Spiced Pear Muffins

Spiced Pear Muffins Makes 12 muffins

1/2 cup (4 oz) packed brown sugar
1/4 cup (2oz) white sugar
1 stick (4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup (5 oz) all-purpose flour
1 cup (5 oz) whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (4 oz) milk
2 to 2 1/2 cups pears, unpeeled and diced small (2 medium-sized pears, about 11 oz whole)
Cinnamon-and-Sugar for sprinkling on top
Optional: 1/4 cup chopped candied ginger, 1/2 cup chopped nuts, 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Heat your oven to 425°F. Spray the top of your muffin tin with non-stick coating and place muffin cups in all the wells.

In a mixer on high speed, cream together the sugars and the softened butter until they resemble fluffy frosting, about 1 minute. Mix in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated, about 1 minute each. Mix in the vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, spices, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, mix 1/3 of the flour mixture into the butter-sugar mixture followed by 1/3 of the milk. Continue alternating between the flour and the milk, mixing just until the flour is incorporated. It's ok if there is still some flour on the sides of the bowl. Do not over-mix.

Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula and stir gently to incorporate the last of the flour. Add the diced pears all at once and fold them into the batter.

Divide the batter between the muffin cups. The batter will fill the cups and mound slightly on top. Sprinkle the tops with cinnamon and sugar.

Place the muffin tin in the oven and immediately turn down the heat to 400°F. Bake for 20-25 minutes, rotating the pan once in the middle of baking. The muffins are done with the tops looked cracked and toasted, and when a toothpick inserted in the middle of one of the muffins comes out clean.

Let the muffins cool enough to handle, then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling. Leftover muffins can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or frozen for up to three months. (Reheat frozen muffins in an oven or toaster oven at 300° or for a few minutes in the microwave)

I added some cream cheese frosting, as well to ring in the season i put 3 red jelly bellys and 1 spearamint green candy cut in half to give the illusion of holly!

from: http://www.thekitchn.com/

INSPIRATION MONDAY

Operation Christmas Child

Its that time of season...

the season to give so lets give to the less fortunate kids around the world!

Build your own operation Christmas child box

and drop it off at a designated area,

or if time is tight build one online!

@ http://www.samaritanspurse.ca/Operation-Christmas-Child/default.aspx

here are some ideas to put in your box

-toothbrush/toothpaste

-school supplies

-candy

-toys

-hair brush

-hair accessories etc.

Breakfast In a Beverage: Smoothie

This smoothie has to be one of my favorite!!!

1 frozen banana

1/2 c. cooked oatmeal

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

dash of cinnamon

1/4 c. water

serves one

(2 fruit servings, 1 starch, 1 protein)

Crispy Jammers

1 package yellow or golden cake mix

1/2 c. vegetable oil (i used canola)

1/4 c. water

1 egg

3 c. crushed corn flakes

1/2 c. chopped almonds

6 table spoons jam or jelly, i used homemade chokecherry crab-apple

preheat oven to 375

mix all ingredients together

roll dough in balls and place on cookie sheets

push your thumbprint in center to hold in jelly; than place a small amount

of jam in the center

bake for 9-11 mins until golden brown

0rganization

Vegan: Blueberry Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour

2 tablespoons stevia or white sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups water

1 tablespoon vegtable oil

1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries

Directions:
Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Whisk the water and oil together in a small bowl. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and pour in the wet. Stir just until blended; mixture will be lumpy.
Heat a lightly oiled griddle over medium-high heat. Drop batter by large spoonfuls onto the griddle, and cook until bubbles form and the edges are dry. Flip, and cook until browned on the other side. Repeat with remaining batter.

Love These

I Love Love Love... My Body Shop exfoliating gloves!
I use them to:

*Scrub my heels

*exfoliate before and after self tanning (THE BEST WAY TO DO IT!)

*exfoliate after waxing to avoid in grown hairs

*scratch my mosquito bites (ha ha)

*get dead skin off my lips

Warning: they will stretch out a little bit after your first use.

Two Meals: Pizza Night

Because i try to eat a steady vegan/vegetarian diet i am usually cooking two different looking meals due to my carnivore boyfriend... average meal contrast

Charms

I love switching out my charms on my long silver chain, here are some new ones i just picked up!

Vegan: Cashew Stir Fry

2 C.Shredded Coleslaw Mix
2 C. Broccoli/ Cauliflower
2 Cloves of garlic
3/4 C. Raw Cashews
2 Tbsp Soya Sauce
Salt and Pepper

Place 1 tsp vegetable oil in Frying pan
When hot add the 2 cups Coleslaw mix, stir fry till almost cooked
add broccoli and cauliflower and garlic. Stir fry in add the cashews and Soya sauce.
Note: If you want your cashews very crunchy add at the very end.

Flower Garden Birthday Cake

Look at this AWSOME Birthday Cake my Mom made for my Grandmas Birthday! She did such a Good Job on it. She is so creative.

Vegan: Brownies

Ingredients:
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Pour in water, vegetable oil and vanilla; mix until well blended. Spread evenly in a 9x13 inch bake pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top is no longer shiny. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting into squares.

Silver Costume Jewelery

Gondola Ride: Banff

My boyfriend took me on an amazing trip to Banff, Alberta for a couple days and this is one of the things he had planned! It was Amazing!