Monday, September 24, 2012

The Kinda-Sorta and the Not So Much

I just
love
muffins for breakfast - 
past tense
LOVED
muffins for breakfast-
I mean
you
go to
Starbucks

(or Petit  Soleil)

and
get
one
of their
amazing
 muffins
and
Pumpkin Latte
and
you
are
over the top
of your
fat - sugar- calorie
allotment
for the day


BUZZ KILL!

so,
I found
this
 recipe
for 
Granola Muffins
and
made
one
batch 
kinda sorta healthy

and
one not so much



Kinda Sorta Healthy Granola Muffins
IMG_1621


I replaced
the butter with coconut oil
the brown sugar with coconut sugar
the regular granola with Bear Naked Fit Granola
and white flour with whole wheat flour
IMG_1622

I threw
in a few 
blueberries and raspberries
that I
had
to use up
IMG_1626

the
Kinda Sorta Healthy Muffins 
were
good
and
after two cups of tea
really

filled up the tummy 
in 

happy sorta way
IMG_1629

the
next batch
I used
TJ's Ginger, Almond and Cashew Granola
and
butter  sugar  and  flour  
IMG_1652


am
sharing 
those
delicious
bad boys
with
all the nurses
and 
staff
at my
Dr.'s office

:)


Kinda Sorta Healthy Granola Muffins

2 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. Bear Naked Fit Granola
1 c. coconut sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon

1 1/4 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. coconut oil (melted)
1 egg
1 tsp. real vanilla

1/2 - 1 c. fresh blueberries or raspberries (or any fresh fruit you like)

Whisk together the dry ingredients.  Set aside.  Mix the buttermilk and oil together.  Add the egg and vanilla.  Mix the dry ingredients with the wet until just incorporated.  Carefully fold in the fruit.
Bake 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes


GRANOLA MUFFINS

2 c. flour
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. your favorite granola
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon (I used ground ginger for the Ginger Almond Cashew Granola)

1 1/4 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. melted butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Whisk together dry ingredients and follow the same directions as the 
above 
Kinda Sortas

(you might as we be really bad and add a cup or so of mini chocolate chips
to the batter before baking)

Friday, September 21, 2012

An Apple a Day....

IMG_1637
...
l'automne est arrivé

yes

Autumn has arrived


when
the 
See Canyon
and
Gopher Glen
Apple Orchards
open their
gates
and
the trees
are
heavy
with
fruit

you
 know
that
autumn
truly 
has 
arrived
IMG_1638

the trees
are
laden
with
Golden
and Granny Smith
Red Delicious
and
crisp Braeburn apples

IMG_1636
.
IMG_1633


IMG_1632

See Canyon
is
north
of
the Avila Valley
and 
the
See Canyon Fruit Ranch
is
about 
1.5 miles
up See Canyon road
IMG_1642



the
 Ranch
it is a
gloriously
lazy
place

surrounded
by 
apple orchards
and
hidden
within
the 
green willows
and oaks
of the
canyon

would be a beautiful venue for a wedding

IMG_1640
.......

IMG_1644

visited
the fruit ranch
because

simply

fresh picked fruit
just tastes
infinitely 
better

and 
See Canyon apples
make
delicious

Harvest Apple Coffee Cakes

Bavarian Apple Tortes

Apple Streusel Muffins
and
are
the
very
 best
with 
cheeses and wines

crisp  sweet  flavorful
mmmmm
IMG_1645


I picked
up
some
local honey
(collected on the ranch)

and
a jar
of
 Pumpkin Butter
(for pancakes)
IMG_1646

the fruit ranch
has
squashes
and tomatoes
peppers
and 
other
fresh picked
jewels of the season

IMG_1648

Petit Soleil guests
will
enjoy
this
bag
tomorrow
IMG_1649..

next
week and 
the week after
 that
I'll go
        for more

until
   the
         all
              the
                          apples are
                                gone....
IMG_1651

Thanks!
See you soon
IMG_1635

click for their blog
and
directions

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Sunrise Corn Muffins

Bon Jour!

it is
a
good 
day!


here is 
a
hearty
yet
citrusy
fresh
Orange Corn Muffin
for 
breakfast

or
for
dinner
with
a
spicy
chipotle chicken chili


you need a orange
IMG_1608

and buttermilk
IMG_1609


and dried cranberries
IMG_1610

the recipe
makes
about 
10 muffins
IMG_1611

the 
cornmeal
gives the muffins
a crunch

the orange zest and cranberries
a
nice tang
IMG_1613


Sunrise Corn Muffins

1 1/2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
3/4 c. cornmeal
1 TBS. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 c. buttermilk
zest of 1 large orange
1/2 c. unsalted butter
3/4 c. dried cranberries

Whisk together dry ingredients and set aside.
Zest the orange and add to the 1 cup of buttermilk. Whisk in eggs.   Let steep together for 5 minutes or so.
Add the buttermilk to the dry ingredients.  Add the melted the butter to batter and fold in cranberries.
Spoon batter into greased muffin cups (add about 1 TBS. of water to each empty cup.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

…how about this - combine 1/4 c. soft butter with a bit of orange juice and honey to serve with muffins
Are
you 
Kidding?

deliciousness
...

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Remembering TTT with Toulouse..

Back in the day
my little blog
was
called
Travels Tastings and Temptations
with
Toulouse

Toulouse
was my little
convertible
VW
and
we 
went on
adventures together

consequently
Toulouse
found another home
and
now
drive

was
rereading
a few blogs
and
I thought to repost
some


..just for fun

click on what you want to read!










*Thousand Hills Dog Resort - the perfect pet-vacation!





lots of 
Tastings Travels and Temptations
with
Toulouse 
posts
about
my obsession
with finding 
the 
BEST
Fish Tacos 

recipes

and hikes
etc etc etc

Go explore