Your sign of Strength

I know that many of us do not think we are very strong.
I doubt this for many of you. 

You just need to adjust your definition of strength.

When we remember that we have the power to be who we want to be and to show a kind of strength to everyone that we would hope would be shown to us, we have a force that will be forever the envy of all.

Let's decide today to start showing our strengths and start outshining the weakness and insecurity that is pervasive in our world.

As we go into the Labor Day weekend here in the States, let us have Strength and Self-esteem become our badges of honor.   

I hope to start seeing these badges more and more.

How about you?

Summer Creole Dinner

THIS looks AWESOME

I will definitely need to add this to our fun night meals.

Summer Creole in Smart Multi-Cooker by Tupperware 

Yields: 4 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 3 red potatoes, cut into quarters
• 3 andouille sausage, about ½” thick
• 8 fresh okra, halved
• 1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tbsp. tomato sauce
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. dry mustard
• ½ tsp. cayenne pepper
• ¼ tsp. allspice
• 2 corn on the cobs, cut into 1″ rounds

DIRECTIONS

1. Fill base of Tupperware® Smart Multi-Cooker with water to max fill line for steaming. Place shielded colander inside the base.
2. In a large bowl, toss potatoes, sausage, okra, shrimp and tomato sauce. 
3. Add paprika, salt, dry mustard, cayenne pepper and allspice and mix until fully coated. 
4. Transfer mixture to the shielded colander.
5. Place shallow colander on top of shielded colander, and add corn. 
6. Cover and microwave 15-18 minutes on high power or until fully cooked.

Positive thought on Negative words

I don't know about you, but I really get down when I hear so much negativity in the news, on Facebook or Twitter, or even in the grocery store.

When I saw this I just knew it was something I needed to add to my daily view.  So yes it will end up being a post on my wall someplace.

I love the meanings that are attached to these usually negative words.

I think it is something that everyone, no matter how old they are, need to take to heart and perhaps, just perhaps, some of the negativity that seems to be pervading our society will start to lessen.

Remember YOU are important too

As the summer is coming to an end (I know I know bite my tongue) and we are going to be hustling to get everyone ready for the start of a new season, a new school year and so many "other news" I want to remind you to take care of yourself too.

I know it is very very easy to forget about you when you are so busy making sure others are ready for the day, or something new.  Take a few minutes each day to remember this ... so that you will be able to be there for them.

Thank you tinybuddha.com for the reminder.

Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

Or maybe have it as a Sub ... so many possibilities.  
And with Chicken no less!

Yield: 5

Serving Size: 2 meatballs

Ingredients

• 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1" cubes
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• ½ medium onion, peeled quartered
• ¾ cup breadcrumbs
• 1 tbsp. Italian Herb Seasoning
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 cups marinara sauce
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Assemble Fusion Master™ with coarse mincer disc and place medium bowl underneath hopper.
2. Fill hopper with chicken and turn handle to process. 
3. Once there is room in the hopper add garlic and onion, followed by more chicken. 
4. Continue processing until all chicken, garlic and onion is processed.
5. Add breadcrumbs, seasoning, egg, and Parmesan to chicken mixture and stir to combine.
6. Once combined, use ice cream scoop to help form mixture into meatballs.
7. Place meatballs in base of Microwave Pressure Cooker. Cover with marinara sauce. 
8. Seal and microwave on high power 15 minutes.
9. Remove from microwave and allow pressure to release naturally until red pressure indicator fully lowers, about 6–8 minutes. 
10. Check to ensure internal temperature of meatballs has reached 165° F. 
11. Serve warm, topped with Parmesan cheese.

I LOVE using the Fusion Master for so many things, but this is just another added benefit so you can know exactly what is in your ground chicken or beef or pork.  

When so much seems to be against you

and your dreams, there is something that you need to remember.

I love this reminder.  It just makes me realize that so many face adversities, just like me, to make their dreams come true.  

Nobody gets everything without some kind of problem or set back.

But when we trust what we hear from our soul, everything will work out as it should.  We just have to wait for the right time.

Strawberry Chantilly Cake

Yield: 8

Serving Size: 1 slice

Ingredients

For the cake
• 1 lb./455 g fresh strawberries, tops removed
• 1/8 tsp. coarse kosher salt
• 12 tbsp. melted, salted butter
• 1¾ cup granulated sugar, divided
• 3 small egg
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 6 tbsp. plain yogurt
• 6 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3/4 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 tsp. corn starch
• 1½ cup all-purpose flour
• Sliced strawberries for garnish

For the Vanilla Whipped Cream frosting
• 1 tsp. unflavored powdered gelatin
• 2 tbsp. cold water
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions

1. In the base of the Power Chef® System, add strawberries, ¼ cup of the sugar, and salt. Cover and pull cord until strawberries are roughly chopped. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
2. Grease and flour the Stack Cooker 3-Qt. Casserole and the ¾-Qt. Casserole; set aside.
3. In the 2-cup Micro Pitcher add butter. Microwave on high power 25 seconds, or until melted. Remove from microwave, transfer to base of the Power Chef® with paddle attachment. Add remaining sugar, cover and pull cord until butter and sugar are well blended.
4. Remove cover, add egg, cream, yogurt, vanilla, baking soda, and baking powder. Cover and pull cord until well blended; about 20 pulls. Add flour, cover and pull cord until well blended; about 20 pulls.
5. Using a spatula, divide batter evenly between the two casseroles; stack and cover. Microwave on high power 11 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from microwave; let stand 30 seconds. Transfer cakes to a cooling rack. Let cool completely before frosting.
6. Meanwhile, make the frosting. In a small bowl, stir together gelatin and water; set aside. In the base of the Quick Chef® Pro System with whip attachment, add cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Turn handle until cream reaches the soft peak stage. Add gelatin, continue whipping cream until stiff peaks form (cream should be the consistency of stiff frosting). Remove whip attachment, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
7. Place first layer of cake on plate or cake stand; cover with strawberries. Spread 1/3 of the frosting over the strawberries. Add second layer of cake; Spread 1/3 of frosting over the top. Spread remaining frosting over the sides of the cake. Decorate cake with fresh strawberries. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to 3 days.

Banana Pecan Cake

Yes you really can make this cake IN THE MICROWAVE

Yield: 8

Serving Size: 1 slice

Ingredients

• 1½ cups pecans
• 3 ripe bananas
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 stick (16 tbsp.) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1¼ cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• ¼ cup reduced-fat (2%) milk
• ¼ tsp. kosher salt
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

Instructions

1. Grease and flour the Stack Cooker 3-Qt. Casserole with Cone Insert.
2. In the base of the Power Chef® System fitted with blade attachment, add pecans. Cover and pull cord until roughly chopped. Transfer pecans to medium bowl, set aside.
3. Add bananas, heavy cream, and cinnamon to Power Chef. Cover and pull cord until bananas are minced and mixture is well blended. Transfer bananas to bowl with pecans; set aside.
4. Replace Power Chef blade attachment with paddle attachment. Add butter and sugar, cover and pull cord until well blended. Add eggs, vanilla, milk, salt, and baking soda. Cover and pull cord until well blended. Transfer to bowl with bananas; fold in flour.
5. Transfer mixture to TupperWave® Stack Cooker. Microwave on high power 7 minutes 30 seconds. Remove from microwave. Let stand 2 minutes before slicing.

Check these pieces out.

I have to admit, I am thinking of stopping my Tupperware site, its starting to get to be too expensive for me to continue.  Don't get me wrong, I love my Tupperware, but sales requirements are getting difficult for me to continue without some help.

So if you are interested in these pieces or any other Tupperware piece, grab it soon from my Tupperware site.  I know the Fall / Holiday Catalog is coming out at the end of the month and they do have some interesting new pieces so I will be staying around (and passing on some great recipes and reviews of pieces) through the holidays.

Become a Tupperware Consultant

If you have been thinking of joining Tupperware ... THIS is the month to do it!  

Our August #SummerGig kit is cooler than ever thanks to the addition of our all new Cold Brew Carafe, available FREE with purchase of the kit this week only! Make your brew, your way, every day.

If you are a new recruit, and I will help you get your business going or be here if you have questions, you could be earning a ton of special product discounts just by doing things that you will love to do!

AND look at what else you can get if you join this week!!!

I don't know if you are a Cold Brew Coffee person or not, but this looks to be awesome.
I have also seen that if you are a loose tea drinker, this would work for you as well.
And if you are someone that can do either ... well THIS is a bonus that you want!

You can join Tupperware from my Tupperware page (kat1126.my.tupperware.com) just by clicking the join us tab on the left hand side.  All you need is a desire to have Tupperware in your life, the drive to make it happen and of course a credit card.

There are all kinds of bonuses you can earn in your first 13 weeks as well.  They have some awesome pieces you can earn while you are earning your commissions - from day 1!

Check it out and let me know if you have any questions or if you need some help.  And hopefully we can be part of an awesome Tupperware Team.

Best Brownies

Just another reason I am loving my Ultra Pro Cookware from Tupperware!

Yield: 16

Serving Size: 1 brownie

Ingredients

For the brownies
• 2 cups milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 3 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp. brewed coffee or espresso
• ¼ tsp. coarse kosher salt
• 4 eggs
For the Buckeye topping
• 2 cups creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp. coarse kosher salt
• 1 cup milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 3 tbsp. heavy cream
• 1 cup chopped peanuts

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325° F.
2. In the ¾-Qt. Stack Cooker Casserole, stir together chocolate chips, heavy cream, butter, vanilla, coffee, and salt. 
3. Microwave 45 seconds. 
4. Remove from microwave, let stand 2 minutes; stir until smooth.
5. In the base of the Power Chef® System with paddle attachment, add eggs. Cover and pull cord until well beaten. 
6. Remove cover, add 2 spoonfuls of chocolate mixture to eggs, cover and pull cord until well mixed. 
7. Add remaining chocolate mixture and pull cord until well mixed.
8. Transfer chocolate mixture to the UltraPro 2-Qt. Square Pan. 
9. Place pan in oven and bake for 25 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center of the brownies comes out clean. 
10. Remove pan from oven; let stand.
11. Meanwhile, make the Buckeye toppings. 
12. In the ¾-Qt. Stack Cooker Casserole stir together peanut butter, powdered sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt. 
13. Microwave on high power 30 seconds or until soft and spreadable. 
14. Spoon mixture over brownies, then spread evenly over brownies.
15. In the large 2-cup Micro Pitcher add chocolate chips and cream. 
16. Microwave 45 seconds; let stand 1 minute, stir until smooth.
17.  Pour chocolate over peanut butter, spreading evenly. 
18. Sprinkle top with peanuts, gently press into chocolate.
19. Refrigerate 20 minutes to set. 
20. Cut into 16 pieces, serve chilled or at room temperature.

I made some Blueberry Muffins last week ... I'm thinking I just may have to tries these out today.  Of course I already have all the Tupperware pieces (you could too from my site kat1126.my.tupperware.com) And I think, but of course I will be checking, I have all the ingredients too!

I mean brownies just sound good even at 9 in the morning.  Don't you think?

Time to appreciate where you are

Sometimes I think we have become a society of instant gratification.
That we can't work towards what we want, it needs to be here NOW or we will just die!

We need to start looking around and appreciate where we are so that when we get to what we are working for we will APPRECIATE it.

We need to be able to see where we are going and not just get "plopped" in the middle of what we think we want or where we think we want to be.

When we stop and appreciate where we are or what we have, and I don't mean to be stagnant and not move forward, we really get to see what is happening within ourselves and in our immediate world.

Who knows, you could find another thing that you want that just may be another stepping stone for you and your family.

When you are feeling like you failed

I know when I am having a tough time and feel like so many things I have tried to do have failed, I really wonder why I do it.

I start to think that I can't do anything right, even though I have a lot of accomplishments in my life.

When I saw this one I thought it was just so true.
Sometimes I think that we are more successful when we don't give up and continue to get back up, no matter how many times we have fallen down.

So lets start judging ourselves (and the heck with what others think) by how many times we have gotten back up and tried again.

Are you with me?

One more of you too!

Sometimes I think we forget just how much we are needed and of course I am here to remind you.

So lets set out and make a difference because we are important to the world!  It's not just me that thinks so, even God is reminding you.

Burp Bread!

OMG I LOVE this.

I really like making bread.
But sometimes I just don't have the time to do everything that needs to be done when life is calling me to do other things.  I may be a mother, but somehow I lost my third arm when my kids became "adults" and it just never grew back.

I really love having yet another reason to have one of my Tupperware Thatsa Bowls, though I may try making this one with a fix n mix that I have "stashed" away because they don't show up in my Tupperware online store very often.

This one is really good (and of course easy) to use for rolls as well.  Fresh baked rolls for the holidays, and not out of a can!

August already?

I can't believe it is August already ....
WHERE is the summer going?

I guess with one more month of Summer left ... I better decide which it is.

How about you ... have you decided which one it is??
Which is it?