Whole-Wheat Zucchini Muffins

Being an alone mom doesn't allow me the opportunity to be a "gymie."  I don't frequent a gym regulary, I don't have the tonest body.  I might sneak a short run here and there but I really rely on good eating habits to maintain a slender figure and not over-indulging in sweets when in fact my mouth is screaming and protesting for them.  70% of health and figure comes from your diet and what you fill yourself with.  Choosing whole wheat vs white flour is huge for me because I LOVE carbs.  I could inhale a whole fresh loaf of bread from the bakery with a side of oil and seasonings... easily.  But that is bad Ryan, very bad. 

 

I am also incredibly lucky to have a healthy eater on my hands.  I can't name many small kids who could sit and chow on veggies at any given time.  Our apartment is usually stocked with healthier foods and snacks.  I found this great recipe from Lisa at 100 Days of Real Food.  Now I can't go so far to cut out processed foods and eat strictly organic foods (real talk, that ish adds up $$) but every once in a while I try one of her recipes for Abs and I.  They were delicious (as I drop crumbs in my keyboard) and we even had some leftover to freeze to include in lunchboxes and defrost for breakfast on the side of eggies!    Enjoy!!

Whole-Wheat Zucchini Muffins
adapted from 100 Days of Real Food

 

Ingredients

3 cups whole-wheat flour (I used King Arthur's whole-wheat flour)

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 eggs

3/4 oil

1/2 cup honey

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups grated zucchini (I only have a small grater so mine was almost like pureed zucchini.  This is OK)

 

 

 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F for muffins, 300 degrees for small loan pan.

2. Blend the dry ingredients.

3. Make a well (or hole) in the center and pour in the eggs, oil, honey, and vanilla.  Stir until well mixed- don't overmix. 

4. Fold in the zucchini.  Pour batter into greased muffin tin or cupcake liners, and bake until toothpick comes out clean. 

        -For muffins 15-20 minutes

        -For small loaf pans 30-40 minutes





Sight Words

With Abs just turning 4, a lot of preparations have begun in our life.  Chore charts, attempting new sets of rules, and more importantly... the beginning of VPK.  She currently attends preschool which is hosting a parent/student VPK meeting this weekend.  We'll get to see curriculum, meet the new teachers and new classrooms while the kids are off in bounce houses and thinking VPK is the next best thing since cheese puffs.  I've been contemplating switching her schools for VPK but that's a lot of decision-making and prayers to the big man about what's best for my little family that'll wait till later.  For now, I've jumped on board with preparations. 

Since VPK is essentially mandatory these days, I looked up some criteria students must meet in order to enter kindergarten.  Crazy to think, it's like my college admission days all over again! Sight words to a 4 year old is like SAT's to an 18 year old.  But who honestly wants to sit and study with a 4 year old?  Sounds like a tortuous evening for her and I.  So let's play a game!  It's a simple game and can be brought anywhere.  Just slip into a ziplock baggie and can be played while in the doctor's office for 15 minutes of learning time. 

I started with 2 packs of ping pong balls bought at the dollar store.

Add your sight words with a sharpie and there you have it!  It took less than 5 minutes to do and she loves it.  We sit far apart enough that she can either roll or throw (guess which one she chooses), and I'll ask her to throw the word "big" to me, throw the word "up" to me.  I'll even ask a more critical question and to throw the ball with up's opposite.  She throws me "down" and I think I've just bred a prodigy!  

And the whole thing cost me $2!  What are some other great sight word games you have?  I'm curious to know!!

xo,

Ry 

Welcome to 24ish, the mind of a 24ish "alone" mom!  I'm so happy you've stopped by.  Instead of ranting on about things that make me so great (of course, duh!), I simply self answered some of my own questions and thought it would be a great kick off into the blog you're about to submerse yourself into. 

1. What is 24ish about?

-Great question! I have been toying with the notion of diving into the blogsphere for some time now.  Recently, a coworker of mine and I were talking about how great these women are that establish an incredible blog and group of followers and what they are able to accomplish.  After some encouraging words, I decided why not? Why wait?!  Make it a month-old-resolution and start the process.  Anyone who knows me (and you'll soon learn), that I'm a tad afraid of embarrassment.  Not the kind of embarrassment of dancing goofy in the streets with your kid but I didn't want to just open a blog and not have an idea already backed up of what I can talk about, who would ever want to listen to me anyway, what makes my blog so different, and will this end in a failure, a complete waste of time.  So I did a little research.  Many topics I searched presented the fact you should narrow your blog down to one specific idea.  If it's makeup, take it and run with every cosmetic product I know.  If it's fitness, focus solely on the world of health; workouts, nutrition, etc.  Well my world is so spread out that I'm breaking the "blog rules."  Yay for rebel me!  This blog is going to be one gnormous melting pot mesh.  Afterall, 24ish is about the world of me.  I am an "alone" mom, a full-time student at USF, I have a full-time job as a receptionist while attending school, and recently a blogger.  Anything that helps my life stay organized, helpful hints, fun crafts/diy, or recipes that bring my daughter and I together at the dinner table will be posted.  

2. What is an "alone mom?" 

-It's a single mom with a boyfriend. The boy isn't Abigail's dad but he has been in our lives for 2 wonderful years.  Our situation is a tad different and unconventional but it works for us, for now.  Everything else that falls under the single mom category, I handle.  Single parent income, single parent hours, single parent discipline, the list goes on.  And I wouldn't change a day without her.  Plus I get to have a date night every couple weeks with the boy. 

3.  What makes your blog different?

-Along with the research of topics and blog ideas, I came across a great message from this lovely lady; Dinner: A Love Story.  She inspired anyone to write and it wouldn't matter if the subject you were writting about had already been done 600 times, make it your own and tell it from your own eyes.  Besides, what other 24 year old, full-time lifer and mother do you know with her own blog?  And if you dom GREAT!! Send her info to me =))).  The greater the subscriptions, the greater our blogs will be!  (ha see how I am learning about networking and connections...sneaky sneaky)

4.  What are you going to school for?

-I attend the University of South Florida (Gooo Bulls!) as a secondary English/Lit education major.  Middle to high schoolers and in the English/Literatary department.  I have always leaned more towards 10th graders but slowly opening my horizan to hormonal smelly pre teens.  Hey, somebody's gotta do it!  Also, inside secret.... I'd much rather teach at innercity, Title 1 schools vs. North county, richy rich schools.... oops did I say that outloud?  The reward is much greater and the satisfaction at the end of the day fullfills my life.  I truly believe regardless of race and socioeconomic status that all students should receive the same quality instruction.  Being pushed to the back of the campus, forgotten about, and stuck with burnt out teachers doesn't help anyone.  Can I get an amen!?  AMEN! 

5.  Is she ever going to shut up? I promise, not all posts will be this long.  This is my first woohaa.  

6.  Lastly, enjoy and take into consideration my life is largely based on the "wing it" theory.  Hardly anything is planned in advance and is to be taken as such.  I'm doing the best I can with what I've got.  Comment love is ALWAYS and continously appreicated.  

xo,

Ry