Busy, Busy

Hi! I’m still alive!

Today I was out with a stomach thing (I think it was just something I ate), but now I seem to be doing okay. I just had a big bowl of rice and beans with salsa, so if that stays down I’d say I’m recovered.

I’m a little stressed out right now, and I probably won’t have much time for posting until this weekend is over. I need to cram in a bunch of math (half the chapter plus homework!) with my tutor before the chapter test on Tuesday, I have to sub for my mom tomorrow, and immediately following class I’m going to visit a college out of state with my dad until Friday (and I need to get ready for that),  Saturday I have to babysit, and Sunday we are having fifty people to our house for my sister’s First Communion. Eeeek! I’m flipping out a little. Somehow I’ll get through it; the math is just the main stone in my soup right now (only 6 more classes to go). Hopefully I stay well and this “bug” I’ve contracted is gone for good.

In the meantime, those of you who have time on your hands may wish to whip up these tasty muffins that I concocted earlier this week. I thought they were so-so at first, but my mom loved them and wants me to make them for my sister’s First Communion brunch. I think they were better the second day—they seemed to be more moist. You may wish to add more spices; I kind of went easy because I wasn’t sure how spicy I wanted them, but feel free to play around with the amounts. You could also probably use all honey or all sugar instead of half and half, if you wish. And of course you can use fresh peaches—in fact I would recommend it—or even pears. The canned was all I had, though, and it worked fine.

Spiced Peach Muffins with Almond Streusel Topping

2 and 2/3 cup whole wheat flour (or spelt, or whatever you wish)
4 tsp. baking powder
ENER-G egg replacer to equal 2 eggs, mixed using package directions
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup turbinado sugar
1½ cup non-dairy milk (I used plain unsweetened hemp milk) or water
1/2 cup oil
1 large can—about 2 cups when chopped—of sliced peaches (canned without corn syrup or sugar)

Almond Streusel Topping
4 T. brown sugar (or turbinado would work)
about 6 T. finely chopped almonds
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

                                                                                                Preheat oven to 400°F.
Step 1: Make sure muffin pans are greased or fitted with paper liners. Chop peaches into chunks; set aside. Stir together ingredients for topping and also set aside.
Step 2: Mix dry ingredients (flour through cinnamon) in a medium size bowl and set aside.
Step 3: In a large bowl stir together wet ingredients (honey through oil); whisk together until well combined and then add chopped peaches.
Step 4: Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir just until thoroughly combined. Be careful not to over mix.
Step 5: Carefully spoon batter into prepared muffin tins. Top each with a sprinkling of almond streusel.
Step 6: Bake for about 20 minutes (or until toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean).

Chopped peaches.

Muffins before baking.
 
Muffins after baking. 


I am no chef, but I like to think of recipes as guidelines. This one should be easily adaptable to fit your tastes and on-hand ingredients. The flax+water combo could easily be substituted for the egg replacer; walnuts could be used instead of almonds in the topping; nutmeg or other spices could be added…the possibilities are endless! This makes about 24 muffins, but the recipe can easily be halved.

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
And now, for the winner of the Go Max Go vegan candy bars giveaway. It was interesting to hear everyone’s take on how many options you like for entering contests like these. It seems that, judging from the poll, the consensus was that having 2-3 options is good. I will certainly conduct my next giveaway accordingly. :)

That is: Natalie So

Congratulations, Natalie. You can email me (justaudrey [at] live [dot] com)with your address.

Thanks to all of you that entered. :)

Oh, and if any of you have a spare moment, drop a prayer for me, will you? I just hope I can survive this weekend and that math test!

 
__________________________________________________________
“All this trying leads up to the vital moment at which you turn to God and say ‘You must do this. I cannot.’”-C.S.Lewis
(C.S. Lewis is so awesome, isn’t he?)