Sometimes assuming can really pay off and other times well, not so much. Remember those Banana Cranberry Spice Muffins we made a while back? Well, I was thinking and assuming I could change it up a bit by exchanging the bananas and cranberries with pumpkin. Pumpkin happens to be another thing I love and the last time I had a real pumpkin muffin (back in September) was at Panera Bread Company. And I still haven’t been able to get the thoughts of yummy pumpkin muffins out of my head. Anyone want to take a guess how many calories are in a Pumpkin Muffin at PB Company? Try 530 calories and 20 fat grams – Ouch! Up against these yummy pumpkin muffins at 155 calories – This is a no brainer!

So I picked up this dandy can of pumpkin and popped the top yesterday afternoon and couldn’t wait to give it a try.

I followed the Banana Cranberry Spice Muffin recipe but added 1 cup of pumpkin in exchange for the banana and cranberries.

This little muffin is just what the Dr. ordered! I finished him with my coffee this morning and I’m so happy that I’ve found a nice little healthy way to have the things I enjoy. It pays to assume sometimes.

Pumpkin Spice Muffins – Serves 12

Ingredients:

1 cup Fiber One original bran cereal

1 egg

¾ cup fat free (skim) milk

3 tablespoons canola oil

1 cup pumpkin

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

½ cup sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon salt

Directions

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray bottoms only of 12 regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray, or use non-stick baking cups. Place cereal in resealable food storage plastic bag; seal bag and crush with rolling pin or meat mallet (or crush in food processor).

In medium bowl, beat egg milk and oil with fork or wire whisk until well mixed; beat in pumpkin. Stir in cereal; let stand 5 minutes.

Stir in remaining ingredients. Divide batter evenly among 12 muffin cups.

Goodness to go

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Immediately remove from pan to cooling rack. Serve warm.

High Altitude (3500 – 6500 FT): No change

Nutrition

1 Muffin: Calories 155 (Calories from Fat 40) Total Fat 4.5g (Saturated Fat 0g); Cholesterol 20mg; Sodium 200mg; Total Carbohydrate 32g (Dietary Fiber 3g) Protein 3g

%Daily Value: Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 2%; Calcium 10%; Iron 10%

Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Fat

Carbohydrate Choices: 2

Weight Watcher Points: 3

Note: I baked these guys for 20 minutes. They came out so nice and moist and when trying them while they are piping hot, they seem just a bit under baked. I tend to like things out of the oven a little on the early side as they continue to finish “baking” while they’re cooling. I made these yesterday and they were perfect today so I will not be baking these any longer next time around. Also, the nutritional information is carried over from the banana cranberry muffins. However I did change the calories for this recipe. This recipe will actually be a few less calories than the banana muffins. Here’s my math for anyone that may be interested. A cup of pumpkin is 80 calories and a cup of (mashed) banana is approx 200 + calories. I did not use the ½ cup of cranberries that total 190 calories. So the best I can come up with is…drum roll please – these guys are a whole 25 calories less than the banana cranberry spice muffins that yield 180 calories! YEA and I LOVE THEM! The WW points are still 3 points though. Actually the banana muffins are more like 3 ½ points each so I’m thrilled these guys are down to an even 3 points. Thank you God for pumpkin, I love it.

For Today – Searching for a craft idea, I think I found the perfect one! More on this later or (if it comes to pass).

Outside My Window – This is a picture taken from just outside my front door this morning – I’m in love with the pretty blue sky!

We’re on the ground floor and have to go upstairs and cross the little bridge to get to our vehicles.

We had a trace of snow yesterday and I have spring fever like I’ve never had before! It was just yesterday that I was telling Hubby that I couldn’t wait to run around in my little dresses and bare feet – Will that day ever get here?

From the Kitchen – I could eat some sort of pasta every single day of my life and never tire of it! This is a nice shrimp pasta with peppers, snap peas, baby corn, carrots, soy sauce and some hot pepper sauce (for a nice kick) and a pinch of brown sugar. I love the spicy hot and sweet flavor of this dish. That was my favorite meal this weekend and I can’t stop thinking about it.

I’m going – To miss Hubby while he’s away on business this week. He wishes he could have me by his side but my ticket would cost an arm and a leg, so I’m staying home. I think I’m going to do my craft later this week while he’s out of town. I’ve already started a list of things I need to get started.

Here’s to a wonderful week!

Planning, yes planning is something that I evidently overlooked prior to our Boston trip. The thing is I didn’t bring a coat with me, only a ¾ length sleeve sweater. The excuse is the weather was warming up a tad and I didn’t think I needed a coat. What was I thinking? Some of the things I plan on doing in Boston certainly involved a coat this week so I decided that I would once again do some indoor shopping. In the end I had a wonderful time and the best part was that I got to spend the evenings with hubby.

While shopping, I found some things that I covet. If I covet when I see things at the store instead of at a friend’s house, is it wrong?

When I observe Rachel Ray cook pasta with her oblong pot, I think to myself “I need one too”. This would be the perfect set as there’s a nice oblong pot in that beautiful set! I would love that green on the bottom left.

I really want one of these one day, even if it’s just a small one.

Loved this colorful display of ceramic eggs and really like that bowl too.

This bedding is so spring

Detail on the pillows

Huge sign advertising the pots

And here they are on the shelf. I really liked the chipped and brawny look of these.

Loved this canister set

After a day chalk full of shopping dinner was ever on my mind and I was hoping for seafood one of the evenings. As a matter of fact, Hubby and I were talking about seafood on our way to Boston and I was pleasantly pleased to learn that that’s where the guys made reservations that evening!

Hubby had lobster and I had blackened mahi mahi. They were both so delicious!

Hubby’s lobster looking so yummy!

Hubby digging in!

Random dinner shot. This group came from Texas, New York, Boston and Maryland.

Just the two of us

It was such an enjoyable trip and I feel lucky to be able to travel with hubby whenever possible. Next time I need to plan a little better though.

Ah, it’s finally spring at last! That’s what I was thinking yesterday. Oh our skies were sunny painted with the prettiest blue and my eyes sparkled as I squinted to see if I could begin to see blossoms on the nearby trees. It’s okay to squint and hope for spring right? Well I was doing my share of hoping, it felt like a gorgeous spring day and I was looking for some sort of proof.

Proof, yes, we all want proof as we can’t just go by feeling alone. As we wrapped up our evening the feeling of spring warmed my heart and I dreamed of gardens with lush green grass and clusters of blossoms as far as the eye could see. I woke with a song in my heart and a spring in my step “it’s springtime – it’s springtime”!

As hubby headed for the door to leave for work this morning, he stopped by the little hall closet to throw on a lightweight jacket (this is the part we hug and kiss) and we said our goodbyes, have a good day honey, be careful and see you tonight…When he opened the door the cool morning air rushed in like a slap in the face and our eyes beheld snow! That was all it took for me to put my little spring baby to bed. No, she’s really not quite awake yet, just hold on a little longer.

A view of our backyard dusting

It’s snowing but hard to detect in the picture. I think we still have several more weeks of winter up here and I’m going to hold off on the squinting for a while. We won’t see blossoms until the end part of April at least that’s what I recall. But I hope wherever you are that you’re seeing signs of spring.

Bells and whistles go off whenever I hear about anything made with bananas. I stumbled on this recipe in a little leaflet by Bob Greene, Oprah’s trainer. It didn’t take me long to realize that I was rarin’ to bake! Mind you I haven’t baked in “AT LEAST 6 MONTHS” and the thought of finding something that was a bit healthier certainly had my full attention. So without further ado, let’s get started.

Ingredients:

1 cup Fiber One original bran cereal

1 egg

¾ cup fat free (skim) milk

3 tablespoons canola oil

1 cup mashed very ripe bananas

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

½ cup sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup dried cranberries

Directions

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray bottoms only of 12 regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray, or use paper baking cups. Place cereal in resealable food storage plastic bag; seal bag and crush with rolling pin or meat mallet (or crush in food processor).

When all else fails in the kitchen…use a hammer! I’m sure by now some of you are sick of hearing about all my stuff being in storage but it’s the truth! I always manage to find something to get the job done. Of course that’s my “Tom Boy Tool” hammer – works like a charm. Just had my nails and toes done in the light pink with a touch of silver for spring – will it ever get here?

In medium bowl, beat egg milk and oil with fork or wire whisk until well mixed; beat in bananas. Stir in cereal; let stand 5 minutes.

I set my little timer for 5 minutes and while the wet mixture was doing its “thing” I mixed all my dry ingredients together.

I’m Getting there

Bananas pretty much all mashed

Ding – That’s the 5 minute timer going off. Now stir in remaining (dry) ingredients except cranberries until blended. Stir in cranberries. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.

The batter is ready for the cranberries

Divided evenly as possible

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Immediately remove from pan to cooling rack. Serve warm.

I baked these guys for an even 20 minutes.

Played with the same picture in photoshop – Couldn’t help myself as they were so much fun!

And then got a little carried away. If you feel a little blurred, not to worry, go ahead and try them, you’ll be glad you did, you can trust me!

Believe me I followed the directions to the T and had one of these guys while he was still piping hot! Very nice and moist and I really loved the surprise punch of the cranberries. I will definitely be making these again!

High Altitude (3500 – 6500 FT): No change.

Nutrition

1 Muffin: Calories 180 (Calories from Fat 40) Total Fat 4.5g (Saturated Fat 0g); Cholesterol 20mg; Sodium 200mg; Total Carbohydrate 32g (Dietary Fiber 3g) Protein 3g

%Daily Value: Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 2%; Calcium 10%; Iron 10%

Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Fat

Carbohydrate Choices: 2

Weight Watcher Points: 3

• For starters, I’m in utter shock that my step-daughter is graduating from college in just a couple months! Wow this is a really big deal and we’re so proud of her.
• I’m helping her with all the fun stuff and preparations with invitations and whatnot. We’ve been e-mailing back and forth for days and today she called as she’s tired of e-mail. She’s so busy these days but we had such an enjoyable visit. I say e-mail is great but there’s nothing like communicating via southern bell.
• Secured her cap, gown and tassel set today
• I’ve already made dinner reservations (she told us that we needed to do this soon as some of the restaurants are booking quick) I was able to secure reservations at her first choice restaurant.
• Hotel reservations are made
• I’m ordering her favorite cake from her favorite bakery this week
• Found my dress for her graduation yesterday. Hubby likes it too and he was so patient while I tried it on.
• I’m having the time of my life seeing to it that her graduation is all about her. I just wish she could feel at this very moment how happy I am for her.
• I’m in total graduation mode and excitement is running through my veins.
• Now I need to get into dinner mode. Hmmm, what’s for dinner?

So the other day I was craving an omelet something fierce! Fierce would actually be an understatement. As soon as the craving hit I ran to the fridge to get right on it. I flung open the door with much enthusiasm only to discover I had absolutely nary an egg in the house. Who runs out of eggs and forgets? Apparently me and it was – might I add, a huge let down.

I immediately went from that letdown to my grocery shopping list and added my eggs at the tippy top! And they made their way to the kitchen yesterday afternoon. You have no idea how I planned my omelet all out and couldn’t wait ‘til this morning. I would have had it last night but we already had dinner plans thus the wait.

It was exciting, ever so exciting to go to the fridge and have all the necessary ingredients for my omelet this morning.

As I started prepping my pepper I noticed not one but two baby peppers growing inside. There’s numerous times I see babies inside the red and yellow peppers but this is the first time I’ve seen two. I put my finger behind the one as he blended in with the pepper.

Here they are side by side. I munched on these guys while I prepped my pepper and onion.

A slice of yummy life

Two eggs

Give ’em a good beatin’

A little concoction that’s seasoned really well with pepper and just a pinch of salt.

I love my little pan as it’s just the right size for my 2 egg omelet.

After they set I added lots of cheese and here’s a little sneak peak of how she looked after I transferred her to my plate.

Let’s just say I’m already planning my breakfast tomorrow and this is a tiny clue of what’s goin’ down.

Top of the morning! Okay, I realize it’s late morning but still morning no less and a Monday morning, a beautiful Monday morning with a bright week ahead.

I’m beginning to plan my meals and today I’ve kicked it off with one of my favorite yogurt flavors mixed with ½ cup Fiber One cereal toped with a sliced banana.

The sourdough pretzels I squeezed in will be my my mid morning snack in just a bit. Those provide the best bang for your buck when looking for something good to crunch on.

I’m getting ready to put those black beans on to cook and I’ll be adding some onion, carrots and a few other things as I like to add a little of this and that so who knows how it’s going to turn out. I’ll also heat up some jasmine rice cooked in chicken broth to go along with my beans.

Hubby took me to the movies this weekend and we saw Confessions of a Shopaholic. I don’t want to spoil it if you plan to see it…but it was painful for both of us. Sure there were some funny parts but in my opinion they didn’t make up the difference. I’m quite sure many loved this movie though, perhaps you enjoyed it. Hubby was such a great sport as this is a movie I wanted to see. We didn’t splurge on any treats at the movies but he did take me out for a wonderful “healthy” dinner afterwards.

As we look forward to the new week ahead, (speaking of that, it’s MARCH) we anticipate some warmer weather in the coming days. There’s so much to look forward to come spring/summer!