Lachine Rapids

Some shots from our walk at the Lachine Rapids. Can't wait to see some green!!!

Chocolate Banana Marble Muffins

Had a nice relaxing weekend. For some reason, Saturday I was so tired I had a 2 hour snooze in the afternoon! Today I feel much better! This morning, went to the gym, where I managed to run another 5km and this time, in 31 minutes! I shaved off another minute!  yessss!!!


This afternoon, went for a very short walk outside, brrrr, it was cold! Wanted to practice what I learned in Week 1 of my mlk photo class but my fingers were frozen and couldn't manage to move the dials on the camera! So when we got back home, baked some goodies and decided to practice week 1 inside!!  So the photos you see here today are all taken on MANUAL!!  Feel free to cc any of these - I have so much to learn!





Bought too many bananas this week, so when I got back from my walk - baked these delicious chocolate-banana-marble-muffins!



Chocolate Banana Marble Muffins
12 muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats (used regular)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 medium ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
1 cup buttermilk (used low fat milk and lemon)
3/4 cup sugar (used a little less)
1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil (used canola)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons cocoa powder

Directions:

1.Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a standard muffin tin, or line with cupcake liners.
2.In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3.In a medium bowl, mash the bananas, then whisk in the buttermilk, sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla extract.

4.Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture, and whisk just until blended.
5. Remove one cup of the batter, and add it to a medium bowl. Whisk in the cocoa powder, just until blended.
6.Divide the main (non-chocolate) batter between muffin cups. It’s about 1/4 cup of batter per cup.

7.Scoop 1 tablespoon of chocolate batter on top of the batter in each muffin cup
8. Using a toothpick, swirl the chocolate batter into the banana batter.
9. Bake for about 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
10.Allow to cool for about five minutes.

11.Enjoy!



Today is my mom's birthday. She passed away 29 years ago and I still miss her so much. Bonne fête maman! xoxo

Oat and Cranberry Muffins

Healthy muffins, perfect for a light breakfast. Didn't get a chance to taste these. Brought them in at the office and they were gone fast!







Oat and Cranberry Muffins
(from 1001 Cupcakes)

6 tbsp sunflower oil
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
heaping 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup dried cranberries
2 eggs
generous 1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a 12-hole muffin pan. Sift together the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Stir in the sugar, oat and cranberries.

Place the eggs in a large pitcher or bowl and beat lightly, then beat in the buttermilk, oil and vanilla extract. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the beaten liquid ingredients. Stir gently until just combined; do not overmix. Spoon the batter into the muffin pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until well risen, golden brown and firm to the touch. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then serve warm or transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

I did it

or should I say, I will do it! I have finally enrolled in a photography class!!  Saw this great deal that I couldn't pass up, especially after hearing so many great reviews.  It's an online class - mlkstudios.com - and they have a great special until tomorrow!!  I can't wait to start!

Almost looks like Spring...

Except it sure didn't feel like Spring - the wind was mighty fierce - but still a beautiful day to take a walk (with a hat, gloves and a long scarf!!)!

College St-Anne

Wish I could have gone to school here! Such a great old building!

Banana Cake with Crunchy Top

Already Sunday night. Weekends go by so fast! I would vote for a 3-day weekend!!

Went back to the gym this morning to try to run another 5k.  Did it again!! Ran it in 31 minutes, which is faster than what I did last week (I did it in 33).  I didn't find it any easier - my heart was really pumping. But I was so happy when I finished!! My goal was to try to do it in 30 minutes - but that will be for next time!! :)  Still did it 2 minutes faster than last time!! Yeah me!!



This afternoon, we went for a short walk - wanted to walk longer, but it was so cold near the water, we managed only 30 minutes.


We came back, and since I needed to use up some bananas, went back to an old recipe I did for the first time 6-7 years ago. It is still as good today (I am having a piece as I type!!).
 


I had saved it here - banana-cake-with-crunchy-top - recipezaar which is now food.com.

Banana Cake with Crunchy Top

2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar (used 1 1/4 and would use less than 1 next time as the topping is very sweet!)
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup buttermilk or 1/4 cup soured milk (used low-fat milk and lemon)
1 cup mashed ripe banana (3 to 4)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup buttermilk or 1/4 cup soured milk (used low-fat milk and lemon)

Topping

1/3 cup butter
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons light cream (10%) (used low-fat milk)
1 cup flaked coconut
3/4 cup chopped nuts (didn't use)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Grease a 13x9 inch cake pan.

Cake: combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl.

Add sugar, butter, 1/4 cup buttermilk and bananas. Beat for 2 minutes with wooden spoon (or electric mixer).

Add eggs, vanilla and 1/4 cup buttermilk. Beat for 1 minute.

Spread batter evenly in prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until tootpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Topping: while cake is baking, prepare topping. Melt butter in small saucepan (or microwave). Stir in remaining ingredients thoroughly.

Remove cake from oven and immediately spread toping evenly over cake.

Broil 6 inches below element for 2 to 3 minutes or until bubbly and golden.

Cool Winter Day

Was walking on this cold Winter day and, for once, wasn't following Ben but a stranger!

Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Tomato

First off, thanks for all your kind words on my blog post yesterday. It felt good to share this huge accomplishment (for me anyway!). Running 5km (a little more than 3 miles) was a big challenge for me - I can't wait to try it again (maybe this weekend?!).

After all that running, what's better than this...




I think mac and cheese is my favorite dish.  What's not to love? pasta and cheese... mmmmm!!! Comfort food for sure!



I went looking for a different mac and cheese a couple of weeks ago and found this recipe on Allrecipes.  I already made it twice and we love it! It is so simple and tasty!



Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Tomato
1 pound macaroni
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
1 1/4 cups milk (used low fat milk)
3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (used about 2 cups)
8 tablespoons butter, divided 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs (didn't use this - added more cheese)
A few drops of hot sauce  

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Pour in pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

In large bowl, combine macaroni, soup, milk, cheese and 6 tablespoons butter. Pour into 9x13 baking dish. Top with bread crumbs and dot with remaining butter. Bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

Reached a Goal

Today was a great day, even though it was real cold (-26C with the wind). I still got up this morning and went to the gym. I was tired and wanted to run but didn't think I had the energy... I said to myself, start with 5 minutes and you'll see after that... I reached one of my goals - I ran my first 5k!!! Yeah me!! And I ran it in 33 minutes (not sure if that's good - but I'm still happy with myself!). That's not bad for somebody that was not feeling great!! :)

Went to WW at lunch - I'm still struggling on that part. I'm on a plateau and I have been for the last 6 months. My body is holding on to my last 10 pounds and doesn't want to let go. Not sure if I should continue the fight or just accept the way I am. Some days I still have hope and others I just want to let go and eat more cupcakes!! :)

On another note - here's some more shots of my favorite spot in Lachine!

Ste-Anne College

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you get to spend it with your loved ones!

This is Ste-Anne College in Lachine. Isn't it a beautiful old building? It was founded in 1861 - 150 years old! Too bad I didn't get to go to school there!

Mini Banana Chocolate Chips Muffins

Hope you all had a great weekend! We had a good one. We didn't go out for Valentine's Day, but we cooked ourselves a great dinner last night and watched a good movie. That's our way of celebrating! :)

Today, baked a few things - and what's better for Valentine's day than Banana Chocolate Chips muffins??!! :)



Love mini muffins - so changed the recipe to make some mini muffins!


Wishing you all lots of love on Valentine's day!


Here's where I got the recipe:  banana-chocolate-chips-muffin

Banana Chocolate Chips Muffins

Makes 12 regular or 24 mini
1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
Pinch of baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon (added about 1 1/2 tsp as I love cinnamon!)
1/8 tsp nutmeg powdered
1/4 tsp salt
Banana- 1 big mashed
1 egg
3/4 cup milk (used low-fat)
1/4 cup vegetable oil (used canola)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup chocolate chips (used about 1/2 cup)
Nuts, chopped (optional- 1/4 cup) (didn't use)

Method:
1.Sift the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and cinnamon powder.
2.Preheat the oven at 375 degree F and line a muffin pan with paper liners or grease well.
3.Using a hand blender mix together the sugar ,oil,egg,milk and mashed banana.
4.Mix in the flour mixture .
5.Fold in the chocolate chips and the nuts.
6.Fill the muffin pan 3/4th and bake for ~18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
7.Cool on a wire rack.

I made 24 mini muffins that I baked for about 14 minutes at 350F.
 

I miss green

I can't wait for Spring... I want to see green. I want to see flowers. I am tired of the cold and of the white.  How many days left until Spring?

Photo Exhibition

Found this great exhibition at a shopping centre near work - Portraits/Autoportraits. An exhibit of photos and children drawings from around the world. The kids are so cute and the drawings are so sweet!  And all this for free!

Nutella Brownies Hearts

I bought a small heart cookie cutter - of course, had to use it right away!! :)

Baked some brownies and, for a nice change, used some Nutella in the mix! Problem was, thought I had enough... but didn't... so decided to use some dulce de leche that I had.  The brownies were moist and tasty. Mmmmm!




Aren't they cute??!!


Nutella Brownies
from Ricardo

1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup Nutella (only had 1/2 cup left so used 1/2 cup plus 1/2 dulce de leche!)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Preheat oven to 325ºF and line a square baking pan with a sheet of parchment paper.

In a small bowl, mix flour and salt.

In a big bowl, mix eggs, Nutella, brown sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer until the mix is smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the dry ingredients and butter.

Spread into baking pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes.

Let cool in pan for about 2 hours. Cut into squares.

Makes 16 squares (or 8 hearts with some leftovers!).