Flexible Friday #44 Three Random Thoughts

Semi-random. Semi-related.

That’s how my brain is working these days. Some fun, good things are happening that I wanted to share!

This is in spite of some really sad, not-so-good things that have also been happening in the last few months that I’m sure I’ll blog about some day.

But today, I’m sharing only positive things because muffins are always positive – be sure to read all the way to the end.

1. Fun Giveaway about socks. Or not.

My super-human friend Leigh Anne and I launched a new venture this week and we already have clients. We’ve been Idea Coaching with each other for a long time. So many times great ideas are right in front of us. We just need someone else to point them out and give us the confidence, as well as the tools and resources to make them a reality!

Using our years of entrepreneurial business experience helping women start their own business we want to help you Find Your Sock Yarn. (Bet you didn’t even know your sock yarn was lost, did you? Yeah, me neither.)

For more details on why we’re calling it Find Your Sock Yarn, click on over to iLashGirls and read our Moments & Memories post this week and enter to win some free Idea Coaching! Socks and sock yarn not included.

2. Website Design & Training

As a natural extension of Find Your Sock Yarn and with some bossy gentle nudging from Leigh Anne, I have a new website called Standout Impressions.

Very old friends may remember that was the name of my very old, first desktop publishing business before any of us had an email address, laptop or internet service and we traveled in covered wagons.

I love to date myself like that.

Anyway, through the years, I’ve always done freelance projects with a variety of clients. This site is long overdue so I can offer my services to the universe.

Okay, maybe not the universe but if you were thinking you’d like to have a blog of your own or you need a small business website, I can help you.

PhilBillPaul wants me to tell you that my prices are ridiculously affordable and I should charge more. I told him to be quiet and get his own blog if he wants to get all chatty.

I just want you to tell anyone you know who might need my services so I don’t have to wear a red shirt and work at Target.

I love Target. But red is soooooo not my color. 😉

3. Earthy Crunchy {sort of} Maple-Drizzled Apple Muffins

Saw the name of these muffins and had to make them. Love the combo – YUM!

Awesome photo of my prep area don’t you think? Okay so I’m obviously NOT turning this into a food blog.

I’m sure a creative cook could make them healthier. Perhaps add some homemade applesauce or at least some no sugar added applesauce? Maybe some organic yogurt or wheat germ?

Me, I just followed the recipe with the most earthy crunchy thing I did…substituted whole wheat pastry flour for the all-purpose *bad* white flour. I’m pretty sure that move countered the *bad* white sugar.

In the ongoing transition to get Scary Baby to eat healthier, I left the pecans off of three of them just for her. She said through curled lip, “Uh, they were kinda lumpy.”

Those are called tiny apple pieces dear sweet child.

It’s going to be a long, slow process.

Here’s the recipe I got from Recipe Girl.

Maple-Drizzled Apple Muffins

MUFFINS:
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 Tbs baking powder
1½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ cup milk
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
¼ cup maple syrup
1 large egg, slightly beaten
2 cups chopped, peeled apples (I use Granny Smith)
12 pecan halves

GLAZE:
1/3 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbs maple syrup

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease 12-cup muffin tin or line with paper liners.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients (through cinnamon).

3. In a small bowl, mix milk, butter, syrup and egg; stir into dry ingredients and mix just until moistened. Fold in apples.

4. Fill prepared muffin cups ¾-full (this is easiest to do when you use an ice cream scoop). Top each with a pecan half. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.

5. For glaze, mix sugar and syrup; drizzle over cooled muffins.

Yield: 1 dozen

Side note: I got almost two dozen but maybe I didn’t fill the cups as full?

They were delicious! Just perfect in this crisp Fall weather!

Now go check out my new site, enter our iLashGirls giveaway, make some muffins and have a GREAT weekend!!