BEAUTIFUL PAINTINGS

Slimmed down Brownies

Slimmed Down Brownies

Recipe from Shape 

Ingredients

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons espresso
1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil; spray foil lightly with cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, salt,and baking powder. Set aside.
3. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar at medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes, or until combined. Add egg, egg whites, vanilla and coffee. Continue beating until incorporated.
4. Scrape down sides of the bowl and reduce mixer speed to low. Slowly add flour mixture to the bowl, followed by yogurt, and mix gently until combined. The batter will be thick.
5. Stir in chocolate and walnuts if using.
6. With a spatula, spread mixture evenly in pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of pan comes out dry. Cool on a wire rack before removing from pan and slicing into 16 squares.

Recipe makes 16 2-inch by 2-inch servings.

Sting - Fragile

Measure For Measure

"Success is an ambiguous device. It can simultaneously kiss your lips and cut your throat. It is a slick salesman who sells you gold that turns into dust. It is a master illusionist cheating your eyes into seeing something that isn't there. It's deception can turn a white dove into a raven.

We have to stretch that measuring tape further. We have to let it measure our real value -- our spiritual worth. If we don't have spiritual worth, we are paupers forever scrounging for food while feeling the hunger pangs of our spirits.

Isn't true success the way we treat others? How we treat loved ones, strangers, the human race? You know how much you are worth by what you do to increase your spiritual value.

Practicing forgiveness, contentment, detachment and humility all add to your spiritual worth. Living a life of values can be an invaluable experience."


~Alexys Fairfield

Thank You

Thank You!
To those of you who laughed at me, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have cried.

To those of you who just couldn't love me, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have known real love.

To those of you who hurt my feelings, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have felt them.

To those of you who left me lonely, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have discovered myself.

But it is to those of you who thought I couldn't do it;
It is you I thank the most,
Because without you I wouldn't have tried.
 
Author Unknown

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