Naked Cupcakes

I love muffins!! Or, as Jim Gaffigan would call them, naked cupcakes (I think it should be known that I also love clothed cupcakes!!) I also love baking… sooo, today, Selah and I baked oatmeal blueberry and banana muffins, a recipe I got from my amazing sister-in-law, Malinda, or as Selah would call her, AuntieBalinda –no space needed, it all tends to run together-

I don’t always bake with Selah, but when I feel I have the necessary energy and I have mentally prepared myself for the task, we both really enjoy it!  Common phrases often heard in the kitchen during these baking sessions are:

“Remember, a good helper is a good listener.”

“Oh, cover your… well, at least these are just for us right?”

There’s also a lot of smiles and giggling, mostly to mask my inner apprehensions at what all could possibly go wrong with a three-year-old and flour/eggs/a wisk/can of Pam/you get the idea!

Also, today I realized she doesn’t know how to pronounce vanilla...who knew?!

Enough blabbing, here’s the recipe!

Ingredients

¾ cup flour

¾ cup whole wheat flour

¾ cup sugar

¼ cup oat bran

¼ cup oats

¼ cup wheat germ

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

¼ tsp. salt

1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)

1 extra ripe banana (mashed)

1 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350* and grease muffin tins. 

In large bowl mix dry ingredients (flour through salt).  

Then fold in the blueberries.  In a separate bowl wisk together the wet ingredients (banana through vanilla).  Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir just until moistened.  Fill muffin tins about 2/3 way full. 

She filled the muffin tin,

while I got to hold this sweet little guy!

Bake for 15-18 minutes.  If muffins bounce back when touched, they are done and ready to devour...like so!!

Enjoy!! 

Best Pork Chops... EVER (others agree!)

I'm sure the reason for my frequent updates is because I'm just in the honeymoon phase of having a blog, but I'm just having so much fun!!! Plus, I just have to share this UH-mazing pork chop recipe I found a couple months ago, from another blog, of course ;) Oh, and, bonus, they are made in the crock pot!! Score!

Here is the recipe for San Francisco Pork Chops:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

4 pork chops, about 1-inch thick

Salt and pepper for seasoning

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce

1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth

2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon cold water

Season pork chops with salt and pepper, then brown them in oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Brown for only 1-2 minutes on each side, just enough to give each side some color.  Move chops to the crock pot.  Then add the garlic to the skillet and saute until golden.  Stir in the soy sauce, broth, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes; cook until sugar is dissolved.  Pour into crock pot, smothering the pork chops.  Cook in crock pot on low for 7-8 hours.  Remove the chops and place on a plate.  

In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and cold water until smooth.  Stir into the slow cooker and return the pork chops.  Let cook another 30 minutes to an hour on high to let the sauce thicken.  

I've never tried this, but if you want a thicker sauce you can pour the sauce into a pan after removing the pork chops.  Heat it over medium heat on the stove, add the cornstarch mixture and bring the sauce to a boil. Boil for 1-2 minutes until the sauce is thick.  Add the pork and heat through. 

We had this tonight for dinner, served with mashed potatoes and green beans. Everyone (including Owen) gobbled it up! 

**Click here to view the blog I got this recipe from, it's a great post with a ton of other recipes!! I just haven't tried any of the other ones yet.   

Short and Sweet

I'm keeping it short and sweet tonight, but wanted to keep this thing going, so here is a bit about our day.

Owen had his 9 month well-check today.  He's 25% in weight and head circumference, and 10% in height... he's a tiny, yet chunky little guy all at the same time!  He also got a flu shot :( boo!! I hate checking out and leaving the office with a tear-streaked child...

Selah initiated a spontaneous craft moment in the afternoon...

Glitter glue, pom poms, yarn, tissue paper, pipe cleaners...you name it , we had it out!

We all joined in on the fun!

Owen occupying himself with a headband and pieces of gauze.

Our finished products!

I believe at one point Selah mentioned
she was making candy canes for Halloween...
uhhh,  what do I correct first here?!

           I usually love to have these types of activities thoroughly planned out, but sometimes you just gotta go with the flow!  I'm glad I resisted the urge to ask her to put all these items away and find something else less messy to do... it was a great idea Selah!!                                    





   

I'm a Blogger!!

            My first blog post!!  How cool…and exciting...and scary!!  Now what should I talk about?!  Where do I start?!

Hmmm, well let me start by telling you why I decided to start a blog.  Up to this point I have been a very good follower; a follower of other’s blogs and other people’s geniusness on Pinterest.  People and their creativity blow me away!! There are times I’m sitting at my computer, pinning and reading away, when I actually start to feel guilty that I am gaining so much knowledge and inspiration off of other people…for free!  It just seems wrong sometimes, like it’s too good to be true.  Except that, it is that good and it is true! Awesome!!

For instance, this past Christmas I made these hanging towels as gifts for family and friends. 

I love making homemade gifts, and this was my favorite gift I have ever given!  I hope those that received them love using them as much as I loved making them!  However, I never would have come up with this idea on my own, at least not at this point in my life.  My mind is a bit occupied by other things these days (notice “The Sweetest Stinker” section on right).  Honestly, I probably wouldn’t even own a sewing machine if it wasn’t for Pinterest!  But I’m sooo glad I do, and I’m also so very grateful for those that are willing to put themselves and their ideas out there for people like me to read and be inspired by!  It is as if the blogging world is this ginormous gathering of super intelligent, creative, funny, inspiring people from across the WORLD who I have access to at all times.  Nifty!

So why do I want to blog?? Good question!

Do I have the time for this… prooobably not, but I can find time!

Do I have the abilities to blog… we will soon find out!!

Will I be able to share some of my ideas and inspire others… I sure hope so!!!

Will it help keep me accountable… you betcha ya!! (had to add a little bit of my Northerness!)

Will it be super fun…oh yeah!!

I think it is my time to join in on this exchange and share my ideas, or rather my version of other’s ideas that I’m continuously stealing!  There’s bound to be a few originals scattered in there somewhere though…I hope.

So, from recipes to kid’s activities to home organization/décor to random thought, I plan to share with you all how we run our home and live our lives, all in hopes to give back to this blogging community that has so enriched my life.  Happy reading ya’ll!! (and there’s the Southerness for ya!)