Monday, September 28, 2009

Monday Morning Muffin



This morning for breakfast I made buttermilk Chocolate chip muffins. What a sweet way to start the week! I admit they have a lot of sugar but I figure a treat is OK now and again. I suppose one could use a sugar alternative...if one wanted to.

CHOCOLATE CHIP BUTTERMILK MUFFINS 

4 tbsp. butter
2 eggs
2 1/2 c. unsifted all purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. buttermilk
1 c. chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 12 large or 24 small muffin pan cups. Place butter in a small skillet and melt; remove from heat.
2. Beat eggs in a small bowl, using a fork, rotary beater or hand mixer.
3. Using a flour sifter or a large strainer, sift flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt together into a large bowl. Using a large spoon, make a "well" in the flour mixture and add buttermilk, eggs, and melted butter. Mix gently, just enough to moisten all ingredients.
4. Gently stir in chocolate chips. Spoon batter into muffin pan cups. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly on rack, then remove muffins from cups with small spatula while still warm. Serve warm with butter.
Makes 12 large or 24 small muffins.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Calendars

A must when trying to keep everyone organized. They record Dr. Appointments, Work/School Activities, Family Events, Birthdays whatever you need to remember. That is, as long as you use them. There are a lot of different electronic calendars available usually for free with your Operating System on your computer, or you can spend lots of money on fancy leather bound planners or you can draw a grid on paper and write in the days of the weeks with their corresponding dates - Whatever! There are a ton of options. Last year I used a calender I got for free for spending money at Mrs. Tiggy Winkles, a toy store near my house. This year the Dollar Store had one that was magnetized so I could stick it on my refrigerator for everyone to see and update as needed. It has really big squares for each day, a handy feature for writing in information. I also carry a personal planner that I can fit in my purse for recording things when I am out that I can later transfer onto the Master Calender. After trying many systems this is what works for our house. So simple really! I am sure this is why it works.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Today`s Project: Sock It To Ya!

or away from ya ...whatever! lol I am sorting and getting rid of the odd socks! Some I will keep for crafts but holey, odd and worn ones are outta here!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

It Figures!

Just as I am getting back into the swing of things I go and tear my Rectus Adominis muscle while picking my 4 year old up to sit on a 19th century bicycle. I really do mean to update this blog regularly but life keeps getting in the way! I have been on bed rest since September 4th. I am on the road to recovery. First I must have an ultrasound to ensure all is healing nicely then I need to work on strengthening my core. The doctor recommended Pilates. I was thinking maybe I might take this up someday and now I will make this a priority. You may hold me accountable. Actually, feel free to join me!

Autumn arrived tonight. It was very apparent as a flock of Canadian Geese flew past me in an obvious migration pattern - not the clumsy <">We are just practicing. of weeks past. Someone also has a fire place going in the neighbourhood. I love that sent of burning wood but I am not sure I am ready for winter. We hardly has summer! Oh Well! No sense whining about it.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

The Launch Pad

For those of you with children in school you already know how important this is! The Launch Pad is the place where everything you need that day is placed ready for you before you walk out the door. At our house each school-aged child has a bench in which book bags, musical instruments and sport equipment(of the small variety)can be placed the night before as part of the before bed routine. In the closet is a shoe rack with one shelf dedicated to baskets that hold hats, scarves, mitts, sunglasses, umbrellas or what-ever else is needed before leaving the house. I have a coat rack that I use to hang my purse and/or backpack for the day. The coats, sweaters and hoodies are hung up and shoes go on the bottom shelves of the shoe wrack. This set up seems to work really well for us. The before bed and Morning routines along with the launch pad have made it so that we can be out of the house within an hour of waking up and it is done with no stress! The nice thing about being organized like this also allows me to not think about it. If you knew what kind of morning person I am you would know this is a very good thing. :D