Starting with a long chat with Chris and Dark Chocolate & Orange
Muffins by his wife, my DIL, Tina.
Orange Muffins with Dark Chocolate Chunks
(recipe)
350 g plain flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 pinch salt
200 g caster sugar
2 large eggs
240 ml buttermilk
120 ml sunflower oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
Oranges
Dark Chocolate
Preheat the oven to 450ºF.
Sit the muffin liners into a muffin tray in preparation for the mixture.
Weigh the flour, baking powder, salt, and caster sugar into the bowl. Combine the dry ingredients then add the eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla extract. Mix gently until fully combined, taking care not to overwork the mixture. Zest in the oranges and chopped dark chocolate combine again.
Divide the mixture between the muffin cases, making sure they are filled ¾ of the way up. Scatter a few extra chocolate chips on top of the muffins and sprinkle with sugar. Place them into the oven and immediately turn it down to 325ºF.
Bake for 25 minutes, until risen, golden and if you poke a clean skewer into the muffin it comes out clean. Allow to cool in the muffin tins for 10 minutes before lifting onto a wire rack to cool completely before serving. Makes 12
So delicious!
Wednesday, Brenda, Diane and I took the day together to mall-rat at The Bloomington College Mall.
We started at Starbucks with Cappuccino and Pastries...sampled some of the up-coming Fall Scents at Bath and Body Works (love their Pumpkin Marshmallow Latte)...found some great sales along the way...enjoyed our "hattitude" and ended the afternoon at Red Robin with Cheeseburger,Fries and Malts!
(because we can)
Saturday arrived, and with it my sisters...Lisa and Tina.
And our August Sisters Day and Slumber Party!
We rented a hotel room with a pool and such.
Stopped at The Breakfast Company to begin our day.
Picked up more supplies along the way...along with those we had already purchases.
Wild pajamas and face masques.
Pre-mixed "Mudslides" just add crushed ice...and Strawberry White Zinfandel.
Pre-mixed "Mudslides" just add crushed ice...and Strawberry White Zinfandel.
Chicago's Pizza and Bread-sticks
Mermaid
Magic Nail Polish
Magic Nail Polish
(kind of an iridescent pinkish blue) to paint each others nails.
Marshmallows stuffed with chocolate...
microwaved and pressed between graham crackers for S'Mores
Cards and Farkle.
And us...of course.
To have the Slumber Party we never had together having grown up separately.
And chat...and chat...and even more chat...
Into the late hours.
All that remains today is a couple slices of cold pizza...and shimmer shiny Mermaid nails and our September Plans!
A Spa Day and Ice Cream Brunch.
So much living and catching up to do...all of us over 50 years old now!
Arya and Thanos got their ears done in Pocket-Bully fashion this week and look great!
The Book This Week:
Claude and Camille
Historical Fiction of the life of one of my favorite Impressionists.
Just a beautiful love story.
The Movie this Week:
This is truly one of those...if you only see one film this year-see this one...type of movies.
A spin-off from The Fast and Furious edgy...action packed and just hilarious!!!!
The interaction between Shaw and Hobbs, alone, is worth the price of admission.
A must see!
Seriously.
More Anon...