• Breakfast,  Muffins,  Quick

    Maple Pecan Muffins

    In my never-ending quest for simplicity in my weekday mornings, I always turn to easy, make-ahead meals.  Because, really – who has time to do all of the dressing, teeth-brushing, hair-brushing, backpack-packing and grumpy-kid quelling IN ADDITION TO whipping up a fancy breakfast? Not me.  It doesn’t even matter if we wake up earlier.  It’s like my five-year-old knows precisely how long she needs to brush her teeth to make it take up exactly 99% of my morning.  She’s all, “Oh, we have 45 minutes before…

  • Breakfast,  chocolate,  Muffins,  Quick

    Mini Chocolate Chip Pancake Muffins

    Well, today I have a second grader.  And today, I am torn between being sad and being proud, wanting time to slow down and the eagerness to watch my baby girl grow up. Last night we took her supplies up to the school and met her teacher, and I let her show me around “her” school, introduce me to the librarian, show me her music classroom, her computer lab, the nurse’s office – I waited patiently as she stopped to visit with friends in the…

  • Breakfast,  Dessert,  Muffins,  Other Desserts

    Snickerdoodle Muffins

    So, I woke up this morning and completely forgot that it was my anniversary. I called my husband after I dropped the princess diva-queen off at school, and I didn’t even say Happy Anniversary or anything. But, neither did he…so clearly he forgot too, right? Then, I’m at work and my phone notification pings and I see that he posted some really nice words about me on Facebook. Whoops. So, of course I did what any loving wife would do – I immediately reciprocated and…

  • Breakfast,  Dessert,  Muffins,  Other Desserts

    Cranberry Walnut Cream Cheese Muffins

    Even though I have about fifteen billion pumpkin recipes that I’m dying to try out, I thought it best to pace myself and take a break from traditional fall flavors for a few days.   Ok, honestly, I had some cranberries in my freezer that have been calling to me for weeks.  Then, I found this recipe.  Shortly after I found the recipe, they appeared in my kitchen. And while I’m being honest, I actually had really good intentions to deliver some of these to…

  • Breakfast,  Muffins,  Pumpkin

    Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

    It’s official.  Pumpkin season is here.  I’m ready.  I always try to hold off on the fall flavors until after my birthday, which is just a few days away, but I couldn’t help it.  The time has come and now I’m all about autumn. I’ve actually made these muffins a few times before but never blogged them, but I couldn’t hold out on you anymore. These.  Are.  Fabulous. The muffins are the perfect blend of cinnamon and nutmeg, the pumpkin puree keeps them super-moist, and…

  • Cake,  Muffins,  Party Food,  Smoothie

    Orange-Yogurt Muffins with Marmalade Glaze & Brunch

    Recently, I was chosen by Foodbuzz and Dannon to review and blog about a new product:  Dannon Activia Harvest Picks Yogurt.  I hosted a small, light brunch for my sisters and we really enjoyed ourselves, and the food!  Since spring has made an early arrival this year, I put together a little table outside so we could soak in the fabulous weather. The great thing about yogurt is that it is extremely versatile.  You can eat it alone, of course, or add a topping, use it as…

  • Breakfast,  Dessert,  Muffins,  Valentine's Day

    Chocolate Chip Love Muffins

    I’m one of those people who thinks Valentine’s Day is silly.  Sure, I can appreciate a day that’s dedicated to making the loves in your life feel special and adored.  But to me it conjures up images of people waiting in line to buy overpriced flowers, cards and chocolates with only half-hearted intent.  I’ve always told my husband that flowers on a random Tuesday in August, or a card for no reason will always be more appreciated than forcing it on Valentine’s Day.  Perhaps that…

  • Breakfast,  Dessert,  Muffins

    Glazed Doughnut Muffins

    I first saw this recipe on Pinterest several months ago.  They claimed to taste exactly like a Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut.  I pinned them and forgot about them (isn’t that what usually happens on Pinterest?) but came across them again recently and haven’t been able to stop thinking about them.  First of all, let me assure you that they taste absolutely NOTHING like a Krispy Kreme doughnut.  They do, however, taste like a cinnamon and nutmeg infused cake doughnut.  They are a wonderful morning treat,…

  • Breakfast,  Dessert,  Muffins

    Blueberry Muffins with Maple Butter

    Isn’t it funny how food can take you back in time?  My freshman year in college, my husband and I still lived at home with our parents and traveled back and forth to the neighboring town to attend classes together every morning.  (Yes, we were super cool.)  On our way to class, we frequently stopped at our local convenience store/gas station and grabbed something to eat and drink for breakfast.  I used to get a blueberry muffin and chocolate milk, warming the muffin up in the microwave and trying…

  • Bread,  Breakfast,  Muffins

    Coconut Streusel Muffins

    If you follow my Facebook page, you know that I had a pretty rough week last week.  Among other things, my husband and I have been planning a trip to Mexico for ages to celebrate several events…his birthday, our five year wedding anniversary (18 months late, but who’s counting?) and most importantly, 20 years together.  We’ve been together since we were in junior high, so this is really quite the milestone for us.  Well, a VERY long story short, we were turned away at the check-in…