Favorite Bran Muffins

I love breakfast and I can't imagine not starting my day with something delicious.  Many times we hear bran muffins and think of boring or tasteless muffins, or if they are really good they are not quiet as healthy as we want them to be.  I found a very tasty muffin recipe years ago yet it wasn't quiet up to what I wanted for a "healthy muffin."   So after some changes I came up with a recipe that I feel is true to me.  I love starting my day with 2 muffins and fruit and of course coffee; it so easy to just quickly warm them up in the microwave for a short time.  

The method is a traditional muffin method of mixing the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients in two separate bowls.

I have standard muffins so it makes about 18.  I'm also a fan of the paper liners so there is less cleanup at the end.

Play around with the fruit you put in the muffins or add some nuts for protein.  There are no raisins in this recipe because that is one of the few foods I really don't like.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line muffin tins if using muffin/cupcake liners.

In one bowl mix:

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

2 large eggs

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (a small travel pack)

1/4 cup veggie oil

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 1/2 cups All-Bran Cereal

Let this sit for about 5 minutes to soften the cereal stirring occasionally.

In another bowl combine and whisk:

1/2 cup AP flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup bran flakes

1/4 cup ground flax seeds

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

Add the dry ingredients to the wet and combine.  At this point add fresh or frozen fruit if you are using, about 1-1 1/2 cups.  I used a combination of the last of the summer blueberries and raspberries for this batch. 

Bake for about 20-25 minutes.

Go into your kitchen and play and bon appétit!

As always with love from the midwest,

Beth 

Weekday Casual

I love Vineyard Vines.  My daughter got me hooked on the brand a few years ago.  While some people would say why would you wear that expensive of a sweatshirt, there is something that makes you feel good wearing nice clothes.  This look is something I wear quite a bit throughout the year. The top is the standard shepshirt which comes in a variety of colors; I do have a second one that is lighter in color.  The jeans are also vineyard vines regatta wash. They fit well and the darker color makes the look a little less casual if I wear it to work.  I finished the look with my pearl earrings.  I like to have a few core piece of beautiful jewelry to wear both everyday and for special occasions. The shepshirt also works well in the spring and fall with white jeans.  Of course it is great with shorts on cooler summer days.  The boots, well we need our boots during the Wisconsin winters.  This summer I thought ahead and picked up a pair of LL Bean boots.  They are probably one of the best purchases I've made recently.  They are comfortable to walk in, not too hot inside a building and have a lifetime warranty.  

Stay warm and as always with love from the Midwest,

Beth 

Weekly Round-up

Well this week was kind of crazy.  Generally I wake up and exercise.  Due to may things in the morning I wasn't thinking I was going to get my morning activity in.  I love to start my day with about a 50 minute yoga practice or a 3 mile run.  It didn't look like I was going to get that in, but with some working with my schedule and actually running after school I did better than I thought.

After Christmas one of my students gave me a new cookbook, The Bonne Femme Cookbook. It looks delightful; full of easy to make recipes with easy to find ingredients.  This week I made hamburgers with a leek, fig and white wine sauce. I wasn't sure how it was going to go over with my family but they really loved it.  I would make more sauce the next time.  I served it with couscous and sauteed cabbage.

Another enjoyable part of last weekend was a trip to Milwaukee with my daughter for a college interview.  I enjoyed a new coffee shop and had a delightful afternoon poking into a few new shops on our way home.

Hope you had an enjoyable week and bon appétit.

As always with love from the Midwest,

Beth 

A New Year

Many people like to make resolutions for the new year, but I really think so many of those are easily broken.  Where does that leave us?  Feeling badly about what we didn't do. Perhaps this year try to think of some good habits that you started maybe some time last year and plan to continue into this year. I know I get busy and sometimes it's just a good idea to think of these good habits.  Here  is a list of a few habits I will continue or hope to add.  Number 4 on my list is really something I've wanted to do for a while, but haven't. Number 3 my husband suggested a year or so ago, and sometimes I let it go due to our busy schedules.  In the winter it's a great time to try something new.  Really it can be anything, a new salad dressing, a new cake or a new wine.  I know wine isn't a recipe, but why not?  

Happy new year and new things to try!

As always with love from the Midwest,

Beth 

Winter in Door County

Door County Wisconsin is one of my favorite places. I've posted pictures form the summer, but there is something so delightful about the winter. Perhaps it is the lack of people or the raw beauty of the water in the winter.  I've included several pictures during the day and night that I took during many walks.  Of course I stopped by my favorite coffee shop in Fish Creek, Craic.  

Happy New Year 

 and as always with love from the Midwest,

Beth