Egg and Mini Muffins

I've decided to expand what I use my silicone baking cups for so that I can use them more often, so this past Sunday I made (slightly modified) eggs napoleon for breakfast! Seriously, breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so anytime I can make something good for breakfast, I'm all over it. Anyways, to make these you were supposed to use tater tots, but I didn't have any so I cut some left over fries into small pieces and put those on the bottom instead. Then you were supposed to cook onion, butter, jalapenos, and garlic in a skillet, but I was in a hurry so I sprinkled garlic, diced onion, melted butter, and chili powder (for the kick) on top of the fries. After that I sprinkled mozzarella cheese (which was actually called for in the recipe) on top. The recipe then called for a whole egg in each muffin, but we didn't have enough so I whisked them all together and divided them equally among the cups. I then baked them at 350 for about 10 minutes. They were pretty good! We found that if dipped in salsa they were better, though. If I make them again I will add the spices to the egg and add more spice. They were a little bland, but the salsa definitely made them better!

 On to the mini muffins! So my mom's class at PWOC (a Bible Study we attend) was in charge of bringing mini muffins for next week's study. Of course I butted in and insisted on making them with (or more like for) her, because I'm "nice" like that.. ;) Anyway, it turns out that her group of ladies was getting together to make them all at the same time, so I went along to help and it was super fun!

 We made four different kinds (recipes below): Blueberry Chocolate Chip, Coffee Cake, Sugared Mango (found on Pinterest, I'm addicted), and Orange Cranberry.

Coffee Cake 

Blueberry Chocolate Chip 

Orange Cranberry

Sugared Mango

Our verdict was that the Sugared Mango and the Coffee Cake were the best flavors, but they were all delicious!

Sugared Mango Muffins

1 3/4 C Flour

1/2 t Salt

1 t Baking Powder

6 T Room Temperature Butter

1 C Sugar

2 Eggs

1 t Vanilla

1/2 C Sour Cream

1 1/2 C Chopped Mango (1-2 Mangoes if you are using fresh)

Sugar for topping

Mix together dry ingredients and wet ingredients in different bowls. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Fold in mangoes. Spoon into muffin tins and bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes for full size muffins and 15 for mini muffins. 

Coffee Cake Muffins

1 1/2 C Flour

1/2 C Sugar

1 1/4 t Baking Powder

1/2 t Cinnamon

1/4 t Ginger

1/4 t Baking Soda

1/4 t Salt

1/4 C Butter

1 Egg

1/2 C Buttermilk or Sour Milk

Mix together dry and wet ingredients in different bowls. Combine the dry and wet ingredients. Spoon into muffin tins and top with topping. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes for full size muffins and 10-12 minutes for mini muffins.

Topping: 

3 T Flour

3 T Brown Sugar

1/4 t Cinnamon

2 T Butter

3 T Chopped Walnuts or Pecans (optional)

Blueberry Chocolate Chip Muffins and Orange Cranberry Muffins

These two have the same basic muffin recipe with different fillings.

1 3/4 C Flour

1/3 C Sugar

2 t Baking Powder

1/4 t Salt

1 Egg

3/4 C Milk

1/4 C Cooking Oil

Mix together dry and wet ingredients in different bowls. Combine dry and wet ingredients. Fold in fillings (below). Spoon into muffin tins and bake at 400 for 18 minutes for full muffins and 12-15 minutes for mini muffins.

Blueberry Chocolate Chip filling: 1/4 C each of frozen blueberries and chocolate chips

Orange Cranberry filling: an extra 1/4 t Salt. 1/4 C Chopped Dried Cranberries, 1-2 t Orange Zest, the juice of 1/2 an orange (or about 3 T orange juice. Basically to taste)

Enjoy!

New York City!!!!

Anyone want to guess what I got for my birthday? Only the BEST PRESENT EVER!!! A trip to New York City to see a Broadway play!!! I thought I'd share some pictures from my trip, but if you'd like to see them all check Facebook! 

My Sis and I, right after we got to our hotel

Grand Central Station! Can you find my mom and sister?

I admit- I am an unashamed Foodie :) 

These fries were delicious! 

This is what I wore the beginning of the day. Pink jeans, chevron top, black jacket, giant purple scarf (thank you Emily Rose!, the traveling earrings, and converse

Seeing Time Square at night has always been a dream of mine

Waiting in line to see the play 

Me and my momma 

Me and my sister

 We weren't allowed to take pictures during the play so I thought I'd share a little of  my experience. It was AMAZING!! I cannot imagine anything better. It was so cool. Best Birthday Present EVER! While watching I remember thinking two distinct things: 1) there goes fainting off my list. It'll never happen now. If I was ever going to faint it would have been now. and 2) Heaven will be better than this, and I couldn't even imagine it.

The Walk of Fashion

The Family :)

I love Iron Man! My favorite super hero aside from Batman.

We went to see Good Morning America live!

My sister had WAY too much fun at the American Girl store!

We took a picture in the elevator of SAKS, just like our elevator picture in Harrods.

All in all I had a fabulous time! I can't wait to go back!!

Silicone Baking Cups

So you might have heard that my dad broke his arm recently. My mom and I were gone at the time, and my sister is obviously at school, so he was by himself. Fortunately, lots of people that he works with were kind enough to bring him food while we were gone and he was hurt. Guess what that means... (by the way, I love the guessing game; my mother hates it...) Anyway, it means I had to make those people thank you presents! What a sacrifice, I know. I had to get the recipe from a friend because I left my chocolate cook-book in Columbia, but it all worked out. I give you "Chocolate Dream Cups!" Aren't they fabulous? It's all edible: the cup, the mousse, the Andes Mint, everything. I'll even include the recipe, just because I'm nice like that, you can thank me later. :)

Chocolate Dream Cups

1 C Chocolate Chips

1 t Shortening (do not use butter!)

Melt these together in the microwave stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Thickly coat cupcake liners with chocolate and chill 10-15 minutes. Touch up thin spots and chill 2 hours or overnight. Fill with chocolate mousse.

Chocolate Mousse

1 t Unflavored Gelatin

1 T Cold Water

2 T Boiling Water

1/2 C Sugar

1/4 C Cocoa

1 C Cold Whipping Cream

1 t Vanilla Extract

Sprinkle gelatin over cold water and let stand 1 minute to soften. Add boiling water (hint, don't try to pour boiling water into a Tablespoon, you will burn yourself. It will hurt.) Stir until all the gelatin is dissolved and mixture is clear. Let stand to cool. Meanwhile, stir together sugar and cocoa. Add whipping cream and vanilla. Mix on medium speed until stiff. Add the gelatin mixture and beat until well blended. Spoon or pipe into chocolate cups. Chill until set (at least an hour). Enjoy!

What, you might be wondering, does this have to do with silicone baking cups? Well, I'm glad you asked. While at Wal-Mart yesterday getting the supplies for these baking cups I saw these silicone baking cups next to the normal cupcake liners. I had heard great things about them and they were only $4 for 8 of them, so why not, right? I am now addicted. They are SO MUCH BETTER than normal cupcake liners!! It's fantastic. I will be buying more. I had a dream last night that I tore one and I almost cried. Thank goodness it was just a dream, right?? I totally recommend getting some if you like baking. It is totally worth it. 

 Just a picture of how they turned out to make you jealous ;) 

 This is a comparison of a silicone versus a normal cupcake liner. Not much of a competition, huh?

Also, now that I'm totally addicted to these silicone things, I had to use them again. Thank you, Pinterest (I'm addicted), for these little puppies! Pancake muffins. Let me tell you: you will not be able to just eat one. Ever. So. Dang. Delicious. It's just a normal pancake mix with whatever you want in them baked at 350 for 12-15 minutes. I over-filled mine a little because I didn't want to have two pans, because I don't have two cupcake pans, but they still were super awesome! The next time I make them I will mix the toppings in with the batter though, because just dropping them on top left them on top, and then the rest of your pancake/muffin just tastes like a pancake. Which is still good, but not as good as a blueberry pancake/muffin.

I also made some with chocolate chips, and they were also delicious. When my mother tried these she said, "These are good, surprisingly!" To which I responded, "That's kind of an insult..." At least she thinks they're good now!

February Report Card

So I have to admit, my report card for this month isn't exactly a passing grade... But February flew by, so hopefully March will go better!

1) Get motivated to do school/don't get behind: B
I'm not behind in English (which is my most important class so I get double points for that), and I'm only a teensy bit behind in Economics and Physics.

2) Go to the gym at least 5 days a week (not including the week-long college trip): D
Yeah, that didn't happen... But with a new month comes new motivation!

3) Successfully complete college tour trip: A+
It was SUPER fun!! I had a blast and found two colleges that I really like!

4) Stop being so stressed out: B-
I've realized that stress isn't exactly something you can turn on and off. But I'm working on giving everything to God and releasing my stress to Him!

And for March my goals will be:

1) Put $200 towards my trip to the Dominican Republic (hear that parents? I'm completely available for babysitting!!)

2) Finish English with an A

3) Catch up on Economics and Physics

4) Run three times a week

Feel free to send me texts/facebook messages/email/phone calls to keep me accountable! I'd love it!

February Joys

So, I've gotten quite behind this month on my Joy Dare. But I'm catching up today, so here are all the joys from February!

94. A comfy Sweatshirt

95. A puffy vest

96. Plump tomatoes

97. Maps

98. Schedules

99. A menu full of Mexican food

100. Ann Voskamp's beautiful words

101. God's promise to revive the contrite heart

102. A challenge for daily study

103. A child to babysit

104. Reclaimed bobby pins

105. Painted toes

106. Cute scarves

107. Paved Roads

108. A community of Christian ladies

109. Pinterest ideas tried

110. The sound of snow crunching under boots

111. A walk with a dear friend

112. Economics I can understand 

113. Finishing yogurt before it expires

114. Finishing reading a research book

115. Plumbing

116. Washing machines

117. Iron Man pants

118. Peace while taking my midterm

119. an early night

120. Free shoes

121. Cheesy pick up lines between friends

122. Bowling

123. Ridiculous dance moves

124. The sheen of sweat that shows you're working hard

125. Getting a week's worth of physics done in a day

126. Stretching

127. People that are hard to love

128. Stopping the glorification of busy

129. One last writing course

130. Bathrooms

131. My own room

132. A quiet space where I could finish my paper

133. Heat seaters

134. Hugs from my momma

135. When the baby finally falls asleep

136. Sweet people at the library

137. Finding new shoes with a friend

138. Yummy soup

139. Gorgeous sunsets

140. The dry cracked land of Texas

141. Forgotten/Re-found clothes

142. A rested momma

143. The excitement of a gift

144. Ice cream

145. An encouraging email

146. An acceptance letter

147. A well loved recipe

148. Staying in New York

149. A quiet night at home

150. A lovely college visit

151. Extra thick smoothies

152. An unexpected pizza

153. The smell of rice cooking

154. Notebooks

155. My research paper almost done

156. A coffee cup full of frozen blueberries

157. Big fluffy snowflakes

158. Clean laundry

159. Les Mis on repeat

160. Already canned tomatoes

161. Cutting boards

162. A sturdy table

163. A picture drawn just for me

164. God's love on the pages of the Bible

165. A brand new jar of peanut butter

166. Exhaustion after a work out

167. New outfits put together

168. Only bringing two bags to the gym

169. Clear instructions

170. Plans with my sister

171. Remembering funny stories

172. Cleaning my room

173. Old Books

174. Tennis shoes

175. My daddy's love

176. God's already kept promises

177. Being OK after moving

You Might Be In...

I went home this past week! It was only for two days, but still. So I decided to put together a list of "You Might Be In Texas If..." Enjoy!

You Might be in Texas If...

1. A tumbleweed blows across the field full of frolicking baby cows
2. The patch of water in which you can see the grass growing from the bottom is called a lake
3. The dry ditch has a bridge over it and is labeled "creek" in hopes that someday there will be water in it
4. The sun is shining through the pouring rain
5. The sun is shining and it's 30 degrees with gale force winds
6. The sun is shining and it's 50 degrees
7. 4-6 happened in 24 hours
8. There are more people on your college tour wearing cowboy boots than all other shoes combined
9. You're disappointed you didn't bring yours
10. The boy who holds the door open says "You're welcome ma'am, y'all have a nice day"-every time.
11. Pictures of Texas on random signs do not look stupid
12. The radio station host switches from English to Spanish without a second thought
13. You know more about the person standing next to you on your college tour than you do about your next door neighbor in New York
14. The "authentic Mexican food" sign is not lying
15. And last, you might be from Texas if your first thought upon seeing the flat, brown, dry land is "God made this gorgeous state for me." <3

We also went to Michigan on this trip and thought we'd share a little Michigan humor with y'all today.

You Might be from Michigan If...

1. Everyone is related
2. Everyone knows you
3. If the they doesn't know you they know your brother
4. If they don't know your brother they know your cousin
5. They probably are your cousin

New Shoes!!

So I went shopping and bought new shoes!! I also recently got a pair of shoes from a friend so I decided to do a whole post about my new shoes! The best part is now I have five pairs of new shoes and I only spent $30! I love thrift stores!

 Aren't these adorable? Just green flats with a bow on the toe- $4

 These are the ones from a friend; I love them! Super adorable and warm enough to wear in this cold weather!

 I have been looking for navy blue shoes for a REALLY long time and I finally found some for only $4! I actually wore these without tights last Sunday, just because they matched my outfit so well!

 These were the most expensive because they were at a real store, but they were half off! I got them for only $15!

And these are probably my favorite, I LOVE the color! I got them for only $7!

My philosophy of life, found on Pinterest!

 So true, also found on Pinterest! Although here in New York it could be "the act of wearing shoes that will make your feet ridiculously cold just because they look good" :)