Whole wheat, oat and banana muffins (and an award)

They say you really notice the passing of time through your children. This morning, reading the paper, I felt the same way about Paul McCartney. So, it seems he got married again yesterday. Again? But wait, didn't he just get divorced? And then I read he has been in a relationship with his now bride for four years. Where was I when you were all keeping up on Sir Paul's love life? Probably reading the food column instead of the gossip column.

Looking up the perfect breakfast muffin recipe. For you.

After all those chocolate cakes I have been baking, it was time to show my new Kitchen Aid we do some healthy baking in our house too.

WHAT? I didn't tell you I am the proud owner of a brand new, shiny Kitchen Aid? How could I forget?

Forgive me, I will immediately introduce you. Kitchen Aid, please meet my many friends who read about the lovely things you help me make every week.

Aww, don't blush.

OK, back to the muffins. Having a hard time focusing this morning.

This is the perfect breakfast muffin because it is not too cloying. The first bite might leave you thinking you could've used a little more sugar or honey but then the natural sweetness from the bananas grows on you and ends up being just right to accompany a nice warm cup of coffee, especially if there is already a spoonful of sugar in it.

They, however, were not sweet enough for the boys, but the husband enjoyed them with a trickle of honey and my son was more than happy to eat them with a thin spread of Nutella. All pretty delicious options, so nobody was complaining. Me? I enjoyed them just as they were and did not feel guilty when I helped myself to a second.

Recipe from Honesty Rain.

Ingredients (for 12 muffins)

dry ingredients:

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup rolled oats

2 tbsp brown sugar

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

wet ingredients:

2 eggs

1/4 cup oil (or you could use apple sauce)

1/4 cup milk

2 large ripe bananas

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Combine the wet ingredients in another bowl. Add wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until combined. Grease muffin tin and fill up to about 3/4. Bake for about 20 minutes at 400° F/200°C in a preheated oven.

The other day I received an award from An Italian Cooking in the Midwest. Thank you Pola, it is a real honor, as a non Italian (although I did grow up in Italy, married an Italian and have half Italian kids), to receive this award for cooking and spreading authentic Italian cuisine throughout the world! Grazie mille!