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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Gingerbread Cheesecake

I never want to eat again.

I don't want to eat food, make food, or look at it. If I see one more dirty dish, I might just cry. This is a lie and I'm sure I will take it all back tomorrow (though I am very serious about the dishes bit). After spending most of a week feasting and spending endless hours in the kitchen, I'm exhausted. The holiday season has taken its toll on me, as evidenced by my sore feet and expanding waistline. There is no other time in the year where I would consider a bowl of puppy chow and a few sugar cookies a legitimate breakfast. And the season isn't even over yet.

I have more leftovers than I care to mention. Try as I might, I can't escape from the cookies, cakes, and sweets. They taunt me from the counter tops. They quietly hide in the refrigerator. They are even stacked up in the garage, becoming the first sight I see when I enter the house and the last before I leave. I have a massive sugar infestation.

... Help me!

Tomorrow I am going to eat a thoroughly healthy breakfast... and then I will break out the cookies and milk. Five more days before the new year (and before I have to feel guilty about it)!

I originally made this cheesecake in a 10-inch springform pan but, due to unforeseen and tragic circumstances, this is not what the fates had in mind. May it never be said that I cannot salvage a cheesecake. As it turns out, these gingerbread cheesecakes are delicious in bite-sized proportions. The gingerbread flavor is loud and proud, though the sour cream topping keeps it in check. It's dense, it's delicious. Do yourself a favor and make this before the holiday season officially ends.

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Dried Cranberry Cocoa Cinnamon Rolls

I think about food too much. Visions of sweet and savory foods never drift far from my mind. Sometimes I wonder if it is all I am capable of thinking of, as I plan my meals on the walk to school or mentally make a list for the market at the gym. I have some serious food on the brain.
Sometimes I challenge myself to a little game. These games can be dangerous. Once I've got an idea in my head, it doesn't leave. The idea is to imagine a fruit or vegetable and think of as many recipes off the top of my head that feature them. Let's take pumpkins. Pumpkins become pumpkin pie. Pumpkin Custard. Pumpkin bread. Pumpkin bread pudding. Pumpkin oatmeal. Pumpkin alfredo... And suddenly I have a list of recipes a mile long that I absolutely must make right now.

This is precisely the process in which these dried cranberry cocoa cinnamon rolls were conceived.

The rolls are full, dense, and delicious. They don't even need icing because the brown sugar mixture keeps the interior so moist (though I won't fault you if you decide to drown your roll in sugary goodness). Best of all, they keep well in the freezer. If you decide Sunday night your Monday morning might need a bit of a pick-me-up, you can toss a roll in the fridge to rise overnight, pop it in the oven first thing in the morning, and by the time you have to run out the door you'll have a hot, fresh roll to devour, fighting off those Monday blues.

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