Orange Cranberry Muffins

Now since summer is over, how is everyone?  We are great and finally getting into the swing of things. Addison is loving being back in school and really likes his new teachers.  His before school and after school clubs have started this week so he has been getting adjusted to waking up early and staying at school late but still getting is homework done.  Diving does not start until next week so then we will see if he can juggle it all.  Diving practice is late this year so he will have to be really focused on his schoolwork.  I believe he will be fine.  He loves being busy.  He hates being bored and complains when he is.  He definitely will not be bored this year.  I am so happy to see him grow into a multi-talented young boy.

Speaking of him being busy.  Addison and his Guncle Daniel just signed up for a 5 mile run.  I know they are crazy.  So Addison will also need to train for this because Addison hasn't run in awhile.  I am so excited that Fall is here and Daniel and Addison are back to running together.  I love the relationship they have and hope they run together for the next 20 years.

Well, I have been promising my Cranberry-Orange Muffin Recipe for awhile.  I finally have time to type and share it.  This is not Addison's favorite muffin recipe.  The Banana Muffin is  his favorite, of course.  But, this might be mine because I love the sweet taste of the orange but the bitter taste of the cranraisans.  Oh and you can use real cranberries, JT just couldn't find any this summer when I started making these muffins.  I am thinking cranberries are only around in the holiday season.  I thought he would at least find frozen ones but he looked at 2 stores and came up empty handed.

Cranberry-Orange Muffins

 adapted from Williams-Sonoma Baking Book

Ingredients:

3/4 cup cranraisins
1/2 triple sec or any orange liqueur
Grated zest of 1 orange

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

1 egg, room temperature
4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup milk, room temperature
1/2 cup strained fresh orange juice, room temperature

Directions:

In a small bowl, mix cranraisins, triple sec, and orange zest together. Let the mixture, so the cranraisins can plump, about an hour or overnight in the refrigerator.

Preheat an oven to 375°F. Grease a muffin pan with butter or nonstick cooking spray.
In a bowl, stir together the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.

In another bowl, whisk together the egg, melted butter, milk and orange juice until blended. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture. Fold in the cranraisin mixture into the batter until combined. Do not overmix. Spoon batter into muffin pan about 3/4 full.

Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes.  Insert a toothpick in the center of a muffin to see if it comes out clean.  Transfer muffin pan to a wire rack for about 10 minutes.  Then remove muffins from pan and transfer muffins to wire rack.  Serve warm or room temperature.  Makes about 12 muffins.

*Make sure your egg, milk and orange juice are room temperature.  If not they will cause the melted butter to clump when everything is combined.

Blueberry Muffins and Cranberry Muffins

And that is my Cranberry Orange Muffin Recipe.  I hope you enjoy. I still have not perfected the Blueberry Muffin but I am working on it.  I promise to share the recipe when I do.  

Talk to you soon, 

Back to School

Yesterday was Addison's first day of school and so far so good.  He woke up on time and got ready without me nagging.  He did take a 15 minute nap after his shower and that freaked me out because I thought he was going to be late.  But, I need to remember he's a boy and it only takes him 30 minutes to get ready instead of an hour it takes me.  The bus was late picking him up and dropping him off, of course.   Oh and he did let me take pictures of him with my printables. I am so surprised.

He said he likes his teachers.  He really likes his math and science teachers, of course.  None of his friends are in his classes except for his orchestra class but that is ok he can meet new people.  He came home happy without any complaints so I constitute that as a great 1st day of school.

Half of the GUNCLE team, aka Michael, came over and we took Addison out for dinner to celebrate his 1st day of school.  Addison wanted to eat at Sweet Tomatoes, of course.  We had a blast and Addison told us everything that happened that day.  It is getting harder and harder to get details out of this teenager.  I am starting to get Fine as the answer to every question I ask.  Ugh teenagers!!!

Now since I have my days to myself again I can find a job, finish my app, finish projects (like Jack's invitations), and update my Etsy site.  It's amazing when you are alone how much you can get done in one day.

Speaking of Jack's invitations, our wonderful friends John and Megan have asked me  to make their little boy 1st Birthday invitations.  I am honored to make them and am loving making them.

I love that I can craft for others since Addison is growing out of all the things I make.  I made him place ribbons and he was not really excited about them. Ugh teenagers!  Here are the felt ribbons I made.

I'm selling them in my Etsy store because The Chosen One thought they would great for kid's parties.  I am helping Addison's school this year with the Robotics Club and I was thinking I could use them for little competitions.

Well, I hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of the school year.  I need to figure out what I am going to make for dinner.  I promise to share my Orange and Cranberry Muffin recipe soon.

Talk to you soon,

Summer is Over - First Day of School Printable

I can't believe it has been a month since my last post.  Sorry about that.  Remember I was so excited that June was coming to an end and I thought I was going to have all this time?  Well, that so did not happen.  It got crazy busy with Addison going to Robotics camp and Aerospace Engineering camp.  Addison also still had diving practice.  When I did have down time I was crafting or spending time with friends and family.  I really haven't even been cooking or baking, which is bad.

Well now we are getting back in the swing of things.  Summer is almost over.  This is Addison's last week of his summer vacation.  I am letting him enjoy his last week which in Addison language means playing with friends, watching movies, and playing video games.  I am shopping to get him ready for school and trying to get him back on a school schedule.

This is Addison's last year of middle school so I believe it should be a great year.  I want it to go as slow as possible because I am not ready to have a son in high school.  I am going to miss spending time with him this summer but I will not miss spending my days in the car.  Soon he will be driving himself and I will miss these times.

I was thinking about a printable for school and you can see I decided to make some chalkboard printables.  I don't think Addison will probably let me take a picture of him with these for his first day of school but maybe you guys can use them.  Just click on the picture or the link to find the printables.  They are in PDF form and are 8"X10".

First Day of School

I have also uploaded the Back to School printables if you are interested in printing them out.  I am having fun with the chalkboard effect and will probably be creating many more things.

Back to School Printables

I have a lot to post about this week so don't worry I will be back soon.  I need to share some great things I have crafted.  I also need to share my recipe for the Perfect Orange Cranberry Muffin.

Talk to you soon,

I survived June

June is almost over. What does that mean?  Summer swimming and diving are over.  Diving Championships were Sunday and Addison did great he got 5th place.  Addison is eligible to swim at the County Meet but that is not until July 14.  So now we don't have to go to 3 practices a day.  He will still have to practice a week before the County Meet, but it won't be as crazy as June.  I will now have time to finish orders and enjoy my summer.  I don't have to sit and wait for Addison 2 hours every morning, afternoon, and then night.  I can actually clean and organize my house.  No more 4 hour meets twice a week.  Oh I can start cooking again.  I just bought a canning book that I am really interested in using.  I should try me first recipe this week.  Where is that book?  I have no earthly idea where I put that book.  Did I mention that I need to clean and organize my house?

Well, Addison is gone this week at Diving Camp so I will have time do all the stuff I love to do.  Unfortunately, I am not cool anymore and my meaning of a good time is cleaning, organizing, crafting, cooking, and baking.  What happened to the days I would go out every night and not get home until 5 AM?  Hey, Chosen One  and Melissa, Do you remember those nights?  A loud smokey club does not appeal to me what so ever.  And we all know my raver pants do not fit anymore.  :)  Now a really great restaurant, with great friends, great food and great wine.  That's more like it.  Maybe I should try a new restaurant this week.  Any suggestions Melissa?

While I am blogging, I am on the phone with The Chosen One and she is sharing a recipe for Split Pea Soup.  I am thinking it will be the perfect to make this week.  I thought it would be nice to share it with you guys also.

By the way, I have asked The Chosen One many of times to guest blog.  She loves cooking and crafting just as much as I do.  She would have some great recipes to share.  But, she always says she too busy.  So come on blog world, let's convince The Chosen One to guest blog at least once a month.

Here's the Split Pea Soup recipe:

The Chosen One's Split Pea Soup

by Faith Ishii

1 medium to large onion chopped fine
2 or 3 carrots chopped fine
3 cloves garlic, minced
6-8 cups chicken broth
1 pound split peas, soak for 2 hours
1 ham hock or ham (as much as you would like)
2 bay leaves


Put all vegetables and 2 tablespoons of oil in a pot and cook until translucent.  Add chicken broth, split peas, ham, and bay leaves.Bring to a boil.  Then lower the heat, cover and simmer for 2 hours. Add salt and pepper to taste.  Serve warm with a nice crusty bread.

Well, I need to go and start doing things on my crazy long list.

Talk to you soon,