My son, Jack, is taking a home economics class in school and currently the students are learning how to bake, measure, and prepare ingredients. Last night after dinner, Jack asked if I could help him make lemon poppy seed muffins. He had a recipe from school that he wanted to try at home. Of course, I said "yes"! Any time a kid shows interest in doing something that will improve their life skills is a wonderful thing!
We searched the kitchen to ensure we had all the ingredients first. Thankfully, I had everything in the pantry the recipe called for except the poppy seeds. Jack didn't mind leaving those out this time so we put on our aprons, turned on the oven, and began mixing the ingredients!
Here is a list of all the ingredients you'll need:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons poppy seeds (we left them out this time)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups plain yogurt (Greek or regular) or buttermilk
1 stick (8 tablespoons, 4 ounces) butter, melted and cooled
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (if using a dark-coated pan, preheat to 350 degrees F). Lightly grease two 12-cup muffin tins or line with muffin liners.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt/buttermilk, lemon juice, lemon zest, and eggs.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and fold together once or twice to start combining. Add the melted butter and gently fold/stir until just combined. Don't overmix or the muffins might be dry and tough!
Fill the muffin cups about 2/3 of the way full (use a cookie scoop if you have one)
Bake for 17-20 minutes until the top springs back lightly to the touch.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar, let cool, and enjoy!
The muffins turned out delicious and it was a blast baking with my son! He wanted to do everything on his own, so I was only there to supervise and do clean-up (kids can be messy). He was so proud of how they turned out and wanted everyone to try them - mom, dad, Grandma, and his brother! They made a yummy dessert after dinner!
Let me know if you give Jack's lemon muffin recipe a try! He would be so excited to hear that he inspired more kids to get into the kitchen!
When used as wall decor, mirrors can amplify light and create the illusion that a room is larger than it actually is. With unique shapes and decorative frames, mirrors can stun as standalone wall accents or as stylish additions to your existing wall decor.
Typically a final pit stop to check your look before you run out the door, mirrors serve an important function in most homes. They can be simple and subdued, or artful, ornate statement pieces. They come in all shapes, sizes, and styles and bring a little bit of glamour to every room of the house.
A well-placed mirror can work wonders in your room and has many different benefits. They can be used to light up a dark hallway, create a splash in a bathroom, make a small bedroom space appear larger, provide a beautiful focal point in a dining room, or create a unique and interesting wall collage when mixed together with different shapes, sizes and textures.
I've gathered some of my favorites in the collage and shop links below. Tell me which is your favorite and what room or design challenge you are currently addressing.
The autumn/harvest season is upon us and I am ready for it! Are you? It's time to pull out the fall decor from the attic and begin decorating our home. In the past, I've used lots of warm autumn color tones to reflect the season around my house. This year, I decided to change up the color theme and go with with white, green, and organic pieces to keep things neutral, natural, and pretty. Some of these items can be used all year round which makes this color palette extremely versatile.
Today's blog post focuses on fall home decor items I recently found that capture the essence of autumn in a neutral white color palette. The first two "rooms" I plan to tackle in my house are the dining room and front porch. I can't wait to get started and will snap some pictures along the way to add to upcoming blog posts.
I hope you find something that inspires you to enjoy the fall season!
One thing is for certain during this time of social distancing...nature never stops working.
My husband and I love to start our day with a cup of coffee on our outside patio listening to the sounds of nature. There's something so calming and peaceful hearing the birds sing, watching the squirrels chase each other in the trees, and listening to the sound of the ducks flying above. It's such a great way to start your day and it makes us appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us even more.
Growing up, my mom and dad always had bird feeders and water baths in our backyard. My mom was the green thumb and always looked for plants and flowers that attracted nature - butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, etc. She said "when you take care of them, they will take care of your garden". She was right. Her her garden was constantly thriving with big flowering blooms, hearty vegetables, and delicious fruits, nuts, and citrus.
If you're looking for ways to bring more nature into your yard or small outdoor patio space, I suggest you start with bird feeders. It's a relatively easy and simple way to attract them to your space and will provide hours of enjoyment as they become acquainted with you and their food supply! Today, I'm sharing some of my favorite hummingbird feeders and accessories. Hummingbirds are fascinating little creatures, darting around your yard looking for nectar sources and delighting children as the buzz by in close proximity. Hummingbirds are vital to nature as they are considered great pollinators. They can pollinate flowers that can't be reached by other birds because of their small size and long beak. This helps them spread pollen very easily helping your garden thrive!
Hummingbird feeders come in all shapes, sizes and colors. I've selected some of my favorites below.
You'll also need make or purchase nectar for your humming bird feeder. It's really easy to make with this simple recipe:
There are a few options to choose from when purchasing nectar for your feeder based on quality, value, and convenience. In terms of value, I purchase this 32 oz humming bird concentrate that you just measure and mix with water. It's less expensive and makes up to 192 oz of nectar which will generally last you all spring and summer long! If you prefer convenience, you can purchase ready made nectar. I suggest getting the larger 64 oz size so it lasts a little longer. It comes in clear or red color (here & here) depending on what option you like. If you are looking for quality you may want to choose a humming bird concentrate that is naturally made from the most desirable food sources that hummingbirds actively seek out in nature, chemical free, made with 100% pure cane sugar, and fortified with calcium and electrolytes to help aid healthy eggshell growth and prevention of dehydration. Here are a few good ready to use all-natural options (here & here)
Once you've filled your feeders with sweet nectar, you'll need to find a place outside to hang it. I choose a tree in our backyard that has perfect line of sight from our kitchen table window and patio. We purchased this 12 inch metal tree hook which makes it easier to hang over high branches. If you don't have a tree to hang your feeder in, you can opt for a hook kit that can attach to fencing, railings, or directly to the exterior of your house. You can also purchase shepherd hooks that can be staked directly in ground soil or in a potted plant. Here are some options to consider based on your outdoor living space:
Now that you've hung your hummingbird feeder...sit back, relax, and watch your garden thrive! It's so fun to see all the hummingbirds come visit us every day! We know they are taking care of our garden and bring so much love and joy in the process! I hope this post has provided you some inspiration to make your outdoor living space (big or small) a hummingbird home.
Today I'm sharing the 3rd installment of my "Holiday Gift Guide" blog series and this one is focused on treats for my fellow dog lovers! I have a 4 year old chocolate Labrador named Roscoe and have been a "dog person" since I was five years old when my parents reluctantly agreed to bring home a stray mutt we "adopted" while on a family vacation. Our current family dog, Roscoe, is a very loving an loyal dog. Yes...he sometimes gets into trouble but for the most part he is a good dog and stays off Santa's naughty list!
If you are looking for the perfect stocking stuffer for your pooch or just want to display your own affection for dogs through fashionable style...have a look at the gift guide I have assembled below! I am absolutely in love with the Ralph Lauren clothing collection for dogs! Wait until you see some of these darling styles! There are also some great handcrafted pillows and accessories through Etsy sites that you should check out from my list below!!
Don't forget to add your pooch to your holiday gift list! I hope you all are having fun holiday shopping!
