Happy New Year 2012 !

My, what a difference one hundred years can make . May the next one hundred be just as amazing !
Happy And Safe New Year To You, And Yours !

Remembering...

Borys

 Remembering my dear boy today. Borys… October 1995-  December 2006. You are still loved, and missed every day…. ~ Nadia

To: You and Yours ….

May The Sounds And Sights Of This Beautiful Season Fill Your Heart With Peace, Love, And Great Joy. Merry Christmas  ! ~ Nadia

Just Fabulous….

Barbara Bui high heeled boots. Artistry, and impeccable design... for your feet ! Find them HERE

" Santa Claws"

Firebird Festival Starts…. Now !

The 8th annual Phoenixville Firebird Festival has begun…. get directions and info  HERE.

Fill Your Heart With Love….

No Easy Task...

 

 Safe to say, the family Christmas photo has it challenges.  Please consider donating to this good cause!
pomrescue.com    ~  Nadia

A Design To Travel…..

How cool is this????  Print your own " Welcome Home" banner a t the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.

A vending machine at one of Europe's busiest airports is offering more than just  fizzy drinks and chocolate bars.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has unveiled its new vending machine that dispenses canvas banners with personalized " Welcome Home " messages.

 Friends and family welcoming passengers home can design and print out their own banner from the machine within minutes, by choosing a font size, background and design theme, entering text to create a custom message, then paying with a credit or debit card. ….. sign me up ! ~ Nadia

Moon River….

One of my favorites,  performed by The Innocence Mission. ~ Nadia

Just A Day In The Life…..

Dwight

" Pay no attention to the Man, ( I mean Cat)...  behind the curtain". ~ Nadia

Thanksgiving Blessings…..

Happy and blessed Thanksgiving to you, and your family.  ~ Nadia

Merry Halloween……..

Caught Off Guard….

An early first snow of the season here in Pennsylvania... October 29th. I still think Trick or Treating will go on as planned . :) ~ Nadia

Design, Where The Eye Takes You…..

The precise movement of  dance, by Justin Peck and Janie Taylor of The New York City Ballet . The gorgeous dresses worn by Janie, and created by designer Chloe, express  lovely fluidity with each step of choreography. ~ Nadia

My Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins….

 

 I t is that time of year again when everything known to man made of pumpkin is featured on menus all across the country. From neighborhood bistros with lovely pumpkin risottos, to Dunkin Donuts and pumpkin flavored fritters and coffee…. pumpkin anything just seems so perfect for Fall.

 So……. I have concocted a pretty darn good (If I may  say so myself) healthy version of an old childhood favorite my mom made for us. Pumpkin muffins, made with 100 % King Arthur white whole  wheat flour, less fat, organic where  possible , and nicely spiced.

 I am a bit of a freestyle baker…. which is not really recommended as baking is more of an exact science. But…. what I have learned is to take enough time to get the ingredients just right. I tend to add more than the measured spices. I admit it… I am a dough and batter taster. If the dough taste's good raw, I know they will be just as good, if even better, in the final cooked stage. So, if you like things pumpkin to have a bit more spice… add more, It won't hurt the recipe.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

all of the ingredients you will need

In a mixing bowl, add 2 1/4 cups of whole wheat flour

1 cup of sugar

1/2 teaspoon of salt

2 teaspoons of baking powder

1 teaspoon of baking soda

2 teaspoons of cinnamon( more if you like)

2 teaspoons of allspice( I tend to add more)

1/2 teaspoon of ground clove( more again if you like it spicy)

1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg… I like it fresh ground.

about a 1/2 cup chopped walnuts( really packed with omegas! :)  )

Chop 'em in nice small bits

blend all of your dry ingredients together with a fork

Next, blend in a separate bowl the 2 eggs,  2 tablespoons vanilla extract, and 1/3 cup oil…add to the dry ingredient s bowl

 add 1/2 cup water

one 15 oz can pumpkin( not pie filling) the real 100% good stuff

look how nice the colors are...

the most flavorful ingredient… Molasses

2 tablespoons … add her in

this is where the great depth of flavor comes from…mix the whole darn mess together.

Now, get some Pam ( I like Pam for baking)... and I spray it outside on my patio to reduce the mess

cover the whole pan  really well ( inside and on top)

with an ice cream scoop, start adding nice full scoops to your muffin pan

I like big muffins, so I fill'em pretty full

bake for 25 to 35 minutes… depending on your oven.

you know there done when a wooden pick comes out clean

let cool for about 10- 15 minutes in the pan

transfer to a cookie rack to firm up

I like my muffins chilled in the fridge the best… the next morning so they really settle. My husband likes them warm out of the pan…. your choice… enjoy!

 Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins

Dry Ingredients
2 and 1/4 cups King Arthur white whole wheat flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons allspice
1 teaspoon ground clove
1teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Wet Ingredients
 2 eggs
2 tablespoons of real vanilla extract
1/3 cup canola oil
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons molasses
1 15 oz can Pumpkin( not pie filling)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend all dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, blend the 2 eggs, vanilla and oil.Then, add to the dry ingredients bowl. Next add the water and the molasses... and the can of pumpkin… blend it all together. Using a nonstick muffin pan, spray generously with nonstick cooking spray. With an ice cream scoop , scoop generous amounts of batter into each muffin cup. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes ( depending on your oven) until a wooden pick comes out clean. Cool  10 to 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Makes 12 to 16 muffins. ~ Nadia


Note
If at any time your batter becomes too thin, just add (conservatively) a little extra flour ( about 2 tablespoons or so)