have a Healthy and Yummy after school snack!

You can find me linking up Here

Guest Post ~ Mar from Raising Bean

Hey there, I'm Mar!

I blog over at Raising Bean. It's where I ramble about my day to day as I figure out being a mom and my 15 month old daughter, my little bean, figures out this world. I also share activities, crafts, and recipes that my family does too! Some times having a bouncy, happy-go-lucky toddler leaves little time to fix a dessert, it also leaves little time to sneak in a snack to gimme a chocolate fix. This recipe is my solution to both!

Ingredients
1 scoop = 1 tablespoon

2 scoops water
3 scoops sugar
3 scoops flour
2 scoops cocoa powder
1 scoop canola oil

Grab a mug, fill it with the water and sugar. Microwave for 1 minute. Remove it from microwave. Careful! The mug will be hot!
Then add the flour, cocoa, and oil to the mug. Mix it all together with a spoon. Insert the mug into the microwave again. Nuke for 1 minute if you like cake brownies, or 30 seconds if you like fudgey brownies. Then you're finished! Mug will be hot! Handle with care!

I let it cool down a little bit before a grab a spoon and dig in. Sometimes I even add sprinkles on top before I indulge myself. Yeah, it's amazing. If your baby is a light sleeper like mine is, then just remove it from the microwave when there's one second left, so it doesn't beep at you. Seriously, delicious!

Feel free to double the recipe (I do it all the time!). If you do, microwave the sugar water for 2 minutes, and the entire brownie mix for 45 seconds for fudgey brownies, or between 1-2 minutes for cake like brownies.

Be sure you visit my blog for other easy recipes! I'm not a big time fancy cook, or baker. But everything I share on Raising Bean is delicious! Thanks Pam for letting me share this recipe with your readers today! Hope you all enjoy!

~Thanks so much Mar for coming over and sharing this delicious and EASY dessert, I sure enough will be making this for a midnight snack! Make sure you go and visit Raising Bean~

August Group Giveaway

Welcome to our August group giveaway, thanks to all my wonderful sponsors, for being so generous with there prizes.

2 winners (5 prizes each)

Prize Pack #1

Brooke from The Intentional Momma 

Medium Momma Ad Space

_________________________

Mia from Chronicles of Chaos

$10.00 Starbucks Giftcard

_______________________________________

Jenny from The NY Melrose Family

Medium Ad Space (September)

______________________________

Pamela from Pamela's Heavenly Treats

Mini Cupcake Ad Space (2 months ~Sept & Oct) 

$5.00 credit to Etsy Shop

_____________________

Sara from Applestone Drive

Reusable & Resealable Snack Pouch

__________________________

Prize Pack #2

Sarah from Joyfully Sewn Designs

$16.00 Voucher for any Lilla Rose Product

____________________________

Allyson from Feeding my Temple

200x240 Ad Space 

_______________________

Jaime from Mom's Test Kitchen

300x250 Ad Space

________________________

Kimberly from Five Little Chefs

Large Ad Space 

___________________________

Kristina from Big Apple Mami

Medium Ad Space (September)

________________________

Giveaway Ends ~ August 28th

 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Smore Granola Bites (No Bake)

Here we are a week until school starts down here, my 3 big boys are getting ready and excited, my oldest is in 10th grade and my twins are in 7th grade, where did the time go, they are moving on up.  My 2 little ones are in 3rd grade and 1st grade, I wont start homeschooling them until the second week in September, I like to get the hang of my big boys schedules and all the paperwork that comes home, back to school night and all the other things that go on in the beginning of the school year. 

With all that being said, I have to start making snacks for lunches, after school snack and you no I am all about healthy and good, what better way to start off (Back to School Week) then with some Smore Granola Bites (No Bake) this is a nice and simple you can make 2 or 3 batches and have in ziplock bags in the fridge and the kids can just go and get a wholesome after school snack.

Do you have any traditions for Back to School Week?  We do I make a big breakfast the 1st day of school and I go to the end of the driveway with them to wait for the school bus, well my twins that is, I went down last year on the first day with my highschooler he about died LOL, so this year I will spare him the embarrassment.  (I cant remember if I was like that with my mother).  We also have a big family meeting just letting them know what we expect of them for the school year, they are to carry God with them at all times, we pray each morning before they step foot out the door.  Ever since we moved down here 6 years ago was my kids first time attending a public school, and ever since then each year, My Boys get so much praise, every time I come up to the school all I here is there smiles are so wonderful, they are so polite, well mannered, never a problem.  I thank God each and everyday for them, helping my husband and I along our walk of parenthood, with a big family and different personalities anything can happen. 

So here's to alarm clocks, crack of dawn, bus stops, after school practice and homework!

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter

1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup light brown sugar

3 cups quick cooking oats

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 cup mini marshmallows

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions

In a bowl mix oats, mini, marshmallow and chocolate chips, and set aside.  In a saucepan over medium heat melt butter, honey, light brown sugar let come to a boil and then add vanilla turn off and add your dry ingredients, mix it all together until the chocolate chips melt and it is all gooey.  Pour into a greased 8x8 pan and pat down really well, set in fridge for a couple hours.  Cut into bars, or use a cookie cutter  make little bites.

You can find me linking up Here