the add-everything-that-is-good-with-bananas MUFFINS!

its becoming some sort of tradition. sundays, the oc, baking muffins, staying in my pajamas all day.. not showering... did i say that?! and i couldn't be happier. sunday, being my one day off from work its nice to stay in all day. {of course when i opt to throw a cup at the dvd to push play thats when i know i need to get a-movin'} this sunday it was late season one {think seth cohen confessing his love to summer on a coffee cart while 'something pretty' plays... I MEAN ITS JUST SOOOO GOOD!} and banana muffins where i couldn't decide on just one recipe. so i created my own! my new christmas eve polka dot pajamas and my very loved beach boys shirt. sweet success. and for those of you sticking to eating healthier this twentyeleven, don't worry... i pointed out just how healthy this recipe is! {chelsea griff style} B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

CINNAMON CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA MUFFINS!
1 egg
1 1/2 cups of flour
3/4 cup of milk
1 cup of chocolate chips
1/2 cup of brown sugar {we all know brown sugar is healthier than regular sugar}
1/2 cup of puréed banana {ding! ding! ding!!}
1/4 cup of vegetable oil {vegetable oil.. so its basically like eating veggies. am i right?!}
3 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4teaspoon of nutmeg
oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon combo for topping

mix all of the ingredients together. pour the mixture into greased muffin tins, about two-thirds full. sprinkle oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon on top. bake at 400°F for twenty minutes.

dense but fluffy muffins with that perfect cinnamon swirl and a hint of banana. plus the melted chocolate chip in every bite makes me think things like unicorns do exist and that getting jimmy fallon to come over for dinner would be as simple as sending one of these delectable muffins to his publicist!

hope your day is BANANAS!

i just died in your arms tonight. it must have been those blueberry muffins.

something happened yesterday.

yesterday was the day i had the BEST BLUEBERRY MUFFINS EVER. and not only was i lucky enough to enjoy this treat... i baked it! when jamie made these delectable looking blueberry muffins i immediately demanded requested the recipe! best. decision. of. my. life. not only are the deliciously rich they are light and fluffy at the same time! they are bursting with blueberry goodness and topped with heavenly cinnamon brown sugar crumb topping. serve it with some orange green tea, a good book {aka a guilty pleasure read no doubt}, a sunny afternoon, and sufjan softly playing in the background? hello perfection. winter is for pumpkin muffins, rich chocolate muffins, insanely incredible cinnomon muffins... but spring? spring time is the most perfect time for a to die for blueberry muffins.

TO DIE FOR BLUEBERRY MUFFINS
Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.

it's no secret muffins are my fave.. but are these my all time fave? the quest for my most favorite muffin continues on.. with many a muffins to taste.. and let's be honest, no ending in sight! {think you have the muffin recipe to end the search? let me know!}

baking sweet treats galore.

epic baking spree.

i put the veggies away this weekend and dove head first into my baking cabinet! i maybe made 3 {0r 4} batches of cookies. {for some reason i was on a cookies kick.} but to balance it out i had to make my favorite muffins!

so, as promised, here are the recipes from this weekend!

so i had gotten some butterscotch morsels on sale. and i realized i never use them enough in my cookies! {even though i love them!} i was craving peanut butter so i knew i wanted to combine the two. maybe something you wouldn't think to put together at first but ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. and only 5 ingredients?! i literally had fresh baked cookies {that i had never made before} in less than 12 minutes. {are you one of those people that can't even boil water? then these cookies are for YOU!} plus the dough = incredible. {and no butter so healthy right?!}

Peanut Butter Butterscotch COOKIES!

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup Nestles Butterscotch morsels
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients. Form dough into balls. Place on a cookie sheet. Press with a fork to flatten. Bake in a preheated 350F degree oven for 9 minutes. {they get too dry if you leave them in too long}

i love a rustic looking cookie!

after i made those i started thinking how good they would be with CHOCOLATE CHIPS for the classic PB&CHOCOLATE craving. {so i told myself next time i'll try that!} low and behold, i couldn't even wait a week. i made them the next day!! so i swapped butterscotch for chocolate AND regular creamy peanut butter for crunchy peanut butter!

SUCCESS!

they were absolutely delicious.

and totally different from the first.

{my suggestion divide the recipe in two- make half with butterscotch and half with chocolate chips} you'll be in cookie heaven with where rain drops are milk drops, chocolate chips grow from trees, and dough is calorie free!

THESE are my ALL TIME FAVORITE muffins. so dense and rich. i wish i could package them up and send a muffin to each and every one of you! believe me when i say, if you like muffins at all then you should make them now because you will not be disappointed! to the cinnamon goodness on top and the melt in your mouth middle make these muffins one hellofva indulgence. {sorry new year resolution dieters.}

CINNAMON MUFFINS

2 eggs

3 cups of flour.

1 cup of milk

1 cup of sugar

5 tbsp. butter

5 tbsp. shortening

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 1/2 tbsp vanilla

1 tbsp cinnamon

TOPPING:

1 cup melted butter

1 cup of sugar blended with 3 tbsp cinnamon

Grease 12 three-inch muffin pan cups. Cream together the butter, the shortening and the sugar. Beat in the eggs, salt, nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon and baking powder. Stir in the flour and milk alternately until mixture is just combined. Fill muffin cups to the top. Bake at 350 F for about 20 minutes. Allow to cool for a few minutes. With each muffin, dip in the melted butter then roll in the cinnamon sugar blend. Enjoy and experience muffin bliss.

{i know, you probably thought i was done. but nope. i thought why not make some more?} ever since Olivia made the classic tollhouse chocolate chip cookies, i realized how long it had been since i made them too! i'm always trying out fancy cookies and i forget about the oldies but goodies! these cookies remind me of making cookies with my grandmother. {oh memories!} she always made them extra big and a little crispy. i was determined to recreate the cookie from my childhood. i was so excited. maybe a little too excited because i made a rookie mistake and squished too many on the pan. still delicious, just not the prettiest. {woops! don't worry though they still got eaten!}

BAKING BLUNDER

i was DETERMINED to redeem myself and make them like grandma! {my self-esteem was a little shot. i wasn't sure if i could pull off this giant feat!} but after i sang a little smash mouth- i get knocked down {yeah, about that...} i whipped up another batch and i guess the cookie fairies smiled upon me because i made the perfect chocolate chip cookie! {crispy golden on the outside, gooey on the inside and extra big!}

click the picture to enlarge, your mouth will seriously water.

i like to take my weekends with a ton of baking, a dollop of dancing in the kitchen and a side order of indulging in all the goodness.

needless to say i'm ready to hit the gym. {hard core}. just right after this last cookie...