Sunday, October 23, 2011

Award Winning* Muffins

Ok, well maybe not exactly award winning...more like me and a couple of people in the office taste test each other's food on Friday mornings and decide who's is best.  But so far my muffins AND my breakfast burritos have won(*)!  I'll take it :)

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been fattening up the office one baked good at a time.  These muffins kick started my recent baking spree.  Imagine that banana bread and cinnamon streusel cake had a baby, but the banana bread also had an affair with a blueberry muffin - that's what these muffins would be.  Wonderful, right?

So what are you going to do next Saturday morning?  Make these for yourself and a loved one, make some coffee, enjoy.  I swear your day will be better because of it!





BANANA BLUEBERRY STREUSEL MUFFINS 
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 c. (3 lg.) mashed very ripe bananas
1/4 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2 c. Pillsbury's Best all purpose or unbleached flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries (do not thaw)

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease bottoms only of 18 muffin cups or line with paper baking cups. In large bowl beat 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar until fluffy. Add bananas, milk, vanilla and eggs; blend well. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. Add 2 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Gently stir in blueberries. Fill greased muffin cups 3/4 full.

TOPPING:

3 tbsp. flour
2 tbsp. firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tbsp. butter
1/4 c. chopped walnuts

In small bowl combine flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Using pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Stir in walnuts. Sprinkle over batter. Bake at 375 degrees for 18 to 23 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 3 minutes; remove from muffin cups. Makes 18 muffins.

Recipe via cooks.com

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Hello world!

It has been far too long since I updated this blog.  In all honesty, I didn't think anyone was reading it - that is, until I had 5 people approach in me in the last month about why I haven't done any recent blog posts.  That made me happy :)  So here I am with a new post!

So what have I been up to, you ask?
  • World travelling.  How do I make a ton of money and still have a decent schedule so that I can do this SEVERAL times/year??
  • Moving downtown - twice.  It's a long story, but I love living in Denver and have been having so much fun going to all of the restaurants and bars near my house!
  • Kidney stones.  This took up the last month of my summer and I am still bitter about it!  I spent a month laying in bed (when I wasn't forcing myself to go to work), highly medicated and eating saltines...don't be jealous :)
  • Turning 27.  Yikes, late 20's - didn't I just finish school?
  • Cooking cooking cooking.  Once I got better, that is.  I missed being able to eat good food and have gone a little crazy - probably time to get back to eating healthier!  And although the people at my work have enjoyed me bringing in muffins, cupcakes and pancakes each Friday, they would probably appreciate it if I picked up a healthier hobby.
  • Misc. working out to combat said unhealthy hobby
I'll try to get some pictures up soon of the yummy stuff I have been making (banana blueberry streusel muffins in particular!)