Whatever muffins

If you follow my cooking blog you all know I have been in the process of moving.  And can I tell you... what a pain in the neck it is to move...but in the process of moving I found some old cookbooks and recipes that I completely forgot about... like these muffins.. I have no idea whatsoever where I got this recipe, but it is so amazing. 

**NOTE**They are called whatever muffins cause at the end you stir in 1/2 cup of "whatever" you have on hand...chocolate chips, dried cranberries, smashed bananas, candies, nuts, raisins, apples, carrots, applesauce, blueberries etc..use what you have and what your family likes.

 I used 3 T peanut butter, chocolate chips, and bananas... yum.. they were awesome and turned out so good...  I just mixed the chocolate chips with a tablespoonful of flour to coat them (so they don't sink to the bottom of the muffins).  I also thought I might next time use orange juice instead of the milk and use dried cranberries to make cranberry orange muffins..so many possibilities... make these for your family...

** With the weather just starting to get warm, sometimes I make extra muffins, cookies and store them in the freezer to pull out when it is just too hot to bake in the summer... note to self..get cracking on this task :)  Enjoy

Whatever muffins

1 1/2 cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
2 T baking powder
1/2 t salt

1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
1 t vanilla

1/2 cup "whatever" see above note

Preheat oven to 400.  Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.  Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, & salt.  In a small bowl mix together the wet ingredients (egg, milk, oil & vanilla).  Add the wet mixture to the dry, adding in the "whatever" mixture with the wet ingredients.  Mix just until combined.  Fill 12 muffin cups 2/3 full and bake for around 17-19 minutes (check at 17 minutes) mine were done at 18 minutes but my oven cooks fast.  They should be light golden brown and rounded.  Remove from oven.  Let cool, and enjoy.

Roasted Vegetables

Yeah my first picture on my food blog :)   Now I can show you what I am cooking... oh happy day... anyway I love roasted vegetables. The rich deep caramelization and golden brown color from cooking at a high heat in the oven.  The flavors intensify and makes regular old vegetables into incredible vegetables.  My step son who used to hate vegetables  now LOVES roasted vegetables in the oven :) which makes this momma happy.  Healthy food into the body makes for healthy people...
You can choose any vegetables that your family loves, asparagus, carrots, cabbage, potatoes (both regular and sweet potatoes), green beans, cauliflower, broccoli  anything works...I usually just use a little olive oil, and simple seasonings of kosher salt & pepper but I have used a little red pepper flakes, rosemary etc and it always turns out wonderful.... as always use what you like and have... Enjoy


Roasted Vegetables

Vegetables of your choice, cut into pieces, washed and peeled if necessary
Olive oil
Kosher salt & pepper


Preheat oven to 400.  Place veggies on a sheet tray patting dry with paper towels if they are wet.  Drizzle the veggies with olive oil and toss to coat well with the oil (they should be very lightly coated with oil, not dripping wet) sprinkle with salt & pepper and bake until the veggies are golden brown turning after about 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and serve.

Homemade croutons

Yeah I'm back :)  sorry I have been MIA but our family has been in the process of moving....sigh..17 years in one house and downsizing to a much smaller house has been trying nonetheless... and back to college full time has kept me busy, busy, busy..  I will try and go back to posting recipes more often, thanks for sticking with me. :)
Our church gets day old bread from Panera bread company and they share it with the congregation :)  So I am always looking for ways to use it up...think Panzanella (Italian bread salad, bread cubes, with tomatoes, olives, onions, cucumbers drizzled with a homeade Italian vinagrette dressing), or bread pudding, or breakfast casserole... but one of my favorite ways to use leftover bread is to make homemade croutons.  I love them they are so good and tasty.  I could eat an entire pan of them when they come out of the oven... They are so easy to make, and you can flavor them anyway that you want.  Make these today, your family will love them.. Enjoy


Homemade croutons

1 loaf day old bread, cut into bite size cubes
olive oil
seasonings of your choice (I use garlic & onion powder, kosher salt & pepper)



Preheat oven to 350.  Place bread cubes on a big sheet pan.  Drizzle bread with olive oil and toss bread to coat cubes with oil.  Sprinkle the bread cubes with garlic & onion powder, sprinkle with kosher salt & pepper.  Bake for around 15-20 minutes(turning bread halfway thru the baking with a spatula)  or until lightly toasted.  Remove from oven and serve over your favorite salad.  Enjoy