Tag Archives: family friendly

Nutella Banana Muffins

29 Feb

There are three things in life I adore…Jesus, my family, and Nutella…….clearly I am a girl who has her priorities in order 😉

One of my most requested recipes is this one. Somehow, something magical happens when you bring Nutella and Bananas together……the clouds part, the sun shines, and for a brief moment siblings get along.

So if you know what is good for you, you’ll keep reading for the recipe.

muffin2

The makings of happiness

muffin4

Take a minute to mash your bananas well.

muffin3

Sift your dry ingredients together.

 

muffin5

Add the sugar, oil, vanilla, and egg to the bananas.

muffin6

Don’t be shy with the Nutella!

muffin

Bake until they are golden on the outside……..

muffin8

…and moist and decadent on the inside. Trust me they are worth the calories!

Nutella Bomb Banana Muffins

by Rebecca Vahdat

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 14-17 minutes

Keywords: bake Nutella Muffins

 

Ingredients (12 muffins)

  • 1 1/2 C. flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2 ripe bananas, mashed
  • 3/4 C. sugar
  • 1/3 C. oil
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/2-1 TBSP Nutella per muffin

Instructions

Pre heat oven to 375. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners.

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside.

In a separate bowl add bananas and mash well. Stir in sugar, egg, oil, and vanilla and mix well.

Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture and mix until just combined.

Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and top each unbaked muffin with 1/2-1 TBSP of Nutella and with a knife or toothpick and lightly swirl the Nutella and batter together.

Bake 14-17 minutes.

Powered by Recipage

 

I hope you love them as much as we do!  If you make them, stop by and share what you think!  Thanks for visiting.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

You can also find me on Pinterest

Copyright © 2016 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

Advertisement

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

13 Nov

I love this time of year especially for the smells and tastes of fall. One of my most favorite things to do this time of year is spend as much time as possible in the kitchen…cooking and baking and sharing my love of it to those around me.

One of my most requested fall recipes are these cupcakes. I get asked for this recipe all the time. This is usually what I am asked to bring for holiday gatherings.  TO. DIE. FOR.  Seriously!  They are moist, flavorful, and ridiculously easy to make.

Go ahead and do yourself a favor and whip these puppies up…everyone will love you and you will love how quick and easy it was. Keep reading for the recipe.

What you will need to get started. So far so good.....

What you will need to get started. So far so good…..

Take a minute to add some of your measured flour to the chocolate chips. Keeps them from sinking to the bottom.

Take a minute to add some of your measured flour to the chocolate chips. Keeps them from sinking to the bottom.

Now go ahead and sift the rest of the dry ingredients and set aside. I know what you're thinking "2-3 tsp of pumpkin pie spice? Isn't that crazy talk?" Trust me, it works and it is awesome!

Now go ahead and sift the rest of the dry ingredients and set aside. I know what you’re thinking “2-3 tsp of pumpkin pie spice? Isn’t that crazy talk?” Trust me, it works and it is awesome!

Start by mixing your sugar and oil.

Start by mixing your sugar and oil.

Go ahead and add in the eggs, vanilla, and pumpkin.

Go ahead and add in the eggs, vanilla, and pumpkin.

Now here is the part where your house will start to smell heavenly.

Now here is the part where your house will start to smell heavenly.

Baked to moist, golden brown, deliciousness. The hard part is waiting for them to cool down.

Baked to moist, golden brown, deliciousness. The hard part is waiting for them to cool down.

You can certainly enjoy them as is, they make for a crazy good muffin. If you want to do it right, frost them with the worlds bestest cream cheese frosting. It will be the best decision you'll make all day! I'll leave a link for that below.

You can certainly enjoy them as is, they make for a crazy good muffin. If you want to do it right, frost them with the worlds bestest cream cheese frosting. It will be the best decision you’ll make all day! I’ll leave a link for that below.

One of the best things about this recipe is that it makes enough to share! Go ahead and wrap them up cute and share the love.

One of the best things about this recipe is that it makes enough to share! Go ahead and wrap them up cute and share the love.

Pumpkin Chocolate Cupcakes

by Rebecca Vahdat

Prep Time: 12 minutes

Cook Time: 17-22 minutes

Ingredients (18-24 cupcakes)

  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 C. sugar
  • 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 C. vegetable oil
  • 2 C. flour
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • 2-3 tsp. pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1-15oz. can 100% pumpkin
  • 2 C. chocolate chips

Instructions

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin tins with cupcake liners.

Add a heaping Tablespoon of flour to the chocolate chips and mix well (this step keeps the chocolate chips from sinking to the bottom of the cupcakes). Sift together the additional flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt; set aside.

Combine sugar and oil and mix well. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well between each addition. Add vanilla and pumpkin and mix well.

Slowly add in dry ingredients until just combined.

Fold in chocolate chips.

Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full of batter and bake for *17-22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle of a cupcake comes out clean.

Let cool and frost or skip the frosting and enjoy as a muffin.

*Oven temps vary, check muffins a few minutes before to avoid over baking.

*You can find the recipe for the Worlds Bestest Cream Cheese frosting here.*

I hope you enjoy these cupcakes as much as we do!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

You can find me on Pinterest

Powered by Recipage

Copyright © 2015 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

The Bestest Cream Cheese Frosting in the World

13 Nov

Truly, there is no other name worthy of this frosting. Really, it’s more than frosting it’s a way of life. Simple, delicious, maybe even life changing.  So simple, you’ll never buy canned stuff again!  Scroll down for recipe.

Just 4 ingredients and 10 minutes is all it takes!

Just 4 ingredients and 10 minutes is all it takes!

Light and fluffy. It has the potential to bring tears to your eyes...it's that good.

Light and fluffy. It has the potential to bring tears to your eyes…it’s that good.

Bestest Cream Cheese Frosting in the World

by Rebecca Vahdat

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Keywords: dessert

Ingredients (2 Cups of frosing)

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/2 Cup butter, room temperature
  • 4 heaping Cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Cream together the cream cheese and butter on medium speed.

Reduce speed to medium-low and gradually add in the powdered sugar until combined.

Add the pure vanilla extract.

Increase the speed to medium-high (setting 8 on my stand mixer) and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

Simply delicious!

Makes enough frosting for 24 cupcakes or a two layer cake.

Enjoy!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

You can find me on Pinterest

Copyright © 2015 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

Perspective is the Greatest Humbler

4 Jul

I found myself alone in the car today.  I was feeling a little sorry for myself-Stressed at the first week chaos of homeschooling and all the little things that come up in life.  I won’t lie, there were tears.  Oh poor me tears.  Self consuming tears.  Selfish, life isn’t fair tears.  But then, something funny happened.  God showed up in a song and it changed my heart.  A song I’ve heard a hundred times, but today the words came to life.

It got me thinking about how very blessed we are to live in a country where we are free to share our thoughts and opinions, to disagree, to think freely, to dress as we please, to go where we please, to eat what we please and to worship our God freely and openly without fear.  This is normal life to us.  We don’t really appreciate these freedoms until we are reminded that life isn’t so everywhere else.

I know many friends who came here seeking a safe place to lay their heads.  Coming from places so volatile that all they can mutter about it is that they are blessed to be here. Perspective is the greatest humbler.   So I will shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth (Psalm 100:1) and  I will do it without fear, for I am a blessed American woman!   Here is the song that changed my attitude http://youtu.be/_MbcYyOsF50
My Prayer:
Thank you God for blessing me with being a woman, wife, and mother here in America.  Thank you for the blessing of clean water, abundant food, education, and medicine regardless of money.  Thank you God for the freedom to worship you wherever and whenever we choose- free from persecution.  Lord, I pray for the people who live oppressed persecuted lives. For the people who live in fear and without hope.  Lord, somehow someway touch them and deliver them from the bondage.  With praise and thanksgiving to you, my mighty, loving King.

How is God working in your life? I would love to know.
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca

You can also find me on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Copyright © 2013 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

Image courtesy of [Serge Bertasius Photography] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Lawful and Sinful

28 Jun

We have come to a place where we automatically assume because something is lawful it must also be moral.  Morality has changed a great deal just even in my lifetime. We, for some reason, think that if we wrap sin in pretty paper with a shiny bow and throw a party for it, it somehow changes how humanity and God sees it.  Because one is acting within law they automatically assume they are “a good person”(which is subjective without the moral parameters given to us by God). There has been a drastic culture change and it just isn’t within the secular world but also within the lives of believers. We are challenging people to redefine what God already defined.  Many Pastors and churches are riding the worldly train looking to attract new members by going against the very word of God-perverting the Bible in ways to make sin irrelevant to ones salvation. We have caved under pressure and are afraid of defending the word of God because we covet the love of man more than the Son of Man.

We have to learn to separate the sin from the sinner.  We can love and support people without celebrating their sin. James 5:19-20 says-  My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back,  you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

Of course I understand not everyone is a believer but we as Christians need to live a life that reflects God’s will toward them. For example in Colossians 4:5-6 it says-“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone”.  When we are asked, we need to be ready with an answer and do it in such a way that conveys truth, gentleness, and respect.

Titus 2:1 says-“You must teach what is in accord to sound doctrine”. It doesn’t end there.  There are many other verses dealing with false doctrine.

When we sugar coat, add, or purposely misinterpret for gain… Titus 1:11 says it well-“They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach–and that for the sake of dishonest gain.

I know the new popular slogan is “I want to be on the right side of history”.  While that might bring worldly pleasure, I would much rather be on “the right side of eternity”.

Love everyone fiercely, be the first to offer encouragement, always speak the truth in love, but don’t forget to be set apart.  Let’s be bold for Jesus!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Copyright © 2015 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

You can also find me on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest

Image courtesy of [ renjith krishnan] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Twilight of Childhood

4 Jun Twilight of Childhood

She wakes with an infectious smile that seems to chase away any lingering gloominess from my soul.  She rests her head with ease  in that little crook of my shoulder that always seems to fit no matter how she grows.  She reminds me what goodness, and loveliness, and kindness feels like and she freely shares it with anyone fortunate enough to cross her path.  She dreams of filling shelves at the book store with her writings and filling the stage with songs about her greatest love….Jesus.

Even though the twilight of her childhood is setting in she still clings to girlhood fiercely. She isn’t quite ready to let it go and I’m not quite ready to let her go. So for a moment I will relish in my little girl and all her little girl ways and I will keep loving her well. For these last few moments, I will be near, holding her hand as she dips her toes into adolescence, so when the sun sets for the last time on her childhood she will be ready to let go of me and pursue her own life with confidence. grace, tenderness, and passion. I pray that these gifts will be accepted well and would bring healing to a wounded world and hope to wounded souls.

But for now, I will enjoy her sleepy head on my shoulder with messy curls tickling my cheek. In a moment it will be over. Tonight she will say goodbye to ten and welcome eleven with great expectation…..just as she should.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

You can find me on Pinterest and YouTube!

Copyright © 2015 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

Take a Moment to Remember

25 May

I live with a constant reminder of how blessed I am to of been born and raised in a free country. It is an awesome responsibility to live in such a way that it is never in vain. I am so grateful for the brave men and women who headed the call and left what was familiar and comfortable for a life of upheaval and uncertainty. Today I pause with reflective prayer to honor those who gave their all…the fallen brave who courageously breathed their last breath defending the country and the people they so loved.

To the families who gather around a grave rather than a grill-my prayer is that our Heavenly Father will fill them with grace, peace, and healing. That they would find comfort in each other and that the sweet memories of their loved ones will sustain them until they are reunited in Heaven. Thank you, for your great sacrifice also!

Regardless of your feelings of the military, president, or war we are one family bonded by the American Flag and we should support our soldiers and let them know we appreciate them. A simple “Thank you for your service”, will really show that you stand united with them. Continue to pray for them, for their safety, for our safety, and for their families.

Pray for our wounded country. Pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will help us to turn our faces to Him once again and that He will Bless and unite us.

Thank you to our fallen, to our veterans, and to those serving……..it’s not in vain!

I will leave you with a quote I found.

“Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you….Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.”

~Author Unknown~

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Copyright © 2014 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

Photo credit, Google Images

I am my Beloved and My Beloved is Mine

23 May

12 years ago on a beautiful Colorado day I married my very best friend and the love of my life! I thought I couldn’t be any happier than I was at that moment but each year proves to be better than the last. We have been on such an adventure from births, deaths, illnesses, college, graduations, teenagers, moves, job changes, aging parents, and everything in between. With the constant changes of life, the one thing that has remained, is that we have clung to each other through all of it.  We have grown from a couple of crazy love-struck kids to a couple who are weathering the storms and enjoying every rainbow together. We have learned to appreciate that each day together is a gift.

There is no one I would rather spend time with or journey this life with. I am so blessed to married to a man of honor and integrity! A man who puts his family first and works hard to give us a good life. He is a man that I adore, respect and love! Without the grace of God none of this would of been possible!  I thank God for sustaining us and for constantly working on my heart as a wife. Happy Anniversary, Sunshine! Thank you for choosing me!

I would love to connect on Pinterest!

Copyright © 2015 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

To All the Mama’s……

10 May
To all the mama’s who do this alone, to all the mama’s who chose life, to all those mama’s who chose to give that life to another woman, to all those women who wake to feel the sting of empty arms, to al those mama’s who never felt life grow in their bodies but love the children who grew in their hearts just the same, to all those mama’s who stepped in to raise another woman’s child because they were no longer able to, to all those mama’s who have angel babies, to all the mama’s who are caring for children with special needs, to all the ladies who don’t have the official title of mom but love just the same, and to all the people who think of their mama’s in heaven today………He sees you, sees every tear, and holds you in the palm of His hand. Today I honor you and pray that the love of God will bring you strength, comfort, and joy!
Happy Mother’s Day!
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
Let’s be Pinterest friends!
Find me on Facebook
Photo credit:[ 89studio] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.

Copyright © 2014 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

It Also Looks Like This

30 Aug

I would like to introduce you to Thomas. He is the 8 year old best friend of my son Jacob and the son of my dear friend, Joelle.  These precious boys have been friends since diapers and are definitely two peas in a pod.  They love to be together doing all those neat things little boys like to do. They run, climb, and jump and when they have done all of that, they fall into a heap laughing like only innocence allows. No matter how much fun they have the same conflict always arises.  There is a constant disagreement with Thomas’s mind and his legs.  After a short time of boy play Thomas starts to get an all too familiar ache and stiffness in his legs.  He wants to keep going but his little body says no.  You see, Thomas was born with Muscular Dystrophy, Becker Muscular Dystrophy to be exact.

When we think Muscular Dystrophy we automatically think of young, wheel chair bound, gravely ill, children or more recently, ALS, thanks to the recent awareness from the ice bucket challenge.  Becker Muscular Dystrophy usually presents itself slow and steady.  Thomas has experienced gradual changes in mobility throughout the years but the changes are definitely a challenge not only to Thomas but to his family.  Without a cure, his days of depending on his arms and legs are numbered.

Thanks to MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association), they have been able to access state of the art services, help, and support they need to help Thomas strive. Great breakthroughs have happened thanks to the research grants and clinical trials and studies they have been able to fund.  The MDA association has given hope to families when all seemed hopeless.

This weekend, when you flip through your TV channels and see the MDA telethon, would you please take a moment and make a donation.  Even a small donation helps in giving hope to families like Thomas’s.

Our greatest prayer is that Jacob and Thomas can experience being old men together and that their laughter will continue to fill our lives for all of our days.

Jacob and Thomas doing what they do best!

Jacob and Thomas doing what they do best

I am inspired by this family’s courage, their joy, and mostly their faith. If you would like to learn more about MDA or would like information on how you can help just click on the link.  http://mda.org/  Have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend!

If you make a donation we would love to thank you! Please use #mdaforthomas on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

#mdaforthomas Becker MD awareness

Jacob wants a lab coat for Christmas so he can be the Doctor who cures Thomas.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Come see what I am Pinning

Copyright © 2014 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

%d bloggers like this: