Jewelry and Healthy Cookies

Hi, friends!  Before we all get the weekend started, I wanted to share two exciting tidbits with you.

First, I've listed several new pieces of jewelry in my Etsy shop this week.  I'm especially excited about this necklace because I think it really captures my creative style.  And I just think it's pretty.  :)   I also think it looks like something Dr. Temperance Brennan would wear.  That's right, I just said - er, typed - that for all the world to read.

Second, I recently came across a recipe for healthy cookies on 101 recipes, an awesome food blog that I follow, that I've been wanting to try.  I've been putting it off because the process sounded a little daunting.  But I'm here to say "DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE ALMOND FLOUR!"  It was super easy to make, and I even experimented with making my own almond butter while the cookies were in the oven because I was so intrigued about what the food processor could do with slivered almonds.  Let's just say that my almond butter is not blog worthy yet, but these cookies from 101 recipes are!  Give 'em a try!

Happy weekend, everyone!

Oatmeal Banana Nut Chocolate Chip Muffins

These wonderful muffins have been my breakfast (and snack and dessert...) of choice for a couple of weeks now.  They are like a yum-tastic mashup of banana nut bread and chocolate chip muffins, with the tiniest hint of oatmeal goodness.  And the best part?  They are free of white flour and refined sugar!  One of my biggest cooking quests is discovering delicious goodies that are void of those two little boogers, and these muffins are just that (minus the sugar in the semi-sweet chocolate chips).  You'll never know it in tasting them, though!

I like these moist and a bit mushy.  Baking for 16 minutes at 375 seems to be perfect for me, but leave them in the oven for 18 to 20 minutes if you want more "bready" muffins.

Here's the recipe:

Oatmeal Banana Nut Chocolate Chip Muffins

1/2 cup melted butter or oil (I've tried both unsalted butter and canola oil - honestly can't tell a difference.  Don't use a butter substitute, though.  No food fakers in this kitchen!)
2 eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup warm honey
1/4 cup yogurt or buttermilk (I've tried both but I usually use low fat buttermilk)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup quick oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Nestle semi-sweet chocolate chips (1 - 1 1/2 cups???  I don't measure - I just pour 'em in!)

* Preheat oven to 375 and lined muffin tin with muffin papers, if desired.  Generously spray canola oil cooking spray over inside of muffin tin (inside muffin papers if you are using them).

1. Using a wooden spoon, combine first 4 ingredients.  Add yogurt or buttermilk and soda and mix well.
2. Combine flour, salt and oats.  Add to banana mixture.
3. Fold in walnuts and chocolate chips.
4. Spoon into lined and/or sprayed muffin tin.  Bake at 375 for 18 to 20 minutes.  Bake for 16 to 17 for gooey muffins. 

Makes 10 - 12 muffins.

Enjoy!

Honey Mustard Curry Chicken

Here's what we had for dinner tonight!  This is one of my staple recipes.  It's super easy with really short hands-on time.  Plus, as long as you use equal parts honey, dijon mustard and melted butter and don't over-do the curry (just taste the sauce as you're making it to see if it's good or not!), you really can't screw this one up!  I love serving this with whole wheat couscous (spoon extra pan sauce over the chicken on each plate and let it soak into the grain) and a green veggie. 

Here's the recipe:

Honey

Dijon mustard

Melted butter

Curry powder

Salt and pepper

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Pre-heat oven to 350⁰

In Pyrex measuring cup, melt butter (approx. 1/3 cup for 1-1.5 lbs. chicken).  Add approx. 1/3 cup honey and 1/3 cup Dijon mustard to melted butter.  Stir.  Add approx. 1 tsp curry power and dash of salt and pepper.  Stir well. 

Line small casserole dish with foil.  Place chicken on foil, and pour butter mixture over chicken.  Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes.  Uncover and back for 20-40 minutes, until chicken is done.

Enjoy :)