Lavender Pear Muffins for Monet...

"Faith never knows where it is being led,

But it knows and loves the One who is leading"

~Oswald Chambers

There are times in our lives when we are caught between moments that we wish would never end,

and moments that we wish had never begun.

When our hearts are most unguarded,

and we least expect it,

it comes...

a tender touch...

a glimpse of hope and a reminder of all that's good and true in our world.

It sneaks on up, reaches right in and

awakens something deep within us.

When I first heard that Liz from "That Skinny Chick can Bake" and

Kate from "Kate is Cooking"

were compiling a scrapbook to be filled

with sentiments and recipes from bloggers across the blogosphere

that was intended to spread a little sunshine

to someone very dear to my heart,

I was overjoyed at the chance to participate.

Monet from "Anecdotes and Applecores"

has won over the hearts of everyone who has crossed her path

in the most memorable way, through her thoughts and

contemplations, her stories, and her delightful recipes.

The prayers continue for her and her family

as they press through this especially difficult season of their lives...

a season that has been eclipsed with numerous tragedies and heartache;

And the hope is

that this small token of love

from those who adore her

will be a healing salve at such a time as this...

And that sweet bellas, is how we impact the world....one moment at a time....one person at a time....ONE MUFFIN AT A TIME.....

Thank you Liz & Kate for including me in this project...this is my contribution to Monet's scrapbook:

Monet, may you feel my heart and hands wrapping around your soul today. Not a day goes by that you and your beautiful family aren't in my prayers, and that you will soon be entering a new season of new hope...and in that spirit, I hope to brighten your day by delivering a kiss of spring time that is sure to leave behind a freshness that will fill your soul with the sweet fragrance of new beginnings. I created this muffin recipe to combine the gentle sweetness of a juicy pear with the provocative aroma of lavender allowing it to waltz with your taste buds in the most magical way - harmoniously topped off with a delicate vanilla glaze - need I say more?

Pear Muffins

2 - 15 oz. cans of Pears in natural juices, drained, and gently pureed

3 Cups of Flour

1 tsp of baking soda

1 tsp of salt

1/2 tsp of baking powder

2 cups of sugar

1 cup of canola oil

1 tsp of vanilla extract

3 eggs

1) In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt & baking powder, set aside dry ingredients.

2 ) In another mixing bowl, mix 2 cups of sugar with canola oil, vanilla extract and 3 eggs.

3) add dry ingredients mix slowly, little by little, and whisk until fully incorporated

4) add pears and incorporate

5) scoop into lined muffin pan

6) Bake @ 325 degrees for appx 20-22 minutes

Lavendar Vanilla Glaze

1 1/2 cup of powdered sugar

1 tsp of vanilla extract

1 tbsp of softened butter

2 tsp of dried lavender

3 tbsp of milk

mix all ingredients together until glaze is smooth

spoon over each muffin,

allow glaze to set before serving...

Mangia

One Year Blogoversary!

One year ago today

Mangiabella was born

into the ever expanding blogosphere.

Who knew what a great adventure this would be,

how many amazing friendships would emerge?!

I am truly grateful.

So in the spirit of celebration,

I wanted to repost one of my favorite recipes

from one of my earliest posts

that just screams jubilee.

Sweet Bellas,

It's not that life is so short, it's that we wait so long to begin LIVING...

So come on...live a little...

take a break,

and dream a little fruiti-licious dream with me

Drunken Fruit Wedges w/Kiwi Cream

2 - 10" Flour Tortillas

1 Cup Strawberries, diced

1 Cup Mangos, diced

2 Tbsp of Grand Marnier*

*(or for those feeling a little less adventurous, you may substitute

Balsamic Vinegar for the Grand Marnier, it tastes fabulous)

4 Tbsp Sugar

1 Tbsp Cinnamon

kiwi cream *see below for recipe*

handful of fresh mint leaves

Oil for Frying

1) Cut tortillas pizza style into 12 triangles

2) toss strawberries and mangos with Grand Marnier and place in refrigerator at least 15 minutes,

the longer they marinate, the juicier they will be :)

3) In a small bowl, mix cinnamon and sugar, then pour mixture onto a plate

4) Heat Oil in a frying pan until hot, appx. 350 degrees

5) drop chips in oil and fry in batches - fry flour chips appx. 1 minute

until just very lightly golden brown, and then flip -

you want them to be a little soft 'n' chewy but somewhat firm

6) lightly drain on a paper towel

7) toss chips in cinnamon sugar mix & plate

8) spoon marinated fruit on top of chips

9) top fruit with fresh kiwi cream *see below* and mint leaves

Kiwi Cream

1/4 cup of powdered sugar

3/4 cup of heavy whipping cream

2 kiwis, pureed

In a small mixing bowl, beat whipping cream and slowly add powdered sugar. Continue to beat until stiff peaks appear.

Gently fold in kiwi puree, mangia!

As Iron Sharpens Iron...

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17

Once in a while, perhaps even once in a lifetime, are you surprised with a gift that is so rare, so special, that you never cease to marvel at how your life has changed since the very day you stumbled upon it.

I don't think I'll ever be able to truly express in all it's fullness how blessed I feel that such a gift was given to me, and it all began in the strangest of places....

It was just about this time last year that I entered a recipe contest. And through that recipe contest, a community of kindred spirits began to form. And within that community, a certain thread was birthed. And within that thread, friendships emerged. And through those friendships, one particular friendship became a sisterhood.

Sweet Bella Lorraine, I thank God continually for bringing you into my life. You know and understand me better than some who have known me for years. You sharpen my iron....fiercely. Your wisdom, beauty, grace, and strength proceed you. Your kindness, compassion, and encouragement refresh my soul. Your light shines BRIGHTLY, and my world is enriched in every way because of it. You are, and forever will be, woven into the tapestry of my life.

Happy Birthday Lorraine!

What a thrill it is to celebrate the day you were created.

Fearfully and Wonderfully made for a Divine purpose,

and with a destiny that only you can fulfill.

Won't you help me celebrate Lorraine today....stop by her beautiful blog

"A Multi-Dimensional Life"

You will be so very glad that you did. She will inspire you with incredible meals, poignant poetry, and her heart of gold. Beauty drips from her fingertips and her words....truly....are a GIFT.

As a special tribute to Lorraine, I would like to share two of her amazing recipes that I have personally made, and they are absolutely magnificent. The first, Meatballs Mafaldine w/Fire Roasted Tomato Sauce *pictured above*. Click HERE for the recipe complete with step by step video instructions.

The second, Pepper Rice Sautee w/Bacon & Cheese....to die for....click HERE for the recipe complete with step by step video instructions.

The next three dishes of hers that I simply cannot wait to make are her Cream Cheese Asparagus Souffle, Thai Infused Polenta Muffins, and Peaches n Cream Baked Alaska. sigh. Such a delectable repertoire of recipes under her belt. Keep shining Sweet Bella!!

May I also take this opportunity to wish my other sis, Sweet Bella Kelly, a very Happy Birthday today as well...you are an absolute treasure to me. It's difficult to describe with human words what a blessing you are to me....YOU ARE THE ONE AND ONLY EVER YOU!

On a final note, an early shout out to all those special women out there:

Happy Mother's Day !!!

"She walks in beauty like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies,

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes; ~ Lord Byron

‎"She's clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs at the days to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her Blessed..." Proverbs 31:25-28

Happy Rez Day!!!

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

buenas dias! buonguorno! guten morgen! bonjour! GOOD MORNING!!!! what a GLORIOUS day to reflect on

how GREAT a love the LORD has LAVISHED upon us!!!!

I'm still in my pajamas on this "Good Friday" - a steaming cup of hot tea by my side - the kids are still sleeping and there is a most peaceful melody of both birdsong and distant wind chimes in the air.

Came across this in quiet time this morning: "No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded." ~ John 10:18

It made me think about the very reason God became flesh and dwelt among us - His sole purpose was to go to the cross so that a way could be made for us to be with Him - so that sacred romance could continue -

Today is the day that we celebrate the greatest sacrifice imaginable. Today is the day we celebrate the greatest love story ever told.

And Sunday we will celebrate the hope we have in HIM -

Resurrection Sunday is my favorite "holiday" (holy-day)...i mean don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and all the marvelous things that accompany that time of year, but Rez Day, it's the foundation of all that I believe, everything that matters, all the hope that I have is because of that empty tomb.

Wishing you a most wonderful Resurrection Sunday Celebration this weekend.

Or as I like to say,

Happy Rez Day!

new blossoms, new hope...

"Expect to have hope rekindled.

Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways.

The dry seasons in life do not last.

The spring rains will come again."

~Sarah Ban Breathnach

Although Fall is my favorite season of the year,

Spring is my 2nd favorite,

or maybe it's tied for first -

I don't know...

but there is something

so powerful

so profound

about the way new life sprouts from the ground...

how new birth is all around.

one day the trees are barren and stripped from that season of gray,

the next it is bursting with new color and new life ~

and it causes me think about

that painfully beautiful process of metamorphosis -

and the hope that maybe i, too, am entering

a season of Spring in my own life -

and yet that season of gray has its place, its time and its purpose,

for without it the Spring wouldn't be so glorious...

and that very thing is what was on my mind today as i noticed

new spring blossoms on the bush in my front yard in place of those skeleton branches...

oh how I love when it something "new" emerges.

Tonight I am praying

for all of my friends

who are in the midst of a season of gray in their lives.

There are so many who are struggling right now...

so much loss this past year...

Oh how I am praying for this

cold dark season to pass,

and for them to be ushered into a

new season

of new life

and new beginnings.

My heart is hopeful.

Expectant.

"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. " - Hal Borlan

The Plot Thickens...

"Life is either a daring adventure

or nothing at all"

~ Helen Keller

I must admit that life in my little corner of the garden is anything but boring.

It is filled to the brim. Gloriously.

Sometimes I have to step out of the blogosphere for a short while because my plate is simply spilling over.

Undoubtedly, when my plate is spilling over,

there are bound to be a few messes.

'Cause let's face it, life is messy.

Sometimes the demands grossly outweigh my energy levels.

Yet it never ceases to amaze me

how the very things that drive me crazy,

are the very things that God uses to refine me.

And I embrace it.

Made me think of this song...

anyone else out there who can relate?

On another note, I'm laughing out loud tonight.

My daughter is a real trendsetter...she likes to hang out

in her underwear and flip flops.

My son communicates in a series of growls...He must have tiger's blood.

And just when you thought the dynamics in our house

couldn't get any more SPECTACULAR...

Enter

baby

number

THREE...

and so the plot thickens...

p.s. is it just me, or is anyone else craving the mint-i-liciousness

of a shamrock shake?

more soon.....ciao bellas....

ONE!

“Birthdays are life's way of telling us

to eat more cake.”

~ Anonymous

Linguine & Meatballs.

Salad & Bread.

Family & Friends.

Face painting & inflatable guitars.

One Candle.

And all the trifle, cupcakes and chocolate cake you can handle.

58 people crammed into our humble abode to celebrate my "little man's" birthday....what a party!

One years old.

Boy that year flew by fast...my head is still spinning!

I still find myself marveling....staring at him in wonder...amazed..in awe of this little soul, this precious gift that's been bestowed upon me.

Joshua Levi....his very name means "God is Salvation" and "joined" as in "joined with God"

Oh son, may you hear His voice at an early age, and obey. May you be strong and courageous as you walk the path set before you. And as my friend Mary would say, may you grow to be wise, because there are already too many foolish boys in this world....

Happy Birthday chicken nugget, you are delicious!

“Your birthday is a special time to celebrate

the gift of 'you' to the world.”

~ Anonymous