Mmmm, Muffins...

Muffin Monday!

I recently had a huge Muffin Fail. I have often thought that it might be nice to have a savory muffin so when I found a recipe for Olive, Goat Cheese and Rosemary Muffins I couldn't wait to make them. The Bear and I love all those flavors so how could things possibly go wrong right?

Well trust me, the can go terribly wrong. After assembling all the ingredients with care I eagerly awaited for the timer to go off. The smell was mouth watering. I patiently waited for them to cool enough so that I could shove one in my mouth! The moment finally came and the muffin was promptly shoved.

BLAH!

IT TASTED LIKE WALL PAPER PASTE!

How was that possible? I did everything right. I wonder some times if these magazines even test the recipes before they publish them.

Hanging my head in disappointment there was nothing to do but walk away with my unsatisfied muffin shaped hole.

___________________________________________

Cranberries to the Rescue!

The next morning I was desperate to fill that muffin shaped hole in my belly so I searched the pantry to see what kind of muffins I could whip up.

SUCCESS!

As a matter of fact, such a success that Fabulous Foodie Friend Jennifer requested the recipe!

Cranberry Pecan Muffins

(my personal version of this recipe)

(makes 1 Dozen)

1/2 Cup Butter, softened

1 Cup Sugar

2 Eggs

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 Cup 2% Plain Greek Yogurt

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Fresh Grated Nutmeg (ground in the jar is just not the same)

1/4 tsp Salt

1 heaping Cup Frozen Cranberries, slightly thawed and course chopped

1/2 Cup Pecans, chopped

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees

• In a mixing bowl, cream Butter and Sugar.
• Add Eggs one at a time, beating well.
• Add Vanilla
• Fold in Yogurt
• In a separate bowl combine Flour, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Nutmeg and Salt.
• Stir in Flour mixture to creamed mixture until moist.
• Fold in Cranberries and Pecans.
• Pour mixture into a greased muffin pan.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 mins or until toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool 5 mins before removing from a pan and cool on a wire rack.

These muffins didn't last long around here that's for sure. They would be great to send with your loved ones to enjoy during their morning commute.

What's your favorite muffin flavor?

Let's Play A Game...

Can you find the Blanket Bug?

Look closely or you'll miss it ;-)

Aw, there it is!

We play this game all day every day because you can't take a step or sit on a couch without first knowing if a Blanket Bug is hiding there already.

Do you have any Blanket Bugs in your house?

Socks...

Self Portrait Friday

The concept that a "Self Portrait" doesn't have to be a picture of your face is one that fascinates me. What makes me, me? If I had to take a picture that represented a part of "me" what might that be?

Socks!

Let's start with socks. I love socks. Fun Socks, toe socks, striped socks, knee socks, etc.

I am so known for socks that I was given the nickname Socks by my best friends.

Socks can take an ordinary outfit and make it an extraordinary statement! I'm not one to walk about life anonymous or understated and socks are one way to make a personal statement.

If I were a museum, this would be just one of many many exhibits.

What kind of Non Self Portrait Portrait would you be?

Green Eggs...

I dedicate this post to my lovies that are dancin their arses off today in Ireland!

In the words of my favorite Irishman...

"It's like Christmas Morning...but without the presents and turkey dinner"

So my dears I dedicate this all Green Post to you!

What's a girl to do when she finds herself home alone with some hard boiled eggs, food coloring and sunshine?

That's right! Let's make Green Eggs!

Oh you can't just make one kind of Green. We shall have three.

Soaking, soaking. Tick Tock Tick Tock.

What is your favorite thing to do on this glorious Patty's Day?

Missing my lovies somethin awful. Big Irish hugs go out across the pond.

Sunshine Out and In...

Walkie Wednesday

"I am emerging from my cocoon and everything seems shiny and new." Me

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." Marcel Proust

During the last couple months it seems like one thing after another conspired to keep me under the weather and yearning for my energy to return. Everything form a mystery rash to the Flu followed by a loverly cold kept the sunshine from my brain. Well I'm happy to report that I'm back baby! And there's no stopping me.

Have you ever noticed that one day you'll wake up and the world seems different? The angle of the sun has changed, the light casts a warm glow despite the still cool temperatures and you feel like stretching and opening a window even if for only a moment.

Do one better, slip on that hoodie, grab your camera and step out the door. The early morning light plays magic on the frosty world.

Even the path you might walk every day changes with each passing minute. As the light moves and morphs the landscape winter becomes just another favorite sweater folded one last time and put away till next year.

If I never stepped out my door I would never have met this wise wonderful woman. Yes, she's a woman, just look at those beautiful curves. Oh the seasons she has seem come and go.

Just one walk around your own familiar neighborhood can change your whole day. Step outside, take a deep breath and feel the sunshine filter into your brain. I promise, you won't regret it.