Quick and Easy Busy Morning Coffee-mate Muffins Recipe - How do you enjoy your Coffee-mate in the Morning??

As anyone knows who follow my blog I am a VERY proud Coffee-mate Brew Crew Member.  And by the way they are currently looking for more members...so apply today.

One of our current activities that we are encouraged to participate in is making some Coffee-mate easy bake muffins.  They gave a suggested recipe and would like us to try it out as it or make the recipe our own.  Well of course I had to modify the recipe and make in special to our family's tastes. (I love incorporating whole wheat flour and so extras goodies like raisins and coconut to make it more healthy and tasty)  So as you look at the recipe I created...don't be shy and make it your own today with the help of Coffee-mate.

Ingredients:

2 Egg, beaten

3 Tablespoons granulated sugar

1/2 Cup milk

1/2 Cup flavored COFFEE-MATE Gingerbread Latte

1/2 Cup butter, melted

1 1/4 Cups whole wheat flour

1 1/4 Cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 Tablespoons baking powder

Pinch of salt

1 Teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 Teaspoon nutmug

1 Large apple peeled, cored and chopped

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup coconut


Topping:

1/4 quick oats

2 Tablespoons granulated sugar

2 Teaspoon ground cinnamon



Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Using a 12-cup muffin tin, spray with nonstick cooking spray or line cups with paper liners.

Mix egg, sugar, milk, COFFEE-MATE, and butter in a large bowl.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

Add the apples and mix until just combined. Spoon batter into prepared 6-cup muffin tin.

To make the topping, mix quick oats, sugar and cinnamon, sprinkle over tops of unbaked muffins.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes.

Muffins are done when a toothpick is inserted into center of muffin and comes out clean.

Let muffins cool in tin for 5 minutes, then remove muffins from tin and cool completely on wire rack.

Yields 12 muffins.

I am Inspired to Giveaway 10 Coffee-mate Creamers, What Inspires You??

I am a proud Coffee-mate Brew Crew Member and have been given 10 free coupons to help spread the Free Flavor Friday Promotion.  I decide to share them with my bloggy friends..See below on how to enter today.

Coffee-mate's newest ad campaign talks about "What Inspires you".  If you check out the Coffee-mate site you can enter to win great prizes! Which has inspired me to share my thoughts.....

There are so many things that happen on a daily basis that cause me to stop for a brief moment to reflect on the deeper meaning behind an action, a spoken word, a touch, a look or a taste. I find myself continuously inspired by others, but nothing inspires me more than my children. I am amazed at how an innocent look, word or action by any of my boys can carry me through a tough day. They inspire me to enjoy the simple things in life and not to take life so serious all the time.

They remind me how something so minuscule that occurs daily can be a precious moment. They create inspiration in me to look beyond what is happening at face value and find the special and unique beauty in everything.  Like when they asked, "How does a butterfly fly?" I will never be able to watch the act of a butterfly floating effortlessly in the air, without thinking how amazing it really is. A butterfly is so delicate, but strong. It is beautiful and one of a kind. It can with stand the elements and flourish.

Life is so unpredictable and ever changing that it is important for everyone to find inspiration to carry them through the tough times. Just as my children did, when I was diagnosed with cervical cancer while pregnant with my third son. I knew in my heart, everything was going to be okay. They helped keep me in touch with what was important and inspire me, even from within the womb to be strong and find peace, daily in simple things like blooming flowers, the rays of warm sunshine on my face and a hug and sweet “I love you Mommy”.

I challenge every on sit down after a long day with a cup of coffee and add your favorite Coffee-mate flavor. Which one did you chose? Was it my current favorite Caramel Macchiato from the Coffee-mate Café Collection? Slow down and take a sip, move it around it your mouth…slowly swallow. What did you smell, taste and feel? Did you notice the hint of milk and creamy caramel? Was it smooth and velvety in your mouth? When was the last time you experienced Coffee-mate this way? Now that you are relaxed and thinking about the small details, “What inspired you today?”

Ten qualified entries will win...a  free coupon for Nestle Coffee-mate liquid or powder creamer up to $3.99.

Open to US residents only age 18 or over. You must complete the Mandatory Entry to be eligible. This giveaway Ends 04/16/11 at 11:59pm MST. Please leave a separate comment with your email address for each entry that you complete.


*** Mandatory Entry - You must follow this Blog - Fishful Thinking on Google Friends Connect - on the right side of my blog *** Leave a message saying you follow.

Bonus Entries:

Follow Fishful Thinking on Twitter.

Check out Coffee-mate's website. Come back here to Fishful Thinking and let me know what product you would love to try or have tried.

"Like" Coffee-mate on Facebook.

Follow Coffee-mate on Twitter.

Tweet about the Giveaway: You can copy and paste the following Tweet over on Twitter once per day. Remember to let me know you tweeted.

Copy and Paste Tweet:

U can #win @Coffee_mate Creamer on @busch0218 blog! http://t.co/g9SqjED Ends 04/16 1159pm MST #giveaways

Enter my other Giveaways for Bigfat's Hot Sauce or Simply Potatoes  or  Bora Bora Organic Food Gift Box of items (04-25-11)  and leave me a message you did.

Good Luck Everyone!

Winners Announced for the Coffee-mate Giveaway

I am pleased to announce the two lucky winners of my Coffee-mate Giveaway.

Thanks to the help of Random.org -

Winner one is

Alicia Webster with her comment "I would love to try the Honey Vanilla Creme"

Winner two is

Naranja with the "Followed fishful thinking on twitter".

Thank you all for participating.  I loved reading every ones comments. 

Watch for more great Giveaways in the next few days!

***The images from Random.org are below - was having problems getting them to attach nicely.  Sorry everyone.***

Coffee-mate Giveaway Creamer & Exclusive Coffee-mate Spoon by a Brew Crew Member

I LOVE COFFEE-MATE!  Keep reading and find out how you can be entered to win....

I am such a proud Coffee-mate Brew Crew Member!  You may wonder what the Brew Crew is?  The Brew Crew is an exclusive team of highly influential and active brand advocates that help generate buzz about COFFEE-MATE.

I have even been lucky enough to have one of my blog featured on the Coffee-mate.com website.  And who knows maybe some day one of my many recipes will find it's to the Coffee-mate website site.

Like my recipes for:

Very Vanilla Coffee-mate Rice Pudding



Chai Tea Mix



I love Coffee-mate and can't imagine my life with out it!  My current favorite over all is the Gingerbread Latte. 

My favorite flavor from the new Coffee-mate Cafe Collection is the Caramel Macchiato.  It is like having my own *Bucks in my kitchen every morning.

I was selected to host an Office Party on Free Flavor Friday which was an awesome activity sponsored by Coffee-mate to promote their new Cafe Collection.

I had extra coupons for 1 Free Nestle Coffee-mate liquid or powder creamer up to $3.99.

So I decided to use these left over coupons and exclusive Coffee-mate spoons to promote my love of Coffee-mate to others.

Two qualified people will win...1 - free coupon for Nestle Coffee-mate liquid or powder creamer up to $3.99 and 1 - Exclusive Coffee-mate spoon.  Estimated value $10.00.

Open to US residents only age 18 or over. You must complete the Mandatory Entry to be eligible. This giveaway Ends 02/27/11 at 11:59pm MST. Please leave a separate comment with your email address for each entry that you complete.

*** Mandatory Entry - You must follow this Blog -  Fishful Thinking on Google Friends Connect - on the right side of my blog ***


Bonus Entries:

Check out Coffee-mate's website. Come back here to Fishful Thinking and let me know what product you would love to try or have tried.

"Like" Coffee-mate on Facebook.

Follow Fishful Thinking on Twitter.

Follow Coffee-mate on Twitter.

Tweet about the Giveaway: You can copy and paste the following Tweet over on Twitter once per day. Remember to let me know you tweeted.


Copy and Paste Tweet:

U can #win @Coffee_mate Creamer & Coffee-mate spoon on @busch0218 blog! http://t.co/EClEW2M Ends 02/27 1159pm MST #giveaways

Good Luck Everyone!

Happy List

Well - I guess I will start off my Happy List this week with....

I am Happy....I am actually able to post this Happy List with my friends tiny Notebook computer - as my "LOVELY" HP computer is back for repairs a second time and it is now only 3 months old! Sooo frustrating, but Thank God for such great friends.

I am Happy....I am part of Dandelion Wishes Pinktastic-Swaptastic - and my package was done in time and sent out to my partner MiMi on Friday!  I can't wait to see what she thinks :)

I am Happy....and Proud of my now 7 year old son Dylan - he turned 7 a few days ago - He did very well in his first basketball game.  It was awesome watching him + I am Happy....that he is going to have a "friend" Birthday Party next weekend and I found away NOT to have it at our small house - Pizza Hut is my saviour - No charge for the Party Room, just need to buy the pizza -so PARTY ON!!!!

I am Happy....to be having another Giveaway on my site that ends on 02-12-11 - for some Awesome Gourmet Granola - so if you Haven't entered don't miss out!

I am Happy....to have been selected by Coffee-mate to host a Free Flavor Friday Office Party!

What is on your Happy List? - Link up today.

Happy List thanks to Coffee-mate

Well the main part of my Happy List this week is Thanks to my trip from Coffee-mate!


View from the airplane over the Rocky Mountains.


It was such an awesome trip and the weather was perfect.  Check out the view from our room!

We wined and dined and enjoyed being a couple again.   It is amazing how you sometimes can forget what it is like to be a couple again with out children in tow (but we couldn't wait to get home to their smiling faces).



Free Breakfast Buffet at the hotel.


I learned so much about Nestle Coffee-mate and how much they actually care about their consumers - what a great change of pace for a large cooperation.

Arrived home late Saturday to find an awesome box from Granola Snacks on my door step - need I say more about that.

Helped Dylan complete his 100th day of School shirt with 100 gummy candies (his idea).  It turned out great so can't wait to send him to school wearing it on Wends.

And last but not least - My Gooseberry Cookbook arrived which features one my my recipes!!!

***Only complaint my "lovely" 2 month old HP computer is acting up again - so I am wondering if they company is going to want it shipped back once again for repairs :(

Very Vanilla Coffee-mate Rice Pudding Recipe

What a great few days away from my busy life to enjoy LA thanks to Nestle Coffee-mate.  I met some fellow Brew Crew Members and shared my love of Coffee-mate.

It motivated me to share one my recipes that I created with the help of Coffee-mate's liquid French Vanilla Creamer. 

This Very Vanilla Rice Pudding is rich, creamy and full of  floral goodness from the vanilla beans and the Coffee-mate French Vanilla.

Ingredients:

2/3 cup Coffee-mate French Vanilla liquid creamer
5 1/3 cups milk
1 cup sugar
1 cup long grain white rice
2 fresh vanilla beans

Directions:

Add Coffee-mate French Vanilla Liquid, milk, and sugar into a large pot.

Cook over medium high heat, stirring occasionally.

While waiting for the mixture to boil - cut the vanilla beans open and scrape out the vanilla bean seeds (I like to call it vanilla caviar).  Add the "caviar" and the split open beans into the pot.

Once the mixture comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low.

Continue to cook, stirring occasionally for approximately 25 to 30 minutes, until the rice is cook through.

When rice is cooked, carefully pour the mixture into a glass bowl (leaving in vanilla beans - so they can continue to release there flavor goodness).

Place plastic wrap directly onto the top of the hot rice pudding - it will stop the "skin" from forming on the top.

Place in a refrigerator and stir every 30 minutes while it cools so it does not clump.

Enjoy this decedent dessert or rich breakfast treat plain or with a sprinkling of cinnamon nutmeg sugar.  The vanilla bean seeds add such eye appeal and flavor.  It is amazing how that just 2/3 of a cup of the Coffee-mate French Vanilla can enhance and intensify the vanilla flavor to a whole different level.

How do you enjoy your Coffee-mate??

Donation to Pantene Beautiful Lengths=New Haircut for my Trip to LA thanks to Coffeemate in less than 12 hours :)

Well yesterday was my BIG day.  I went to a new salon and had 10 inches of my hair cut off. 

I am donating it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. 

At first I was going to donate to Locks of Love, which don't get me wrong is an awesome organization...but I decided to search for some place that just donates to women with cancer...and I found Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

Part of the reason I decided to donate is I am a Cervical Cancer Survivor and wanted to make a difference in a cancer patients life.  To make them feel beautiful as they battle the beast known as cancer.  And this month is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.  I had my local paper attend my haircut so they could report on my donation and the importance of getting a pap to help detect changes before it has the opportunity to turn into full blown cancer.

I feel so empowered!!

Now if the Weather here would just cooperate so I can make my flight to LA in the EARLY morning for my trip of a lifetime thanks to Coffee-mate!  We are in a Winter Weather Advisory -with up to 5 inches of snow expected :( . They have changed our flight to a different airport as of tonight - that hopefully will have the ability to get us flown out during the storm.  Which now means the boys have to be at daycare around 3:45am - Yes I said A.M.  Wow!  Early morning here...then an hour drive to the new airport...then on our way to LA!!!!

So everyone say a prayer that the weather works so I take this much needed trip - plus when I get back I will blog all about it!!

OH!  Everyone keep an eye out for a great new giveaway very soon thanks to Granola Snacks.  It will be for a huge helping of 5 of their delicous 9oz bags of granola

Stayed tuned for my Info.....