Orange Banana Poppy Seed Muffins

There are a plethora of cookbooks on the market today. Everything from cakepops to gluten-free recipes. These cookbooks are as much of a display of fine photography as they are cooking directions. On my shelf I have more than my fair share of cookbooks. Looking through my mother's cookbooks was a hobby of mine as a child. All that practice planning pretend menus served me well years later while studying hospitality in college. 

While enjoying sophisticated and complicated dishes is wonderful, there is something to be said about simple and traditional recipes from friends, family and neighbors. Those tried and true recipes shared through family and the community.

I collect community, church, and family cookbooks. Most of my collection is centered around areas where we have personal connections.  We have books from Vermont, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio and Kentucky. 

While visiting with my mother-in-law over Christmas, she gave me a few cookbooks to add to my collection. One of books came from her side of the family. Included in the back was a family list of names, dates of birth, marriage, and death. Family history is something that I am slowly becoming more and interested in. Michael has become the family historian over the past couple of years. 

Per (Isakson) Isaacson was born 9-23-1860 in Alanas Jamtland, Sweden. Elisabet Ulrika Lofren was born 11-26-1864 in Torsjo, Angermanland, Sweden. Per and Elisabet were married 12-26-1882. They had thirteen children. Per passed away 2-14-41, he was 81 years old. Elisabet passed away 4-23-1933, she was 69 years old. They are both buried in Betheseda Cemetery at Strandquist, MN. 

This book has many recipes that I am looking forward to trying. It will be fun to have a connection to my husband's relatives.  I am hoping to share favorite recipes from my collection of community, church, and family cookbooks. First on the list is Orange Banana Poppy Seed Muffins.

Peel and slice two ripe bananas. 

Mash bananas using a potato masher. 

Add 1 egg, 3/4 cup sugar, vegetable oil, and grated orange peel. 

Stir until combined. 

In a separate bowl combine flour, seeds, baking powder and salt. 

Combine flour and banana mixtures. 

Line pan with paper liners. Spoon mixture into liners until each cup is 3/4 full. 

Bake at 375 degrees from 20 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Mine took about 18 minutes. 

Combine 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 cup orange juice, 1 tsp. orange peel and 1 tsp. vanilla to create a glaze. 

When the muffins are barley warm, drizzle with orange glaze.

These muffins are sweet and would make a delicious breakfast or dessert. 

Orange Banana Poppy Seed Muffins

Jan Isaacson, Philex Isaacson’s Daughter-in-law

Printable Version 

Muffins

2 ripe bananas, peeled

1 egg

¾ cup sugar

¼ cup vegetable oil

2 tsp. orange peel

2 cups flour

1 ½ tablespoons poppy seeds

2 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

Orange Glaze

1 ¼ cup powdered sugar

¼ cup orange juice

1 tsp. orange peel

1 tsp. vanilla

Mash bananas well. In a medium bowl, mix bananas, eggs, sugar, oil and peel. In large bowl, combine flour, seeds, baking powdered and salt; stir in banana mixture until well blended. Spoon batter into sprayed muffins tins (12) or into muffin tin with paper liners. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.  Set aside to cool. While barely warm, drizzle with orange glaze.

Hope you enjoy this recipe. If you make these delicious muffin, I would love to see them. Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Happy Baking!!!

Scrapbooks and Journals and Planners! Oh my! Part One: Project Life

Scrapbooking in some form or other has been a hobby of mine since my teen years. I remember seeing decorative scissors for the first time and completely falling in love. I was one of those people who cut my photographs into fancy shapes. All of my pictures from 1998 until 2003 have lovely ornamental edges :D

In 2008 I was perusing an issue of Creating Keepsakes Magazine and saw an advertisement for a scrapbook kit called Project 365. The premise was to take a picture a day to document everyday life.

I was immediately drawn to the sleek design and the divided page protectors. I always struggled where to place things on traditional scrapbook pages. The idea of being able to slip your photos and journaling into the pockets seemed simple and easy. The perfect way to document  life's little  moments, not just the birthdays, holidays and vacations.

During that first six months of that year I took a picture each day. Then life got busy and I slacked off. I am so glad that I have those six months, but I was a little disappointed that I didn't finish out the year.

In late 2012 Project 365, now called Project Life began to get really popular. The company was preparing to sell  kits in major retailers Michaels and Hobby Lobby in early 2013. Project Life was all over the scrapbooking blogs and message boards. I decided to give it another try. During 2013 I created a two page spread for each week, which filled up two 12 X 12 albums. I adore those albums and love looking back through them. The process of keeping up with a weekly layout was really overwhelming, as was the thought of storing two large albums each year.

In 2014 I began documenting life by the month. I didn't set a goal of how many pages I was going to do each month. I document what I want and when I want. Most of my photographs are from my phone. My albums are a glorious mishmash of Facebook status updates, tweets, memes, current world events, photos, and ephemera. Some months may have four photos and other months one-hundred and six. I am okay with this anything goes style.

Here are 15 Things I Document in my Project Life Album

1. Current Viral Phenomenon

Do you remember "THE DRESS" from last winter? I found  the pictures on Facebook and printed them out. I still have no idea how my husband only saw white and gold.

2. Fun Mail

Post cards, note cards, and thank-you cards go directly in. I don't bother adding them to a page protector.

3. Copies of Newspaper Clippings

4. Copies of Family Recipes

5.  Movie Posters

6. Books That I'm Currently Reading

7. Favorite Quotes

8. Day-in-the-Life

9. Internet Memes

10. Fun Packaging

11. Business Cards

12. Pictures of What I'm Pinning on Pinterest

13. New Recipes

14. Photo Challenges  

You have probably seen on Pinterest different photo-a-day challenges. Each day there is a photo prompt that is open to your own creative interpretation. .

15. Lists

Project Life is so versatile. At it's simplest form you can just add photos and journaling to the pockets and call yourself done. Add embellishments! Create cards using photo editing software Document your current life or tackle that box of photos that your Grandmother gave you. It's really up to you!

The most important part for me is that I have found a system to collects my photos and memories. My photos aren't just sitting in the "cloud" somewhere. My stories are being told. Everyone has a story to tell. How are you going to share yours? 



Want more information about Project Life? Here are a few links to get you started!

1.  Project Life-Discover the System 
2. Becky Higgins' Blog-The creator of Project Life
3.  Ali Edward Blog - A popular memory keeper and author
4. The Answers to All Your Project Life Questions-Fantastic post by blogger and artist  Elise Blaha Cripe
5. Catching Up on Project Life-How to Keep from Giving Up When You're Behind- post by Traci at Traci Reed Design
6. Project Life App-Available in the App Store. Coming February 2016 for Android.

5 Reasons Postcrossing Should Be Your New Hobby

Hobbies are my thing. Last month I sat down and made a list of my hobbies. Maybe I should have added "making lists," to my list of hobbies. I have always been a hobby girl. Friendship bracelets and journaling were among my first.

Back in January I discovered Postcrossing. You may wonder what that is! Postcrossing is a site that connects people who enjoy receiving fun mail in their postbox. The site boasts members from all over the world. Cards have arrived from Australia, Finland,Germany, Japan, China and many other countries. You send a postcard out and you receive a postcard back. 

 5 Reasons Why Postcrossing Should Be Your New Hobby

1. Receiving Something in the Mailbox Other Than Bills is Fun!

Do you remember the days when you would receive an actual handwritten letter in the mail? Times have changed. Communication now is primarily digital. The art of sending and receiving cards and letters has gone out of fashion. Warm birthday wishes are now made on Facebook rather than with a card. Bills and junk mail are what fill up most people's mailboxes these days. 

One of my favorite things about Postcrossing is having something besides the electric bill and sale flyers in my mailbox. It's a surprise. You never know when a sweet postcard will arrive.


2.  A Piece of the World Comes to your Doorstep. 

The constant stream of information coming at us can be overwhelming. You can have almost any question answered within seconds. With that uninterrupted flow we have lost a lot of our personal and tangible connections. 

Receiving an actual something from another part of the world is a tiny gift. You may find out the best place to visit in Krakow. Someone might share a unique recipe from Japan. Maybe you will hear about a popular book that people are reading in Germany. It is fascinating to find out brief tidbits of life from people all over the world. 

3. Share with Others About What Makes Your Location Unique

Kentucky is well known for horses and horse racing. Ale-8 is the most popular soda in my area, It also happens to be produced  a few towns away. Sharing what makes my area unique excellent part of Postcrossing. Find what makes your city interesting and share it with the world!

4. Let  Your Creative Juices Flow

When you receive the address of a random Postcrosser, your next step is to choose the perfect card to send. Along with the address you also receive a brief bio of the recipient. The biography usually includes possible suggestions of what kind of card to send. With that being said, you are more than welcome to send any card you will like.

Some people create mini pieces of art. I have seen beautiful collages, photography, and even a hand sewn masterpieces. Send your art out into the world. The possibility of having one of my photographs displayed in a home in Japan, Russia, or Indonesia excites me!

5. The Stamps

Other countries have some pretty interesting stamps. My favorite stamp is a lovely  multi-flowered stamp from Japan. You can see it in the picture below. Look at the breath taking colors. The stamps are an additional fun little surprise

Postcrossing is a great hobby. It doesn't require  many materials.You receive something tangible in return for your effort.  It's educational and would make a wonderful project to do together as a family.It's free to join the site. The only cost is postage and the price of a postcard if you choose to buy one.

What are some of your hobbies?