Blueberry-Cornmeal Muffins

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup ground cornmeal (mine was medium ground)

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cinnamon (yah right, i put a TON MORE!) :)

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 cup milk

6 T unsalted butter, melted

1 cup frozen blueberries

2 T sugar + cinnamon mixed

400 degrees in 12 greased muffin cups for 15-18 minutes

MY VEGAN MODIFICATIONS:

whole wheat, no white flour

+ 2 large ripe bananas (my mom taught me to freeze them, thaw them, and mash them up)

no eggs

rice milk

lots and lots of cinnamon :)

canola oil, not butter

Daniel LOVED them and so did I. They peeled out of the cup liners really well and they were super moist. I was impressed with this recipe. The cornmeal definitely added something extra fun to the texture which I liked :)

Sarkozy's Bakery

This is Sarkozy's bakery and it is right beneath our apartment...which means (!!!!) I get to smell the delicious buttery delights they are baking everyday when I am coming and going! Daniel started a special treat of going downstairs every Saturday to pick up something yummy for him and I for breakfast and I have to say I love him just that much more for it. :) This past weekend we went together and had an extra special suprise! We were given a "sample" (the whole loaft) of their special Anise bread which they only make during lent. It is divine! It has anise and wine in it...and I cannot say I know what else but it is incredible. :)

Daniel told me that the paczkis were amazing and he FORCED me to try one. :)

I always thought they were super heavy and doughy but they were light, fluffy and not overly sweet. His was fresh (real - from Leduc MI) blueberry filling and mine was prune. I would almost say it is a shame the inside photos turned out so dark except that I would not want to give the impression I wasnt extatic to see the sunshine for an entire week straight for the first time since last October! Such a beautiful week and weekend!

Daniel discovered that they have a really neat turnplate oven outside that they make homemade pizzas on in 2 mins! The baker said the oven gets to over 1000 degrees! Oh, and no suprise, the pizzas look AMAZING! They make them every day from 11-2 if you are interested :)

Happenings

Have you ever seen a sleeping squirrel? :)

We just bought a mirror for our "fireplace"! Notice the reflection of the computer in the fireplace - Daniel put on a Youtube video of a crackling fire :)

A lot of love.

:) some of my favorite flowers

Getting back...

to you and me.

It's where my heart is. I love you.

Tonight's Gunna Be A Good Night...

Going out in this sweet little city on a date tonight...first tapas and then a bottle of wine.

Sexy Chick...

I found this great place within walking distance from my apartment that teaches pole dancing! So a new friend and I are going to try it out...watch out boys... ;) !

Holidays

Daniel named him Stewart.

I wont eat him. He is too cute!

Our new fireplace mantle. Courtesy of my creative husband!

Picking up...

where I left off 10 years ago.

Oliver

Daniel woke me up the other morning laughing out of nervousness because Oliver had jumped up on the countertop (from there he goes to hanging out above the cupboards) while Daniel was busy lighting the burner on the stove for tea. Well, Dan hadn't expected Ollie to be walking by the stove (his back was turned to the refridgerator & Ollie) and as soon as the gas lit on fire Ollie was right there and his whole chest went - POOF! Dan said Ollie jumped backwards because his little white fur was flaming and whiskers were scorched and Daniel immediately grabbed him and started smacking his chest to put the flame out. Daniel felt so bad! Ollie's never been on that side of the sink on the countertop before but now we will be super super careful when we are starting the stove!

This is me holding Ollie in my tote. Every day when I come home from Pilates or being out, no matter how much I have stuffed into that tote, he always tries to squeeze inside. His favorite thing is to be held on your shoulder in a bag and walk around with you! Kind of like baby-wearing, but Ollie-wearing!

Winter Wonderland

So Heidi came bounding up to the window this morning like she usually does to look outside at passersby. Only this time, she bounced backwards because she was afraid of the snow piled up on the windowsill! It was hilarious! It wasnt the first time she'd seen snow but something about it made her afraid!

Here's the view of our *frosted* tree outside our window!