Breakfast Muffins

Here is a healthy muffin recipe that you don't need to feel guilty about (unless maybe you eat the whole pan...)!  I got this recipe from Michelle at Life Plus Fitness.  She has a boat load of healthy options you should check out!

For these healthy muffins, you will need:
 

• 1 cup flour
• 1 1/4 cups oatmeal
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 2 cups bananas, ripe & mashed (about 4 medium, I only had three, so I made up the difference with a mixture of the shredded carrots and applesauce)
• 2⁄3 cup applesauce
• 1⁄3 cup carrots, shredded (you can buy ready-made shredded carrots or use a food processor)
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature

Preheat oven to 375. 

Combine first 7 ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir until well blended.  

In a separate bowl, combine all other ingredients (bananas - butter), and stir until well blended.  (My butter was still a little lumpy, but it was fine)

Add banana mixture to the flour mixture and stir until well mixed. 

Fill muffin cups 2/3 way full and bake at 375 for about 20 minutes, until the muffin springs back when lightly touched.  

For me, this recipe made 12 muffins in a standard pan, and if you bake according to directions, each muffin is about 130 calories!  Not too shabby!  I can't wait to try it again with the proper amount of bananas.  I think I'll also cut the ginger and make up the difference with more nutmeg and cinnamon...

Chicken and Vegetables

This is another easy meal, and it has so many great vegetables in it!  The recipe serves 2-3 and is perfect for these last lingering cold nights as winter turns to spring.  There are a lot of different versions you could make, but here is what I did:

You will need:

• 2-3 chicken breasts
• 3 strips of turkey bacon (or regular bacon if you'd like)
• olive oil to cook the turkey bacon in
• 1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/3 cup dry sherry
• 1 vine ripened tomato, chopped coarsely
• 1 1/2 cups of white mushrooms, chopped into quarters
• 2 kale leaves, stems removed and torn coarsely (optional) 

 

First, heat the oil over medium heat and add the turkey bacon, cooking until crisp.  Place the bacon on a paper towel to drain.

Add the onions and thyme and cook the onion until it browns.

Pour the sherry over the onion and thyme.

Allow the mixture to boil for a few minutes, then add the tomatoes and the kale.

Allow the flavors to blend, and then add the mushrooms.  Finally, add the chicken, covering it with the vegetable mixture.  Cover the pan and let it simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken is 165 degrees.

Landscapes in Minature

Last weekend, I went with my parents for a trip to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.  It's such a pretty place!  The exhibit was based on the idea of fairy gardens, and so various people created tiny little landscapes in miniature.  Cute!

This one had a waterfall- probably the most elaborate set-up

Can you see the penny in the birdbath on the right side of the picture?

And of course, I always love the orchids- mine at home are getting ready to bloom!

Lady Slipper!

This one is my favorite- I think it looks like an octopus, haha!

Quick and Easy Dinner

I am leaving you this week with the easiest, quickest dinner that happens to also be very tasty (and pretty good for you!)

All you need is:
Premade pizza crust (I used Pillsbury thin crust)
Pesto (your own recipe or store bought)
Shredded mozzarella cheese

Simply bake the crust for a few minutes according to the package directions.  Remove it from the oven, spread the pesto, and top with cheese.  Bake for another few minutes until the cheese is golden, and you're done!

I'm eating it right now, and it's tasty! :)  Happy weekend!!

Irish Potato Cakes

Healthy?  Nope!  Delicious?  You bet!  This is like eating a fried loaded baked potato, and it has me hungry just thinking about it :)

This serves 2-3 people as a main course or 4-6 people as an appetizer (depending on how big your potatoes are)

You will need:

• 2 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-2 inch cubes
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• a dash of milk
• 4 strips of bacon
• 1/4 - 1/2 yellow onion, chopped finely
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon of a mixture of: thyme leaves, tarragon, and marjoram (you can use whatever seasonings you like, though!)
• Canola oil for frying the patties

For coating the patties:

• flour
• 1 large egg mixed with a dash of water
• bread crumbs

Cook the onion in a small pan with a drizzle of olive oil until they are soft.  When they are soft, remove them from the heat.  While the onions are cooking, cook the potatoes in boiling water until soft (about 15 minutes).

Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot.

 

Mash the potatoes and then stir in the butter and milk until smooth.

Stir in the nutmeg and seasoning mix, and let the mixture cool for about 5 minutes.

 

While the potato mixture is cooling, cook the bacon until it is crispy (I did ours in the microwave, but stove top works well, too!)  Mix the bacon and the onion into the potatoes, then form the mix into patties.

 

Dredge the patties in flour, then the egg/water mix, and then the bread crumbs.

 

Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat.  When the oil is hot, add the patties and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side until they are browned.

Serve on a bed of greens- it looks pretty and you can pretend it's healthier ;)

Bathroom Updates

Yesterday, I had "make something" on my list of things to do so I could blog about a new project.  Instead, I ended up doing quite the home improvement project!  Check it out:

Here is our bathroom sink and hardware before

And after: I put up new drawer pulls in a silver tone.

The old gold light fixture and tiny cabinet pulls

So much brighter with silver (and clean light bulbs, haha)

I spray painted it and did the electrical work myself (so proud)!

New cabinet pulls on the medicine cabinet, too!

I even replaced our old toilet paper holder to match our new towel rods.

It's amazing what a difference such little changes can make!  Next up, a new shower curtain and bath mat to add some color to the room :)

Missed my Good Natured Giveaway?

... well there is another one going on at JessicaNDesigns!

For a chance to win a $30 credit to Dani's shop, hop on over to Jessica's blog!

Image from JessicaNDesigns :)