Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

I love peanut butter. Like love love I'll smear it on anything love it. (Are you accusing me of sticking a spoon into the jar and just eating the gooey yummy creamy peanut butter straight out of the jar? How could you?!? You know me so well...) And, for the past 3 years or so, I've been giving up peanut butter for Lent. This means that I only have a few more weeks to enjoy as much PB as possible before I have to give it up for 40 days and nights. Bad timing too because I just began a love affair with Peanut Butter & Co's Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Peanut Butter. That's right. You heard me. Cinnamon Raisins IN Peanut Butter. I've been a big fan of Peanut Butter & Co's products but didn't stumble upon its Cinnamon Raisin variety until recently. WOW. Died. Went to heaven. (Philosophical Question: Once you reach Heaven, do you have to observe Lent?)

Speaking of heavenly- aahhha some cinnamon raisin peanut butter banana muffins. I had some very very ripe (a few more days and they were going to be rotten) bananas that were just perfect for baking purposes. I thought that this was the perfect opportunity to use my new peanut butter BFF in a recipe. 

This muffin recipe is pretty standard as far as muffin recipes are concerned but it does call for four bananas (maybe more banana then most recipes require). I added in some chia seeds because (1) they are so "in" right now and (2) the real reason: we all need a little more fiber in our diets. Warning: These are not low-fat diet friendly muffins (read 1 stick butter PLUS more peanut butter). But- enjoy in limited quantities and you won't feel quite as guilty. I mean the peanut butter makes it so worth it. 

Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

(Yields: About 18 muffins) 

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 stick butter (room temp)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk (I use skim)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4 ripe bananas, mashed
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2/3 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup chia seeds 
• 1 tsp cinnamon 

Directions: 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tin with paper liners. 
• Mix sugar and butter together. Stir in eggs until blended.
• Add bananas, milk, and vanilla to mixture.
• Add in peanut butter. Mix well.
• Stir in flour, chia seeds, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
• Spoon batter into muffin cups, about 2/3 full. 
• Bake about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of a muffin comes out clean. 
  

Do you love peanut butter as much as I do? What is your favorite "go-to" recipe that uses peanut butter? 

Jump Start #4

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When I'm in a running music slump looking for new jams I turn here. Best part: sorting songs by pace!
Enjoying some v inspiring posts over at The Fresh Exchange
Beyond excited that my girl crush is coming to daytime telly. Mazel! Setting the DVR now.
Making one (or two or three) of these fantastic looking dips for a Super Bowl party C and I will be attending.
I try not to go political on here but a good law school friend of mine is running for State Representative in the 169th District of Pennsylvania. If you live in this district, please take a moment to consider her as your choice candidate. She is an amazing individual and will bring a lot to PA's government and residents.

Penne Bolognese With Mushrooms

That pasta thing happened again. You know that thing when all I think about and all I want to eat is pasta? I'm blaming my craving on the mondo white-out blizzard we experienced the night I decided to make this dish. All I wanted to do was run home, change into a oversized hoodie, pour a glass of wine, and eat pasta. Yummy, delicious, carb filled pasta.

Traditionally, Bolognese is a meat-based sauce originating from Bologna, Italy. And, traditionally, this sauce has very little tomato sauce in it. But, centuries, immigration, and non-conforming chefs have transformed this sauce over the years to include varying amounts of tomato concentrate as well as added ingredients - like mushrooms. I'm sure a conforming authentic Italian chef would disprove of my mushroom addition. But, hey, C and I like mushrooms. And, if I didn't use them up soon, they would have gone bad. Waste not. Want not.

Penne Bolognese With Mushrooms

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. dry whole wheat penne
• 1lb ground turkey (93% lean or more)
• 1 8oz package mushrooms, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups plain marinara tomato sauce
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• salt and pepper to taste 
• 1 Tbsp oregano
• 1 Tbsp parsley
• 1/2 Tbsp basil (fresh preferred)
• shredded Parmesan 

Directions:

• Bring large pot of water to a boil and add pasta. Cook 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain and rinse.
• While pasta is cooking, heat skillet over medium heat on top of stove.
• Add in onion, garlic, and turkey and cook until meat is almost no longer pink.
• Add in mushrooms and cook until tender (about 6 mins) 
• Stir in sauce and seasonings. Add in pasta and mix well. 
• Serve and sprinkle with cheese. 

A leafy green side salad with a light Italian or vingarette dressing and some red wine were the perfect accompaniment to this pasta meal. Sometimes, I guess it is ok when that "pasta thing" happens. 

Fresh Florals

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Florals are nothing new in the world of decor. The trend has been around since at least the Renaissance. But, as of late, flower prints and all related pretty petal accents seem to be making a statement (again). Decorating with florals offers up a wide range of options- bold print or just a little spritz of foliage here - you choose! Florals seem to stay classic and are admittedly fun.

Jump Start #3

(image via Longchamp Spring 2012 Catalog. so cute.) 

Oh so tempted to take custom to a whole new level with a stamp of our mugs 

Office supplies in disguise make any desk more fun.
As if Toms could get any better. (!!!)
Getting involved: promoting healthy lifestyles + eating  for all ages 
Cold, snowy weather deliciousness will keep my crock pot busy for the next few weekends and I won't feel guilty about it. 

An Early Etsy Valentine

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I'm aware that Valentine's Day is still a few weeks away (#toosoon?). But, everywhere I turn (ok. By everywhere I mean Pinterest and Etsy) is pink, red, and heart speckled. And whether you are one who gets into the often called "Hallmark Holiday" or not, you can't deny the visual inspiration is certainly lovable. Here are my favs (so far) from Etsy. 

Recreating Mesa Grill: Corn with Roasted Chiles

This side dish deserves musical accompaniment. Yeah, it's that good. I'm thinking a lot of brass, trumpets, trombones, maybe even some tubas, blaring along as this dish reaches your table. A big crescendo builds up as heaps of the slightly spicy and rich creamy corn is loaded onto plates. Cue fork. Louder and louder- the horns are taking it home. Corn meet taste buds. Taste buds meet corn. True love. 

Ok, maybe I'm getting a little carried away but this is the side dish that ultimately made me want to own the entire Mesa Grill cookbook. The craziest part about this whole thing is that I don't even like corn that much. But add in some peppers and a few other things and it's a corn nirvana. 

Corn With Roasted Chiles, Creme Fraiche, and Cotija Cheese 

(adapted ever so slightly from Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill) 

Ingredients: 

• 3 tablespoons olive oil 
• 1 medium red onion, chopped 
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped 
• 1 small poblano chile, roasted, peeled, and seeded 
• 1 red bell pepper, roasted, peeled and seeded 
• 2 cups corn kernels (I used canned, drained corn) 
• 2 tablespoons cold butter 
• 2 tablespoons creme fraiche or sour cream (I of course went with the SC) 
• 2 tablespoons lime juice 
• 1/4 cup Cotija or Parmesan cheese 

Directions: 

• Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the poblano, red pepper and corn and cook until the corn is tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Stir in butter, crème fraiche/ sour cream, lime juice and cilantro; transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with  cheese.

I could not for the life of me find Cotija cheese (Shame on you Wegmans. You are suppose to have everything!) So, (thanks be to smart phones) I quickly looked up a suggested substitute while feeling desperate in the cheese department. The ever so common Parmesan came up as an acceptable substitute. 

This is an all around fantastic side dish. Serve it with black bean soup. Or chili. Spoon it over some nachos or stuff it inside a taco (porque no los dos?) I even think this would be great over a leafy bed of greens. No further dressing needed. But maybe some sour cream, no? 

Wedding Sneak Peek: The Honeymoon

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The second line of a famous Beach Boy's song says it all - C and I are headed to Bermuda for our honeymoon!!! We will be spending 10 days and nights at the lovely Newstead Belmont Hills Resort. To decide on our honeymoon location, we made a list of all the characteristics and qualities we wanted in a honeymoon spot-  sun + beach for me, golf for C, and snorkeling/water activities, plenty of delish dining, and history for both of us. Originally, this list directed us towards some European hot spots. We started contemplating a Mediterranean cruise but then decided that, with only hours at some ports, we would feel too rushed to do too much within a limited time frame. (Ps- Especially glad we didn't go that route now. Thoughts and prayers to all those involved.) After a little more research and some recommendations from loved ones (my parents honeymooned there and C's grandparents vacation there on an almost yearly basis), we starting looking into Bermuda. And Bermuda has everything we are looking for! Plus we won't lose two days to travel like we would if we jumped over the Pond. Cheers to that! What are some of your favorite honeymoon destinations? 

Jump Start #2

Two Mondays ago, my post included what I was currently getting into/ obsessed with/ procrastinating with etc etc. I thought it was a great way to jump start the week. So I think I'm going to continue with this theme of posts for a bit and see how it goes.

Ombre now trending in the baking world with this amazing cake. (not to mention the sprinkles!)
Like all crew-a-holics: gotta wanna need to have these right now. In every color, please.
I may have found my something blue.
Hilarious incite on conquering the gym this year. 
New fav foodie. You had me at Canuck 


Happy Monday! 

Obsessed With...Lush Cosmetics

I've been a fan of Lush Cosmetics products since my teen years. I remember first discovering them years ago when I stopped by a Lush store in Toronto. I discovered shampoo in solid bar form for the first time. So cool. Lush is probably most famous for their "bath bombs" - little bubble bath soap balls that come in a variety of colors, fragrances, and trendy names (like Phoenix Rising: purple + gold in color with an apple cinnamon scent.) Bath Bombs- You make bath times lots of fun. Oh, and all of Lush's products are super wallet friendly. Double the fun. Here is a quick round-up of some Lush products I'm lusting over as well as some of my all-time favs. 

(1) Recon Hair Conditioning Treatment; $16.95; (2) Lime, Lavender and Seaweed Soap, $7.95 (3)  Honey Beehave Dusting Powder, $5.95; (4) Milky Bar Soap; $7.50. (5) LUSH -- Antiphilitron shampoo, $17; (6) Glorious Mud Muddy Body Mask; $6.95; (7) LUSH -- It Started with a Kiss, $6.95 (8) Mrs. Whippy Strawberries and Cream Bath Bomb Skin Softener; $5.95 (9) LUSH ‘Rub Rub Rub’ Body Wash; $20

Purrrfect

I saw this on Pinterest and it immediately brightened up my afternoon (it's raining in Buffalo). I had to share. You are either a cat person. Or you're not. I'm a cat person. I love that cats think they are pretty much too cool for school. My cat is always giving me that "You aren't worth my time" stare. And as a cat person, I find this absolutely hilarious. I hope you do too. 

Mint Thin Star Cookies

I failed miserably as a girl scout. I think I lasted only one year maybe two as a Brownie before calling it quits. To be frank, I've never been about all that girly girl camaraderie that just exudes from the term "girl scout." I remember going on an overnight camping retreat (ew camping. I don't camp.) and hating every minute off it. Alone in the woods, with a bunch of other whiny girls, without electricity (and thus air conditioning) or my mother- I was terrified. What's educational or endearing about that experience, please someone let me know... Upon returning home, I promptly told my mother I was a girl scout no more.


Oh, and while I'm at it, I might also tell you that, during my short-lived girl scout career, I also failed at selling girl scout cookies. Go door to door hustling over-priced sweets? I don't think so. Instead, I sent the cookie order form into work with my dad in hopes that he could convince his co-workers to purchase some boxes of tag-a-whatevers. (which means my parents purchased the required amount that each girl was expected to sell. And then hid the plethora of boxes in the freezer in hopes I wouldn't discover them. And I never did. Well played mom and dad. well played.)

Now while I failed at Girl Scouting and selling girl scout cookies, I've always excelled at eating girl scout cookies. One variety in particular is my Achilles heel: thin mints. Can we say YUM? I could easily eat an entire sleeve of them in one sitting. But at $18 a box (ok, I'm exaggerating a little....) these cookies are a wallet buster. So I think to myself...why not make your own?!?! And when I stumbled upon the "Mint Thin" recipe in Cookiepedia,  I said "JACKPOT!"

I enlisted the help of my mother to bake the thin mint knock-offs. Because we baked them for the holidays, we thought it most appropriate to make them into star shapes. Oh, and fleck them with edible gold dust powder. Sparkle. Mazel. And all that jazz.

Mint Thin Star Cookies

(subtitle: An attempt to make my own thin mint girl scout cookies in hopes of slightly redeeming myself as a failed girl scout)
(adapted, slightly, from Cookiepedia)


Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temp 
• 1 cup powdered sugar 
• 1 egg 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 1 1/2 cups all-pupose flour 
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder 
• 1/4 tsp salt 
• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate 
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter 
• 3/4 tsp peppermint flavor 
• edible gold dust

Directions:

• Cream butter until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar and continue mixing. 
• Add in egg and vanilla 
• In separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. 
• Add flour mixture in batches, beating to incorporate each addition
• Turn dough out on clean surface. Form dough into disk with your hands. 
• Split disk in half and place each in fridge for minimum 1 hr (in my notes, I wrote that dough needs longer than an hour to harden. Recipe also suggests places dough in freezer for 25 minutes) 
• Working on floured surface, roll dough to 1/8 inch thick 
• Shape the cookies using a star cutter and place them on baking sheet (greased or parchment lined) 
• Bake for 10-12 minutes and allow to cool completely. 
• Break up chocolate into a bowl and set over pot of simmering water. Add the butter and peppermint flavor. Stir mixture continually until chocolate is fully melted and looks glossy and smooth. 
• Remove bowl and allow chocolate to cool slightly. 
• With frosting spatula, spread a little bit of the chocolate on each cookie. Place cookie carefully on parchment lined sheet or rack. Allow chocolate to dry. 
• Once dry, take gold dust and, using your finger, swipe it across the cookies. 

Ps- I can't find a picture of a final result of the cookies with the gold dust and I'm kicking myself! So sorry! But do the gold dust, because the added sparkle is fantastic. 


Pps- Happy Birthday to my future sister-in-law, BW. She enters her 20s today. Mazel! 

Recreating Mesa Grill: Black Bean Soup

Back in August, C and I traveled to Las Vegas. And, while we were there, we dined at Bobby's Flay Mesa Grill in Caesar's Palace. And it was love at first bite. When we got home, I couldn't stop raving about all the Mesa Grill deliciousness.My mother, being the fantastic mother that she is, made a mental note of my deep appreciation for Mesa Grill. Now, wouldn't you know it, guess what Santa put under the Christmas tree for me?! Yep. The Mesa Grill Cookbook. Mazel! So this past weekend, I attempted two recipes from the cookbook. First, I decided to make the Black Bean soup.

Unfortunately, this soup didn't turn out as I had hoped. I'm blaming the jalapenos. Using the called for 3 jalapenos resulted in too spicy hot results for our liking. However, through the heat I could taste some deliciousness. So I still have high hopes for this soup. The next time I make it, (which is soon. defeat will not get the best of me!) I'm going to cut it down to only one jalapeno. I might even through in another poblano - a much milder but still  full of flavor pepper. 

To make this soup, you need to roast the peppers first. I never roasted peppers before so I was excited to give this a try. The roasting process turned out to be easy enough. And gave my kitchen a nice peppery fragrance. When you roast the peppers, the skins of the peppers turn soft, allowing you to easily peel them away. 

Black Bean Soup 

(ever so slightly adapted from Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill)
Serves: 6-8


Ingredients: 

• 6 cups (3 15.5 oz cans) black beans, drained and rinsed 
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 1 medium carrot, peel and coarsely chopped 
• 1 medium spanish onion, coarsely chopped 
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped 
• 1 cup red wine 
• 1 -3 jalapeno chiles (roasted, peeled, and seeded) 
• 1 poblano chile, roasted peeled, and seeded 
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock 
• 2 tablespoons lime juice 
• salt and pepper to taste 

Directions: 

• Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. 
• Add the carrot, onion, and garlic and cook for about 5 mins or until the onion is translucent. 
• add the wine, bring to a boil, and cook until reduced by half 
• Add the beans and reduce the heat to medium.
• Add the peppers and stock and simmer for 30 mins. 
• Remove from the heat and add the lime juice, salt + pepper to taste. 
• Using an immersion blender, puree soup. 
• Bring to simmer before serving. Laddle the soup into bowls. Serve with desired toppings - like sour cream! 

Fabulous Flats.

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My love affair with a great pair of flats is fairly new. Now, I've always had an appreciation for a cute pair of flats. Comfy. Easy to throw on for the most part. And can be worn with numerous types of outfits. What's not to appreciate? 

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But I have to give C credit for really making a place in my shoe wardrobe for fabulous flats. You see, C is only about 2 inches taller than me. Call us old fashioned but both of us feel a little err awkward if I'm towering over him like a woman from the Amazon in 4 inch platform pumps. Don't get me wrong- I still occasionally rock a cute mondo-lifted wedge bootie when the occasion calls. But, generally speaking, now a days, I like to keep closer to the ground.

And, just in case you were mislead into believe that flats were the ugly stepsister to pumps + chic heels, I'm here to remind you that flats are anything but boring and dull. Personally, I love a little leopard pair complimenting a nice dark skinny jean. Totes amazing. Or maybe something with a bow? So I'm on Team Flats. What about you? 

(1) Tory Burch patent leather shoes, $195; (2) Madewell leopard print flats, $118; (3) Kat Maconie ballerina shoes, $140; (4) Lanvin Pointed Ballerine shoes, $335; (5) Jil Sander ballerina shoes, $425; (6) Cece Leather Ballet Shoes; J.Crew, $138; (7) DV by Dolce Vita Lucca flat , $56; (8) Repetto goatskin ballerina flats , $270; (9) Miss KG flat heels, $55; (10) Steve Madden Karisma Ballerina flat , $100; (11) Sam Edelman Beatrix studded shoes, $130

Happy

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Happy first Friday of 2012, all! I got my morning started off right with a good treadmill run at the gym. I love how awake and fresh I feel after a good morning work out. 

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Then I ate this for breakfast.

Plain Greek yogurt sweetened with a bit of splenda, a chopped up pear, drizzle of local honey, and topped of with a sprinkle of organic raw cacao nibs. That's what you call a mazel of a breakfast. 


And you want to know what makes this Friday particularly special (besides being the first Friday of 2012...)? Today, my BFF Schwem turns 28! (I gave her this lovely nickname one night while we were studying in the library.  And that's a whole other story in its own right. But, the name stuck, along with countless other versions I've created in the years since. Making up nicknames seems to be one of my more useless creative talents...)

At a sorority sister's wedding 

Schwem and I met our freshman year of college and were pretty much inseparable for the remaining 3.5 years of college. After graduation, Schwem stayed down south while I headed back up north of the Mason-Dixon line. But, despite the distance, we've remained close. She loves a stylish bootie, a sequined top, or an ice cold beverage just as much as I do. See, girl soul mates. 

College days 

I had the pleasure of being one of Schwemie's bridesmaids and I'm so lucky to have her as my Matron-of-Honor in September. 

Toasting the lovely bride!

Lady Schwartzhand- Wishing you all the best on your birthday. Lots of mazel + love. Lots of feelings. Mitzvah Mitzvah Mitzvah! 

Weekend Uniform: Winter

(1) J Crew striped shirt, $30; (2)  ISADORA pearl jewelry, $128; (3) J Crew long sleeve cashmere hoodie, $188; (4) Knitted Mitten;  Zara, $7.99; (5)  Minnetonka fringe boots, $150; Paige High-waist skinny jeans, $335; (7)  Ray-Ban ray ban shades, $129;  Longchamp le pilage 'large' tote, $145