Banana Split Mini Bites

Banana Split Bites ~ A classic ice cream dessert gets mini for some bite size fun. And yes, there is actually a tiny scoop of ice cream tucked inside and underneath the whip cream of  those little darlings.

Banana Split Mini Bites

• Use firm bananas and cut into 1 inch sections. Leave the peel on for easy handling, and with a melon baller, dig a well in the middle of each banana section. 
• Melt chocolate in the microwave and dip the bottom portion of the banana in chocolate and then dip it once again in either non-pareils or chopped peanuts. To quickly harden the chocolate, place dipped bananas in the freezer for five minutes.
• Fill each well with ice cream (I filled mine with vanilla chocolate chip) and top with whip cream and a maraschino cherry.  

MIA

So as EVERYONE knows, I have been MIA for a good few months. I AM SO SORRY! School became an overwhelming workload and my blog never seemed to have enough time dedicated towards it. But it is summer and my blog is going to come back in full force!

Deep Fried Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough…

Deep Fried Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Makes 12 servings

Dough
4 tbsp softened butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar
3 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup  flour
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1-2 tbsp water
corn starch for rolling dough in

In a large mixing bowl, cream together light brown sugar, sugar and butter. While mixing, add vanilla and 1 tbsp of oil, followed by slowly adding the 1/2 cup flour. Add salt, followed by second tbsp of oil. The dough may be dry and crumbly. While mixing, slowly add enough water to give the dough a moist but not overly wet consistency. Mix in chocolate chips.
Remove from mixer and roll dough between your palms into ping pong size balls. Roll in corn starch, shake to remove excess flour.

Batter
1 Egg
1 cup Ice Cold Water
1 cup Self Rising flour
2 tbsp Confectioners Sugar

With a fork, mix together egg and water. Add flour and sugar to egg and water mix. Dip cookie dough balls in batter, make sure that the dough is completely covered in batter so that they won’t leak out dough when frying. Using a slotted spoon or mesh spider quickly place 3-4 at a time in 375 F oil for 1 and a half to 2 minutes minutes until golden brown on the outside.  Serve in paper trays and top with chocolate sauce and powdered sugar.

When done, it should look something like this…

You can eat it like this or top it with powdered sugar and chocolate syrup !

My First Major Life Lesson

I still find it hard saying these words and believing them: My mom is fighting cancer.

It seems surreal saying that. CANCER. I don't think it has completly sunk in...and I don't know if it ever will.

She was diagnosed way back in October...and although it has been almost 6 months of recovery, there are plenty more months to look ahead. My mom had a major surgery a week ago, and my spring break luckily happened to fall on the day she came home. Seeing her this week has made me decide that my mom truly is the strongest woman I know- and I know your all saying to yourselves that this is the cliche story of the parent who fights through cancer- But honestly, she is my role model because she never seeks out the negative. Only the positive. She keeps her head held high, even on those bad days.

At not even a 100 pounds, my mom is frail and weak. She struggles to get out of bed and sit up. Her diet is mainly liguid or soft foods. I never have even seen my mother with the cold or flu ....so this horrifies me.

  And the hardest thing of all, is my mom HATES asking for help. All my mothers' life, she has never been taken care of.She is SELFLESS.  SHE is the caregiver. So for her, she is mortified to even ask for help- even though everyone would gladly love the opportunity to. My mom is pushing herself so much as to maintain her dignity, and I only wish she will learn that many people love her and it is OKAY to have help.

So i'm going back to school in 3 days. And I won't be able see my mother until the end of May. 2 months. And I don't think I can handle it. I just want to be with her, helping her. And going to school and having fun in my own different reality, I feel guilty because everyone back home is stuck with the gloom that surrounds the "C" word. 

My mother hates the fact that I worry. She tells me she knows I love her, and she just wants me to keep living my life. But I can't. I miss her. The woman who was there for me, who tied my shoes, who packed my lunches, who always sacrificed her happiness for mine is suffering. And I can't even be with her. I know me being with her can't change the outcome. But I still can't see the fairness in this whole situation. But life isn't fair, is it?

I have amazing friends and family who are all helping me through this. And it hurts to know that as much as this is hurting me, I couldnt even begin to imagine the pain and fear my mother is experiencing.

I love my mom. and from this experience I have learned to never take someone for granted. Never stop forgetting and appreciating those who surround you. Because you never realize what you truly have, or realize how lucky you truly are, until those loved ones of yours can be taken away from you. 

I also want to leave you with this: the true value in life is not measured by things but by the people who are in it. My mother has told me that she hadn't realized how much of an impact she has made on her friends, family, and community until her illness. She never felt more loved and appreciated. Our house is filled with flowers and cards, our fridge filled with meals prepared my family and friends. Visitors are constantly checking in, making sure their dearest mother, daughter, cousin, sister, and friend is merely smiling. Because my mom has a smile that can light up ANY room. Her love radiates to everyone she meets- a quality I admire so dearly.

So LIFE LESSON #1: Never wait until something bad happens to appreciate things. Everyday, analyze everything you have and enjoy it. And on those bad days when those little things start to dissapoint you, remember things could be worse. MUCH worse.    

A Dash of Inspiring Words for the Weekend

how to: pore strips

by Allison on December 13, 2010

You know those Biore pore strips you buy at the drugstore for about $12 a pop?  Yeah, those.  Today I’m going to teach you how to make your own homemade pore strips.

Why?  Because:

1. I’m obsessed with beauty products
2. I’m obsessed with cheap
3. Homemade {mostly} = cheap.  Mostly.
4. Cheap Beauty = HAPPY Allison

Ready?  Ready.

Pore Strips Ingredients:

• 1 Tablespoon Unflavored Gelatin
• 1 1/2- 2 Tablespoons Milk {any kind}

Dudes, 2 ingredients and your pores will look like magic.  What’s not to love?

1. Measure 1 Tablespoon of unflavored gelatin into a disposable container {if you put say, green jell-o on your face, there might be trouble}
2. Add 1-2 Tablespoons of milk into the gelatin
3. Until it looks like this
4. Mix it up, and be quick about it, until you get a chunky consistency.  Add more milk if you’re uncomfortable with the amount of chunk.

Microwave the gelatin for about 10-15 seconds.  It will get creamier in the microwave.  Stir that around and start applying it IMMEDIATELY to your face.  This stuff hardens up fast so you’ve got to act fast.

This is pre-pore strip.  Wash your face before you apply.

I chose to put the stuff all over my face because I have thirty-year-old acne.  You can put it wherever your little heart desires.  You need to act fast though, because this stuff turns to gelatin pronto.  I know I’ve said that three times already, but I really mean it.
Smokin’.
Let it dry for about 15+ minutes.  I waited longer, but you’ll know it’s time when you can’t talk for fear of breaking something.

Grab whatever you can and start peeling.  This is the gross/fun part.

It’s a good thing you can’t see the photo all that well.  Do this until you’re all peeled and your face will feel like a baby’s bottom.
Clean, practically hairless, with clean, dirt-free pores.

Adele - Someone Like You (Live in Her Home)

So my roomate (shout out to Jana!) has amazing taste in music. And she totes showed me this video, and I think everyone will get goosebumps when they hear the emotion behind the song. Enjoy!