What I Do Best

It's Super Bowl Sunday, which means one thing: Puppy Bowl. It's the 6th year of the annual Animal Planet show and I have to say, it rules. Puppies playing on a fake football field? Water bowl cams? Tired pups sleeping while other ones play fight? I'm so there. If you aren't into it, you have a dead, cold, lifeless heart.

Speaking of hearts, I got to get mine pumping again. So I guess I have to pretty much grow the *&#$ up and be a bit more responsible around here. I've got a little under four months until we move and I wanted a lot of things done by then. They may not all get done, but I'm going to give until it hurts.

I have a month before my next doctor checkup. I decided to stick with this lady, since she doesn't seem to sugar coat things. If I'm going to show improvement by the next appointment, I got to get working. Luckily, I have two traits that will help me here: 1) I research the hell out of everything and will be doing this the right way, 2) I am Type-A about things like "making progress." I want that damn medical file to say "improvement." I basically want the doctor to give me an A. My mental problems could actually be beneficial here.

I joined a gym yesterday. And then within the hour, I went and worked out for an hour. And guess what? Today I did the same thing. It was cheaper than I had expected and I'm not locked into a year long contract. I actually felt really good about it, and I hope to keep it up. I am planning on going right after I leave work (which is in the early afternoon Mon-Thurs).

It's not just about moving around though, I know that. So I'm paying more attention to food. Trying not to be lazy about things anymore. I went through my habits and kicked out some things that just can't stay (goodbye Coke, I think I'll miss you most of all). I have looked for good tasting healthy recipes so that I don't feel deprived. I have this kooky app on my phone that helps me track calories and keep track of exercise. It's a "Live Strong" app I found online.

I actually found a really good apple muffin recipe by Ellie Krieger of the Food Network. She isn't the most exciting tv chef personality, but she knows her stuff, nutrition-wise, so I like her show.

Apple Muffins

They were so good that I might think these are the best muffins I've ever had, not just the best healthy muffins. Crazy. But true.

Here's her recipe, with my adjustments:

• cooking spray
  
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans (I didn't use the pecans)
  
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (I used kosher salt)
• 1/4 cup canola oil (I used Smart Balance oil, which is a canola/soy mix)
  
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup natural applesauce (I didn't have any, so I just pulsed another apple in the food processor)
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup lowfat buttermilk (Didn't have any of this either, so I used vanilla soy milk)
  
• 1 Golden Delicious apple, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch pieces (mine were pink lady apples)
  

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a 12-capacity muffin pan with cooking spray. (I used cupcake cups, but I still sprayed them so they wouldn't stick to the cups and the tops wouldn't stick to the pan)

In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, the pecans and cinnamon.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose and whole-wheat flour, baking soda and salt.

In a large bowl, whisk the remaining 3/4 cup sugar and oil until combined. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in the applesauce and vanilla.

Whisk in the flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the buttermilk. Whisk just until combined. Gently stir in the apple chunks.

Pour the batter into the prepared muffin pan and sprinkle with the pecan mixture. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to remove any air bubbles. Bake for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of 1 of the muffins comes out clean.

Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the muffins to loosen them and unmold. Cool completely on the rack.

According to Ellie, a serving size is 2 muffins! The calorie count with the original recipe is 110 calories a muffin, but with my changes, it might be just a little less. Not too shabby for such a good tasting muffin.