Banana Cinnamon Muffins

A new year, a new start.

I don't typically make New Year's resolutions because I can't seem to keep up my unrealistic expectations after a week or two. This year I want to try something different. I want to make resolutions that are real and attainable, even if they do take a little work. I want to make resolutions I can keep. These are a few that I am going to work towards this year:

1. Be Healthy

I want to be healthy in both body and mind. I think the key to the new year will be balance. Last year held high highs and low lows in both aspects for me. I truly believe that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind so eating better and working out will bring about happiness and peace of mind.

This year I want to work on eating more fruits and vegetables, but, more importantly, I want to work on a lower sodium diet. Although I love everything about salt, my body doesn't. Working on cooking from scratch and eating less processed foods will keep out much of the salt (and more of the calories!). My mother also picked up a family membership for the gym and I'm excited to start using it. I find that working out helps me not only sleep better, but feel better.

2. Take a Photography Class

I first became interested in photography this year. I figured if I was going to be starting a food blog, I better learn how to take a good picture. Even though I know how to work all the manual settings on my camera, there is much much more to learn. Composition and lighting are always a struggle. Although I can judge which photos are more visually appealing to my own eye, I couldn't tell you why. A photography course could help me fill in some of those blanks (and that's something I am excited about).

3. Get a Job

After changing career paths, I am another unemployed member of society. Although I wouldn't mind continuing to spend my days baking and watching shows like Gossip Girl, I want to aspire to greater things. I have goals! I have aspirations! This year I would like to find a job that will allow me explore the culinary field, pick up some tricks of the trade, and learn more about what I love—food... Anyone hiring?

4. Keep Baking!

Something tells me this resolution will be the easiest to keep. I can hardly keep myself out of the kitchen as it is. This year I am going to focus on baking healthy. I plan to continue healthier substitutions (like swapping butter and oil for yogurt or applesauce), but I also want to work on cutting down the sugar content (while keeping the flavor a priority). I think we all get plenty of sugar as it is. My desserts may be darker and more decadent with less of the sweet stuff, but I certainly don't think that's a bad thing!

Do you have any resolutions for the new year?

I thought it was only fitting to start off 2011 with something that won't ruin our diets. These banana cinnamon muffins are healthy and delicious. Low in both butter and sugar, the sweetness in these muffins comes from the bananas (although you'd never guess it). At 150 calories each, these muffins will keep your resolutions intact and I think that's something we can all be happy about.

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Dark Chocolate Raspberry Oatmeal Muffins

Moving to a new city where you know not a soul is interesting for a few reasons. It forces you to be tremendously independent and self-reliant (like it or not). It allows you to find your own way. I don't mean this in a clichéd sense either; I mean it quite literally. Once you've walked down a sketchy street in a not-too-pleasant part of town, at dusk, completely lost, blindly searching for the metro, you can understand what I mean. Lastly, and perhaps most curious of all, you have the chance to reinvent yourself. There is no one to judge if you decide to be a little different or even very different. And so, I sit and ask myself, do I want to be someone new?
As I know very few people in this city of over three million (I can count them on two fingers, to be exact), I am in the market to meet new friends. Acquaintances. Anything that breathes. I am not picky. I held a fascinating conversation with a squirrel just yesterday. And so when grad school finally started this week I got excited. I get to be around people! Real people! I just hope I don't seem too desperate for friendship. We all know what that looks like. God forbid I catch a case of those crazy eyes.
My new research group has Wednesday morning meetings and I wanted to make a good impression. So did I read all of the 400 page thesis that was handed to me? Not quite. But I did bake muffins. Either they will love me (and temporarily forget about my lack of contributions) or wonder how I found the time to bake when I could have been researching instead. It could go either way. Wish me luck.
These muffins are so moist they practically fall apart in your hands (not to mention your mouth). The flavors of the chocolate and raspberries stand out, but are not overpowering. You can still taste a little of the oatmeal too, making these a perfect breakfast muffin. These muffins are healthy and quite filling (but you'd never guess it because they taste like a special treat).

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Strawberry Shortcake

I grew up with a deep love for strawberry shortcake. I am not sure how or why it started but, by the age of five, I absolutely insisted to be served strawberry shortcake on my birthday (and for every birthday thereafter). I didn't need a sugar laden cake. No neon colored frosting. Just some simple cake, strawberries, and whipped cream and I was all yours.
This is the first time I made true shortcakes instead of a using a sponge or angel food cake in its place. The first batch I forgot the baking powder and ended up with delicious smelling rocks. Sigh. My second attempt lent me dense shortcakes (I should have realized whole wheat flour isn't particularly light). But these little shortcakes were so fantastically delicious that I ate two before I remembered these were even supposed to served with strawberries.

My little whole wheat shortcakes, you are more than good enough for me.

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