chocolate chocolate chip muffins.

When did this become a food blog? I think it was sometime shortly after my first trimester ended.

Baby girl loves food.

As I've been trying to find ways to help us eat less processed foods, breakfast has remained my nemesis. We are by no means early birds (little boy included), so breakfast has taken shape in cereal bars, frozen waffles and bagels for a long time. Which aren't only not the healthiest, but not so cheap.

You probably know by now that I'm not a baker. I think it has something to do with my inability to follow directions and measurements. I rarely measure when I cook (I blame this on the part of my heritage that hails from Italy), so I've often translated that to baking. No good. But I've been determined to improve my handle on baked goods enough to, at least more than not, have something homemade ready in the morning for Nick to take on his way to work, and for the boy and I to eat as we're trying to wake up.

And, in my opinion, there's just something special about a homemade breakfast. It makes the morning a little more inviting.

These muffins have made my short list of both successes and repeats. Oh and as a warning, despite the name, these muffins aren't very sweet. Instead, they're pretty healthy. But the chocolate chips seem to keep the critics happy.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins

makes a dozen (recipe adapted from here)

Ingredients

1 3/4 cup white whole wheat flour

1/2 cup cane sugar

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup chocolate chips

2 whole eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 tsp. vanilla

Directions

Preheat oven to 400º and grease or place cupcake liners in muffin tins. In a large bowl mix together dry ingredients, set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together eggs and applesauce, then add and combine the rest of wet ingredients. Fold wet ingredients into dry, making sure not to over mix. 

Pour into prepared tins and sprinkle a few chocolate chips on top of each. Bake for 18-20 minutes.

Enjoy!

love.

[mostly] healthy banana bread.

i'm excited to share this one with you. we've been making it for months and it's become a staple in this little house. bonus? it's good for you! it doesn't have barely has any sugar, it's whole wheat, & there's no oil.

but don't worry. it's really good (read: my husband eats & and likes it, despite it's healthiness). although, he was the reason for the adding the chocolate chips.

*see below for two variations.

(mostly) healthy banana bread
---
ingredients
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
small handful of semi-sweet chocolate chips (hence the mostly healthy)
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2-2/3 cup honey (i usually do somewhere in the middle)
2 eggs, beaten
4 overripe bananas, mashed, though 3 will work if they're really large.

directions
1. preheat oven to 350º.

2. grease 9x5 loaf pan, set aside.

3. in a large mixing bowl, combine whole wheat flour, baking soda, salt & chocolate chips.

4. in a medium bowl, add applesauce & honey. stir till combined. then, stir in eggs & mashed bananas.

5. add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir just until moistened. try not to over mix.

6. dump into loaf pan & bake for 50-55 minutes.

*here are two variations that are both great. it just depends on how healthy you're wanting it.

1. healthier banana bread: use 1 cup whole wheat, 1 cup white whole wheat, forgo chocolate chips & adjust honey to 2/3 cup.

2. healthiest banana bread: forgo chocolate chips & adjust honey to a little less than 3/4 cup.

then, you eat it. and probably go back for another piece. enjoy!

love.