Banana Choco-Nut Muffins

It seems like we always have overripe bananas in our house.  I've tried freezing them for future use, but that never seems to work for me.  Somehow I tend to forget that they're in the freezer and months later will pull out a bag of frozen black bananas....ewwwwww.  So the best way to handle overripe bananas?  Bake 'em!

Here's my take on a banana muffin recipe.  No added oil, no added butter...just moist, yummy delicious-ness.  It's a very versatile recipe where you can switch up the add-ins.  Don't like nuts, try it with dried cranberries or blueberries.  But on this particular day, I was feeling a bit nutty so hence, the pecans.  To make it even healthier, I've added some ground flaxseed.  Don't worry, no one will know.  And let me warn you...it's best to make a double batch.  These freeze very well or can be kept in the refrigerator for a couple of days (if it lasts that long) and heated up in the microwave when ready to eat.  Believe me, Lil T devoured them.  That says alot.  Lil T never devours anything.  But then again, maybe that handful of chocolate chips in there helped a bit. 

Anyhoo, hope you enjoy them!  We sure did.



Banana Choco-Nut Muffins             Makes 12 mufffins

- 3 very ripe bananas

- 1 large egg

- 1/3 cup skim milk

- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

- 1/2 cup granulated sugar

- 1/2 cup brown sugar

- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

- 1 teaspoon baking soda

- 1 teaspoon salt

- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed

- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

- 1/4 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 12 cup muffin pan or line pan with baking cups.

In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork.  Whisk in egg, milk, vanilla extract, and sugars. 

In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking soda, and salt together.  Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture.  Mix until combined, until the flour disappears.  Do not over mix.

Gently fold in chocolate chips and ground flaxseed.

Pour batter into prepared pan.  Sprinkle chopped pecans on top of batter.  Bake for 25 - 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Set aside to cool on a rack for 15 minutes.

Perseverence does pay off

I have cause for celebration.  My little Beanie has finally graduated his Level 1 swim class!!!  Can I get a woot woot? 

Okay yeah, I know.  It's only Level 1.  But you have no idea.  It has been a long, uphill climb (or should I say "swim") for us.  If you have forgotten, let me remind you here.  So you see?  There is cause for celebration. 

I am so proud of Lil T.  I can see how he is slowly building his confidence.  Don't get me wrong, he still doesn't like going to swim class.  But hey, at least he doesn't HATE it as much now.  A couple of times, he actually was looking forward to going.  The dilemna for me now is do I let him continue?  I was going to stop taking him to classes until Spring, when it gets warmer.  But now that he's graduated to the next level, maybe I need to keep continuing.  Problem is....it's freezing cold.  Sure it's an indoor pool but the water is freezing cold.  And then he'll be soaking wet when we leave.  Yeah, I know.  You can't catch a cold from being in the cold.  And you can't get sick from being outside with wet hair.  But I'm a mom.  And mom's have to believe that sort of thing. 

I'm just afraid that if I stop classes now, it's all going to backfire on me.  Come Spring, I don't want to have a screaming child refusing to get into the pool again.  And then we'll be back to square one.  Yeah, I guess I have to do what I have to do.  Continue to torture the kid.

Lil T showing off his award for passing Level 1 swim.

Butterscotch Apple Crisp

I love Fall!  And I think it's finally feeling like Fall.  I mean, it IS October. 

Fall has to be one of my favorite seasons.  Minus the allergies and leaf raking, that is.  I love the vibrant colors of fall foliage, the cooler weather, hot apple cider, and taking my little Beanie apple picking and pumpkin picking.  That, which of course leads to bushels and bushels of apples for us.  Okay, maybe not bushels.  But definitely enough to last us through the season. 

Speaking of apple picking, we went this past weekend.  So what better way to kick off the Fall season than with a delicous Butterscotch Apple Crisp.  This recipe was adapted from Pat and Gina Neely's Butterscotch Apple Crisp.    I've lightened up the recipe...somewhat.  Every calorie counts, right?

Hope you enjoy it!

Butterscotch Apple Crisp

Filling

-  5 applies, peeled, cored and diced  (I used Golden Delicious apples since they're Lil T's favorite)

-  1/2 cup butterscotch chips

-  1/4 cup light brown sugar

-  1/4 cup all-purpose flour

-  1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

-  1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

- 1 lemon, juiced

-  3 tablespoon unsalted butter, cubed

Topping

-  3/4 cup all-purpose flour

-  1/4 cup light brown sugar

-  1/2 cup rolled oats

-  pinch of salt

-  1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and diced

-  3/4 cup pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Lightly butter a 2 qt. baking dish.  (I used individual ramekins)  For the filling, toss together apples, butterscotch chips, sugar, flour, cinnamon, allspice, lemon juice, and butter in a medium bowl.  Fill the baking dish (or ramekins) with the apple filling.  For the topping, in a seperate bowl combine the flour, sugar, oats, salt.  Cut in butter, either using food processor or two forks.  Stir in pecans.  Sprinkle the topping over the apple filling.  Bake for about 40 - 45 mins (20 - 25 mins if using ramekins) until the apples are tender and the butterscotch is bubbling.  Let cool 5 minutes before serving.  Serve with a scoop (or 2) of vanilla ice cream or butter pecan ice cream.

Huh? What-cha say?!?!?

Men have selective hearing.  We all know that.  But did you know that it actually starts when they're at the tender age of four.  Case in point, Lil T.

Lil T has remarkable hearing.  He can hear the faintest of whispers.  Conversations that Papa in Suburbia and I don't want him to hear, he hears.  We could be whispering in the next room and he'll hear every word of the conversation.  We could speak in cryptic and he'll understand what we're talking about.  He can make out the lyrics of a song that's playing on the radio, which he'll sing along to each time it.  Even I have a hard time hearing what these singers are singing sometimes.  Yes, he'll croon "Rollling in the Deep" right along with Adele.  But when it comes to me giving him a simple directive like, "Okay time to wash up for dinner" or "Clean up, it's time for bed", he'll totally "not hear" me.  I have to repeat it about 3 times, each time a little louder and with more annoyance in my voice. 

Scenario - It's time for dinner and Lil T is playing in the living room and I'm in the kitchen.  Mind you, there are no doors or walls blocking the travel of sound.

Me - "It's time for dinner.  Go wash up please."   Silence.

Me - "T, did you hear me?  It's time to wash up for dinner."  I wait another second.  Total silence.

Me - "I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN.  GO WASH UP NOW OR YOU'RE GOING TO TIME- OU...!"  Before I even have time to finish the sentence....

Lil T - "Mommie,  what-cha say????"

ARGH!!!  It drives me nuts!

Being in control is over-rated.

Hello.  My name is Mama in Suburbia.  I am a stay-at-home mom and...I'm a control freak.

There.  I said it. 

Okay, in my defense...I'm not exactly a control freak.  I just like things done a certain way.  I like organization.  I like cleanliness.  I like order.  I don't like chaos. 

Hmmmm, on second thought, I'm not only a control freak...I'm an anal perfectionist.  Great!

You see, this isn't really a terrible thing.  Yeah okay, maybe it is.  But what makes it bad is that I am constantly at war with my I-need-to-be-in-control-also four year old.  Yes, it's the mommy/son battle for control.  Already.  I am sooo not looking forward to the teenager years. 

I am turning into one of those moms you see at the playground or at the store.  The ones who you try to avoid.  You know, the ones constantly yelling at their kids.  "Stop doing that."  "I told you to stop already."  "Don't play with that." And all he ever hears is "whaar, whaar, whaar, whaar, whaaar...." (just like Charlie Brown's teacher).  And the more I yell, the more defiant he gets.  He gets that crazy glimmer in his eyes, a devilish smile starts to form, and off he goes.  And off I go.  Yeah I know, I'm not the control freak.  He is. 

What I need to do is go have a couple of drinks breathe, before reacting.  Wooooo-saaaaaa.  Breathe and think before I overreact.  1. Is he in any danger?  2. Am I or anyone else in any danger?  3. Are sharp objects involved?  4. Will I regret this later on? Probably so, but it's okay.  If the answer is "no", let it be.  Seriously.  Kids will be kids.  They want to have fun.  They are going to test you.  So as long as there is no danger involved and no one gets hurt, I need to just take a chill pill.  Right?  Easier said than done...but I will try.  I don't want to be a screaming mom all the time.  It's annoying.  And it's exhausting.  I just need to let loose with the control once in awhile.  It's a give and take.  I let loose the reins a bit, he won't pull as hard.  Kinda like...walking a dog?  Or something like that.

It's no fun butting heads all the time.  This anal, perfectionist, control freak of a Mama will learn to let go a bit.  Once in a while.

Come to think of it, by doing so, I  might actually be gaining all the control.  Muahahahahah....