Do you know The Muffin Man?

Muffins, who doesn't love a good muffin?

They are light, yummy, and have a lot less sugar and are usually packed with yummy fruits that cupcakes are lacking. 

I haven't made muffins recently, and if you have been fallowing the blog since I started it in 2011, you would know I usually make them quite a lot!

My husband is not the biggest fan of muffins, unless they are the almond poppy seed ones from Costco, and I have recently discovered the ones from WinCo aren't bad either. But do to the amount of sugar in them I usually get a high off of them, and crash a hour or so later.

I also am a sort of snob and I haven't made them in years due to not having my moms recipe and knowing how amazing it was, I have been hesitant to try anything else. 

I spent a few ($$) dollars at WinCO on their muffins this week and they went bad before we could finish them (I know you can freeze them, I just forgot to do that), plus the fact that I had some very nice over ripe banana's I wanted to see if I could make a half decent banana muffin using a recipe from a cook book.

I did get a little creative with the recipe and I switched it up a bit, only due to the fact that I had made them 1 way for so long, I knew this extra step added a great taste and extra moister to the muffin. Here we go!

Banana Muffins

Bake: 18 minutes (I baked mine for 12, adjust for your oven)  Oven: 400  Yield: 12 muffins

Note: I quadrupled it because of the amount of banana's I had, I always smash the banana's fist, measure them according to the recipe, and that tells me how many times to double it.

1/2 cup milk

1.5 teaspoons lemon

3/4 cup banana

1 3/4 cups Flour

1/3 cup Sugar

2 teaspoon Baking Powder

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1 Egg

1/4 cup cooking oil (I used Canola)

1. Mash banana into a bowl

2. Take a cup and pour the lemon and milk into it, stir slightly and pour over banana's

3. Set aside

4. In stand mixer or bowl add the flour, sugar, (sifted) baking powder, and salt. 

5. Mix and set aside

6. Beat the egg slightly and add oil

7. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients (if using a stand mixer, remove the paddle and bowl from base, make well in the center)

8. Pour banana and egg mixture into well

9. Replace to stand and mix till combined but still slightly clumpy.

10. Fill muffin tins and cook for desired time till set, remove from oven, remove from pan and let cool on wire rack.

Enjoy!

I decided I want to make something to go along with a valentines party the kids were having, a somewhat healthy snack, so I made some strawberry ones. I used the above recipe for the dry, eggs, milk, and oil, but made these adaptions. 

Mix your dry ingredients together and then mix in 1 cup diced strawberries (fresh or frozen are fine)

Mix your wet ingredients together and pour into the dry+strawberry mix

Pour into prepared muffin tins and bake at 375 for 15 minutes

Enjoy!

Cookies Sent From Heaven

Everyone has a cookie that they feel is the best in the world. One that they turn to when they need a sweet treat and a pick up.

My husband loves snicker-doodles
My Grandma's favorite are raisin cookies

Chocolate chip are a good staple, and a lemon butterscotch never hurt anyone (unless you are allergic to lemon)

But my absolute favorite that trumps all cookies and I could eat plates full of, are Peanut Butter Oatmeal.

These cookies are chewy and soft, have a hint of peanut butter flavor but aren't over powering, and have a lovely texture.

Once I got all the ingredients together they took only 5 minutes to make the dough, with only 7-12 minutes in the over (depending on your ovens temperament (ours runs low)) they are quick, easy, and perfect for all group gatherings (unless someone has a peanut allergy, then I would pick something else to bring)

The recipe comes from Better Home and Garden: Cook Book

Prep: 30 min   Bake: 7-12 min    Oven: 375 F    Makes: about 48 cookies

3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cup flour
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup chopped peanuts or chocolate chips (optional)

1. In stand mixer, mix peanut butter and butter till smooth.
2. Add sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and baking soda.
3. Beat in eggs
4. Beat in as much as the flour that you can
5. Add oats and chocolate chips

Drop dough onto a lined cookie sheet (about 1 inch big, they will spread)
Bake until edges are golden, do not over cook, remove from oven and let rest on the cookie sheet till done (about 5 minutes)
Move to wire rack for rest of cooling time
Enjoy as many as you like!

I like to think they are healthy because of the oatmeal and peanut butter, but in the quantity that I eat them, probably not.

I hope you try the recipe out and like it as much as I do!

Prepare Every Needful Thing

I recently had a conversation with my mother on the definition of "House of Order"

In Doctrine and Covenants 88:119 states:

Lets define a few words first and see where this takes us.
The 1828 Webster Dictionary defines house as such: 

HOUSE, noun hous. [Latin casa; Heb. to put on, to cover.]

1. In a general sense, a building or shed intended or used as a habitation or shelter for animals of any kind; but appropriately, a building or edifice for the habitation of man; a dwelling place, mansion or abode for any of the human species. It may be of any size and composed of any materials whatever, wood, stone, brick, etc.

The dictionary gives 2 note worthy definitions:

OR'DER, noun [Latin ordo.]

1. Regular disposition or methodical arrangement of things; a word of extensive application; as the order of troops or parade; the order of books in a library; the order of proceedings in a legislative assembly. order is the life of business.

OR'DER, verb transitive

1. To regulate; to methodize; to systemize; to adjust; to subject to system in management and execution; as, to order domestic affairs with prudence.

These give you the idea that a "house of order" means a dwelling with rules, regulations, and a system in place.

I asked some friends what it meant to them, here are what they said:

"A house of order to me is one where everything is well planned and expectations are clear. Like Heavenly Father's plan. It's also one where standards or adhered to and not fudged here and there. People are help to the same standard so there's no confusion about different requirements/treatments"

"To me a house of order would be a Christ centered home, with a routine, a schedule, but still freedom to play and have fun. One with a set FHE time, with a peaceful and happy night routine, less yelling, a home free of anxiety and stress."

"A house of order to me is a refuge. There's rules, discipline, but most important there's love and respect."

"This is a tough one to answer, just because everybody’s answer can and honestly should be very different from each other. For me personally, I find that my house is best that piece we do work to keep things clean, but not to the point where we become overly exhausted and stressed out. There is a fine balance between clean and content. It’s nice to be able to come home and have a place that’s orderly, is it somewhere where I feel comfortable kicking back in, and most importantly, spending time with my family.

In the end, you need to find a make the thing that feels peaceful and natural for you and your own family. You should go by what you feel, not necessarily by the expectations of others. You shouldn’t have to literally work to get home what you want it to be, but it should eventually be something that you are truly at peace with. That is for you to decide though, and no one else should make you feel like you need to do something with your home, because it is not their home, it is yours."

"Clean. A place for everything and everything in it's place. Fixed, painted- no big projects so you can spend time on important things/family time. Systems in place so that you aren't constantly putting out fires and being able to roll with the crazy days because things are in order."

One Friend brought this scripture to mind:

Doctrine and Covenants 132: 8
"Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion."

"I like referring to this scripture as well because it gives us an even bigger picture of what a house is NOT. We need to first and foremost create our homes to be a place where the spirit can dwell. Where we feel safe and protected from the world. And where we can learn and grow. If our house is constantly in chaos, how can we do that?

That doesn't mean that our homes will ever be perfect in this life. They can't and won't so that should never be the goal. The goal should always be that our homes are a place where we would feel comfortable if the Savior were to come to the door and we asked Him to join us for dinner, FHE, etc. What would the Savior see when He walked in our door? But more importantly, what would the feeling be? Obviously for me, it would be joy and peace inviting the Savior into my home. But would I be embarrassed because I hadn't vacuumed up the dog hair that day? Or because I hadn't finished washing the dishes from the day before? Does any of that matter? Or would He be pleased to see the pictures that we have on the walls of the temple, Savior, and our family? Would He be pleased to see that we have an area in our home where we go to study our Come, Follow Me as often as we can. Would he be pleased to know that we sit together as a family for dinner as often as we can. These are all questions I honestly ask because sometimes I get so caught up in the cleaning and organizing that sometimes I forget about why I do it. It isn't for the praise of man that I do that...although, that is part of it. For me, the reason I want to have order in my home is so I can have the spirit there. If there is chaos or confusion in my home, I have a hard time focusing or even handling basic challenges that are thrown at me."

The Lord wants us to be organized, and in a home that gives us peace so we can feel the spirit.

I have the the fist scripture hanging up in my kitchen, to remind me what a home is and to remind me what my home should be. 

My home is far from organized, it is far from clean. But my kids know they are loved, they know they are wanted. My kids are small, we have lots of learning, growing, and order to undergo. But my kids are safe in my home and they know that.

From the above quotes we see that everyone has a different view of a "House of Order" and that is perfect, because we are all our own person. The important thing is that we keep striving for a house of order, that if we go to the Lord is prayer and ask for his help, he will guide us in the direction that we need to go to establish a house of order.