* Exported from MasterCook *

Banana Walnut Muffins


Serving Size : 16 Preparation Time :0:10
Categories: Bread/Breakfast

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup walnuts -- chopped
1/2 cup wheat germ, toasted
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg -- gound
2 large banana -- mashed
3/4 cup milk
5 tablespoons butter -- melted
1 large egg

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Fit 12 muffin cups with paper liners. *
• Mix flour, walnuts, wheat germ, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg in large bowl. Stir in bananas, milk, butter and egg. Mix just until blended.
• Fill muffin cups evenly with batter. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, if desired.
• Bake muffins until a skewer inserted into centers comes out clean, 20-22 minutes. Cool 1 minute, then remove from the muffin pan and cool on a wire rack.

Source:
"Easy to Bake - card"
Yield:
"16 "
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving: 179 Calories; 9g Fat (45.0% calories from fat); 5g Protein; 20g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 25mg Cholesterol; 207mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 Grain(Starch); 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 Fruit; 0 Non-Fat Milk; 1 1/2 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.

Serving Ideas :

Fresh Fruit
Yogurt

NOTES :

* I did not use liners, simply sprayed each cup wiht cooking spray.

Growing up my dad would always buy these when we went on vacation that was one of our special treats.

I remember when they first hit the market (shh!); they were what everyone talked about and wanted to try.

We introduced the boys to them a few years ago and every so often they will ask for some, today was one of those days.

Just a day of simple family fun.

:D

I have to admit that I really like to do laundry but I do not like to put laundry away.

When the boys were small I would always put their items away, no big deal.

I longed for the day when the boys would be old enough to put their own away.

Then as they grew up I asked them to put their socks, underwear, shirts away. (at appropriate ages)
There was an issue of getting their pants on the hangers without looking like they were mangled, I kept that job.

I trusted them to put their shirts on hangers, socks in drawers and underwear neatly away.

Uh... yeah...

That was until I kept finding shirts tossed on the floor, socks tossed all about and underwear balled up in Nate's room. Let's just say it was not a pretty talk.

I knew I needed to come up with a new plan that would work.

I asked for all hangers as I did the laundry and placed their items on hangers as needed.

They simply have to hang it up in their closet and you know it is working!

No more grumbling.

No more crumpled and wrinkled clothes!

Such a simple solution for doing my kids laundry and I am one happy camper again. :)

Uh, yeah....

I really did have a bird fly into my hair today.

*shudder*

I can still hear the sound the wings made so loud and clear.

Ick!

It was fluffing my hair to get into it.

Ugh!

Sort of reminded me of a Family Guide Episode where Peter has a family of birds in his beard.

Stress sort of....


My bird issue sort of tops that Palmetto bug that decided to enter the house, cross the treated barrier and scuttle across Spencer's foot this morning.

Eewwww!

or

The squirrel that has decided to make a nice lunch/dinner out of our soffits and fascia which I had to scramble the ladder up and rig some wood patches up to deter the &^#*! animal.

Yeah, it was a banner of a day.

Flash back....

Do you recall this great little Schoolhouse Rock tune?
(It was redone by Blind Melon later.)



Anywho... 3 is not the magic number in this house currently.

I have 3 men sick in the house all at once.

Help!

Alright, you normally see golf carts on golf courses, right?!

Well, if you live here is SC it is not uncommon to see one on the road.

Yep, for real.

The first time I saw one (5 yrs ago), I was waiting in line to pick up Spencer from K5 (AKA Kindergarten).

I noticed two golf carts in line waiting with the rest of us.

Huh?! How can that be?

I inquired to DH; he just laughed and said, "No way."

Uh. Yeah. Really.

Too weird.

In our neighborhood it is not uncommon to see kids (age 10, 13 or 16) zipping around on a golf cart.

So today I was checking out our local news online and there I spotted it....

New Law would Allow Golf Carts on Highways

(small print is that you would be able to drive on secondary roads within 5 mi of their homes, drive only in daylight, pay $5 for a permit, and must have drivers license & insurance.)

You have got to be kidding me.

Does any other state allow this?

I have finally made and decorated sugar cookies the proper way.

Oh Happy Day!

I have a blog to thank for this accomplishment... Bake at 350.

I stumbled across this wonderful blog one day while blog hopping and saw her post for Royal Icing.


Royal Icing has never turned out right for me, and I figured why not give this one a try.

Let me tell you this is the recipe to try, it turned out absolutely perfect.



Now... I have to make sure I have the correct color of food coloring (silly me) and not try so hard to squeeze the left over icing out into the bowl (you will end up with a nice blob all over your foot and floor).

Woo-Hoo!

Snow finally started to fall around 4 this afternoon and there was a big cheer from this house.



Spencer has been wishing for snow since December but that wish is sometimes hard to come by because after all we do live in South Carolina.

(He longs to have that 21 inches of white fluffy stuff or more and dreams of stories I have told of snow growing up in Marcellus, NY.)



Finally, today he had his wish.

With the weather report calling for snow today DH had a request for some sort of homemade bread.
Off I went to the King Arthur website to see what I could make that would fill his request.
The request was for a bread that was sort of crunchy, soft inside and good flavor.
O.K.
I found a recipe for a No-Fuss Focaccia Bread, sounded good, did not take that long to make and we all enjoy it. (They were my simple requests.)

I decided to add in a mix of Italian Seasoning (Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Garlic) and top with a tiny bit of mozzarella cheese.

This bread turned out perfect!
Nice and light on the inside, a nice crispy crust and was a snap to make.
This was one loaf that was a big hit in this house and will be made again, and again, and again.
Yes, it was that good. :-D

* Exported from MasterCook *

No-Fuss Focaccia

Recipe By: King Arthur Flour
Serving Size : 12 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories: Bread

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 1/2 cups water -- warm
3 tablespoons olive oil -- * plus more for drizzling
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour -- used King Arthur
1 tablespoon yeast
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 tablespoons mozzarella cheese -- shredded

• Lightly grease a 9" x 13" pan, and drizzle 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil in the bottom.
• Combine all of the ingredients, and beat at high speed with an electric mixer for 60 seconds.
• Scoop the sticky batter into the prepared pan, cover the pan, and let it rise at room temperature for 60 minutes, till it's become puffy.
• While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Gently poke the dough all over with your index finger.
• Drizzle it lightly with olive oil, and sprinkle with pizza seasoning, or other dried herbs that you desire.

**I used a 10 x 13 inch pan with not problem at all.

Yield:
"12 "
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 170 Calories; 4g Fat (21.9% calories from fat); 4g Protein; 28g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 1mg Cholesterol; 228mg Sodium. Exchanges: 2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 1/2 Fat.

Monday just so happened to be DH's birthday which meant trying to figure out something to make for that special day.
DH is not one for cake but loves pie which is fine but the boys will not eat nor touch a slice of pie. I told DH not to worry about it but he wanted everyone to share in his day.
So....
He decided on cupcakes and then asked for red velvet cupcakes.
I have never made a red velvet cake let alone cupcakes but with the love of baking I took on the challenge.


The cupcakes turned out simply perfect.

They had a nice light chocolate taste, were moist and oh.so.good.

I will admit that I purchased the frosting because not everyone in the house likes frosting.

* Exported from MasterCook *


Serving Size: 48
Categories: Desserts

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/2 cup butter -- softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 ounces red food coloring
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups cake flour
2 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the food coloring, vinegar and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and
salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.

Pour into paper liners for cupcakes. Place into preheated 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

**I created 48 mini cupcakes. :D



**If you want to make a cake - pour batter into two greased and floured 9 inch round baking pans. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.



frost.

Source:
"Taste of Home.com"
Yield:
"48 "
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving: 71 Calories; 2g Fat (28.5% calories from fat); 1g Protein; 13g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 5mg Cholesterol; 96mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 0 Non-Fat Milk; 1/2 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.

Serving Ideas : Nice tall glass of milk

Who could resist a cupcake quiz?

Not me, that is for sure.

So here the cupcake quiz - enjoy the sweet results.

*smile*


My Results:

I have finally had enough of my hair that is.

You see I have not had it cut since Mid-November which for some would not be a big deal but I do have short hair.

Not super short hair but a short style.

I was due for a cut in Dec. but I had to cancel due to a horrific migraine and then she was booked.

Plus, my last cut grew out in two weeks, my light purple tint washed out in no time (only looked a bit purple when the sun hit it and then it left you guessing) and I had what we call a mushroom top. One side was so puffy.

I HATE mushroom top.

The last straw was being told how I love to have volume in my hair.

Uh... your kidding right?!

Nope, she was serious.

After cutting my hair for two years you would think she would know that I already have enough volume would much rather my hair a bit straight.

So, my hair has been growing out (if you know me in IRL and have not seen a picture in a bit, my hair is down to the bottom of my ears. I know right, me!) and I can't take it any longer.

I have to make a decision on where to go to a new salon.

I'm not good with decisions and I am a bit picky when it comes to who does my hair, too many bad cuts living down here.

My hair is thick (lots of it) and many either chop it to bits or complain that it takes to long.

*sigh*

I have to make that call otherwise I'm not sure how long I will last before I take matters into my own hands.

New style & new color coming up. :D

Yep, I have found myself in a funk.

*sigh*

Not really wanting to do much of anything.

Hopefully by trying a new recipe tomorrow will be the start to the end of this funk.

*crosses fingers*

One of my many hobbies is cross stitching.

Growing up my mom introduced me to stamped cross stitch when I was about 8 yrs old and eventually I went on to really enjoy counted cross stitch.

I was always working on a project of some sort or other. I always made sure to that I made a different wedding sampler for those weddings we attended, along with another present to the happy couple. I dunno, I just fell that there is something special about receiving one.

Once I had the boys my time to stitch was cut down to near nothing. I probably could have worked on something but by time they were asleep I was toast and then I sort of lost interest.

The work above I made for Spencer's 2nd grade teacher, she was beyond wonderful to him. I wanted her to have something special so I began again doing some cross stitch. She was thrilled with the gift and also mentioned that she enjoys stitching when she has the time. :D

Well, after I completed that one I broke out a beautiful lighthouse set that I had stashed away.
I hate to tell you just how many I have stashed. *blush*
I was on a roll then I dunno what happened, I just pushed it aside.

The time has come that after two years of sitting on the shelf to break it out and complete the silly thing.
I figure if I work a little bit every day I should have it done just in enough time for Christmas.
Unless I were to find a whole lot of extra time on my side to work on it, we shall see.

Wish me luck!