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!