Problem solved

I think I've found the solution to this miserable teething (aside from Motrin, yes we've bought stock).  I'm baking.  Muffins, to be specific.  Not that it helps Noah but it helps me focus my frustrations from dealing with a toddling, gnawing, biting, screeching, whining monkey-type creature all day.  So I present to you, my loyal (and beautiful) readers, recipes from my current muffin obsession. (My notes are in italics.)


Zucchini Bread (turned into muffins)
Recipe from my darling Aunt Norma 
Makes TWO (2) 9x5 loaf pans or as many muffin tins as you can fill


Ingredients
3 eggs
1 cup oil
2 cup sugar 
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 can crushed pineapple, well drained (I left this out because I didn't have it)
3 cups flour (I used whole wheat)
2 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 cup chopped pecans or dates (if you wish)


Instructions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare loaf pans or muffin tins with non-stick spray or liners.
2.Beat eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla until thick.  
3.Stir in remaining ingredients and mix well.  
4.Pour into loaf pans or muffin tins until 3/4 full.  
5.Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  (Note: I checked my muffins at 20 min just to make sure since they're smaller than the loaf pans.  Keep checking until you have a clean toothpick.) 
6.Cool and serve.


Banana Bread Muffins (called Banana Wee-Eat Germ Muffins)
Recipe from Weelicious


Ingredients
1 cup All Purpose Flour (I used whole wheat)
1 cup Wheat Germ (I used flax seed meal because that was what I had on hand and I think it turned out great and added nutrition...bonus!)
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt
3 Medium Very Ripe Bananas, mashed
1/2 cup Agave
3 tbsp Vegetable Oil
1 tbsp Vanilla
1 large Egg

Instructions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.Combine flour, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda, salt in a bowl.
3.In a standing mixer combine the 3 mashed bananas, agave, oil, vanilla and egg. Beat until combined. (I don't have a standing mixer so I used my hand mixer.)
4.Gently mix in the dry ingredients in 3 stages until just combined. Do not over-mix.
5.Grease or line muffin cups or mini loaf pans and fill 3/4 full with the mixture.
6.Bake 15 minutes for mini muffin cups, 20 for regular muffin cups or 25 minutes for mini loaf pans or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7.Cool and serve.



(I decided to try out this recipe in lieu of my darling Aunt Norma's because I wanted something I could give Noah without sending him up into the clouds on a sugar high (see Zucchini Bread and TWO CUPS OF SUGAR above).  The substitution of agave for sugar isn't entirely noticed in the final product as it's still sweet and delicious.  This Weelicious recipe is a formidable contender, but my Aunt's recipe still wins hands down.  Hers is below.)


Banana Bread 
Recipe from my darling Aunt Norma


1 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg, well beaten
1 cup mashed bananas (3 large bananas)
1 tsp vanilla
 1 2/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda mixed w/ 1 tbsp water


1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Prepare loaf pans or muffin tins with non-stick spray or liners. 
2.Mix together dry ingredients: sugar, flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, baking soda w/water.  Add in oil, egg, bananas, and vanilla. 
3.Mix well and pour into loaf pans or muffin tins until 3/4 full.
4.Bake at 375 degrees for 30 min or until toothpick comes out clean.
5.Cool and serve.


Raspberry Applesauce Muffins
Recipe from Itty Bitty Bistro


Ingredients
1c. whole wheat flour
1c. rolled oats
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 c. brown sugar
1c. buttermilk
1/2 c. raspberry applesauce (the recipe used homemade but I subbed in store-bought berry applesauce)
1 egg

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 12 muffin tin with papers or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Stir in the oats.
3. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, buttermilk, raspberry applesauce and egg.
4. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir until JUST combined. Do not over stir.
5. Divide batter amongst muffin cups.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a muffin comes out clean. 
7.Cool and serve.


(Next time I would add some sugar or agave to these.  Maybe about a 1/2 cup.  As is, they come out a little blah for my taste.)


There you have it.  My solution to life's littlest problems.  Go forth and bake your hearts out my pretties.


(I have no idea why the spaces are so large in this post.  I'm not so sure if I like the new Blogger Editor if it does crap like that.)