Today was actually WARM in Virginia! I’m talking 70 degrees and sunny with completely clear skies on the 6th of January. This is why I have NO plans to permanently live farther north than we are now. Weather like this in the middle of winter is a gift from God, and one you only get in the South.
We spent most of the day lazing around, but we eventually got out the door because we knew we couldn’t miss out on some outdoor time on a beautiful day like this. We headed to a nearby park, which is situated right on a lake and has some beautiful hiking trails. This is the same park we took my family to when they were here for New Year’s!
Today we explored a different trail, one that goes past a “lookout tower” (that’s Jason standing on the lookout in the first picture) that was incredible. The view from the top is so amazing.
We didn’t do the full hike today, but we plan to do it tomorrow because it’s supposed to be even warmer! As if the warm sunniness wasn’t enough to make my day great, I had some fun in the afternoon baking up a treat for us.
Our wonderful friend Callie commented on an earlier post asking for a good chocolate chip muffin recipe. Your wish is my command! There’s really no reason to say no to baking something so yummy.
I adjusted a recipe that I found here to make it a little healthier and boy did they come out good!
Chocolate Chip Muffins
by
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients (12 muffins)
- 1 c. all-purpose flour
- 1/2 c. white whole wheat flour
- 2 t. baking powder
- 1/4 t. baking soda
- 1/4 t. salt
- 1/2 c. chocolate chips
- 1/2 c. plain or vanilla yogurt
- 1/4 c. milk
- 1 egg, beaten
- 3 T. butter, melted
- 1/4 c. applesauce
- 2/3 c. sugar
- 1 t. vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, chocolate chips).
In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir gently until combined (you don’t want to overmix).
Line a tin with muffin liners and spray the whole surface of the tin with baking spray.
Pour the muffin batter into each cup of the tin in even amounts (each cup should be about 3/4 full).
Bake the muffins in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
As soon as you can handle them, remove each muffin from the tin to a rack to cool completely.
I upgraded to Recipage Pro recently (it’s free now!) and this is their new embedding tool! I love it! So much easier than what I was using before. Now I don’t have to input recipes twice! Which means I have more time to enjoy eating these.
Awesome.
Thanks for reading!
-Lauren
14 Responses
Monique
I was loving the weather today in VA too! It was so nice compared to the bitter cold from Wednesday.
Those muffins will be so easy to veganize š Thanks for posting them!
Lauren
You’re right, they would be! š
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio
It is just beautiful here in DC!! Muffins look great!
Lauren
We had such nice weather this week too! I’ll take 70 degrees and blue skies in January any day. I had the windows down and it was sooo nice. Those muffins look great! I’m up for anything with chocolate chips. I signed up for the original free version of recipage when it came out but haven’t done anything with it. I really need to get on that!
Helen
I love chocolate chip muffins. I love chocolate chip anything. We have been having really beautiful weather her as well. I wish it would stay this way, soon we will be back to suffocating heat…..
Lauren
Chocolate chips can never be bad! š
Jess H.
Ohhh, delicious!
I was wondering how you determine the amount of whole wheat flour to use relative to your regular flour – do you go with an educated guess, trial and error, or a general conversion rule?
I’ve been looking to start integrating more whole wheat flour into my recipes, but I am unsure of where to really start. š
Lauren
That’s awesome that you’re looking into using more whole wheat! I usually go by what I’m looking for in the finished product. When I want the whole wheat to be undetectable I do 1/3 white whole wheat and the rest AP, otherwise half and half is a pretty good fallback plan for most things. Hope that helps! š
Tammy W
I found your blog through Foodgawker. I love it. I am subscribing. Hopefully I can find your recipe for your usual morning shake in here. š
Lauren
Welcome! My morning smoothie is a frozen banana, orange juice, a little yogurt, and a green supplement powder all blended up!
Jessica
Hi Lauren! I just discovered your blog… blogging is something I’ve always wanted to do! I’m excited to try some of your recipes. I think I’ll start with the apple turnovers, followed closely by these delish looking muffins! Can’t wait to explore your blog more….
Jessica from Wisconsin
Lauren
So glad you found me! š I hope you love what you try!
Callie
LAUREN! I am SO EXCITED to try your new recipe! I will make some tonight and let you know how it goes! The yogurt and the applesauce seem like FABULOUS ideas, last time mine came out so dry!
THANK YOU!!!!! I feel like a celebrity for being mentioned on your blog : )
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
recipe looks great!
good for you for doing recipage…wayyyyy too much uploading and keystokes for me to ever make the move, but good for you for doing it!