Banana Chocolate Muffin Recipe.

There are many individuals who are lovers of chocolate.  There are many who are lovers of bananas.  I happen to love both.  I also adore fresh banana bread.  This is a tasty combo of all three.  It's such an easy mix and pretty much a no fail recipe.  Doesn't matter how experienced in the kitchen you are. 

I've always got over ripened bananas on hand for baking.  All the other ingredients were in my fridge and pantry.  I didn't need to run to the store for anything!  That is big plus.  While these were baking both of my littles said "ohh yummy" and "smells good mommy"  That is what I'm going for.  I love seeing my girls eat, it makes me so happy.  That sounds really strange.

Here is the recipe for my Banana Chocolate Muffins

1 stick of softened butter
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
3 super ripe bananas
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup of sweetened condensed milk
1 heaping tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.  Cream butter, sugar, and eggs in large bowl.  Add in mashed bananas.  Then add in your vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and baking powders.  Combine again.  Slowly add in your cocoa and flour till everything is mixed.  I drop large scoops into lined muffin tins. Bake for 25 minutes and check with tooth pick, if it comes out clean they're donzo.  Let them cool and enjoy!

This made 19 muffins, you could pull off 20!

Thank you so much for reading and let me know if you decide to bake these muffins up.

Much love, Linzi

Family Fun at the Lights of Christmas!

Living out in the sticks (not really) we don't have Zoo Lights, or Snowflake Lane.  If you aren't from Washington than you wont know what I'm speaking of.  Those are the elaborate and fancy Christmasy things that happen in the big cities like Seattle and Bellevue.  They are beautiful, and someday down the road I'll take my girls to them.  For now, its just a little too far, and its been little too blustery!  I will say, I love living in a smaller town with a country feel.  I am not a "city girl" anymore, not sure if I ever was.

Who wouldn't want to visit Joyland?  Donuts? Yum!

Sunday night after the big Seahawk loss game we packed up the big rig and drove about 20 minutes away to the most enchanted Christmas town. In kid minutes that is foreverrr! The Christmas Lights of Warm Beach,  seriously it is magical there.  They cover the grounds with millions of bright twinkly lights.  The girls and my hubs were all in awe.  Mario and I went there years and years ago, before we ever had kids and were married.  Going there is a perfect family night or date night even.  Just make sure you have your warmest jacket and gloves.  My butt cheeks were numb for quite some time after!

Aren't these displays absolutely ahhmazing?!  These trees have got to be my favorite.  The people who do this are so meticulous.  My pictures aren't even doing this place justice.

They also had Santa's Den, but that photo op didn't happen.  Gia and Amira were glued to the stroller.  Which never happens, Gia burst into tears and Amira went mute.  They didn't even want candy canes.  I tell ya, my two ladies are not into holiday figures.  No Easter Bunny love either.  They must have gotten that from me.  My mom loves to tell people that I was scared to death of Santa and that I claimed to say "Santa bites!"

I hope that you enjoyed the pictures, and if you live semi close to Warm Beach this is a wonderful place to visit.  My family and I love Christmas so I'm sorry for all holiday posts and such.  Thank you for reading.

Much love, Linzi

The Weekend, in the form of a Picture Montage!

Oh everything is so Christmasy around here!  Is it just me, or is one month not long enough for the splendidness of twinkling lights and fresh green trees decorated in ornaments in the living room?!  It's no wonder people start right after Thanksgiving!  Christmas is the grand finale of the year, go big and beautiful! 

We, or I should say, Mario got our lights up on the house.  They are so fun to look at.  As a family we drive around local neighborhoods and check out every one's lights.  There is house near by that has a billion lights and music blaring in sync with the motioned ones that we love looking at. We went there Friday and the girls were in awe.

I made triple hot chocolate and got the littles bundled up for the tree farm. This was quite the adventure for us, it was our first year chopping the tree down ourselves.  My husband is a total lumberjack.  He was all over this idea.  It was 14 degrees out and windy so we didn't take the time of our lives.  Gia hated her mittens and Amira wanted a 11 foot tree so I actually picked our tree this time.  It was the perfect size.  This is the only picture I took of both of them there, and its in the truck waiting to get out. haha

We got her decorated, then I came to the realization I need more lights and garland .  So I think I'll be adding more soon.  We really do have so many ornaments but you cant tell here.  I've been having the girls pick out their own special ornament.  Gia picked out a puppy and Amira choose Barbie.  Someday when I'm old and gray I will have my white lights and golden tree, but for now we decorate kiddy style!

I also picked up this beautiful fresh wreath for the front door from the tree farm.  Everything smells so good now. We have been getting crafty up in here! I put some those cinnamon pine cones in various mason jars and added those in the bathrooms and girls rooms.  Amira and Gia have been doing lots of artsy crafts too.  I need more ideas for indoor fun since it is Antarctica outside!

Saturday night I was able to sneak out for a few hours and celebrate my girlfriend Brittany's birthday.  We went to dinner and then shopping at our infamous outlet mall.  I sure do wish they would have built that thing indoors.  It was sooo cold walking around at night.  The fountain has even frozen up!

Hope you all had a great weekend.  Thank you so much for reading.

 

Much love, Linzi