My Favorite Muffin in a Mug So Far! Samoa! Gluten-free, Trim Healthy Mama (S), Sugar-free

A couple weeks ago, Gwen's Nest, posted a Samoa milkshake. If you like Samoas but have not tried it, go, now, make it, it is that good! However, I live on the edge of the snow belt, it is cold here, and currently we are under several inches of the white fluffy stuff. I didn't want a milkshake today, I wanted a warm, flavorful muffin. *Just poked the last bite into my mouth, yummm, happy.* 

I wish I could share a bite but the best I can do is share a picture, and recipe; you have to make your own. 

There is the picture, and here is the recipe. 

Samoa Muffin in a Mug 
1 tablespoon coconut oil, butter, or MCT oil
2 tablespoons flax meal
3 tablespoons almond meal
1 tablespoon erythritol
dash stevia
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
dash salt
1 square chopped 90% chocolate, I used Lindt
2 tablespoons shredded coconut, unsweetened
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
1 teaspoon caramel flavor
1/2 teaspoon butter flavor
Mix all in lightly oiled mug, I used a small pyrex glass container. 
Bake 350F. for 20 minutes or 1 minute in microwave.
Here is the usual stream of photos.

I love Muffins, they are a great grab-n-go snack, or breakfast on the run. Sometimes I will line up the glass containers and make a string of muffins, varying the flavors in each, this way I can just put 1/2 or whole muffin in ziploc baggies to drop in my purse as I run out the door for appointments or errands. 
Enjoy!

Tuesday Link-up at Gwen's Nest
Trim Healthy Mama

Restyling, What's all the Hoopla?

When I was a child and saw my friend wearing a dress with rick rack an inch from the hem, I knew she had grown and her mom had done what most moms did, she let down the hem and covered the faded line with a decorative trim.

When I was a teenager and my favorite jeans became too short, I cut two pieces of scrap denim, embroidered a mountain scene on each and sewed them onto each hem. Well, that little confession dates me, yes, end of the "hippie" era. My favorite was the pair of jeans, made into a midi skirt by opening the inside leg seams and adding a long triangle to the front and back, connecting the legs. And, wow, all the "groovy" things we could do with a bandana!

When my own children out grew pants or wore out the knees, they became shorts. Faded t-shirts became fresh in tie-dye. I could take the neighbors hand-me-downs and add fun pockets or change the sleeve length so sometimes you could not tell that the child next door had worn the shirt last year. Outgrown boy jeans to fit a little sister were the easiest, just add some eyelet trim or ribbon to the pocket edging and match a pretty top.

This is what frugal mothers have done since the Garden, I wonder how Eve made over Cain's garments to fit Abel.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 What has been is what shall be, what has been done is what shall be done, and there is no new matter under the sun.

A few weeks ago I was perusing a few articles on a hot new trend in clothing, you guessed it, restyling! You take an old garment and make it over using trims, or make it into something else, like a purse, or pants into a skirt. Who knew?!

Last week, my dear husband put a load of rags and nasty stuff in the washing machine, with bleach. Bleach is not something we use very often, which is an article for another time, but he must have left drops on the edge of the machine because when I put the next load in, my favorite sweater soaked it up.

 Bummer.

Next trip to the fabric store I took the sweater along to look for inspiration. I found, on the clearance table no less, a pretty synthetic sheer with shiny dots, the color matched perfectly. I purchased 2/3 of a yard, some bias tape, and matching thread.

At home, I cut 2  3 inch strips.

Joined them at the ends to make one long strip, folded in half, gathered with a basting stitch and pinned to the edge far enough in that I would be cutting off the largest bleach spot and the button holes. I also removed buttons and set them aside.

Unfold bias tape and apply on top of the fabric with the edge close to the edge of the strip of sheer.

I sewed it far enough in that the spot would be cut off, but lined it up with the knitted design. Zigzag next to the seam to keep it from unraveling or fraying. Fold and sew bias tape to the inside.

Carefully iron on a low setting considering the sheer fabric.

I used the leftover buttons to cover the remaining bleach spots and duplicated the pattern on the other side. I experimented with tucks to hide them but that made the front too small, so I just used the buttons to hide them.

I hemmed the leftover fabric to make a matching scarf. Can't wait to wear them! Do you have a favorite "restyle"? I would love to hear about it.

Winter Thoughts and Projects

The wind is howling, drifting snow against the garage. I am grateful to be in on such a blustery day, warm, the fragrance of marinara sauce and meatballs wafting through the air as it simmers. I wish I could say that I had a cup of coffee in hand, unfortunately, I finished it quite a while ago.

This is Turkish, he was sleeping peacefully until I, ever so quietly, padded across the room and snapped the photo. Too bad I forgot to turn off the flash. He is enjoying this snow storm from under a cozy quilt.

This time of year draws me to stop and ponder different areas of my life. I recently did some mid-year tweaking of the home school curriculum, changing Math seems to have smoothed out some of the rough spots of each day.

I have not been posting as frequently as I had been for many months, not that I am not cooking, just nothing really stands out in the food department. I think blogs should reflect the things the author enjoys or it is fruitless labor. My family is shrinking, being in the kitchen is an adjustment, less people, busy schedules, equals less adventure. Time for some adjustments, maybe a new tab soon for smaller quantities.

My younger daughter is planning her wedding, this will mean more sewing projects for a season. I just finished this messenger bag, she asked for a map of the United States of America, in buttons, across the front, she had seen a photo of a button map on Pinterest. Nothing difficult, but she would like a zipper at the top, a zipper pocket inside, a long strap, and a Velcro closure on the front flap, and no, there is no pattern.

 Buttons from my Grammy's button jar, sometimes it is the little things that mean so  much.

 How did I do? She is happy.

A little meandering, no food pictures, perhaps the next post will be back to normal. I have a sugar-free, no-bake peanut butter cheese cake recipe to make and photograph, but then again, I also have a denim quilt almost cut out too.

It is supposed to snow through the night, we shall see what the morning brings, I do know this, it will bring a hot cup of coffee!

Happy New Year!
Joanne