Tuesday, September 11, 2012

make it paleo: apple cinnamon muffins

hi guys. i'm going to share a little secret with you. i have a "ripe-fruit-phobia". i'm sure that's not the clinical name for it... but it's what i've got. i CANNOT stand fruit that is past it's prime. that's right, bananas with more than 5 freckles, become banana bread... i check each and every grape before eating to make sure it's not squishy (must.have.crunchy.grapes.)... and if my apples are less than crunchy and juicy when biting into them... well it just won't do. 

i know i know. i'm a fruit snob.



but i also hate wasting food. do you ever have fruit that needs to be eaten, and quickly, before it starts turning funky? i tend to find we don't eat our apples as quickly as i'd like to before they go from crunchy to sort of soft. so i came up with this yummy breakfast (or in my case, anytime) muffin. 


{PALEO APPLE CINNAMON MUFFIN}
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
4 eggs
1/3 cup canned coconut milk 
1/2 cup apple sauce
Apple Cinnamon Topping
1 tablespoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons apple sauce
2 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 apple, peeled and chopped

Mix dry ingredients together. Mix wet ingredients with a hand mixer. Add wet ingredients into dry ingredients with a hand mixer until well combined. Add batter until prepared muffin cups about 3/4 full.
In a separate bowl, combine apple cinnamon topping ingredients until apples are coated. Scoop mixture over top of muffins and using a toothpick swirl the topping into the muffin batter. Bake muffins for 20 – 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Makes about 10 to 12 muffins.
Enjoy!
love, tara

Monday, September 10, 2012

monday inspiration: beautiful baubles


happy monday everyone! i am currently smelling my dinner for Life Group tonight that has been in the slow cooker for 16 hours whilst eating a chocolate cupcake. weird combo. 

anyway, i wanted to share with you my recent obsession in modern rings, organically shaped with natural stones. its kind of all the rage right now, but i have been loving this style for several years and wonder if it's something i want to commit to. 

my current wedding set is a simple thick white gold band and a solitaire princess cut diamond. classic but i haven't been loving it since i had kids, almost 6 years ago! the diamond sits too high on the band and the sharp edges constantly scratch my kids or snag my clothes. 

it's a beautiful diamond, but doesn't really have any sentimental value other than the fact that it's the ring we got married with. (i ordered it through a friend of my boss's at the time who was a diamond importer and he shipped it fedex. the first time my husband saw it i was already wearing it!) 

have i told you this story already? i feel like i have. maybe it's cause its on my mind so much lately. 

No.1} dangarang. maybe if i just get a new setting and turn the diamond on it's side so its just a little "different"?? 

No. 2} so lovely and simple. (similar

No.3} this would be a good right hand, index finger ring. certain rings just need certain fingers. 

No. 4} THIS ring makes my heart stop. (no original site found for link)

No. 5} charming and natural. (no original site found for link)

No. 6} organically shaped and stunning. although it looks like it could slice you open if angled right.... hmmm.

No. 7} the perfect signet ring.

No. 8} again, heart stopping. 

so, based on this little gathering of things that are equally slaying me and calming me with utter serenity, i feel like at least a new setting would suffice. 

what's your opinion? 

the original classic or a modern twist?

love, tara

Friday, September 7, 2012

cross back chairs

i love these chairs. 


aaaaaaaaand, my birthday is coming up. so if anyone wants to get me 6 that would be great. 

happy friday!

tara