Baby Muffins

I like to keep small healthy things to eat in the house. I often send little bags of items to my husband's office so there will be something right next to him that fills the need and isn't too bad for him. It also helps to save money. I got this recipe for Apple Muffins from the King Arthur Flour website. I have listed my changes at the bottom. I always make the recipe exactly as directed the first time and play around with it every time after that.

Apple Muffins

These dark, moist muffins will keep well for several days. You don't even need to heat them up to enjoy them, which makes them a perfect after-school snack. The brown sugar sprinkled on top adds a crunchy touch, for all you muffin top lovers out there.

1 cup King Arthur 100% White Whole Wheat Flour
1 cup King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick, 4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed ( will be used in 2 parts)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup (8 ounces) buttermilk (or low fat yogurt)
2 large apples, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Grease and flour a 12 cup muffin tin and set aside.

Mix together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon, and set aside. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and add the granulated sugar and 1/4 cup of the brown sugar. Beat until fluffy. Add the egg and mix well; stop once to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.Mix in the buttermilk gently. (If you over-mix, the buttermilk will cause the mixture to curdle.) Stir in the dry ingredients and fold in the apple chunks.

Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, sprinkling the remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar on top. Bake for 10 minutes, turn the heat down to 400°F, and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool the muffins for 5 minutes in the tin, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Yield: 12 muffins or 24 mini muffins.

Suggested changes: use 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce, add 1 tbsp ground flax seeds, bake at 400 degrees the whole time, sprinkle some cinnamon on top with the bit of brown sugar, add a little vanilla to the wet mixture, I used 3/4 tsp. and I added 1/2 cup of raisins that I soaked in some warm water and then drained.

Sneaking in Those Vegies

Ben likes chicken a lot and he pretends to eat his vegetables. But once he is finished eating, I find a lot of them neatly tucked under him in his high chair. He has a rear full of cucumber at least 3 times a week. This recipe worked well, had a lot of vegies in it and was tasty.

Chicken Kebabs with Zucchini

350 grams ground chicken breast (about 3/4 a lb)
1/2 a small onion finely diced
half a small zucchini finely grated
half a carrot finely grated
6 saltines or similar crackers crushed
1/2 tsp dijon mustard
1/2 tsp low sodium soy sauce
some fresh ground pepper
2 tsp finely grated parmesan

Toss all ingredients together in a bowl. Heat oven to 375. Press small amount into a kebab/log shape and bake until done about 12 minutes. You should get 5 or 6 kebabs from this recipe. Alternatively, you can bake these as meatballs or poach them in low-sodium chicken broth if you don't want to turn on the oven. It made enough for 5 meals and froze well. Next time I make them I will take a picture.

Spring Has Sprung

Spring Break is hours away from starting. I have this urge to decorate the house with tulips, depression glass and something Easter-y. Not a word, I know. What is it about the end of term that makes me need a makeover especially a pedicure? I am about 2 have two weeks at home with my little guy and I am going to pull it all together. Lots of time at the playground and lots of newspapers and lattes. My home projects include a new wreath for the front door, a new setup for the buffet in the dining room and to setup the front hall table like my favorite bloggers.

Happy Spring!

I am a Bad Blogger

I have the best of intentions, really, I do. I think of all these things to write and then I don't do it. The baby goes to bed and I am maybe 5 minutes behind him, flossing so I don't feel guilty but I have never wanted to sleep so much in my life and even if I get a good few hours in a row, all I can think about is how much I am looking forward to the next time. This can't be good.

I am getting excited about Obama and I hope he can keep his momentum and his lead and win. I have spent way too much time talking my mom out of her original "oh, she's refreshing" opinion of Sarah Palin. Not sure why I care, not like we can vote in that election but somehow I just had to convince her that it's just not right to support a woman who in so many ways sends women back instead of forward.

I have been using the slow cooker lately and tried a new recipe yesterday that totally rocks. Chicken, salsa, peanut butter, ginger and garlic. I know, sounds gross, but it all melts together and is so good that I was sad when it was done. I invited my family over for dinner this weekend which will make me clean the house, it's not too bad right now, and I am going to try this recipe on them and see how it goes.

Pretty Much an Addiction

I'm not sure how this happened but I am addicted to U.S. politics. I don't want to live in the U.S. ( no offense, I do love to shop there) but I want to vote so badly I can taste it. I haven't wanted anything this badly since Isaac Mizrahi snakeskin pumps were marked down at Nordstrom Rack. And I want to donate money, which I can't but I would happily eat beans and rice and donate the rest if I could. I wish Canadian politics moved me in the same way. I find it hard to care and I shouldn't.

I have taught about and studied the American system for years and its flaws. But they got something sort of right. You vote for your president. Maybe the Electoral College skews it but you get to vote for your person and put your ballot to it. In Canada, we don't get to do that and I think we should. There is something powerful about seeing that name, going to vote to show your support for that candidate and supporting and cheering them on.

I want Barack Obama to win. I am addicted to Time Magazine's "Swampland"and get a little distressed if it hits my email late. I can feel the contagious pulse of the Democratic movement and the rustling of the grassroots groundswell and I want to be part of it. I wished I was in Denver to hear his speech; I wanted to cheer on Michelle. I wonder how many other people, like me sitting on the sidelines, are watching the American political scene, understanding how it effects the world, and want to jump up and shake America and say, " Can't you see???"

Change is not only something to believe in; it is essential. I wonder if you can buy a US ballot of eBay.

To My TV and Our New Level of Commitment

OK, the Olympics, that was understandable especially all the swimmers in those low cut suits. And even the gymnastics with the little Chinese girls competing before they hit puberty and had hips. And then the track and field - the amazing women's pole vaulting ( how do they do that) and the running. I get the appeal of all of that even though I watched more TV in those 2 weeks than in the last 7 months. But, now, seriously, the Democratic convention? And what's with these hormones that make me tear up every time they show the mom shot? I cried during Joe's Biden's speech for goodness sake, I better not be pregnant.

And I cried yesterday during a long distance commercial. I peed on a stick so it can't be possible.

What is it about when the weather turns cooler and the TV comes on? I am going to read books, good books and maybe join a reading club ( I hope they have dessert) and do things that are good for my mind.

It may be August but autumn is here, there's no denying it.

Post Baby Hair and Ina

The baby is up at dawn and Ina Garten is making pear and apple crisp on TV. I want to go to her house for dinner. I will be like Jeffrey and say, "This is the best dinner ever", so she will cook for me again. I am going to talk to her about making more side dishes. I think people like a little choice.

OK, so the baby is 7 months old now. How come my hair still sucks? It was falling out for a while, then it slowed way down and now I am going bald again. What's the deal? I don't get to sleep, at least let me have some hair! It's curly/frizzy and when I put product in, more comes out. I am either frizzy with hair or smooth and balding. I am feeling like George Costanza.

Please let this baby go back to bed soon. 5 hours is not enough.