Strawberry Banana Muffins (Guest Post)

Hey guys! I am currently in Orlando, FL at Disney World enjoying my pants off (only because I have a dress on!) at Food Blog Forum 2013. I am having more fun than I can even handle, so I thought I would provide you with a treat of someone else blogging for you rather than being silent today. I asked my friend Erin of Texanerin Baking if she would post for me today, and luckily, she didn't run for the hills! Thank you Erin for helping me out today!!


Hi everyone! I'm Erin and I blog over at Texanerin Baking, where I aim to make healthier baked goods that taste just as delicious as their unhealthy counterparts. I was thrilled when Carla asked me to do a guest post for her! It was my chance to share some whole grain goodness with her readers. ;) Plus she's super sweet so I was honored that she'd even ask!

With strawberry season in full swing and a ton of my bananas getting a little too dark, I thought what better to celebrate spring than with some strawberry banana muffins!

Muffins make mornings so much more worthwhile, don't they? If I have to get out of my warm, cozy bed, I want it to be for something exciting. Having a piece of toast or a bowl of boring cereal doesn't really do it for me. To be honest, I normally grab some cookies, brownies or cake for breakfast, but I know this is really naughty. These muffins are an attempt at something healthier than flat-out dessert and I think they fit the bill pretty well!

You know how some muffins are really fluffy and more cake-like? Yeah, these aren't that kind of muffin. These are actually filling! The whole wheat flour adds a little fiber, but don't worry about the taste. With all the banana and cinnamon in the batter, you can't really taste that they're made whole grain. If anything, you can taste a hint of it.

And then there's all the strawberries in there! I know it doesn't look it by the picture, but these are packed with strawberries. I normally go overboard with adding fruit and other add-ins to my muffins, but I find that if you add too many strawberries, muffins get soggy. And soggy muffins just don't appeal to me so I really recommend sticking with 1 1/4 cups strawberries.

Baked Parmesan and Truffle Oil Fries

Are you confused at my last two posts yet? Seeing a savory post with the word truffle in it and then my post from Friday that was sweet with the same word?

Yeah I like to keep everyone on their toes. It's my only mission in life.

No but really, let's get down to business here.

I am not sure how many of you know this, but there is a type of mushroom that is super rare (all I can think about is Mickey Blue Eyes right now.... "Raaaaaae. Raaaaaaaaah." Sorry moving on.).

So this mushroom is very raaaaaaae (*ahem*), and very difficult to get your hands on, therefore it is really expensive, but oh man is it worth the cost! People have made it into an oil (also expensive when you can find it), and have made many savory dishes with it.

The first time I tried it was here in Vancouver, when Matt took me and his family to Romer's Burger Bar, and I made the bold statement that Truffle Fries are the new black.

And I don't regret that statement. (PS, if you are looking for places to eat in Vancouver, please check out my post about Must Eat Restaurants in Vancouver.)

So, in summary, truffles and truffle oil have nothing to do with what we normally consider truffles.

Make sense? I figured as much ;)

(No-Bake) S'more Truffles

I have recently discovered that I have a thing for s'mores.

I am not sure what it is, but I absolutely love coming up with new ways to incorporate s'mores into desserts.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I don't have a fire to carry around with me so I can't toast marshmallows at any given time.

And possibly that s'mores might just be the best summer treat of all time.

I want s'more of s'mores. All.The.Time.

I was sitting around pondering life one day - as I normally do - and I started contemplating what the typical ingredients in a truffle are.

When I realized that softened cream cheese is usually one of the main ingredients, I decided that it must be easy just to replace that with marshmallows, melted of course.

Um... no.

It doesn't work that easily.

I melted marshmallows with butter, scooped it into the stand mixer, and started adding powdered sugar.

Yeah... turns out that when you add powdered sugar to melted marshmallows, it hardens up. Not so much truffle consistency.

Back to the drawing board.

I tried again, this time melting the marshmallows with extra butter, and stirring chocolate directly into the melting marshmallows. I thought for sure it would work this time, but at the last minute, I bailed on the whole experiment (for fear of another failed recipe), and instead turned that into another treat - more on that another time - and gave up for the time being on the whole truffle idea.

Skinny Veggie Pasta with Basil and Spinach Pesto

Despite what you might think, we do eat real meals, and those that might suggest we are trying to stay healthy.

Among the Biscoff Rice Krispies, Chocolate Ganache Doughnuts and the Chicken-Marinated-in-Bacon-Fat-BBQ-Pizza, that is.

It's all about balance in life.

I believe that you need to enjoy life, and that life is WAYYY to short to not enjoy your food.

That is why even when I make things that are on the healthier side, I refuse to substitute flavor for health.

But you don't have to here!

Toffee Bits and Biscoff Rice Krispie Treats

Well, here comes the crazy.

The month of May that is. And you can call these Rice Krispies crazy GOOD too, but we'll get there in a bit.

First, I need to tell you about this month.

And how it is going to be over in a flash because it is the cuh-raziest month ever for me.

First, I am getting a visit from my most favoritest niece ever! (Also my only niece, but that isn't the point).

My bro, sis-in-law and niece arrive tonight, and will be here until Monday.

Best.Weekend.EVER!

That is, until May 17th arrives.

Holy heck guys! In two weeks from today I will be arriving (at midnight mind you...) in Orlando, FL!!!!

Yeeeeeeee-ahh! Bring on Walt Disney World, and Food Blog Forum baby! This girl is nervous/excited and just down right giddy because I get to meet tons of amazing foodies and great friends, eat tons of good food, learn a lot, get a tan, and play in the parks. Seriously getting excited.

Less than two weeks! Holy wow!

Not only will I be in Florida, but I made the brilliant decision (insert eye roll here), to drive from Vancouver (Canada, not Washington...) to Portland, THEN fly from Portland to Orlando, back to Portland and then drive Portland to Vancouver again.

Insert dead-woman-standing here.

Then two days after I get back to Vancouver, a friend who was a bridesmaid in our wedding (and we haven't seen since the wedding!!!) is visiting us for a week!

Sooooooo beyond excited for that! But also, I hope I am awake during her visit, because, well, do I need to explain?

Simple Strawberry Spritzer (alcoholic adaptable)

This may not be a "traditional" spritzer, per se, but that is the name I am sticking with because it makes a lovely alliteration, and I am one of those crazy ladies who likes to sit and think about alliterations.

Yep I'm one of thooooooose people...

You should run while you can.

But WAIT!

Before you go, let me tell you about my spritzer.

And maybe I'll give you a reason to stay.

Or a thousand more reasons to run. I'm hoping for the former. Humor me ok?

So, in my house at all times here are the drinks at hand: water (duh), orange juice, milk (for Matt's coffee), tea bags, coffee, Gatorade, diet coke and sprite (and we won't talk about the alcohol problem I have. Ahem, 4 bottles of wine, 3/4 gone vodka, plus other random bottles of hard liquor. Ahem!)

I was going somewhere with that, but now all I can think about is having a glass of wine!

Oh, right! I know I need to be better with kicking my soda drinking habit, but sometimes a girl just wants something to drink other than water!

I have been trying to be better about it with putting lemon in my water, which definitely helps! But last week, I just needed a soda. And I wasn't feelin' a diet coke, and definitely not a plain sprite (sprite is more for Matt, not me).

Enter Strawberry Spritzer!

Shredded Chicken and Bacon BBQ Pizza

I am going to make a bold statement right now. Be warned.

This is the best pizza in the world.

The only pizza recipe you'll ever need.

Oops, that was two bold statements. #sorryI'mnotsorry

This pizza shows up on our dinner table at least once a week. I have made it 1.8 billion times, so it was high time I let you in on the goods.

I fully blame Rachel for my obsession with this pizza. And I know she isn't sorry about it.

Her and I share an addiction a love for all things BBQ sauce. We could be lost on a deserted island together, and as long as we had some BBQ sauce, this BBQ pizza and her BBQ breaded onion rings, all would be right with the world.

I am not ashamed.