Double the Fun

Gardening with kids is such a joy and so easy to get them interested in it. What kid does not enjoy playing/ digging in the dirt (and we know it is good for them!)? To be able to add to their experience by teaching them that they can grow, nurture and produce living things while working in the dirt is a great reward for them.

Little ones often emulate what you are doing and I find that when I am outside working in the garden that Luke, Chloe and Matthew all notice what I am doing and want to help. They see me with my gardening gloves on and want to put on some of their own, it doesn’t matter if the only pair we have available is 10 times too big! If I am clearing out leaves they want to get in there and help -yes they often get distracted by the lady bugs – you hear the squeals of delight as they find them and point them out. Or if I am digging with the shovel taking out weeds they also want the shovel to dig too.

This is when I find it a good idea to have gardening tools for them to use. Not only does it encourage them to get in the garden and help, but it makes them feel like they are part of what is going on and that they are just like Mommy/ Daddy. It helps nurture their interest and teaches them about the tools that they can use in the garden to help make their garden grow.

You can go crazy with all the kids garden tools out there now, there is everything from gloves to hoes. The most basic thing that a child should have other than their hands, is a shovel. With this basic tool they can begin to learn the basics of gardening and will be well on their way to a successful gardening experience.

We do have some other tools as well for the kids. They each have their own pair of gloves, a watering can and a kneeling pad – you can get these in all kinds of fun colors, animals and shapes. (I even steal the kneeling pad for myself once in a while!)

We also have a little garden tote, a canvas bag with pockets to tuck all our gardening tools into, and they all like using it and carrying it around. You can also buy kids wheelbarrows, hoes, rakes, etc. Pretty much anything adult size is available in kid size too.

It is up to you what you think your child will need and use. Variety can be good, but if they don’t get used than it can be a waste. Use your discretion and resist the temptation to go over board! There is a lot of cool and fun stuff out there.

I do say though that you can never have too many little shovels! So get out there with the kids and let them dive right in and have fun while doing it!

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Can you imagine having a completely orgasmic experience in a room full of women? That is exactly what I had this weekend when I attended a Women’s Dream Power workshop by the Institute of Shamanic Medicine.

Over the years we have become separate from our sisters and have devalued the connection and power among women. And I don’t mean power in a bad way as using it to dominate, manipulate or bully someone. I mean the strong connective balance of the sacred feminine, our nature, our ability to embrace the feminine and be the Goddesses that we are; creating magic in our world.

Because we as women have a womb, we have the power to birth, give life to things, not only in the literal sense, but also in the energetic sense. We are strong powerful manifestors and we can create much beauty in this world. Yet we have separated ourselves from our sisters, creating competition, jealousy, envy amongst each other, instead of embracing and honouring who we are and what we can create by supporting and sharing with each other.

Over the weekend I was gently reminded of who I am as a woman, how to harness the power and ability to create and manifest in this world. To dream in what I want in my life, and if I wanted to, how to share it with others. How to heal and honour myself, how to know who I really am and to never give that up.

In this room full of women, I felt like I was at home. Like I had met them all before, and that we were just saying hello again, instead of nice to meet you. There was no judgement, no jealousy, no competition. No one needed to outdo anyone or make anyone feel less. We were all there seeking to learn, grow and understand, all looking to become better stronger women in this world.

We have lost this in our world. A world where the masculine has become dominant and women have become less, struggling, striving to be who we are. I am not saying men are bad and surpressing women, simply that we have lost the balance in our world between the masculine and the feminine.

Each day I left there feeling energized and alive, with an abundance of energy and excitement, so much so that I was bursting, not knowing what to do with it all. I had to contain it, bring it into balance so that I could harness this energy into creating something good. So instead of heading home right away I stopped in at Fish Creek Provincial Park and spent some time by the river, reflecting on the day, breathing in the fresh air, grounding myself and becoming balanced. Letting the energy I had gained absorb itself into my body and balance it out so that I could move back into the ‘regular’ world and function again.

Can you imagine what we as women could do for the world with this power, this energy if we were more connected everyday? If we were to take all the positives of our femininity and move it out into the world? Just think about it, how wonderful, how magical, how strong it would be. It would literally change the world.

I think any time women get together we have an instant and natural bond with each other, one that we sometimes forget, but one that we definitely need. And this goes beyond the gossip, the cat fights, the back stabbing and meanness that we can create amongst ourselves. This is our true deep connection, that unites us, strengthens us and brings us into our full power of the feminine.

Not only do we need this for ourselves, but for our daughters, granddaughters, mothers, and grandmothers. We must embrace our femininity, our power for the good that it is and bring it forth in this world once again. It will heal us all.

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When I was little I loved making mud pies with my sisters. We would make all kinds of concoctions, mixing dirt and sand, lovingly placing them in frisbees or other containers to ’set’ and then decorating them on the top with leaves, pinecones, stones, etc. We would spend hours doing this and loved it!

Of course what child does not love to get dirty? A recent study actually showed that letting kids play in the dirt is good for them as it contains natural bacteria that actually helps build the immune system. There is also something in dirt that triggers serotonin which makes kids happier and more relaxed.

My children are no exception, Matthew has always loved playing in the dirt, in fact I remember when he broke his leg how I let him get in the garden and get dirty after covering the cast. Yes it was a bit of extra clean up after but he was so happy and it was probably one of the best healing remedies for him! Luke and Chloe both get out there and plop themselves right in the small garden plot and dig, with diggers, shovels or simply their hands.

I have always been one to feel that the dirtier you get the better, while my husband has always cringed when he sees the kids out there getting dirty. I don’t mind if they get a little dirty or even a lot, as I know that it is good for them. Of course there are times when you don’t want the kids to get into the dirt but when they are outside just playing I say let them play. It is a form of exploration, creativity and imagination.

Especially mud pies! One can get so creative with this. I found a great website full of ideas for ingredients and things to have on hand to enhance the mud pie making experience. But really any child make a mud pie with simply water and dirt. It’s such a simple activity!

Playing in the dirt is also a form of grounding yourself. Creating and maintaining our natural connection to the Earth and is important not only for children but for adults as well. We need to feel and touch the ground with our feet, our hands, and yes sometimes bury ourselves in it! Whether it be playing in the mud in the backyard or being buried in the sand at the beach, this has wonderful health benefits for children and adults alike. So get out there and get dirty!

Take the ‘dirt’ inside by making this mud pie that you can actually eat – a sugar and dairy free version that we adapted from common mudpie recipes. The kids will love it!

You’ll need:

chocolate pudding

ginger cookie crumbs or crushed nuts

Sharkies organic fruit chews and/ or chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Leave a small portion of Sharkies or chocolate chips aside. Spoon mixture into individual plastic cups, top with Sharkies and chocolate chips. Grab a spoon and enjoy! Kids will have fun finding their ‘bugs’ in the dirt.

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I have fond memories of gardening when I was a child. Spending time outside with my Oma, watching her delicately care for the plants and vegetables she was growing. Conversations, warm memories and a feeling of love and caring all around.

Oma always had such a big garden too, it was wonderous to me as a small child. Like getting lost in a magical world of lush green, full of color and life. Little did I know that that is exactly what it was. A living, breathing, magical kingdom, that not only provided food for us, but also provided so much more -positive, nurturing energy, intimate conversations and lasting experiences and memories.

This is why I have introduced gardening to my children. Even at a young age there are things that you can do with them, that help them to build an understanding of gardening and create a relationship with the natural world.

For instance, Luke and Chloe, who are now 2, love to get outside regardless of what we are doing. But if I am out there picking up sticks or clearing leaves, then they will come over and help. Luke especially loves to play in the dirt, so I’ll give him a little shovel and let him dig. This not only satisfies his desire to play in the dirt but it helps get the soil ready for planting, as it needs to be turned and compost added, maybe even some fresh dirt as well.

I have no trouble getting Matthew to do this job either, though a little older, still loves to dig! He gets the big ‘adult’ shovel of course and he’ll dig and turn, dig and turn to his heart’s content. The only guideline is that the dirt stays in the garden, that he doesn’t dig it all out and make piles on the grass.

The nice thing to is as they are digging they might find bugs, worms, or ladybugs. This is a great opportunity for them to not only learn what they are, but to learn about what they do – that worms are good for your garden, slugs are not. That ladybugs are not only pretty little guys, but that they eat aphids which are not good for the plants.

One thing that I have done with Matthew since he was very young, was to give him a small plot in the garden that is all his own. I provide some guidance for him, but he gets to choose what he wants to plant and then he takes care of it. When we started I showed him how to plant the vegetable seeds, how far apart and in rows. I helped him choose flowers and plan out what he would need. He waters and weeds his garden, and he loves checking everyday to see what is happening. It also develops a great sense of pride in him to be able to share with people what he has grown.

Of course all the kids love the end result in August, when the peas are ready and they can go out and just eat off the plant (or the raspberries, strawberries, carrots, etc.)

There are many other benefits to gardening with your children as well. It offers great opportunities to get outside, learn about and appreciate nature and our environment, how to care for and work with Mother Nature, as well as exercise, sunshine and fresh air!

Coming up necessary equipment for a successful gardening experience with the kids!

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I never have any trouble getting my kids outside. In fact all I have to do is mention the word and Luke and Chloe start getting ready – from stripping out of their pyjama’s to change, to putting on their own boots.

I think this is wonderful as I believe that kids (and adults) need to be outside as much as possible; and it is important for us to encourage this from a very young age. It is in our nature to be in nature. That is where we belong, and I find today as a society, we tend to spend a lot of time indoors.

You can do simple things from when they are very young like going for walks, to the park or just spending time exploring in the backyard. I often take the kids outside and we blow bubbles or they run, dig, or play in their little playhouse. With the spring flowers coming up now we’ll check out and gently touch or smell the flowers, and soon we’ll be planting seeds and cleaning up the garden.

Another way to enhance their appreciation and love of nature is to teach them ways to look after the Earth. On Sunday of this week we will celebrate Earth Day. It is not a major holiday but it is a day I like to recognize and celebrate with the kids in some way, to encourage them to be stewards of the Earth, to love and protect her. It doesn’t have to be anything major, just something simple to help out, to recognize the beauty of the world we live in.

Whatever we choose to do, I like it to be something that we can carry on with throughout the year, so that act of looking after our Earth becomes a daily act. It could be as simple as planting a tree or a garden, or making a pledge to do something new to help out the Earth.

Other activities that you can do with your kids include composting, cleaning up the garden, having an outdoor picnic, or creating crafts using natural or recycled materials.

I noticed on the Earth Day website that they are doing A Billion Acts of Green – where people are pledging an act of green that they will do throughout the year. There are “acts” to choose from, as well as the option to create your own.

I think this year we will plant seeds in a pot or the garden, as the kids got seeds for Easter. Depending on their age will depend on the level of help and responsibility they will need for their plant. For instance, Matthew who has had his own little garden for a while is familiar with and enjoys planting things, so he would be able to monitor, water and take care of his plant on his own. The twins will need more guidance, but in teaching them now, I know that they will learn and apply it quickly as they grow up.

Children learn the fastest when they are young, and they are more accepting of new things as well. So this Earth Day take some time to instill in your children an appreciation of our natural world and the importance of caring for our planet. It doesn’t take much – even the smallest act can make a big difference.

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Yesterday in my post I referred to popsicles as being one of the foods that kids love and enjoy that contain a lot of sugar in them; and as such are one of the items that I looked to replace for my son as we made the switch to sugar free.

Now I am sure many of you are familiar with making your own popsicles by buying the molds and filling them with your choice of juice to create a nice treat on a hot day. I used to do Kool-Aid all the time, but that contains a ton of sugar! not only in the powdered stuff you use but the amount of sugar you to add to it. Yes they do have a sugar free kind but a) it has aspartame in it and b) it was just never sweet enough for me.

Last summer we made apple carrot juice using the juicer and put those in the popsicle molds and they were pretty good. But then I considered other things, like vegetables. If they were happy with carrot apple then how about spinach?

When I bought my Vitamix, I got my answer. It came with a recipe book full of all kinds of sauces, beverages, dips, etc. that I could make with raw organic and sugar free ingredients. And yes it does have some recipes for popsicles.

Matthew found this recipe and wanted to try it so we put it together. It was huge success, he said they were delicious and guess what? they do contain spinach! Though you would never know.

So as we move into the warmer sunnier days, where popsicles will become more in demand I would suggest giving this recipe a whirl. It’s fast and easy -and if you don’t tell your kids what is in it, they probably won’t ask or know the difference.

Grasshopper Popsicles - Vitamix

1 c. water

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

2 pitted medjool dates

2 c. spinach

2 c. fresh or frozen blackberries

2 bananas, peeled

Place all ingredients in the Vitamix in the order listed. Select variable 1. Turn the machine on slowly increasing the speed to 10 and then to High. Blend for 30-45 seconds using the tamper if needed to press ingredients into the blades. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze.

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I remember last Easter when my son was so disappointed not getting any chocolate in his Easter basket. I felt bad for him. We had just eliminated sugar from his diet and unfortunately this included chocolate. I was new to the whole idea of being sugar free, so was still learning myself about what substitutes and recipes I could use and what ’sweet treats’ I could find out there that he could have that would appeal to him.

In the past year I have learned a lot, found new products and make a lot of things from scratch. I even learned how to make my own chocolate using natural sweeteners, so this was no longer an issue in our house.

Yet this Easter, even though I made chocolate, Matthew was very content with what the Easter bunny brought him and I think that I could have easily gotten away without it. The kids baskets were full of books, coloring books, seeds, gardening gloves and toys. And our Easter eggs were filled with stickers and coins.

The babies do not know any different as this is what they have always been exposed to in their short lives. For Matthew, I think it was simply an adjustment for him. For 7 years he had known Easter to mean chocolate and candy, and also knew that is what the rest of the world was doing. Now he had to shift gears and go without. So in his eyes he was being denied, instead of looking past that and seeing the benefits of this new change.

I was quite pleased and proud of him that he was not concerned about his ‘lack’ of’ anything this year and that he was truly enjoying what there was. He was very patient in waiting for his brother and sister to get up and be fed before we hunted for baskets and eggs. He helped them look for their baskets and shared the eggs.

I made a special breakfast of cinnamon swirl french toast (which he loves) and quiche (which he does not love, but I do, so that was my treat) for breakfast. We went outside for a run in the beautiful morning sunshine and finished hunting for eggs outside afterwards.

Chloe, Luke and Matthew had their baskets and were gathering eggs as they found them. Chloe caught onto this faster than Luke did, in fact she stuck with it while Luke gave up and lost interest. It was a wonderful day!

I think that we as parents just need to remember that kids will adjust; and that the earlier we introduce something the easier it will be for them to accept it. As they get older it may be more challenging for them to adjust, especially if they feel that they are being denied or not getting what everyone else is; friends, peers at school. And let’s be realistic, even as adults we may don’t always like or may resist change.

If we do our best to replace it with something they like, frame it in a way that they can relate then the change may be easier for them to embrace. Sometimes it may just take time for them to adjust, or they need to figure it out on their own. It’s all part of their learning and they’ll be better for it.

It has taken a year but Matthew has become very accepting and understanding of the fact that he cannot have sugar. He reads labels, says no thank you when offered chocolate or candy. He knows I have a variety of sweet treats and recipes at home that he can and does enjoy (this really was the trick finding the healthy replacements for popsicles and chocolate, cookies, ice cream, etc.) And he no longer feels that he is being denied anything and has come to enjoy what we do now, especially around special occasions.

So I want all you parents out there to know, there is hope, you can do it if you want to. And though I won’t lie and tell you that it’s easy or it will be an overnight success, you can do it and you’ll be happy you did.

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Easter is a wonderful time of year! A celebration of spring and renewal. Time for new adventures and projects; a time when many of us clear out the old and make room for the new by ‘spring cleaning‘. This is the time of year that I prefer to make and set my goals or ‘resolutions‘ as some people call them, because I find the energy is fresh and exciting as everything bursts forth once again.

Warmer temperatures, more sunshine and more time playing outside. Getting in the dirt, going to the park and rediscovering nature. And I find that Easter, more than the first day of spring, really kicks this off.

Easter is the celebration of the rebirth of Jesus Christ after dying on the cross, but many people celebrate it for different reasons today; and have adopted different traditions in celebrating it with their loved ones. Easter Egg Hunts, spring celebrations, dinners, brunches, etc. are all commonly found in Easter celebrations.

At our house we have brunch with the extended family as well as the traditional hunt for baskets and eggs. When I was growing up we always placed more emphasis on dinner, while when I met my husband and starting celebrating with his family, they had always done brunch. I actually kind of liked that, as I love breakfast foods, and also liked not having a big meal to prepare and clean up from at the end of the day.

We have also had to modify our Easter baskets with the elimination of sugar at our house, and now dairy. Last year it was a bit tougher to do (as we could not buy chocolate) but after a year of learning this year will be a breeze and we’ll have chocolate! (as I now make my own raw organic chocolate, naturally sweetened).

I have even been able to adapt some of my favorite brunch recipes to meet our dietary needs and still enjoy a very delicious meal! Quiche is one of my favorite dishes as well as waffles and french toast, all typically full of dairy and sugar. So today I am including some recipes for those interested in having brunch with some of the regular dishes they enjoy without the sugar and dairy. And though I am a stickler for tradition and favorites I also believe in trying something new, so have included a fantastic recipe for cinnamon swirl bread (which is great for making french toast with, dipped in a coconut milk and egg mixture).

Impossible Quiche

This quiche dish is great as you don’t have to make the crust first. You just toss it all in the blender and the crust ’sinks’ to the bottom when you bake it.

1 c. shredded vegan cheese (I use a vegan italian flavor from Galaxy Nutritional Foods)

1/3 c. finely chopped onion

1/2 c. Bisquik

1/4 tsp. pepper

4 eggs

2 c. rice milk

sliced mushrooms

spinach

*You can put in your choice of fillings, choosing bacon or ham if you prefer or different vegetables

Lightly grease 9 or 10″ pie plate or quiche dish. Sprinkle mushrooms, spinach (or your choice of fillings), cheese and onion evenly over bottom of dish. Place remaining ingredients in blender. Cover and blend on high for 1 minute. Pour into pie plate over fillings.

Bake at 350 F for 50-55 minutes or until golden brown and inserted knife comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Cinnamon Swirl Bread – From Cuisinart recipes makes a 2 pound loaf using a bread machine

Filling:

1/3 c. date sugar

3/4 tbsp. cinnamon

1 1/4 c. raisins (optional)

Loaf:

1 1/4 c. rice milk

2 1/2 tbsp. Earth Balance

1 egg (at room temperature*)

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tbsp. date sugar

4 cups white bread flour

2 1/4 tsp. yeast

In a small bowl combine date sugar, cinnamon and raisins if using. Set aside.

Place remaining ingredients in order listed into bread pan and place in breadmaker. On your menu select white, desired crust and dough size. Ensure mix in button is on, when signal sounds, pause, remove dough and kneading paddle. Place dough on floored surface, roll dough into a rectangle about 1/4 ” thick. Sprinkle cinnamon mixture evenly over the surface of the dough. Roll dough into a tight cylinder starting with the shorter side, making sure that the ends are sealed. Place dough back in the pan (ensuring that the bread paddle is removed) and press start to continue. When cycle is completed, remove bread from machine and transfer to wire rack to cool.

Have a wonderful and enjoyable Easter!

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I felt like a die hard skier last week when I purposely went skiing in the rain. Yes I did say rain. It was hilarious, everyone pulling up, getting their gear, putting on boots and it was pouring. No one seemed to mind, it was just another day on the hill. It was like the rain was not falling at all.

The thing was it was a beautiful day to hit the slopes. It was mild, temperature around 2 C, and though it was raining at the bottom, it was snowing at the top. In fact, once you got on the lift you did not have to go up very far and the rain turned to snow.  It made for fantastic skiing!

We were skiing in Fernie, BC, which is one of my favorite places to ski. I had been suggesting for a couple of years that we take a trip out there, but my husband resisted. This year I got my wish – 5 days away, 3 full days skiing, staying in a condo right on the hill. It was glorious!

Two minutes to the hill with our gear, a fully equipped 3 bedroom condo and a private hot tub on the deck. Who could ask for more?

Due to my lack of organization, we spent the first 2 days, switching off, looking after the twins while the other skied/ boarded and took Matthew out. It was easy enough being so close and for myself, it was enough to ski half a day, as I was just returning to the hill after a hiatus with little kids.

On the first day, Matthew and I took lessons to get started and John hung out with the babes. I was on for the afternoon and was looking forward to some quiet time while the babies were napping. This was not to be as my daughter, Chloe got her cast off (she broke her arm earlier in the week), so I had to grab both babies and go to Emergency in Fernie; but that’s another story.

The day it rained was the only day that we had managed to book daycare for the twins, had Matthew in another lesson, and John and I were able to hit the slopes together. I had heard it raining in the night but didn’t think much of it, as it had done the same the night before, but when I went out to the car the morning of to get ready to go, I noticed quite quickly that it was wet – with water still falling from the sky.

Frowning, I went in to announce this to everyone else. No one blinked or said anything. I looked at my husband and said we might as well go because we couldn’t cancel daycare at that point without being charged anyway. He agreed and said yes let’s go and see how it is.

I looked at him in surprise, wondering who had abducted my husband in the night and replaced him with this person. Usually John is the first to resist these kinds of things and would already be coming up with excuses why we should not go. So this was pretty amazing.

Ironically, it turned out to be our best day! Though we were completely soaked by noon and called it a day; we were all elated (and very pleased with our new fashionable rain jackets – basically clear plastic bags with holes in them for your head and arms – but everyone was wearing them).

Everyone on the hill’s spirits were high – people chatting and smiling. When I picked Matthew up from his lesson he was glowing (and I also noticed that he had significantly improved in his boarding). The babies had a great time at daycare, winning over the staff with their usual charm, and I felt satisfied with my time on the hill and the improvements I had made in my own skiing. So who says that when it is raining that you can’t have a great day on the slopes (or play outside for that matter – some of our funnest days have been playing in the rain)!

Of course the next day really was a perfect ski day, bright sunny, fresh powdery snow. It would have been great to get on the hill just one more time. But sadly,  this was the day we were heading home – next time.

We will definitely go again as it was so fantastic and convenient. It was the perfect set up for all, and as the kids get older we can all spend more time on the hill. It was a great vacation for all of us – rain or shine.

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Lately I have been experimenting with gluten free recipes – not because anyone in my family has an allergy or sensitvity, but because I like to experiment with new recipes, eat better and explore what’s out there. I wanted to know what gluten free was all about, would it benefit me, how would I feel afterwards? I wanted to do a little test for myself too, as I find after eating a muffin that I feel tired soon afterwards. Since I had already eliminated sugar and dairy from my diet and my recipes, gluten was the only thing left.

I don’t feel tired after all snacks/ meals that have gluten in them. I eat bread and feel fine, but figured I would try it. So I hopped on the internet to see if I could find a good recipe for gluten free pumpkin muffins, as this is my favorite kind of muffin. In my search I came upon the Gluten-Free Goddess®, Karina, who not only has a wonderful wit and style to her writing, but has compiled a vast amount of original gluten free recipes from breads and desserts to appetizers and pasta.

I made these for the first time yesterday and not only did they turn out, I had a hard time not eating all of them at once! Moist and delicious, they are definitely staying in my recipe box! I noticed too, that after eating one I did not feel tired at all – so there must be something to this. I did make one change to the recipe as we are sugar free so substituted the sugar for date sugar, and they turned out beautifully.

Karina’s Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins

These deliciously moist and tender muffins have a lovely pecan crunch. If you don’t care for nuts or have an allergy, use chopped or dried cranberries, golden raisins, or dates (my favorite).

1 cup sorghum flour
1/3 cup organic coconut flour 
1/2 cup almond flour
1/2 cup tapioca starch
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup date sugar

1 cup pumpkin puree (canned organic pumpkin is fine)

1/3 cup light olive oil
2 free range organic eggs, beaten, or Ener-G Egg Replacer whisked with 1/4 cup warm water for vegan
1 tablespoon bourbon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 cup vanilla almond milk or coconut milk

Whisk together first 11 ingredients in a large bowl. Add in date sugar, pumpkin, olive oil, eggs, vanilla and lemon juice. Mix in almond or coconut milk beating to incorporate all ingredients. If batter needs a more liquid, add up to 1/4 cup more milk until it is a smooth consistency.

Stir in by hand pecans or walnuts, raisins or dates (as you prefer).

Spoon the batter into twelve muffin cups, filling them close to the top. Smooth the tops using the back side of a wet teaspoon.

Add a pecan half to each muffin top, if you like. This is really good and adds a nice touch to the muffin.

Bake in a preheated 350 F oven till domed and golden- roughly 22 to 25 minutes. The muffins should feel firm yet springy to a light touch. If a wooden pick inserted into the center emerges clean- they are done.

Remove muffins from the pan after five minutes, and allow them to continue cooling on a wire rack. This prevents their bottoms from getting soggy.

Store in an airtight container or wrap and freeze muffins in freezer bags for easy on-the-go treats.

Yield: One dozen muffins

Enjoy!

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