Peanut Butter Snickers Cupcakes! Oh my...

 As you probably already know... I love cupcakes. I'm always on the search for the perfect recipe or on the hunt for a cupcake bakery. Well...a while back I decided I wanted a peanut butter, snickers cupcake. It was one of those days where chocolate and peanut butter were the craving. 

The perfect way to combine all the flavors wasn't difficult at all! First you pick your favorite white cupcake recipe: (My favorite one is listed below...it is from this link: http://www.food.com/recipe/magnolia-bakerys-vanilla-birthday-cake-and-frosting-139518 )

*Here is the recipe with my added additions of peanut butter and snickers...(The link to the original recipe without any additions is listed above)

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups self rising flour
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla 

*1/2 Cup Peanut Butter (crunchy or smooth...my addition to the recipe)

*1 Cup of chopped Snickers (my other addition to the original recipe)

Directions:

1
Preheat oven to 350°.
2
Grease and lightly flour three 9 inch round cake pans, then line the bottoms with waxed paper. ( I used cupcake liners and a muffin pan instead of cake pans)
3
In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth.
4
Add the sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
5
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
6
Combine the flours and add in four parts, alternating with the milk and the vanilla extract, beating well after each addition.

7

*Add peanut butter and snickers and mix until combined. (my addition)

 

 

If you're making cupcakes, line two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake papers.
  Spoon the batter into the cups about three-quarters full.
  Bake until the tops spring back when lightly touched, about 20 to 22 minutes.

 (or a toothpick comes out clean)
  Remove cupcakes from pans and cool completely on a rack before icing.

What  you will end up with is a delicious peanut butter, snickers cupcake! They are pretty rich on their own but you can frost them with chocolate buttercream frosting! That's what I did! 

I posted a delicious chocolate buttercream frosting earlier in the blog!

It's Time to Declare War!

"...and he (satan) went to make war with the rest of her offspring who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

Revelation 12:17

Don't you love a good war movie? I mean, I love comedies, romances etc. What girl doesn't? But every once in a while my husband and I like to see an all-out war movie where good triumphs over evil! Isn't that why most of us love superhero movies as well? Everybody wants to see the "good" side win. It's always a huge depressive when the "bad" side wins. Whenever a movie ends with the "bad" guy or group of people winning; I'm totally bummed out. 

Lately, at church, our Pastor (Pastor Greg Laurie) has been in the book of Revelation. It's been awesome! I love the book of Revelation because it reminds me of what's ahead...this life we are living right now, in this moment, is just the beginning of what's in store.

Today in my devotions (Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon) the writer was talking about the battle between satan, the demons and us as believers. And he took his scripture from Revelation chapter 12. And it got me thinking; really thinking! There are so many days were I feel defeated, I feel tempted, I feel depressed and it seems like around every turn of my day is another "attack". An attack of anxiety, an attack of depression, an attack on my marriage and my ministry. It never seems to end. And sometimes I lose focus of the fact that I'm in a battle; a real war for that matter! 

But I find myself totally unaware of the fact that I'm just sitting on the sideline nursing my "boo boo's" half the time and not out there fighting like the woman I know God has made me to be. It's so easy for me to slooowwwllly start looking like the world, acting like the world and forgetting that I'm on the war torn path to eternity. When's the last time you read...

"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect." 

Matthew 24:24 (NASB)

"Even the elect"... That's us folks. (if you have asked Jesus in your heart as your Savior). Does that scare you a little bit? That maybe even the most Godly person you know could be mislead? It scares me because I know I'm not some "holier than thou" and "could never fall away" believer. I have to rely on Jesus Christ DAILY for strength to fight. 

I feel like I have seen so many believers get drawn away from Christ lately; falling into serious sin and even leaving the faith. And, I have to take a step back and realize that if I'm not fighting, if I'm not aware, if I just ignore that there is a battle going on for my literal soul; I'm could be in big trouble. And you are too.

I don't know about you but there is a serious darkness that I can feel lately. Not just over our nation but it's trying to creep into our lives as believers. The lines are getting blurry, wrong isn't as "wrong" as it used to be. Compromises are becoming more and more popular. You know what I'm talking about. What are we watching on t.v., what are we wearing when we're not at church, what are we doing when no one is around or watching, what are we thinking, what are we dabbling into? And trust me, I'm not sitting on a soapbox preaching. I struggle too, I sin and I realize how much I really need to WAKE UP and start taking action.

Brothers! Sisters! There is a huge war for our souls going on right now! I believe that we are heading into a very dark time. And when I say dark; I mean DARK! We need to rise up, take out our weapons (Spiritual weapons) and start fighting. We need to stop sitting on the sidelines of eternity. If we sit on the sidelines, satan is going to have the perfect chance to take us down. I don't want to fall, I don't want to be mislead, I don't want to give up my faith. I want to be victorious. But it's not going to happen without a FIGHT. It's not going to be easy friends; there will be days when it just seems too hard or the temptations seem too strong...but what promise do we have? "I can do all things through HIM who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 Wake up and get to work; fight on! Don't give up! One day we are going to be face to face with Jesus. All the temptations, all the trials, everything that was such a burden is going to melt away and it will so totally BE WORTH IT ALL! 

We can give up the fight because we're too tired, enjoy the short-lived pleasure of sin, and have hell to pay. (Literally) Or we can battle in Jesus' strength, overcoming our fears and sins day by day, and spend eternity with Jesus in everlasting joy and peace. It's up to you.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of god, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." 

Ephesians 6:10-13 (NASB)

"I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God... And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." 

Romans 12:1a, 2 (NASB)