If you give El Belle a Chocolate Chip Banana Cauliflower Muffin. . . . .

This muffin holds a secret that was NEVER EVER suppose to be revealed!

Meet my niece, El Belle.  She is a "junk food" eater.

The "Bah Humbug" hat says it all about her displeasure of healthy fare.  If it is a vegetable, she won't eat it.  If it is a wholesome dinner being served, she backs slowly away from the table.  If it is filled with fiber, she gags.  AND so on. . . .  .

Meet my baby sister (she is the one in the middle between my parents.)

Suzanne is on a mission for 2010 for her four children.  The mission is simple, less junk and more nourishing "good" for you cuisine.  This is where I come in.  I am the baker.  I am the one bringing all the treats. This is where the muffin story starts.  

This muffin held a secret in the form of cauliflower.  Yelp, cauliflower.  It was a strongly guarded secret until I told my sister. 

You see, Ellie had eaten several of my muffins and "loved" them.  She ate them for breakfast.  She nibbled on them for a snack.  They were packed in her lunch box.  Over a day's time, there were just a few left.

The other night  Ellie had declared my sister's dinner inedible! 

"Mom, can I please have one of Aunt Gin's muffins instead?" Ellie asked my sister.

"Sure, why not.  They are packed full of cauliflower," my sister mumbled.

"YUCK!"  Ellie yelled and vowed never to touch another Chocolate Chip Banana Cauliflower Muffin to her lips. 

Now, the remaining muffins sit on a plate getting more stale as the time goes by.

Gin's Chocolate Chip Banana Cauliflower Muffins

2 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 very ripe bananas, mashed
1 1/2 cups steamed fresh cauliflower, mashed

Directions
(1)  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line twelve standard muffin cups.  (2)  In a large mixing bowl sift together the flour, baking soda.  Stir in the sugar and 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips.  (3)  In a mixing bowl stir together the eggs, milk, melted butter, mashed bananas and cauliflower.  All to the flour mixture and stir until just moistened.  (4)  Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling them 2/3 full.  Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top of the muffins.  (5)  Bake approximately  15-20 minutes.  Cool 5 minutes and remove from pan.  (6) ENJOY!  

This is an easy five-star muffin recipe that is moist and sumptuous.  The crowning touch of the muffins are the chocolate chips that rest lazily in top.   You will definitely be asked for seconds, if you can keep the secret!

Can somebody please tell me if this means spring is coming?

Have a wonderful day and a great week!!

The Cookie Fairy and The Vanilla Toffee Crinkle Cookies

Is there such a thing as a Cookie Fairy? Just bear with me! It's been a long day with snow and ice. I've spent the entire day, in the house, with my teenage son!! (The other part of the day was spent texting my other son who is in College with MONO!!) More ice is coming, with the dire prediction that it could be the WORSE ice storm EVER for this area. I've had teenagers in and out of my house, ALL DAY LONG!! Some how, they avoid the law and order of no cars on the road. All I know is that I said "No" to my son driving. I ordered pizza for them. Don't ask me how the pizza guy made it here, but he did. He left with a really GOOD tip. I mean, he did help me feed a bunch of greasy teenage boys. What can I say but:

Vanilla Toffee Crinkle Cookies

1 (18 1/4 ounce) box white cake mix

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 bag toffee bits

confectioners' sugar for rolling

Preheat oven to 350°
Stir dry cake mix, oil and eggs in a large bowl until dough forms. Gently fold in Toffee Bits. Dust hands with confectioners' sugar and shape dough into 1" balls.
Roll balls in confectioners' sugar and place 2 inches apart on non stick cookie sheets.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until center is set.
Remove from pans and cool on wire racks.

I could sit here and tell you what deep sweet flavor these cookies have. I could tell you that they have a crunchy outside with a creamy, gooey inside. I could tell you that they would be perfect for your Super Bowl party. I could tell you that they are in the easy to make category. OR.... I could tell you just to believe in the Cookie Fairy. Here's wishing for SPRING!!

PS. That really isn't a Cookie Fairy but a Dotee Doll!