On a Whim: Apple Peanut Butter Oatmeal Muffins

This week I had the need for a snack during the week that was a little more than picking a piece of fruit from my fridge and heading back to work.  Something that was going to be a little heartier, something that used the fruit, and something that held me over a little longer.  I knew what fruits and ingredients I had to choose from and I figured I knew enough about the basics of baking and ended up with these beauties!

They are pretty tasty and made a full 12 muffins so there were plenty to get me through the week.  I decided last minute to make a simple glaze/drizzle/icing to make them a little more decadent.  

These are made with healthy ingredients and are totally guilt free (a little icing never hurt anyone!)

I would have pictures of what I did, step by step, but let this be a PSA: when you eject your SD card wrong while transferring photos to your computer, you end up loosing all those photos.

So, here is what I did

Ingredients:

2 bananas, mashed

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

2 eggs

2-3 tbsp peanut butter

3 tbsp honey

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

3 cups oats

1 1/2 cups whole grain flour

1 medium apple, diced

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix together the bananas, brown sugar, eggs, peanut butter, and honey until well combined.

Step 2: Add in the dry ingredients, baking powder, baking soda, oats, flour, and diced apple.  Mix until combined but be sure to not over mix.

Step 3: Divide mixture into muffin pan and bake for 15-20 minutes.  

Step 4: Let cool on a cooling rack.

Step 5: Top with any icing you want!  I just made a basic vanilla drizzle with about 1-2 tbsp milk, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 3 cups confectioners' sugar.  If your icing is too think add just a tiny bit of milk, or if it's too runny, add more confectioners' sugar. 

ENJOY!

Farmhouse Rules S'mores Chocolate Chip Cookies

There is probably nothing I love more in the world than sleeping in on Saturday morning until 6:30 or 7, waking up, making a pot of coffee, and getting back into bed to watch the morning line up on the Food Network and sometimes the Cooking Channel.

This morning while watching Farmhouse Rules with Nancy Fuller she made these cookies.  Within an hour or so of watching the episode my fiancé and I were on our way down to the grocery store on Mud Island to buy the ingredients.  As soon as I we got back to the apartment, baking commenced!

I followed the recipe with the exception of buying a milk chocolate bar and breaking it up into pieces.  I just bought chocolate chips and used the pieces to sprinkle on each cookie and there was just enough chocolatey goodness!

Farmhouse Rules S'mores Chocolate Chip Cookies by Nancy Fuller 

I'm going to keep this post short because I didn't change the recipe except for the chocolate chips.  I did also keep the cookies in the oven for about 10-11 minutes.  I found that 7-8 minutes wasn't long enough but each oven is different so be warned!

Happy Baking!

Jesus Calling By Sarah Young January 17th 2017

January 17, 2017

Sometimes I get so mad, I just want to be mad.  I wallow in my own madness and anger feeling sorry for myself.  Without any clue why I do this, I make myself more upset by pointing out what else might be wrong with my day, or my week, or my month.

What I just said does sound over-the-top, but surely I am not the only one who feels like they do this.  When I'm mad, I just want to be mad for a while.  I don't want someone to try to make me feel better.

It is in these times that I find it the most difficult to find the best in a situation.  Or to see how possibly  the Lord, in his vast and confusing ways of communicating with us, could be blessing me or meeting my needs at that time.  Never would I think that it could be a test of staying in continual communication with Him in order to accept the difficult times and walk through them with Him.

Yesterday's devotional read:

I remember sitting in my 8th grade Confirmation classes having to recite the Lord's Prayer over and over again.  After a while the words started sinking in and I started to break it down.  It no longer became something I memorized so I could actually speak with the congregation when the pastor says "Let us pray" but something that, for me, is my little communion every day.  I have taught myself over the years to say it slowly.  Each line, one at a time.

What popped into my head were the times when I allowed myself to be pulled out of the depths of my own negativity to say the Lord's Prayer.  When I can't seem to put my frustrations into coherent thoughts to tell Him, I say the Lord's Prayer.  When I can't seem to find something to give Him thanks about, I say the Lord's Prayer.  When I can't seem to set my pride aside, I say the Lord's Prayer.  When I can't seem forgive, I say the Lord's Prayer.

"Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those to trespass against us" is the part that always brings me back to earth.  I want to mean each line and think for a second about what it means.  The result of doing this surpasses my comprehension of what He is capable of.  It might take a few repetitions but, the peace that overcomes me is amazing.

By no means do I have the solution for staying in communication with Him and making sure each day is better than the next.  But, I do know this devotional helped me get through today and reminded me of why I always recite that prayer.  It can be difficult to see to blessings around you but each time my frustrations set in, the prayers come out.

I would love to know what this devotional reminded you of and what it means to you.  Do you find it easy to pray in difficult times? Do you find it hard?  Is it hard for you to see the blessing that are around you?

Walking in Memphis: The Sear Shack Burger and Fries Memphis

We found a great place to get your burgers in Memphis! The Sear Shack Burger and Fries!  Go, go, go!

Great, friendly, and fast service.  A wonderful burger with anything you want on it and.....hand cut fries!

Order a single or a double patty burger with or without bacon and with or without cheese.  Of course, always both cheese and bacon for me please!

I tried their "Sear Sauce" which was really good.  A very nice sweet contrast to the decadent, salty, savory burger.  The bun was delightfully light, also a little sweet, but didn't break down from the sauces and juices.  It still held your burger together to the wonderful bitter end (I believe the bun is made in house!).

This 'Walk in Memphis' was worth the trip to East Memphis.  My man was very pleased with his burger so much so that our tray was completely emptied!  Everything tasted so fresh like it was made to order, which it was, but was the juicy burger we had been craving on a very cold, snow flurry filled weekend!

My only regret is that we did not try the milk shakes....*sigh* If you go by, promise to try a milkshake for me!

Check out their website and on Instagram @thesearshack!

Crock Pot Bolognese

As I have mentioned before when I leave Oxford and head for Memphis to visit my man, I usually end up taking half of my pantry in order to put together a meal or treat for us over the weekend.

This weekend was no exception.  

I headed to Memphis with my crock pot, wine, spices, and canned goods to name a few items as well as his load of groceries that he left at my place on accident.  

We were sitting in his parents living room devouring his father's BBQ and thinking about what meal we would make the next weekend.  Yes, we are those type of people who think about their next meal  before the current meal has even ended.  We skimmed Pinterest and I got some inspiration from Half Baked Harvest's Crockpot Spaghetti Squash Lasagne Bolognese and Little Spice Jar's Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce Recipe 

Today, turns out, is a snow day for him!  A perfect day to sit inside and make something warm and delicious.

Here is my take on those two delicious recipes:

1 lb. ground beef
medium onion, chopped
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp olive oil
salt
pepper
4-5 cups tomatoes (canned or chopped fresh tomatoes)
1 6oz. can tomato paste
3/4 cup red wine (whatever kind you like)
1 can beef stock
1 tsp chopped rosemary
1/2 tsp chopped thyme
1 tbsp chopped basil
1 tsp chopped oregano
1/2 cup milk
rind of parmesan wedge

*I used frest herbs but dried will work just as fine!

Step 1: Add 2 tbsp olive oil to a sauté pan.  Add the ground beef, onion, and garlic.  Season with salt and pepper.  Cook until meat is brown.

Step 2: Add remaining ingredients to crock pot and stir to combine.  Add cooked meat, onions, and garlic to crock pot and stir again!

Step 3: Turn crock pot on low and cook for 7-8 hours.

Serve with pasta and maybe a crusty bread and Viola!

With the left over ingredients I made an afternoon snack of bruschetta!

2 cups chopped tomato
1 tbsp julienne basil
1 thinly sliced garlic clove
1/4 thinly sliced small red onion
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt
pepper (to taste)
1 tbsp olive oil
1-2 tsp balsamic vinegar (to taste)
hearty, crusty bread of your choice to serve on

My goal for this recipe was to recreate a wonderful original meal we had at a local restaurant in Oxford, MS called Tarasque Cucina.  A couple of close friends were moving and had become good friends with the owners/chef.  They put together a wonderful going away meal for them and a few of their close friends consisting of at least 16 dishes over 4 courses....sigh!

Here is a picture showing just a few dishes from that night....this was just the first course #heaven

**Thank you to Bodie for taking some very artsy fartsy photos of our snow day delicacies!

Beauty Favorites of 2016

One of the best things to happen to me in 2016 was the discovery of Dr. Dennis Gross skincare.

The alpha beta peel pads, the hyaluronic moisture cushion....sigh

I wish I had before and after photos for these products but I was not organized enough.  Oops!  I had never considered a gel based moisturizer before until a friend recommended it (thank you, Mallory).  Gel based moisturizers made such a difference for my skin.  I never considered my self a combination skin kind of gal but with age I my skin has changed.  My T-zone gets oily but my cheeks and under eyes stay dry with some texture.  This moisturizer felt like it actually absorbed into my skin and didn't just sit on top and rub off on my pillow at night.  When used in conjunction with the peel pads my skin felt completely smoothed out and my makeup went on so much smoother.

The peel pads are another wonder!  They are gentle enough to use daily but I use mine every 3-4 days.  My skin seems to be just fine with that schedule but I will increase how much I use them if I have an event coming up (Christmas, New Years Eve, etc.).  They come in extra strength, regular, and ultra gentle. 

My three favorite products are:

Hyaluronic Moisture Cushion

It ain't cheap but its worth it!

Alpha Beta Daily Peel (available in extra strength, and ultra gentle)

and

Alpha Beta Medi-Spa Peel

If Dr. Dennis Gross doesn't fit your budget then I would recommend the St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Moisturizer.  This is a great bang for your buck.  It smooths nicely into the skin and is light enough to wear under your makeup.  Also, this is available at drugstores!

Next are two perfumes that I received for Christmas that I am obsessed with!  I never thought I would be in possession of Chanel No. 5. *oh em gee*  In a round-a-bout way I am lucky enough to have a father with a very particular nose so when he finds a scent he likes it must be great!  Chanel No. 5 is definitely a mature scent and I will be using it for special occasion and nights out on the town.  It a little floral, clean, and fresh.  The second scent I received for Christmas was Kate Spade Walk on Air.  This will be much more of an everyday fresh, floral, and sweet scent.   

                                              

I love trying new brands so send me your suggestions!  

Brands on my list to try in 2017:

Clinique

Clarins Paris

Chantecaille

Can't wait!

**Disclaimer! I do not claim to be a beauty guru, or makeup expert but I do enjoy trying new brands and products.  What girl doesn't love her products?!