Four Chip Muffins

I had to have a procedure done a few weeks ago.

After said procedure, I was given a diet to follow for one week by my doctor.

Foods NOT on this diet....

whole grains, fresh fruit, fresh veggies.

Foods ON this diet....

refined white grains, cookies, cakes, muffins, butter, ice cream, 

bacon, carbonated beverages, etc.

Honestly.

I kid you not.

So what did I do?

I threw all caution to the wind & had a grand old time!

 (Yes, in hindsight, I now see this was not a smart move, 

but I'm happy to say I am back on track with my healthy diet.)

I've have always loved to bake & with my new healthier lifestyle 

over the past year, I just don't get to bake as much as I would like.  

So I remedied that...doctor's orders.  :)

Enter this delectable muffin:

I bought a muffin cookbook a decade ago and I have pretty

much been happy with every muffin I've ever made from it.

Here's the recipe:

FOUR CHIP MUFFINS

2 cups all purpose flour

½ cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

2/3 cup milk

½ cup butter, melted

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup semisweet chocolate chips

½ cup white chocolate chips

½ cup butterscotch chips

½ cup peanut butter chips

½ cup chopped walnuts (I didn't add the walnuts)

Heat oven to 350°.  In a large bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, baking powder & salt.  In another bowl, blend together milk, butter, eggs & vanilla.  Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.  Add the milk mixture and stir just to combine.  Stir in the chips and nuts (if using).  Fill greased muffin tins.  Bake 15-20 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.  Cool.

Makes 1 dozen muffins.

Grab a muffin and a hot cup of tea (or coffee) 

and

have a great day!

 

Winter Doldrums

I've got a bad case of the Winter doldrums.

It's so cold,

we never made it out of the negative digits today.

It's -2°,

factoring in the wind chill, 

it's -26°.

I swear if I didn't have to go to work,

I wouldn't want to leave the house at all.

I'm beginning to feel like a bear in hibernation this Winter.

When we are lucky enough to get up to a balmy 20° or so,

(yes, 20° feels balmy around here now)

it ends up snowing at least 8-12 inches.

If we don't have snow,

then we have to deal with sub zero temperatures.

We can't win.  

I just pray that this Winter ends soon.

It's so discouraging.

Anyway,  hubby & I have been working on a project &

I can't wait to show you what we've been up to!

It will be a bit yet before I can share it;

there's still so much to do.  

I hope the weather is much better where you are.

If not, stay warm & hopefully Spring will make

an appearance real soon!

Here's to hoping anyway....

Valentine's Day Mantel 2015

I have to be honest, 

I had to force myself to decorate for Valentine's Day this year. 

Not that I "go all out" or anything, 

but I just wasn't feeling it this year.

My remedy?

Just keep it simple.

I only spent about $10.00 total here.

I bought the banner & the heart shaped tags 

(on the branches) from Hobby Lobby for $6.00.

I spent $4.00 at The Dollar Tree to make

the square candle votive holders for Debbie & Shannon's 

crafting for $1.00 party.

Everything else was stuff  I already had on hand.

I kept the white lanterns from my Winter mantel

& changed all the other items.

Simple.

I stacked up a basket & a crate for the hearth.

I added my kid's Valentine's Day related books

& the pillow I made a couple of years ago.

Simple heart gift tags hang from a few branches.

You can see the square glass votive holders that I made 

right here.

The heart shaped plates are from Target  (on clearance)

a few years ago.

Keeping it simple meant it was a quick

change out from Winter to Valentine's Day

and it will be quick to change back to Winter

once Valentine's Day is over.

Do you decorate for Valentine's Day

or do you skip it?