Sunday, January 31, 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER!!

today is brother's 32nd birthday!!
every year, my mom made him a strawberry cake... he loves the box mix from pillsbury.
so i decided to mix it up a little this year.
i wanted him to have the cake he loves that mom always made for him, i just figured since it came from a box i could spice it up some.
all i did was slice up strawberries, sprinkle a little sugar on them, let them sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes and tadahhh!!
it's not the prettiest cake ever but it tastes great!!

bran muffins

the teachers i am student teaching with are all doing weight watchers, so when i brought in 3 dozen cupcakes for the kids it seemed a little unfair.
one mentioned a bran muffin recipe that she loved...
so i decided to try my own.
i have not personally tried one, but when i took 2 dozen to the school i left with only 2.

this recipe is for a dozen but i have doubled it and it works out just as perfect.

ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of wheat bran (i used the shredded wheat bran cereal)
1 cup of buttermilk

1 tsp of baking powder
1 tsp of baking soda
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup of vegetable oil
1 egg
2/3 cup of brown sugar
1 cup of raisins- optional. i do not use them but you might like to

Mix the bran and buttermilk together in a large bowl and let them sit for 5-10 minutes.
Sift the flour, soda, powder and salt together. And add it to the bran and buttermilk.
Beat the egg, oil, sugar and vanilla together in a medium bowl and add it to the bran and buttermilk mixture as well.
Mix them altogether til they form the batter. If you would like to add the raisins, do so now and fold them in.
Bake for 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees.
Enjoy!!

*Muffins do not rise as much as cupcakes do, so I fill them almost to the top of my muffin liners. But make sure they are smoothed on the top before baking.

i know this is a baking blog, but...


i can plug a book too :)

i got it for christmas but haven't had much time to do anything, much less read.

friday night, i got about half way through, but could not put it down.

i stayed up all night to finish it and i'm so glad i did.

it is utterly amazing and true!!

if nothing else, just think about it...