OH YUM!!! Muffcakes:)

I have had serious chocolate cravings the last couple days, maybe its because I had the flu last week and I am trying to pack on the pounds again:) either way. I have zucchini and buttermilk I needed to use and it all just fit. Chocolate Zucchini Muffins!!! YES PLEASE! So I scoured the internet for a delicious recipe that uses all the ingredients I need to eat before they went bad. So last night we made Zucchini Quinoa patties with some spicy asian sauce and zucchini chocolate muffins. I am not positive what the difference between cupcakes and muffins would be in this circumstance, I didn't use frosting, but they taste like they should be a sin! Speaking of frosting I don't normally use it on anything, I have always hated it and my husband has grown to dislike it as he has had it a lot less:) Honestly, I am a little mift that wedding cakes nowadays are so posh with out frosting... THAT WAS MY IDEA!! I wanted a wedding cake without frosting back when we got married, and everyone told me NO, and said that would be selfish to take that away from the guests... I am just saying, if I got my way I would have been a trend setta!

Ok, ok back to the muffcakes! So you can find the original recipe here http://spoonful.com/recipes/chocolate-zucchini-cupcakes but I made the exact recipe below and it was perfect for us!

• 2 cups brown sugar

• 1 large banana not too rype, mashed
• 1/2 cup Virgin coconut oil (from Trader Joe's)
• 3 eggs

• 2 teaspoons vanilla

• 1/2 cup buttermilk

• 2 cups grated unpeeled zucchini
 (around 2 medium zukes)
• 3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups flour
 - I will definitely use almond flour or Wheat next time
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves - if that... I hate cloves but when its just a bit its ok
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon - use the whole teaspoon soo yummy

1. Heat the oven to 350ºF, and line 2 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.
2. In one bowl, mix together the sugar, butter and oil. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and beat well after each.
3. Stir in the vanilla, buttermilk, zucchini, and chocolate chips.
4. In another bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients
5. Pour the wets into the dries, and mix well until combined. You don't want to over-mix the batter, but you don't want to leave hidden pockets of flour either.
6. Now scoop the batter into the cupcake liners, filling each one about 3/4 of the way. She said to set the timer for 25 minutes, I cooked mine for 30 minutes and they were perfect.
7. When the timer rings, check the cupcakes: your want them just set, with no jiggliness on top, true, but also without an excess of bakedness -- they'll continue to bake a bit as they cool, and you really want these moist; a toothpick should come out with some damp crumbs clinging to it. If they need another minute or two, give it to them. Check the cake at 30 minutes

 

We went on a Walk, and Lyla was enamored with the sunflowers

 I have no Idea but Lyla does this hilarious Hulking out thing with her hands up like that and laughs...

So Posh when she laughs, how she covers her mouth. What a little nut:)

Somethings are only funny when you are a parent

Oh my goodness, I love having a toddler. Lyla, makes me laugh out loud every day, and she is soo smart! I know, I know every one thinks their kid is so smart, and perfect. I am just saying I love seeing her learn and show everything she knows. So to the title of the post, Brett and I were chatting as we were getting ready for bed last night. And as I go to plug in my phone I see my book on the floor with the dust jacket pulled off and my lip balm twisted all the way out with the lid on. Haha, so I say, "Brett, why do you have to keep pulling the dust jacket off my book and throwing it on the floor!" He sheepishly turns and smiles at me, then while walking out of the bathroom steps on a little stuffed lamb toy and trips on a travel tooth brush container. Then replies "Faith, how many times do I have to tell you to stop leaving the toothbrush container on the floor, and your stuffed animals all over the place!" I started to giggle a little then walked into our master bath. I looked down at the floor and just started laughing out loud. There are bottles all over the floor, and a towel over the tub knobs because she loves to turn the water on, and run away because I tell her no, and she knows its naughty. I am with her all day, and I know what she is doing, so this shouldn't be so funny. I guess its just the mess minus the baby is just chaos, and that is our lovely life now.

I used to follow behind and put everything back right behind her, but now its like what is the use. It takes me 20 minutes to get ready for the day when I am not putting everything back right after she is done. As opposed to an hour, lovingly cleaning up behind her, besides a girls got to explore right? Lol, this seemingly illogical situation may not even seem funny to my friends who are mommies and Daddies, but we just found ourselves laughing out loud as we were cleaning up our completely messy house, Again just like every night at bedtime. We always laugh about how she is so much work when she racing around, and playing all day. But about a half hour after she goes to bed we miss her clever little grin, and her adorable little giggle, as she "kicko, kickos" our bellies and arms. (that is tickles for those who haven't talked to a tot as of late)

I was just thinking about how I was always so anxious about a couple clothes on the ground in our bedroom closet, and a couple dishes in the sink once in a while, when we were both working full time. Now I feel like the first half hour of the day the house is completely rearranged and cluttered. I just laugh to myself as we read another book and my baby girl munches on her veggie straw, and snuggles up for another "Huggie." I was talking to some of my sweet friends the other day, about the never ending housework.

When my more "seasoned" friend, (she is a grandma) said "You can't spend every day sweating the small stuff. Yes, even the house work counts as the small stuff. In the bigger picture of life, your babes will only be small for a short time. I am not saying let the house completely go, and live in filth, but learn to see those times when you could be making the memories and building the worlds of your little ones. Because when they are growing older, and having to make choices for themselves it will be far more important that they knew they were loved, valued, taught righteous things and paid attention to, then you knowing that the last load of laundry was done, or that the kitchen was spotless."

Thank goodness for understanding and loving women, that support and build up one another. Also, I am so grateful for Loving mothers that MAKE TIME for their children, when they are 2 or 22. I don't think we realize our influence on others, until far later when you can no longer fix it.