Manic Monday and Apple Pecan muffins

What is your favorite candy? anything chocolate...truffles....peppermint patties.

Name one thing that you'd want to receive as a gift for Valentine's day. Nothing really. We are going to dinner at one of those Japanese places where they prep the meal in front of you. I can't ever remember the name, so I call it the atchi wa wa (and you totally have to make chopping motions with your hand when you say it)

Can we truly love someone who loves another? It would be hard...thankfully I have never been in that position.

Fleur-de-Lisa hosts the original Manic Monday here

For Muffin Monday, we made these awesome apple pecan muffins. They were very good! Will was excited to get his hammer out to make the graham cracker crumbs. We had to have a lesson over banging GENTLY on the counter! These would not do very well in a mini muffin pan since you are layering them. So they are a BIG muffin.....but really good!

Apple Pecan muffins

1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 1/4 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1 c. wheat bran flakes cereal with raisins ( I just used bran flakes)
2/3 c. sugar
1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 egg lightly beaten
1 c. nonfat buttermilk
2 T. butter, melted
1 c. peeled, finely chopped Rome apple ( I used pink lady since that is what I had in the house)
1/3 c. chopped pecans, toasted
2 T. sugar
3/4 t. ground cinnamon
1 T. butter, melted
vegetable cooking spray
1 T. sugar

Combine first six ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in the center of mixture. Combine egg, buttermilk, ad 2T melted butter; add to dry ingredients. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Set aside.

Combine apple and next 4 ingredients; set aside.

Spoon 2T batter into each of 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Top evenly with apple mixture. Spoon remaining batter over apple mixture. (Batter will not completely cover apple mixture.) Sprinkle 1 T. sugar evenly over batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Remove from pans immediately. Plate and share with friends.

Yield: 1 dozen **These do no do well in a mini muffin pan***

Calories: 198 Protein 3.6 g Fat 6.1 g Carbohydrate 3.4 g Fiber 1.5 g Cholesterol 18mg Iron 1.5 mg Sodium 240 mg Calcium 33mg

Manic Monday and back to muffins

What's the most embarrassing song on your iPod (or music collection)? Not sure really, I do have some Dixie Chicks stuff I don't really listen to....but I do like the one about Earl.

How much time do you spend each day in your commute? (Or if you don't work outside the house, how much time do you spend in your car or other preferred mode of transportation?) Husband drops the kids off...I pick them up. So about 30 minutes both ways. Then their are various activities throughout the week....tack on 30 minutes for each of them.

What's your favorite wardrobe item and why? Usually accessories...a black bag with a pink paisley lining if my current favorite.

Fleur-de-Lisa hosts the original Manic Monday here

This bunch of overripe bananas helped us to get back to our muffin Monday roots. B-A-N-A-N-A Anas..., don't tell me you didn't bust out into song.

The ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 eggs
1 tablespoon mayonnaise *this part really grosses me out...but it makes it so moist*
3 very ripe bananas, mashed
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease one 9x5 inch loaf pan. We made four mini loaves.

Livi can peel the bananas, put them into a ziplock bag, and mash them.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the egg, then the mayonnaise and bananas, beating well with each addition. Stir together the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Blend the flour mixture into the banana mixture; stir just enough to evenly combine. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 50 to 75 minutes. We baked ours about 30 minutes I think. Cool loaf in the pan for 20 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Yeah right, like that really is going to happen in our house! We cut a slice right away and slathered with a slab of butter.

My personal favorite: Plate and share with neighbors.

PS, this recipe is originally from Study of Schoolbooks &Shoes ,

Just for your listening pleasure....or so that you can sing along with me.

Manic Monday and some snowballs

What gives you hope? I hate to sound cliche. But, the kids do.

How often do you get your haircut? I am growing out the Victoria Beckham swisshy haircut....so about every 6-8 weeks.

Describe your worst haircut. Describe? How about some visuals? (This was 1990. ) First, to get my hair that curly, it would take twice the amount of normal perming solution. Then what is up with that spaceship shape of my hair. Friends don't let friend perm!

What's your most treasured piece of jewelry? My wedding ring. Why? It is a symbol of a relationship I have with Husband, the commitment we have to each other.

Fleur-de-Lisa hosts the original Manic Monday here

For muffin Monday, we are almost finished with the cookie recipes we wanted to try. This one is called Pecan Snowballs. (Kind of appropriate, since we are supposed to be slammed with a snowstorm tonight.) Can you see the Littlest Pet Shop animals amongst the silly faced kids? They had to have them in the picture!

1 cup pecans
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups all-purpose flour

*Heat oven to 350° F. Spread the pecans on a rimmed baking sheet and toast for 8 minutes. Let cool and roughly chop.

*With an electric mixer, beat the butter and 1 cup of the sugar until fluffy.

*Mix in the vanilla and almond extracts and salt.

*Gradually add the flour, mixing until just incorporated.

*Mix in the pecans.

*Shape the dough into tablespoon-size balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

*Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

*Transfer half the balls to a second parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them 1 1/2 inches apart.

*Bake until lightly golden, 18 to 22 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes.

*Place 1/2 cup of the sugar in a large bowl. Toss the warm cookies in the sugar and return to the baking sheet. Sift the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar over the cookies before serving.

*Plate and share with friends!

*To Freeze: Instead of refrigerating the balls of dough, freeze them on the baking sheet before storing them in bags for up to 2 months. To bake, follow the recipe instructions, baking from frozen, and use the upper end of the time range. Yield:

Makes 34 cookies
writeNutrient();
NUTRITION PER SERVINGCALORIES 120; FAT 8g (sat 4g); CHOLESTEROL 14mg; CARBOHYDRATE 12g; CALORIES FROM FAT 57%; SODIUM 15mg; PROTEIN 1g; FIBER 1g; SUGAR 6g

Manic Monday and an ooyey gooyey chocolate mistake

Fleur-de-Lisa hosts the original Manic Monday here

What do you do to make yourself feel better when you are sick? Go to the doc if necessary. Take meds, drink water, and rest.

What is the most amazing weather you've ever seen? Hands down, the aurora borealis. The first time I saw it, we still were in a hotel waiting for housing on post. We had lost electricity. We stepped out onto the balcony. It was like green and yellow ribbons floating across the sky. We lived in Fairbanks for almost three years. I never tired of seeing it!

Do you listen to music or talk radio in the car? Depends if I have the kids with me or not. Livi already wants me to crank up "So What" by Pink every time she hears it!

Me: Say cheese, guys. Livi, look at me.

Me: Livi, thanks for looking at me, but try not to look like crazy Jack Nicholson eyes. Will, say chocolate.

Will: oh I love chocolate!
Livi: Are we done yet?


Will: Can we just bake the brownies.

Me: Yes, sweetie, yes, we can.

These fudge brownies are VERY rich. I made the mistake of not letting them cool enough before we frosted them. So the frosting just kind of melted all over them...kind of an oooyey gooyey chocolate mistake. But they were good!

Fudge Brownies:

1/2 c. butter

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate

2 eggs

1 c. sugar

1 t. vanilla

3/4 c. all purpose flour

1/2 c. chopped nuts

1. Grease an 8x8x2 inch baking pan, set aside. In a medium saucepan melt butter and chocolate over low heat. Remove from heat. Stir in eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Using a wooden spoon, beat lightly just until combined. Stir in flour and nuts.

2. Spread batter in prepared baking pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Makes 24 brownies.

3. Top with No-Cook fudge frosting

4. Plate and share with friends.

No-Cook fudge frosting

2 1/2 c. sifted powdered sugar

1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 c. butter

1/6 c. boiling water (use half of a 1/3 measuring cup)

1/2 t. vanilla

1. Combine powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Add butter, boiling water and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined. Beat for 1 minute on medium speed. Cool for 20-30 minutes or till mixture reaches spreadable consistency.

*This is the halved version of the one in the BHG cookbook. The original recipe is way too much for this small pan of brownies.

Muffin Monday....or pastry Wednesday ..take your pick

Muffin Monday was a day late this week. We had Husband's big dawg bosses over for dinner on Monday night. So there was no way I was even going to try to do too much in one day.

Will received a Ratatouille game for his Leapster for Christmas. One of the things they do on the game is put together food items to make various recipes. One of the things they can make is eclairs. Or 'd'clairs' as Will likes to call them. So this week the kids kept saying they wanted to make eclairs for muffin Monday.

We make muffins because I know we can prep, mix and bake....and be done in an HOUR. But he was bent on making them. Okay, okay, put my grouchy mommy attitude away for a bit.

I have NEVER made pastries in my life. But I can follow a recipe. I got out my trusty Better Homes and Garden cookbook. Yeah, yeah yeah. we have water, butter, sugar, flour....let's get on it.

It was actually fairly easy. I am very reluctant to let them cook around the stove, so they really just handed me stuff. They did get to break the eggs into a cup to mix in...but I pretty much made these.

We put a chocolate pudding filling in the inside. Will has issues with texture and did not like the filling in them at all. So, a handful were just pastry with the chocolate glaze.

Overall, very good, I would even say excellent, but very labor intensive. Make pastry....make pudding filling (the bake on the stove kind!!) and then the chocolate glaze.

Ingredients
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1/4 tsp. sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
3/4 cup all-purpose
1/4 cup whole-wheat flour or all-purpose
4 eggs

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet or line with parchment paper; set aside. In a medium saucepan combine water, butter, sugar, and salt. Bring to boiling. Add both flours all at once, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon. Cook and stir until mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat. Cool for 10 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well with a spoon after each addition.

2. Drop dough using a 2-tablespoon-capacity ice cream or cookie scoop or by heaping tablespoonsful 3 inches apart onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a deep golden color and puffs are firm. Transfer puffs to a wire rack; cool completely.

3. Cut puffs in half; if necessary, remove soft dough from inside. Spoon in filling. Replace tops. Sift powdered sugar over tops.

Makes 10 cream puffs.

Eclairs: Prepare as above, except spoon dough into a heavy resealable plastic bag. Snip a bottom corner to make a 1/2-inch opening. Pipe 20 to 22 strips of dough (about 4 inches long) 3 inches apart onto two baking sheets that have been lightly greased or lined with parchment paper. Bake for 30 minutes or until deep golden and firm. Cool and split, as in Steps 2 and 3. Fill eclairs as with the cream puffs. Makes 20 to 22 eclairs.

Thursday 13....favorite muffin recipes

These have been my favorite muffins we have made from Muffin Mondays:

Since I finally finished the entire ABC themed Thursday 13.......I am back to wondering to what to do every week! These are in no particular order....because if they were #6 the Chocolate Chocolate Chip muffins would TOTALLY be first! Here are thirteen favorite muffins and cookies and sweets from the last two years of doing muffin Monday.

Several people have asked how Muffin Monday came about.....Husband deployed in Oct of 2006. The kids were 2 and 3 at the time. Livi had turned two a week after he left. Will was 3 1/2. I was trying to eliminate some of the cookbook clutter I had. I told myself that if I didn't use at least five recipes out of a cookbook, I had to get rid of it. I could copy the recipe into my recipe file and get rid of some clutter.

Oh how I love me some cookbooks! I have several from vacations, some from Junior League groups around the country, and most places we have lived. So in order to kind of cheat and keep some of those cookbooks, I choose to find the simplest recipe in the cookbook. Muffins are quick and easy. I, also really needed to get into a routine to help the time pass.

Will was in preschool every day until 12:30. He didn't nap. That time in the afternoon just before dinner became so hard. I knew we needed to do something to keep busy. When Husband first deployed, we thought it was for a year. Somewhere in there, it was extended to 15 months. That is a long time to be a "pseudo single parent".

So muffin Monday was born. We would make a muffin recipe into 24 mini muffins (sometimes more)...We shared those muffins with two or three neighbors. Each family got half a dozen or so, most of the time, warm out of the oven. The kids loved delivering them...we had so much fun baking them.

Now at ages 4 and 5, both kids know muffins are basically some dry stuff (flour and sugar) and wet stuff (eggs and something else)....we mix it all together and have a little plate of happiness to share.

Enough rambling......each of these has the recipe on the link.

1. Pumpkin Chocolate chip muffins
2. Lemon Ricotta muffins
3. Blueberry yogurt muffins
4. Blonde brownies
5. Chocolate chip banana
6. Chocolate Chocolate chip muffin
7. Apple Spice Crumb muffin
8. Tropical Nut muffin
9. Ginger Pear muffin
10. Fudge
11. Faux turtles
12. Peanut Butter Cream Sandwich cookies
13. Amish Ginger Cookies

Happy Thursday. y'all!

Manic Monday and snowman cookies

Manic Monday is hosted by the talented fleur-de-lisa

What is the most expensive meal you've ever eaten? I don't think I can choose just one.....

Boulevard in downtown San Francisco near the waterfront is wonderful!

The Brasserie in OH where I had a dirty little secret

The Princess Cruise lines have an awesome restaurant in Denali National Park. I had halibut cheeks there.....oh my...heavenly to say the least.

What is the fastest speed you've ever traveled in a car? I am a wimp...maybe 80. That was definitely before kids.

What is the highest building you've ever been to the top floor of? laughing here...I think my dorm at OU. Or that big tower at Six Flags.

Skipped muffin Monday again in lieu of snowman cookies. I did this snack activity at the kids' preschool, so I had to use store-bought cookies. Using store bought cookies, the kids frosted the cookies. I had all the snowman parts in a little cupcake liner. M&M for the eyes, an orange jelly bean for the "carrot" nose, red licorice rope for the ear muff around the head and smile, and gummy lifesavers for the ear muff covers. These were way too sweet for me, but the kids loved them!

Happy Monday, y'all.....

Thematic Photographic- sweet muffins

Carmi at Written Inc has a Thematic Photographic of sweet

We made some sweet muffins today. Yes, I know it is not Monday.....but Monday was way too hectic. Between our house blessing and gymnastics, we ran out of time. Although from start to finish is Muffin Monday usually only takes an hour or so, maybe a little more with clean up. But I am raising these kids up right: as soon as we are finished with an ingredient, we put it back where it belongs. If it is in the pantry, we go over there and put it away. I have even moved some of the baking things (baking powder, baking soda, etc on a lower shelf just so they can put them away). Anyhow....we made some muffins the kids saw in Parents Magazine: Pear-Bear muffins . They used a spice cake mix and added a few things. I can't bring myself to use a cake mix for much EXCEPT the Chocolate Chocolate chip cake and/or muffins ...

So....

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (we use 3/4 c. whole wheat, 1/2 c. all-purpose flour)
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 3/4 cups shredded Golden Delicious apple (we used Fugi apples, since that is what we had in the fridge)
3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Cooking spray
2 teaspoons sugar ***we left this out since we were making the "mouse faces"
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon ***we left this out since we were making the "mouse faces"

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°.

Combine first 8 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Combine apple, buttermilk, oil, and egg in a bowl; stir well. Add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moist.
Divide batter evenly among 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. We added the pear ears here. The chocolate chips eyes and nose are put on after they cool for 5 minutes. The cheeks are sliced almonds. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until golden. Remove from pans immediately.

Plate and share with friends. I am sure they will they will love the sweet surprise! The kids called them "mouse muffins"

Happy Tuesday, y'all!

Manic Monday....and some more cookies

Manic Monday is hosted by the talented fleur-de-lisa

Do you ever talk to yourself out loud? Sometimes

What do you talk about? I am most likely saying, "Oh crap!" about something. But with Pete and Repeat never far behind, I have to watch what I am saying.

What stresses you out? When things don't go according to my plan. I am a planner...I have lists....schedules ....and routines. While I can handle it usually, I do not like it!

What are your secret talents? I can pinch with my toes...does that count?

Still in the mode of cookies....we made Peanut Butter Cream Sandwich cookies for muffin Monday. While they were absolutely delicious, they are very rich! Livi showing some love to the ingredients. Anything that has marshmellow cream has got to be good. This is out of this month's Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

Ingredients

1/2 cup chunky peanut butter (we used creamy)
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Granulated sugar
1 recipe Peanut Cream Filling, below

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In bowl beat peanut butter and shortening with electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, egg and vanilla. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl. Beat in baking soda, salt, and as much flour as you can. Stir in any remaining flour.

2. Form dough into balls, using a level teaspoon each. (I use the smallest Pampered Chef scoop.)Place 1-1/2 inches apart on ungreased or parchment-lined baking sheets. Flatten by making crisscross marks with tines of fork dipped in sugar. (We didn't dip in sugar...they have plenty of sugar in them!)

3. Bake 7 to 8 (ours took 10 minutes) minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheet 1 minute. Transfer to wire rack; cool.

4. Spread one teaspoon Peanut Cream Filling on flat side of half of cookies. Top with remaining cookies. Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days. Freeze unfilled cookies up to 1 month. Makes about 4 dozen sandwich cookies.

Peanut Cream Filling:In medium bowl whisk together 3/4 cup chunky peanut butter, 3/4 cup marshmellow creme, 3 tablespoons milk, 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; and 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin. Gradually whisk in 3 tablespoons powdered sugar. (We did NOT put cumin in this cream. I swear that has to be a typo.....but that is what it says in the recipe.)

5. Plate and share with friends.

Manic Monday and a little muffin too

Manic Monday is hosted by the talented fleur-de-lisa

How many hours of TV do you watch per week? It is usually on in the evening. I DVR pretty much everything I can watch. But I have to have my dose of trash reality TV.

Do you feel that's too much, not enough or just right? Just right

Which of the 5 senses do you feel is your strongest sense? hands down, smell....

What's the wackiest belief you held as a child? that my imaginary friend, "my teacher" said ruled...even if it was different than what my mom told me


Cranberry-Pecan muffins





1 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/4 c. quick cooking rolled oats
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. ground cinnamon or apple pie spice
1/4 t. salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 c. fat free milk
1/2 c. sugar
3T. canola oil
1/2 c dried cranberries (I used craisins), coarsely chopped
1/4 c. walnuts, toasted and chopped (I used pecans)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat 12 2 1/2 inch muffin cups with non stick spray or line with paper baking cups, set aside.

2.In a large bowl, combine all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In a medium bowl combine egg, milk, sugar, and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to the flour mixture, stir just until combined. Fold in cranberries and toasted nuts. Spoon into prepared muffin cups.

3. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until tops are lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool muffins in pan fir 5 minutes. Remove from pan, serve warm.





4. Share with friends and neighbors.

**Notes: we made these in the acorn pan. It only took 13 minutes to bake. We did not "glue" them together with any kind of cream. It made 25 of the little acorn muffins.

These are really good muffins, not too sweet. Cranberries just scream November and thanksgiving to me. This recipe is from the Oct Better Homes and Garden issue.

Manic and a Muffin Monday

Manic Monday is hosted by Fleur de Lisa

What is the greatest value that guides your life? Loyalty......to my husband, to my children, to my family and friends. I would like to think I make a difference in a small way in this world. Starting with those closest to me guides those choices I make daily.

Fill in the blank: If I could be anybody besides myself, I would be still me but with a full time chef, massuese, and trainer....Can I answer it that way? Sure I can, it's my blog.

What is one item in your house that you should really throw out but probably never will? I am certain it is the ball gowns I wore to formal events from BEFORE I had kids. Like I am ever going to fit into those again! Maybe I will freecycle them....okay, maybe not!

For muffin Monday, we had a little surprise. My old neighbor Brandt at Wait4thenews was passing through town on her way to Maine. She and my other neighbor A were the happy receipents of our muffins the entire time we made them in Texas.

**above pic is from Williams-Sonoma ***

My mother-in-law sent us this adorable acorn cakelet pan. With a little cream cheese frosting you can join two halves to make a three dimensional acorn. She was here while the second batch came out of the oven.

Acorn Cakelets

For the cakelets:

1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour (we use 1c whole wheat, 1/4 c all purpose)

1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. ground cinnamon

1/4 t. ground ginger

1/8 t. ground cloves

1/2 c milk

3/4 t. vanilla extract

8 T (one stick) unsalted butter

1/2 c maple sugar (we used brown sugar)

1/4 c. granulated sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten

For the frosting to "glue" them together:

2T. unsalted butter

2 oz cream cheese

3T maple sugar

1 1/2 c. confectioners' sugar

For the glaze

1/4 c granulated sugar

1/4 c. maple syrup

1T water

1T bourbon

Coarse raw sugar for decorating

*Have all the ingredients at room temperature.

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour the acorn cakelet pan (I used Pam and flour), tap out excess flour.

*Mix together the dry ingredients in a bowl: flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, finger and cloves, set aside.

*In an small bowl, whisk together the milk and vanilla. Set aside.

*In a bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy and smooth, about 30 seconds. Add the maple sugar and granulated sugar and continue beating until light and fluffy (3-5 min). Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

*Alternate adding flour and milk mixture to butter mixture, until all combined.

*Spoon 1T. ( I use a tiny ice cream scoop) into each well of the prepared pan. Bake about 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let the cakelets cool in the pan for 15 minutes.

Using a serrated knife, gently saw off any portion of the cakelet that rose above the edge of the pan. Tap the pan gently on the work surface to loosen the cakelet. Place a wire rack over the top of the pan, invert the pan onto the rack and lift off the pan. Repeat for any remaining batter. Any wells that aren't filled with batter, I always add a bit of water in them. It helps the other cakelets to cook evenly. (PS, Brandt told me to add that!)

To assemble the cakelets, spread about 1/2 t. frosting in between two cakelets. Plate and share with a friend...

**Note, despite living very near the Bourbon Trail, I did not make the bourbon glaze. I didn't even sprinkle them with the sugar. Since children would be consuming these, it didn't make sense. Also this is a dry county!

These were really good!

Delivered by a Princess, lemon muffins

No Manic Monday since the talented Fleur-de-Lisa is on vacation. So all I have is some muffins. We made these before ....Lemon-Ricotta muffins. These are the Food Network's Favorites cookbook. It is in the Giada De Laurentis section.



Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour (we use 1c. wheat 1c. all purpose)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar or more as needed for sprinkling
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest (from 2 lemons)
1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
1 large egg
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/3 cup thinly sliced almonds
Directions
Line 12 muffin cups

Directions
Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl to blend. Using an electric mixer, beat 1 cup sugar, butter, and lemon zest in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in the ricotta. Beat in the egg, lemon juice, and almond extract. Add the dry ingredients and stir just until blended (the batter will be thick and fluffy).

Divide the batter among the prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle the almonds and then the remaining 1 teaspoon of sugar over the muffins. Bake until the muffins just become pale golden on top, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

I have a nut allergy, so we substitute an imitation almond extract and leave off the almonds.

These are really good...very light and fluffy. But then again, with a stick of butter what isn't?

A princess delivered these today! She looks like she is turning her nose up at these....but I snapped the shot in mid- "cheese". This dress up outfit came with click clack shoes as well. She walks better in heels than I do!

Happy Monday, y'all.

Manic and a muffin Monday

is hosted by Fleur de Lisa

What is one thing you admire about each of your parents? My mom is so laid back, she takes things in stride without letting much ruffle her feathers! I grew up with just my mom, so I can't say I admire anything about my dad.

Which parts of your home do you like best? This home: I love the dining room.

Which would you prefer and why? To have every stoplight turn green upon your arrival for the rest of your life or to have one week of the best sex any person ever had? I like Lisa's answer: "I don’t mind waiting at red lights."

Today we made carrot mini-loaves.



3/4 cup grated carrot

1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour

1 t. cinnamon

3/4 t. salt

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. baking powder

1/4 t. ground ginger

1/4 t. ground cloves

2/3 c. sugar

1/4 c canola oil

1/4 c. vanilla fat-free yogurt

1 large egg

1 large egg white

Cooking spray



1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Shred carrot.

3.Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, level with a knife. Combine whole wheat flour and next 6 ingredients (through cloves) in a large bowl. Combine carrot, sugar, and the next 4 ingredients in a small bowl (through egg white). Stir. Add carrot mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until combined.



4. Pour batter into an 8-inch loaf pan coated with a cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until a wooden pick comes out clean. Cool bread in pan for 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut bread into 12 slices.



**We made this into four mini loaves. It took the mini loaves about 35 minutes to cook. ...we did let it cool 10 minutes on the rack...but then devoured the rest! **



These would be absolutely wonderful as a mini muffin with a little cream cheese frosting cap....Note to self: get sis-in-law M's cream cheese frosting recipe!

These would also be great with a nut, either a walnut or pecans.

Manic Monday....and Will's favorite muffin

is hosted by Fleur de Lisa

What is the most useful gift you’ve ever been given? I have a great zippered organizer I got when I was planning our wedding. I think I might have to pull that back out again.

Name the most terrifying moment of your life so far. When Will was born his cord was wrapped around his neck. He was blue and it took them a bit to get him to breathe. I was on some serious meds to lower my blood pressure, I vaguely remember it. But that horrible feeling is still there.

One hot summer afternoon, while walking through a parking lot at a large shopping center, you notice a dog suffering badly from the heat inside a locked car. What would you do? I would call the police.

We had to welcome fall with Will's favorite muffins: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins

3/4 c. white sugar

1/4 c. vegetable oil

2 eggs

3/4 c. canned pumpkin

1/4 c. water

1 1/2 c. all purpose flour (we use 1 c. whole wheat 1/2 c. all-purpose)

3/4 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/4 t. ground cloves

1/2 t. ground cinnamon

1/4 t. salt

1/4 t. ground nutmeg

1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips (we use the mini chips for the mini muffins)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease and flour muffin pan.

Mix sugar, oil, eggs. Add pumpkin and water. In separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices and salt. Add wet mixture to dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chops.

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake in mini muffin pan 11-12 minute. (Regular muffin pan:20-25 minutes)

Share with friends and enjoy.

Monday: Manic and muffins

Blueberry-yogurt muffins, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

If you could take more control of one aspect of your life, what would it be? To want to get up and exercise once the kids are off to school.

If you were to name the difference between the male soul and the female soul, what would it be? For me, I think it would be the details. While Husband is looking to protect, provide, and take care of us. I am trying to do the little things that make life more comfy and flow more easily.

If you had to admit the most selfish thing you do on a regular basis, what would you say it is? Sleep in on Sundays. Husband gets up with the kids and makes pancakes and sausage with them. He is so good about keeping the quiet or taking them to the playroom in the basement. I really do look forward to it!

Now for a little Muffin Monday. We made Blueberry-yogurt muffins with berries we picked in OH at my in-laws. We brought back at least a gallon sized baggie and froze them. So the neighbors should consider themselves very lucky to be getting a tiny share of our stash! This is the first time I have ever let Livi lick the bowl. I am paranoid that she will catch some dreaded disease. I have fond memories of fighting with my brother and sister over who would get one of the hand mixer attachments or the bowl!

Will doesn't like blueberries, so he got a sugar-free pudding cup...(a little habit we picked up in Oklahoma!)

2 c. all-purpose flour (we use half wheat flour, half all-purpose)

1 t. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

1/3 c. sugar

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/4 c. unsweetened orange juice

2T. vegetable oil

1t. vanilla extract

1 (8oz) carton low fat vanilla yogurt

1c. fresh or frozen blueberries, thawed

Cooking spray

1 T sugar

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in the center of the mixture. Combine egg and next 4 ingredients; add to dry ingredients. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. (This is a very dry batter....you almost want to add more liquid...but DON'T). Gently fold in the blueberries. (I didn't even thaw mine. They hold up better in the baking process and won't turn the batter blue either.)

Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. (We use a 24 cup mini muffin pan and still have enough leftover to make some in a heart shaped muffin pan that has six cups.) Sprinkle 1T sugar evenly over batter. (We forgot to do this....these are not a very sweet muffin, so I am sure this can only make them that much better!) Bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes (ten minutes for mini) or until golden. Remove from pan immediately; cool on wire rack.

Plate and share with neighbors!

Manic and a muffin monday

What sound or noise do you love? well, at night I have to use my "sleep music"....<----basically rain and ocean sounds with soft background music.....it puts me to sleep most nights. What sound or noise do you hate? the sound of a kid getting ready to barf in the backseat....that little gurgle just before the back of your car smells like the worst kind of ick!

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? own and run a bed and breakfast....kind of like a Muffin Monday all the time

What profession would you not like to do? cleaning cars with kid barf, so a car detailing shop.



We celebrated a late birthday for Will. We had cupcakes with chocolate frosting....what more could a bunch of cousins under five want?

I still can't believe my little boy is five. Seems just like yesterday he was smaller than new baby cousin J.

We baked our first muffin Monday in OH......lemon blueberry with blueberries picked from Grandpa and Grandma's bushes. Livi ate as many, if not more, than she picked.

Cousin S, the new big brother was loving the muffins. Can you see cousin E's little piggies?? He was stealing her muffin and she was none to happy.

Happy Monday, y'all.



should I start a count down to the big day? No, not the move in day, there is a BIGGER day a coming?

Manic and Muffin Monday.....apple spice crumb muffins

Manic and Muffin Monday.....apple spice crumb muffins. Manic Monday brought to us by the talented Fleur-de-Lisa.

Who is the black sheep in your family/group? Probably my brother, he was the wild child.

If you were a character from a book, what character would you be? Cinderella....okay maybe I wasn't a step-sister, but I did marry the handsome prince.

What's your favorite accent? Well, I do like mine.....a bit Southern, okay, a lot southern!

We made apple spice crumb muffins that were from a Longaberger mix. (Thanks to Husband's mom, Meg!) I don't usually like mixes, but they were really wonderful. We used the Williams-Sonoma Railway pan.

Now for the flower.......it is halfway in the picture.....BECAUSE, we are halfway there.........we SOLD OUR HOUSE!!!

WHOO HOO!! Well, half way because they accepted our counter offer. Now I am in the "getting-ready-to-PCS" mode. Hence the reason for using the Longaberger muffin mix.....I am trying to get rid of all that stuff in the pantry.

Happy Monday. y'all