Morning Sunshine :)

Got in an early AM sweat sesh.

Followed by a little of this

 With these two

 And rounded out with a bowl of this.

1/3 c. oats

heaping spoon PB

tsp. flax meal

cinnamon

 brown sugar

microwaved apple chunks

Natural's Honey Nut Toasy O's

And then I had to go shower and get ready for work. Ugh, hygiene ;)

I'll post again later, I have lots to share.  An awesome recipe, checking out the downtown Farmer's Market this weekend, and I went out on a school night!

Later gators!!!

ME-day

I love my Saturdays.  Since Shane's weekend is Sunday/Monday, Saturday is a total me day.  

Saturdays are my day to blast Katy Perry and Taylor Swift while I cook, bake, and clean to my hearts delight.  Don't judge.  


Let me give you a guide for a totally glorious Saturday:

Wake up at 7 and feel wonderful that the sun is already up.  

Tip toe to the kitchen so as not to wake your slumbering boyfriend.

Make coffee, read blogs, and contemplate what to bake.

Chocolate Glazed Doughnut coffee is divine

Next on the agenda, go to Henry's in your PJ's so you can buy bananas.  Because you MUST bake banana walnut bread today.  Really, you must.  And while your there pick up a couple extra goodies :)

When you get home, lollygaggle (I like silly words) around your apartment with 30 Rock on the TV while your boyfriend gets ready for work. Make sure to interfere with his getting ready routine as much as possible ;)

After he leaves, put on some tunes and get baking!

While your bread is in the oven, get out your yoga mat and put on Exercise TV.

Because who needs a crowded gym on the weekend?

Now your bread is ready!

 After you savor a slice, okay 2 slices, of banana walnut bread, go clean the kitchen.  Then put away your Christmas decorations...finally!

Next, realize that you have a bunch of random stuff in your fridge that needs to be used ASAP!  Throw it in the slow cooker and hope for the best.

Lentils, cracked wheat, pinto beans, and various veggies.

 Go crazy cleaning and organizing.  After you have a spic'n'span apartment, hop in bed with a good book.  When you've read enough, stay in bed and make your grocery list.

Have a kitty keep you company.

It's 5:30, time to shower and get ready for a surprise party for one of Shane's co-workers.

 Banana Walnut Bread 

adapted from Eat, Live, Run's Cinnamon Walnut Bread

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 TBSP flaxseed meal

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

1 cup almond milk

1 1/2 bananas, mashed
sprinkle turbinado sugar

Pre-heat over to 350.  Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl.  Mix in milk and mashed banana.  I find it easiest to first squeeze the banana while it's in the peel, then use a fork to finish mashing after I peel it.  Fold in walnuts and pour into greased baking dish. Sprinkle turbinado sugar on the top for yummy crust.

Put loaf in oven for 50 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean.

I love the simpleness of this bread.  And you can add or take away ingredients in a pinch, it's very versatile!

Question: Do you like surprise parties or do you prefer to know and have a hand in the planning and prepping?
 

I like the idea of a surprise party, but whoever was throwing it would need to make sure I was wearing a cute outfit so I didn't show up after the gym or something ridiculous like that!

Tell me, what makes a perfect Saturday?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love peanut butter.  

All 40 oz, aka 2.5 lbs of creamy goodness.  Shane and I might buy the biggest jar you can get to cut down on trips to the grocery store. 

Or maybe we buy the biggest jar known to man so we can delude ourselves into thinking our consumption of PB is normal.  Which it's not, but I'm okay with that.  Sorta.

As a vegetarian I get to explain the inordinate amount of PB I eat to upping my daily protein intake.  We all know the truth though.  You'll never catch me with spoon full of beans straight outta the jar.


So the other night I had the urge to bake cupcakes, as I so often do.  As I rummaged through our kitchen looking for ingredients, I saw my beloved peanut butter sitting on the shelf, just waiting to be used.  Although I meant to make cupcakes, they turned out to be more of a cross between a cupcake and a muffin.  Thus, Peanut Butter Muff-Cakes were born.

PB Muff-Cakes
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
6 TBSP butter, softened
1 1/4 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup almond milk (or whatever milk you like to use)


Pre-heat oven to 350 and line cupcake tin. 

In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.  

In another bowl cream together the sugar, butter, and peanut butter until smooth.  Using a KitchenAid or electric mixer will make this step easier.


Add eggs and vanilla and continue to mix.


Next, alternate adding the flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture until it is mixed well.

You can even go crazy and add some extra goodness.  Chocolate chips would be fabulous!


Spoon into your tin and bake: 
22 minutes for regular cupcake size
20 minutes for mini cupcake size
30 minutes for ramekin size mini cakes

After they cool eat them plain. Or smother in Nutella.  And enjoy :)

mini pb muff-cake

After all this loving talk of peanut butter I've realized that I've been ignoring other nut butters.  I'm embarrassed to admit I've never given them a chance,  even though I drool over other bloggers nut butter creations.


Question: What nut butter should I add to my grocery list?