Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins

Our family, with the exception of Boy2, loves the combination of peanut butter and chocolate. We're tempted to test the DNA of Boy2 due to the fact that he despises peanut butter. Pretty sure we could have a real life "switched at birth" story. At school one day, the class made no-cook peanut butter cookies. I received a note, which included a smiley face, from the teacher. Boy2 told the class: "My mom made these and I don't like them". Great... the kid is giving the impression that I'm horrible in the kitchen.

Darling has a mad obsession with it. She'll eat peanut butter straight from the jar. But who am I kidding... most of us do that. Right?

Today I'm bringing you peanut butter & chocolate chip muffins with a chocolate drizzle. These muffins will quiet the peanut butter beast within anyone. Well, for a few minutes anyway. Just until you realize you must eat another one before someone else nabs it.

Muffins:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cups white sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup chocolate chips

For drizzle:

1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 tbsp shortening

Combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In another bowl, combine egg, butter, milk and vanilla. Mix well. Add peanut butter and mix well again. Gradually mix in flour mixture. Add chocolate chips and stir.

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare a muffin pan with olive oil or cooking spray. Pour muffin mix into pan (about 3/4 full). (You could also use a loaf pan and make a bread loaf. I'm guessing: preheat 350 and bake for 1 hour.)

Bake muffins for 20-25 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely.

While the muffins cool, melt together chocolate chips and shortening. About 50-60 seconds in the microwave. Stir until smooth.

Drizzle chocolate on top of cooled muffins. Adding drizzle is like bedazzling your muffin! Transforms it from "looks good" to "looks irresistible".

Enjoy!

Shrimp Tacos, Refried Beans & Pico De Gallo

**Shamefully walks into blog world**

Wowza! Has it really been over 2 months since our last post? Sorry about that! Life got a little overwhelming and unfortunately the blog was put on my back burner. I've returned now that life is slowly getting back to normal.

Quite a few years ago, Husband and I went to our favorite Mexican restaurant and by mistake, shrimp fajitas were placed in front of me. I love shrimp... but on tacos? I wasn't sure. I placed my "what-ifs" aside and dove in. To this day, it is a meal I remember very well. It definitely made my top 5 best meals.

Today I am bringing this really great meal to you! I'm also providing a simple refried beans recipe and an even simpler pico de gallo recipe.

Shrimp Fajita Tacos (adapted from Eating Richly)


1 package shrimp (medium, large or jumbo)
2-3 limes, squeezed
1/2 cup (loosely packed) cilantro, chopped
3-4 garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp kosher salt

2 green peppers, sliced
1 large onion, sliced
Soft shell flour tortillas
Sour cream for taco and/or beans

Clean and remove tails from shrimp. Place shrimp in a ziploc bag and set aside.

In a bowl, stir together lime juice, cilantro, garlic and seasonings. Pour over shrimp, seal bag removing as much air as possible and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

While the shrimp marinades, steam the sliced peppers and onions with a bit of water in a frying pan for 8-10 minutes.

Preheat broiler.

After shrimp has marinaded, distribute shrimp evenly in a 9x13 pan, pour remaining marinade over shrimp. Add steamed peppers and onions to the pan and broil for 10ish minutes or until shrimp is pink.

Refried Beans (a healthier version) (adapted from Allrecipe)

2 ¼ cups dry (rinsed) pinto beans

1 onion, peeled and halved

2 tbsp chopped green chiles

1 tbsp chopped fresh garlic

2 tsp salt

1 ¼ tsp ground black pepper

1/8 tsp ground cumin

6 cups water

Combine ingredients in a slow cooker. Turn cooker to high and cook for 8 hours. Check periodically, add water if necessary. I ended up adding about 1 cup half way through.

When ready, drain beans but save the juice/liquid and set it aside. Place beans in a bowl and mash them. I used Kenny, my stand mixer, and he did a superior job. Once mashed, add some of the juice/liquid you set aside earlier. Add until you are happy with the consistency. Place refried beans back into the slow cooker (on low) until you are ready to serve.

Pico De Gallo

2 large tomatoes, diced

1 jalapeno, finely chopped & seeds removed (if you enjoy an extra kick, leave the seeds)

1 onion, chopped

1/4-1/2 cup (loosely packed) cilantro, chopped

1 1/2 tbsp white sugar (consider this an "add to taste" ingredient)

Combine all ingredients and gently stir. Really... that's it. (Note: Instead of jalapenos, I used the remaining green chiles from the refried beans). Use Pico for a side dish or a topping for taco.

There you have it... a very satisfying, delicious meal.

Refrigerate leftovers and enjoy for lunch or dinner the following day. Pico can be used as a salsa too!

Fly on the wall

Have you ever thought about what people might think if they saw what goes on behind-the-scenes at your house? Do you ever wonder what it would be like to catch a glimpse of someone else’s daily life? Here’s your chance. Today 13 bloggers are inviting you into their homes to be a fly on the wall.

 

Buzz around, see what you think, then click on these links for a peek into some other homes:

www.BakingInATornado.com

http://www.justalittlenutty.com/                              

http://followmehome.shellybean.com                      

http://stacysewsandschools.wordpress.com/             

http://sadderbutwiser.wordpress.com/                

http://menopausalmother.blogspot.com/                  

http://mooreorganizedmayhem.blogspot.com/       

http://hypnoticbard.blogspot.com/                                   

http://mybrainonkids.net/                                                                       

http://smn0409.blogspot.com/

www.therowdybaker.com

http://www.findingfelicity.com

http://caramelliving.blogspot.com/

A few nights ago husband and I were preparing the boys for bed. Boy2 was slurping on a go-gurt as a last minute snack. When it was his time to get PJs on I asked where the wrapper was. 

Me: "Where's the go-gurt wrapper?"

Boy2 brings hands to mouth and giggles

Me - scanning the room, sniffing the air, chuckling at his mischievousness: "I can smell it. Where is it?" 

Boy2 giggles more

Me: "Seriously kid, where is it?"

Husband: "Come on, tell us."

Boy2 has a major case of the giggles going on and points at husband sitting on the bed

Boy2: "Daddy is sitting on it." Uncontrollable giggles are escaping him. 

We all bust a gut laughing as husband stands up with a go-gurt wrapper stuck to his ass. 

Tip: freeze a tube and add it to a lunchbox. By lunch time they are unfrozen, but still chilled

The scene as "Ultimate Romantic Husband" walks into the kitchen...

URH: *belch*

URH: "Can I grab your boob?" 

This is real, people. I really got this lucky!

This is a short homework assignment Darling (15 y/o) did for school. The idea was to write a brief, but precise set of instructions on how to make or do something. She melts my heart at the end, it's the simple things :)

"Before when I was younger my mom would make me my favorite sandwich, peanut butter and jelly. She would start by gathering the materials. She pulls out creamy peanut butter, strawberry jelly, wheat bread, a knife and a plate. After this she would open the peanut butter and use the knife to swiftly scoop some out. Then she spread the peanut butter evenly throughout both pieces of bread. Next she would take out the jelly and spread it nicely on the peanut butter slices. After this is done she would put the two pieces together. She would then do my favorite part. My mom would cut from one corner of bread to the opposite corner making two triangles. Finally I would eat the sandwich. Now that I am older I make my own sandwiches I make them the exact same way as my mom except I leave out one part. I don’t cut them into triangles. I don’t have time to waste cutting the sandwich in half. Even if I did have enough time I wouldn’t make the triangles as great as my mom can do."

The gym is quite possibly the most embarrassing place for me. Here's just one of my episodes:

*During a lower body workout, we were working the crap out of our legs. After about 25 minutes of this, our instructor told us to do a tricky jump move. She showed us. Looked easy enough. Well, when you have weak wobbly legs... this move is not easy. I jumped and landed straight on my ass. As luck would have it, I was in the front row of class that night.

Boy3 walks up to me with the sweetest look on his face. I'm cooking lunch. I smile at him. He turns around, points his butt in my direction and blows me a toot. He giggles his little face off and runs away. Momma's smile removed. 

Naptime:

Me to Boy3: “Go lay back down”

Boy3: “No, you go lay down”

If only I could take demands from my 2 year old…

Boy1 says he can run in a circle for one hour. I accept his challenge and set the timer...
The running starts,

Shirt ripped off at 12 minutes,

Stopped at 23 minutes. He didn't make it an hour but I was still impressed.

Good job kiddo! 

And lastly I'll leave you with this thought....

Toys are constantly spread across the living floor. Some even find there way into the kitchen either on the floor, the counter or the table. A lot of days I can handle the "bless this mess" condition of my house. Other days I am so ready to be rid of matchbox cars, Legos, trains and toy remotes. 

When I have these frustrating moments I often remind myself that when the toys go away so do the little boys. I remind myself to enjoy this day, forget about the mess, because I'll never get these moments back. My little men will grow up in a blink of an eye. I will watch them graduate, move away and start their adult lives. I will think to myself how much I miss those little feet padding across the hardwood floor and the creative imaginations that explode out of them at playtime and the wonder in their eyes when they discover something new and exciting. 

For Darling, she's 15 already. The tears escape as I know she'll be leaving for college in 3 years. I already miss the little sassy version of herself. Her and I butt heads often, but our bond is incredible. She is a daughter anyone would be proud to have. She will do good things with her life. She already makes this world a better and brighter place. 

**I don't take credit for any of the photos. All photos were taken from Pinterest.