Peanut Butter 4 All

Over the last few weeks I tried a bunch of new recepies but the 2 that stand out the most are Peanut Butter Waffles and Peanut Butter Cupcakes.

Peanut Butter Cupcakes

I made these for the moms group that I hosted last Friday - they were a hit with both moms, kids and dads. These are not crazy healthy but the nut butter, flax seeds and whole wheat flour put them a notch above your average cupcake.  I topped them with a Peanut Butter Icing and a banana chip.

Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Ingredients:
 3/4 cup cow or soy milk
 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
 1/3 cup canola oil
 2/3 cup + 2 tbsp panela (or sugar)
 2 tsp ground flax
 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
 1 tsp baking powder
 1/2 tsp baking soda
 1/4 tsp salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F, line muffin pan with papers or spray pan
Mix milk with vinegar let sit for a few minutes
combine all ingredients very well
bake for 23 to 26 minutes
frost with Peanut Butter Frosting and top with a banana chip
for something a little different add some chocolate chips or banana to the batter.

Peanut Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients:
 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp butter , at room temperature  

 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
 1 1/4  cup icing sugar
 1 to 2 tbsp milk

Directions:
With electric beater mix all ingredients except milk, add milk little by little until frosting is smooth and creamy.

I decided to ice the cupcakes in a basket weave - this is simpler then one might think.  All you need is a pipping bag and a flat icing tip of any kind.  I used one with little ridges.  Here is a visual step by step.

Stay tuned for part 2 - and the waffle recipe....

Looking Forward To

Eating food from my garden - yum

Cupcakes and Snow

Cupcakes are iced decorated and ready for C Monster's birthday tomorrow...















See I told you - you wanted to check in to see them. If you want to make your own here is how:

CAT:
eyes - mini m&m
nose - cinnamon heart
whiskers - liquorish
ears - sour grapefruits

PIG:
eyes: mini m&m
nose: pink chocolate with white frosting
ears: wafer cookies cut in triangles

CHICKEN:
head piece: swedish berry cut in 4
eyes: m&m
nose: sour grapefruit with small slice cut out

BUNNY:
eyes: mini m&m
nose: mini m&m
whiskers: chocolate sprinkles
ears: marshmallow cut in half diagonally then dipped in pink sugar crystals

Snow Snow Snow and More Snow

It's been snowing on and off now all week I love it. We barely had any snow this year and as C monster puts it "more sno". We made it out to play in the snow this afternoon; I really want to make an effort to get out with him everyday while the snow is still here and not too slushy because as fast as it came it will go even faster.

There are so many way C Monster can learn while playing in the snow:

• we count snow balls
• make snowmen
• draw in the snow with sticks
• experience the sensation of cold
• talk about how snow sticks to some things and not to others
• experience how ice is slippery
• look at foot and had prints (or animal prints when we are really lucky)
  

The exercise you get is also insane, C Monster helps perfect is walking and running skills as everything is harder to do in a snowsuit.

I want to try an art activity with him this weekend - you take a spray bottle and fill it with food coloring and water (or paint and water); then you spray the snow outside with the colours. It's best if you can have a few bottles with a few different colours. It will make a great little piece of art and at the same time you can talk about colours with your toddler.