Tasty Tuesdays: Must Try Donut Muffins

Photo and Recipe Courtesy of The Pioneer Woman

I cannot believe it, but Jane starts school on Thursday.  She will be going twice a week for a full day, and to introduce her to her class, I took her to The Purple Room's Halloween party this morning.  I was asked to bring muffins, and I was so excited because I finally had a reason to make the donut muffins that I had seen on Pinterest a few weeks back. 

These are AMAZING!!!!!  They will be my go-to breakfast treat from now on.  I was planning to make monkey bread for a baby shower brunch I am hosting, but these were so tasty and so easy to do, that I've altered the menu.  Who doesn't love the combination of cake donuts and cinnamon sugar?!?!

FOR THE MUFFINS:
1-¾ cup Flour
1-½ teaspoon Baking Powder
½ teaspoons Salt
½ teaspoons Nutmeg ( I reduced this to 1/4 tsp)
½ teaspoons Cinnamon
⅓ cups Oil
¾ cups White Sugar
1 whole Egg
¾ cups Milk (I used skim and they came out great)

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FOR THE TOPPING:

¼ cups Butter

⅓ cups White Sugar

1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

Preparation Instructions

Brush muffin tin with melted butter.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon.


Separately, combine oil, sugar, egg and milk. Add dry ingredients to wet and stir only to combine.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a bowl. Combine the white sugar with the cinnamon in another bowl.

Shake muffins out while still hot. Dip muffins in butter, then into the sugar/cinnamon mix. Let cool.

PS - If you're in the New Orleans area and are looking for fun date night ideas, check out my New Orleans Moms Blog post today!!  Click HERE!

October Weekend in New Orleans

This was one of those rare weekends where we didn't have drill, or call, or showers, or parties to go to.  We love those things, don't get me wrong, but sometimes a weekend free to take in all that New Orleans has to offer is just what we need.

Saturday morning, we put our little pumpkin in her Halloween costume and went to our neighborhood pumpkin patch.  It's the one on Octavia and Jefferson at the First Presbyterian Church.  The volunteers couldn't have been sweeter to us as we took our time exploring pumpkins and scarecrows and haystacks.  All of the proceeds go to their amazing programs!

After enjoying the pumpkins, we spent the afternoon at the Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival.  Jane loves dancing to music, so she was in heaven all day.  

This is how she feels about 88 degree weather in October!

Have you picked up your pumpkins yet?

Friday's Favorite Pins: When Life Gives You Lemons

Last night, I saw the very last image I posted, and it immediately brought a smile to my face.  Yellow has a way of doing that, doesn't it?  It's bright and cheerful and reminds me of lemonade on a warm spring day.  Here's a few pins that bought a little shineshine my way.  I hope they do the same for you on this fall Friday!

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I Spy a Bachelorette Party

Well, the last of the pre-wedding festivities have taken place. 

The sleepover on Friday didn't exactly go as planned.  It was a lovely time for all until Jane decided that, while she was more tired than she has ever been, she didn't want to be the first girl asleep.  I think she was afraid she'd get her diapers put in the freezer =)!  Mark had to come and get her, and I had to make a quick exit around midnight when one of his patients was ready to deliver.  

Saturday, the tea shower was lovely, and it was so m=nice to shower my sis with lots of love and well wishes.

By the time the bachelorette festivities rolled around, we were all ready to have a big night out in the Quarter.  Stephanie had decided that she didn't want the traditional bachelorette garb.  So, her best friend devised an adorable plan to send her on magical mystery tour of her favorite French Quarter bar.  She had a bejeweled detective kit including a hat, pipe, and magnifying glass.

The clues led us to Pat O's to start.  Here's one of the bride and me.

Here's one of her team of detectives!  Our clues led us from Pat O's to Jean Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, Cat's Meow, and the Gold Mine.  It was such a fantastic night.  While my dancing shoes were killing my by 3:00 am, I have to brag and say that this momma's still got it!

Sunday was indeed a day of rest.  Jane took a wonderful morning nap which helped me recover from a night of debauchery.  To celebrate the amazing weather we had yesterday, Mark and I walked her to the park where she enjoyed a swing ride.  If I had to define happiness, it would be a fall day with my family in the park.  Oh, the memories we are making!



PS - Things in New Orleans are looking up after that Saints victory last night.  Here's to Drew Brees for breaking yet another NFL record.  Couldn't happen to a better man!

October Showers Bring November Weddings

My baby sister's wedding is officially one month away.  I cannot believe how quickly it has come.  As her bridesmaids, we are packing as much wedding fun into this weekend as possible.  Tonight, we are staring things off with an old school sleepover.  It'll be filled with nail polish and magazines and silly stories.  Tomorrow, I'm getting up early to make everyone breakfast.  We will have her tea shower in the afternoon followed by a night out in the French Quarter.  Whew!  I'm pooped already.

I spent last night making favors/place cards for the tea.  I knew I wanted something feminine and very tasty. 

I found these Martha Stewart gift bags at Michael's and thought they'd be just the right size to place on tables as a combination favor and place card. 

I had originally planned to find a "gift tag" shaped paper cutter to creat my own "tea tags" to use to close the favor bags.  These would also be used to state the name of the attendee and the table they are assigned to.  When I scoured the scrapbooking aisle, I found these beautiful Martha Stewart gift tags already made.  Skipped several steps for me!  Woohoo!  They were so pretty and they looked just like tea tags!

The finished product came out just how I pictured it in my head.  Each bag is filled with scrumption tea cookies.  You can find my recipe for pecan sandies HERE.

Each table has been assigned a different tea flavor.  We have a Chamomile, Earl Grey, Orange Spice, Peppermint, and English Breakfast table.  Below are the table markers I made using scrapbook paper that matches the place cards.  They will be inserted into floral picks in the centerpieces. 

I have to admit, I'm sort of all crafted out!  I never thought I'd say those words!

Today's a Big Day!

Today, I will be going with one of our directors on my very first client proposal.  Eeeekkk!!!  I've got my best suit on, my C Loubs nice and polished, and my mind focused and ready.  It's exciting and totally scary all at the same time. 

I keep thinking to myself, I hope I can remain calm and not find myself shaking in my boots!  That thought leads me to think about boots, which reminds me that I needed to show yall a picture of the FABULOUS booties I bought the other day.  I don't often splurge on shoes.  To be honest, I think the last pair of shoes I bought were my C Loubs back in January.  These were a splurge, but how could I pass them up!

Badgley Mischka Mysti Booties

After work today, I will be heading to the Mannings (yes, the parents of Cooper, Peyton, and Eli) for my first Zoo-to-Do Auction Committee meeting.  I am so excited to be a part of this amazing annual event. 

It's a big day for my prima ballerina too!  Jane has her third music class today.  She and my dad have so much fun playing instruments (Jane apparently prefers to eat them) and dancing at Miss Lala's Music Together Nola.

Hope you're finding a way to make this hump day extra special!