Gluten, Dairy, Sugar Free Blueberry Muffins

I couldn't resist playing around with this recipe some more.  I took out the gluten, dairy, and sugar, and it turned out pretty good.  Pretty dang good.  They are kinda chewy because I used so many oats.  I like it that way, but you could use less of the pulverized oats and more gluten free flour if you want. 
 I ate 3.  In a row.  Ugh.

Gluten, Dairy, Sugar Free Blueberry Muffins

*1/2 cup gluten free flour

• *1 cup pulverized gluten free oats.  (Put oats in a blender until smooth like flour)
• *1/4 plus 1/8 cup Truvia ( I didn't have an 1/8 cup so I just eyeballed half of the 1/4 cup.  Truvia is expensive, but you only use a little.  If you use another stevia powder check the sweetness.  It should be equivalent to 3/4 cup sugar)
• *1/4 cup gluten free oat bran
• *1/4 cup regular gluten free oats
• *1/4 cup ground flax seed 
• *1 teaspoon baking powder
• *1 teaspoon baking soda
• *1/2 teaspoon salt 
• *1 generous cup blueberries
• *1/2 generous cup chopped pecans or walnuts
• *1 banana, mashed
• *1 cup almond milk
• *1 egg
• *1 tablespoon expeller pressed canola oil or regular oil
• *1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 12 cup muffin pan, or line with paper muffin cups.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the  flour, oat flour, truvia or stevia, oat bran,  oats, ground flax, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  In a separate bowl, mix together the mashed banana, almond milk, egg, oil and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix just until blended. Gently stir in the blueberries and walnuts.   Pour  into muffin cups, filling all the way to the top.
3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the tops of the muffins spring back when lightly touched. (Mine cooked for 20 minutes)

Healthy Blueberry Muffins

I am a sucker for a good breakfast muffin.  I tinkered around with this recipe and it came out quite delicious and nutritious.  My mom stopped by and agreed, these are a winner! Enjoy!

Healthy Blueberry Muffins

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour (next time I would use all whole wheat)
• 3/4 cup coconut sugar (can use white sugar as well)
• 1/4 cup oat bran
• 1/4 cup quick cooking oats (I used regular oats)
• 1/4 cup wheat germ (didn't have any so I used ground flax seed)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 banana, mashed
• 1 cup buttermilk (didn't have any so I used regular milk mixed with a cap full of vinegar, next time I will try almond milk)
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 12 cup muffin pan, or line with paper muffin cups.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, oat bran, quick-cooking oats, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Gently stir in the blueberries and walnuts. In a separate bowl, mix together the mashed banana, buttermilk, egg, oil and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix just until blended. Spoon into muffin cups, filling all the way to the top.
3. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the tops of the muffins spring back when lightly touched.

Happy Memories

Jeff get's tired of Disneyland after a while.  Not me!  I love it!

It's probably because he has a weak stomach when it comes to roller coasters.
 I could ride on them all day and never get sick.

California Screamin is my favorite!  I love the anticipation when the rides is about to blast you off!  Good times!

Zoot and Junie

Grandpa Carl and Grandma Junie turned 90 this year!

Shari threw a fabulous party in their honor.

Of course I couldn't wait to do the cake!

Shari decorated in checks and I made the cake to match.

My Monsters

I think as a mother, I am constantly striving for my children to love and respect each other.  I wish they would never fight, and belittle each other.  Sometimes I feel like it's a losing battle.

Last week, these two monkey's declared that it was twin day at school and they wanted to be twins!  I was thrilled that they chose each other instead of another friend.  But what the heck was I to dress them in?  I took them to Walmart and told them to look around and see what they could agree on.

Who doesn't love cookie monster?   They marched off to the bus hand in hand as I waved goodbye from the front door.  I smiled for the rest of the day.

I love these two monsters!!

Jeff's 40th Birthday Cake

I never did post a picture of Jeff's Birthday cake.  It was a 70's themed party (the year he was born).  The cake was... well... GROOVY!!  (And delicious!)

My "not so little anymore" athlete.

This past December Allison and Jeff competed in a triathlon.    I sat this one out this time, but honestly I had just as much fun watching Allison compete.  She is ultra competitive (don't know where that comes from).

 Here she is hanging by the pool with the boys (which she beat by the way).

 She is all fired up coming out of the pool.

 She transitioned well and took off on my bike.  It's a little big for her, but she did pretty good on it.

 Here she comes into the final transition.

She place 3rd overall and 1st in the girls division.  She is still so mad those 2 boys beat her!

I am one proud mama!

Brief Pause

Yes,
I am still here.
My head is spinning a little.
But I am getting the hang of this working, going to school thing.

Give me a little time and I might just figure out how to add blogging back into the picture.

In the meantime, I am going to "the happiest place on earth" very soon.
I can't wait.  I love Disneyland and always will.

See you when I get back!

Working

Well, I officially start working tomorrow (officially meaning some steady, set hours).   Job description:  keep the cupcake counter stocked with pretty and delicious cupcakes, and make decorations for specialty cakes.  Can I do this, be a wife, mother, go to school, train for the next race, and be a great cub scout den leader?  I sure hope so!  Here's to a new year!!!!

PS - If you live in the Gilbert area, drop on by and check us out!  Designer Cakes is located across the street from the San Tan Mall right by Carrabba's restaurant.  You won't be disappointed!

Thoughts of a tired mom after Christmas.

Why is it I can't wait to see this on Monday.  I enjoyed the holidays this year, but I admit, I am ready for them to be over.  Oh how I wish I didn't feel this way.  I remember being so heartbroken as a child when Christmas decorations would be packed away until next year.   Right now I am tired of looking at them.

 I wish all the presents and commercialism and busyness of Christmas would just go away.  Ha!  That sounds great in theory, but I play into it as much as anybody.  I wouldn't mind just a simple Christmas with minimal gifts and a lot more service.  How does one accomplish this?  How do you get away from the mad rush,  endless shopping, and everything else that pulls at your time and detracts from the real meaning of the season? 

Wouldn't it be great to pack up the family and head to a third world country for Christmas.  I would love for my children to fully realize how good they have it.  How blessed they are, and how little they really need, and how much they could do for others.

Oh hum.  I will try harder next year to slow it down, have quiet Christmas moments, teach my children about our Savior and why we are celebrating.  I will try to tone down the gifts and still not disappoint the teenagers (that is quite a feat).  It has to be possible right?

I truly love the Christmas season.  I love the Christmas story.  I am grateful and forever indebted to my Savior, Jesus Christ.  This needs to be my focus, my center, and my strength in the seasons to come.  The Christmas Spirit was here this year, I just forgot to slow down and look for it and take time to let it sink deeper into my heart. 

You know, just recognizing it at this moment, suddenly makes me feel better and know that I will have many bright and special Christmases in my future.  

Merry Christmas, and a happy Christ centered New Year!

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

I would like to think that I would have joined in the fun! I actually started tearing up while watching this! Enjoy!  (It's a lot clearer if you watch it on YouTube)

Beautiful Cake!

Brittany, my hairdresser, just happened to be getting married.  

How convenient - I happened to decorate cakes!

It was meant to be!  Isn't it beautiful! 

(It tasted amazing too - white cake with fresh whipped cream and ripe strawberries - mmmmm)

Date Night with the "Beloved"

Nathan, (also known as the beloved by his 2 older sisters) got to spend a night out with mom and dad this weekend.  On the agenda - Suns game!!!

He was pretty excited to get to go out with us all by himself.  

We had some pretty sweet seats.  One of the suns cheerleaders stood right in front of us periodically and shook her stuff not wearing much stuff.  Lovely.  When she wasn't disrupting my view and distracting my dates I realized that Steve Nash really isn't that short - the other guys are just freakishly tall.

We had a great time munching on junk food and cheering with the crowd.  I sure love these two guys!

Almost there!

Finals are coming up.  I need to study like crazy.  Can't wait until next week so I can start doing this!

Oh Santa!

Nathan thinks he is to big to sit on Santa's lap.  So some of his friends decided that he indeed needed to sit on his lap, and forced him there.  Look at the grip Santa has on his wrist just to keep him still for the picture.  

 Allison and and her friend Cameron had no trouble at all posing with the big guy!  

Oh how I miss the good ole days when my kids were little and slightly scared of the man in red.