Good-for-you Banana Muffins!

I LOVE muffins. Like so many of us, I'm trying to eat healthier, and I've been searching for a recipe lower in fat, sugars, and calories. After trying several, I wasn't happy, so I concocted my own. These are YUMMY...and good for you!

Here's my recipe. This makes 36 hefty sized muffins, and you won't feel deprived when you eat just one!

Mix all these ingredients together:

1 1/2 Cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 Cups enriched white flour
1 Cup oats
1 Cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder

Set aside

1/2 Cup butter or margerine
3/4 Cup brown sugar Splenda
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
4 2/3 Cups mashed overripe bananas (you know, the bananas always on sale at the market!)
1/2 Cup unsweetened applesauce

In a separate bowl, beat 1/2 Cup butter or margerine with 3/4 C brown sugar splenda till light. Beat in 4 eggs. Stir in vanilla, mashed bananas and applesauce.

Mix wet ingredients with dry just until blended. Spoon into muffin cups which have been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray (ie Pam). Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 25-30 mts.

This batter also bakes nicely into a banana bread, cook for 55-60 mts at 350 degrees.

If you don't "need" Splenda, you can use plain brown sugar, but you need to double the amount because Splenda is twice as sweet. So 1 1/2 C brown sugar will add 1200 calories to your batter, and 33 calories per muffin.

Per muffin with chocolate chips added: 160 calories
Per muffin without chocolate chips: 130 calories

Sometimes I'll add 1/2 Cup crushed pecans, which adds 800 calories to the batter, and 22 calories per muffin.

Nutritional data for each ingredient available at my favourite nutrition site Nutrition Data

Look for the dream...

This week's Arty Girlz challenge is an open theme, so this is what I did. The embossed sentiment came from stamps made with the beautiful hand calligraphy of Suzanna Canon at Quietfire Design. Thanks for stopping by today!

Arty Girlz Challenge

I've been away from challenges for a whole month; it's so good to be back in my very messy happy room!

This week's Arty Girlz Challenge is to use a handmade background.

I created this one with Ecoline Watercolour Inks (#'s 227, 407, and 411) and the shaving cream technique.

The foliage stamp is from Lazar Studio Werx and the calligraphy sentiment stamp is from Quietfire Design.

The Talens Ecoline Watercolour Inks are also available at Quietfire. I LOVE these inks! They're so versatile, and they last forever!

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Created by Hand Challenge

This week's challenge over at Created by Hand is...use GREEN! For this fun folded card, I used a Quietfire Design calligraphy stamp, some patterned paper from Lazar Studio Werx, and a Prima fuzzy flower.



I've done several cards using this fold, here are the directions for you if you'd like to make one:

A. Cut two pieces of card 10.5cm square (4inches) color 1
B. Cut one piece of card 10.5cm square (4 inches) color 2 OR pattern

1. Fold each 4” piece of cardstock in half to create a triangle, score and unfold.

2. Position the two “A” pieces (shown in blue) side by side like the diagram.

3. Place the one “B” piece (the different coloured piece) so that the fold runs along the join of the previous 2 pieces. Adhere this piece so that the right side is over the square on the right and the left side is under the square on the left, like this diagram.

4. Fold the card over into a 3-D triangle or pyramid shape, then cut a slit (see diagram) so that when the card is folded in upright position the card can stay closed and upright.

5. After you’ve folded the card so you know the orientation, unfold it so it's flat, decide how you wish to decorate it, and have FUN!


Thanks for stopping by today!

Ismaki Challenge

This week's Ismaki Challenge sketch is here, just below my card. This is my first creative post in a MONTH! It's great to start again with Ismaki. As usual, this was a great sketch! Thank you Béatrix! The butterfly stamp (produced by Heather's Stamping Haven here in Canada)was stamped on acetate and heat embossed. The sentiment stamp by Impression Obsession was also stamped and embossed.

Thanks for visiting today!

No art...just a little update

Thanks for those who've sent e-mails. I had stomach surgery April 4th, and am on the road to recovery, albeit slowly. I can't sit or stand for very long, and I have the energy of a weak kitten (lol), but I know "This too shall pass," and all will be for the greater good. On the positive side, I'm enjoying all this guiltfree time in bed!

I'll be back soon.

Deborah.