The Best Muffins EVER

I think I've at least mentioned these babies before- they are the BOMB- and quick to whip up! Give them a whirl and let me know what you think! I literally make them @ least 1x per week:)
I did a recent pantry clean out and put all of my dry ingredients into these lovely glass containers we used for a candy bar @ our wedding. (one of my new years goals was to keep clean spaces clean- this is progress toward that goal!) These guys have been sitting on a shelf in our basement for 7+ years- I thought it was  a good use for them and my pantry looks so much neater!!!)
Back to the muffs- this recipe is adapted from my Mom's banana bread recipe and is super versatile.  You can do various omissions/substitutions and they always come out great! I have been editing and revising over the past year in an attempt at getting them healthier and more breakfast friendly- here's the latest version:


You will need: flour (I like whole wheat pastry combined with white whole wheat), oat bran, sugar, bananas, yogurt, grapeseed oil (more on that later), egg, vanilla,  baking soda and powder, sea salt, and cocoa (not pictured).

First I blend the bananas (2- the softer the better), with the sugar- which seems to help it mash up.

I mix it till it's fairly lump-free

Then I add in the other wet ingredients- oil, 1 egg, yogurt (any kind is fine- I use plain typically, sour cream would work too), vanilla.

Back to the oil- I have recently switched from "vegetable" or canola oil to grapeseed oil.  This switch was prompted by my recent attendance at a dinner demo by the lovely Terry Walters- author of Clean Food/Clean Start (I've mentioned Clean Food before on the blog in regards to kombu added to cooking grains.)  This is a way that I am moving toward less processed foods- and a quick and easy fix.  I get the grapeseed oil @ Trader Joe's- it's similar in price to olive oil and is a nice light oil perfect for baked goods...

Once that's combined I add in the dry ingredients- flour,oat bran, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt. 

Disperse it evenly into a greased (with grapeseed oil again) muffin tin- and pop it into a 325 degree oven for 16 min (check the doneness with a toothpick)

Perfecto!

Oooohhh- and totally divine with a touch of nice salty, melty butter.....

Banana Bran Muffins

2 ripe bananas

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup yogurt

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg

1/2 cup grape seed oil

11/4 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup oat bran

1/2 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/3 cup cocoa

optional (nuts, coconut, chocolate chips, dried fruit)

Combine bananas and sugar- blend until free of lumps.  Add in yogurt, egg, vanilla, oil- precess until combined.  Add in flour, oat bran, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder- blend until combined. Divide evenly among 12 muffin cups- bake at 325 degrees- 16 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

On another note:

I am presently posting on location- visiting a good friend and her lovely babes in PA.  I'm very grateful for her central AC and pool in this heat wave we seem to be having:)

I will be back tomorrow with a trip recap- as well as and BLOG ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY!!!!! Stay tuned!

Heat+Humidity+Bugs=Unfairly Crabby Mommy

ENOUGH with the negativity...I am leaving it behind in the title of this post, and despite my mood, and guilt for a crabby-mommy day I'm gonna focus on some positives going on lately in these parts.

(Although, I will quickly say this- the pest control guy today informed me that the only US state where termites DO NOT live is Alaska- that, plus the cooler temps= Hannah's heaven)

#1

I have been trying a new healthy eating/exercise routine which is pretty motivating (thanks E)!  and with it , a recipe that I finally got around to trying this week that I'd like you share with y'all is these homemade Lara bars- you know- the raw food bars that cost an arm and a leg and are super delicious???? Well- Tracy over at Shutterbean posted this brilliant idea/recipe to make them from scratch....so I did

and they are TO DIE FOR, and packed with raw protein-fiber goodness.  I'm keeping mine in the fridge wrapped in individual wax paper squares.  I used her basic nut/date ratio (x2) and here's what I came up with for a recipe for my Choco Coco Cherry Bars- YUMMMMMY!

2 cups almonds (unsalted raw)
1 cup walnuts
1 lb (or so) pitted dates)
1 cup coconut (organic, unsweetened)
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/4 cup raw cocoa powder

I combined everything in my food processor, and grinded the heck of it- until it was a good consistency- pressed it all into an 8"x8" wax paper-lined baking dish, and stuck it in the fridge till firm.  Then I sliced them up- into about 16-20 chunks (VERY thick), and individually wrapped them in wax paper squares.
#2
 I finished a new painting today.  What do you think?  It might be divine on my gray living room walls...

it sort of reminds me of the very first piece in this series....

#3
another good thing...flowers in bloom.
We have 1 Peony bush and 1 Mountain Laural bush in our front yard- and they are both in full bloom this week- and I for one, am loving it!!!

we spent some time out front today while waiting for a storm, where we had some sibling photo shoot time...

and a favorite performance

("The lion says roar, the cat says fiddle-dee-dee")

and we ended up with a few sprinkles...

Some days it's really hard being a Mommy- and still keeping it together when life is overwhelming.  But as I lay here on their bed- watching them fall asleep- I can only hope that tomorrow I will have more patience (and less humidity) and I realize, that today was really not that bad...and I am so very grateful for my little angels.