What a week this has been. My mind is weary and my body is tired. Grief has a strange way of seeping out. I've cried many tears over the past few days. Tears of fear, of sadness, of anger, of hope, of comfort. A wide range of emotions that leaves the body and the soul in need of deep and lasting restoration.
My sister is not doing well. She is unresponsive and her cat-scan shows no signs of improvement. My family will be making a decision at the end of the week. Pam made it very clear about what she would want if a situation like this occurred...but it doesn't make the process any less painful.
I woke up this morning and turned through the pages of my bible. The words were a balm to my bleeding soul. I know that not all of you are religious, but I think we can all agree that there is power in quiet reflection and prayer.
I don't begin to pretend that I know or understand the mind of the divine. In many senses, this tragedy seems unexplainable. But in the morning hours, with the sun gently streaming in through my blinds, I felt a sense of purpose fall on my shoulders. A purpose to comfort those that mourn with a gentle and present love.
Some wise man once said that in order to find our true calling, we have to dwell deeply in our own wounds. I am dwelling there now, and I am beginning to reexamine my life.
Thank you for all of your love and support. It washes over me like cool waters on an unbearably hot day. The gifts, the letters, the food, the messages...they all remind me that we are in this together, one achingly beautiful and frightening step at a time.
Chef Dennis, one of my most favorite bloggers, generously wrote this post for me. Please take the time to visit his blog and to bask in his warmth and creativity. He is a true treasure.
My sister is not doing well. She is unresponsive and her cat-scan shows no signs of improvement. My family will be making a decision at the end of the week. Pam made it very clear about what she would want if a situation like this occurred...but it doesn't make the process any less painful.
I woke up this morning and turned through the pages of my bible. The words were a balm to my bleeding soul. I know that not all of you are religious, but I think we can all agree that there is power in quiet reflection and prayer.
I don't begin to pretend that I know or understand the mind of the divine. In many senses, this tragedy seems unexplainable. But in the morning hours, with the sun gently streaming in through my blinds, I felt a sense of purpose fall on my shoulders. A purpose to comfort those that mourn with a gentle and present love.
Some wise man once said that in order to find our true calling, we have to dwell deeply in our own wounds. I am dwelling there now, and I am beginning to reexamine my life.
Thank you for all of your love and support. It washes over me like cool waters on an unbearably hot day. The gifts, the letters, the food, the messages...they all remind me that we are in this together, one achingly beautiful and frightening step at a time.
Chef Dennis, one of my most favorite bloggers, generously wrote this post for me. Please take the time to visit his blog and to bask in his warmth and creativity. He is a true treasure.
Hi to all of Monet’s readers, I’m Chef Dennis from More Than A Mount Full, and I will be your guest host today at Anecdotes and Apple Cores. For those of you that know me, you know just how important community is to me. When Brian contacted me about helping our friend Monet, there was nothing to think about, the answer was of course, yes.
I have been blogging for just a little over a year, and early in my career as a blogger Monet and I found each other, and I am so thankful that we did. When I started blogging I had no idea that it would come to mean so much to me……that I would have friends all over the world, people that I truly cared about, people that I felt fortunate to know and to call friend. Monet is one of those special people, her life has been anything but easy over this last year, and still week after week I see that smiling face, and read those heartfelt words on her page. Monet is quite the story teller, and I know one day I will hold her novel in my hands…..It won’t be an E-book, because I will want it autographed and each time I read it I want to be able to hold her book to my heart.
Monet for all you have given us, and all that you are, we love you. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers always. Ryan, I have no doubts you will, but please take extra good care of our girl.
Now before I start crying let’s get on with the post! In the spirit of Anecdotes and Apple Core’s I had to bake something….sigh…..try as hard as I may, I am not as talented baker a baker as Monet. Oh I do have my days when I manage to come up with something drool worthy, but my creations pale in comparison to all of the lovely treats that Monet tempts us with regularly on her blog.
I have been blogging for just a little over a year, and early in my career as a blogger Monet and I found each other, and I am so thankful that we did. When I started blogging I had no idea that it would come to mean so much to me……that I would have friends all over the world, people that I truly cared about, people that I felt fortunate to know and to call friend. Monet is one of those special people, her life has been anything but easy over this last year, and still week after week I see that smiling face, and read those heartfelt words on her page. Monet is quite the story teller, and I know one day I will hold her novel in my hands…..It won’t be an E-book, because I will want it autographed and each time I read it I want to be able to hold her book to my heart.
Monet for all you have given us, and all that you are, we love you. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers always. Ryan, I have no doubts you will, but please take extra good care of our girl.
Now before I start crying let’s get on with the post! In the spirit of Anecdotes and Apple Core’s I had to bake something….sigh…..try as hard as I may, I am not as talented baker a baker as Monet. Oh I do have my days when I manage to come up with something drool worthy, but my creations pale in comparison to all of the lovely treats that Monet tempts us with regularly on her blog.
What I have made today is my go to Muffin recipe; it never fails me no matter what I do to it. My new love is Chobani Yogurt, and I have been experimenting with the flavors instead of just plain. My wife favorite flavor is pineapple, and as luck would have it not only did I have Pineapple Cho, but also a fresh pineapple. I always have blueberries on hand and thought that would make an interesting combination ( I also wanted some color in those muffins!)
I also had some lovely Cinnamon Pecans that a good friend had sent me and thought it would make a nice topping to these muffins. Well let me tell you, I was right! The muffin was so moist and tender in just about melted in your mouth. The sweetness of the pineapple with the tart blueberries was a wonderful flavor combination, and the light cinnamon and crunch of the pecans just sent me into muffin heaven….sigh
Really it was that good! If your looking for a good muffin recipe look no further, and if you do try it, please give Chobani a try, I’m sure you will love baking with it!
Thanks for stopping by today and for putting up with the old chef, when you were expecting Monet. Keep your loved ones close, and have a good week my friends.
I also had some lovely Cinnamon Pecans that a good friend had sent me and thought it would make a nice topping to these muffins. Well let me tell you, I was right! The muffin was so moist and tender in just about melted in your mouth. The sweetness of the pineapple with the tart blueberries was a wonderful flavor combination, and the light cinnamon and crunch of the pecans just sent me into muffin heaven….sigh
Really it was that good! If your looking for a good muffin recipe look no further, and if you do try it, please give Chobani a try, I’m sure you will love baking with it!
Thanks for stopping by today and for putting up with the old chef, when you were expecting Monet. Keep your loved ones close, and have a good week my friends.
Pineapple-Blueberry Muffins
1½ Cup of All Purpose Flour
½ Cup Sugar
½ Teaspoon Salt
½ Teaspoon Baking Powder
½ Teaspoon Baking Soda
½ Cup Chobani Low Fat Greek Yogurt
½ Cup Oil
2 Large Eggs
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
1 Lemon Zest(grated) and a good squeeze of juice
1 Cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
2 Cups) fresh pineapple cut in small chunks
½ cup Cinnamon sugar pecans pieces for topping
Mix all your dry ingredients together in one bowl.
Lightly beat the eggs and add in the Chobani Yogurt, oil, vanilla, lemon zest, and juice from the lemon. Mix all these ingredients until well blended.
Add wet mixture to dry mixture and mix just enough to blend.
Now fold in the blueberries and Pineapple into the muffin mix. (do not over mix; it will make the muffins tough)
This will yield 6 large muffins or 12 small muffins
Sprinkle tops the cinnamon sugar pecan pieces and bake for 25-30 minutes at 375 degrees until the tops are golden brown.
If you’re not lucky enough to be able to find cinnamon pecans, just chop them up into small pieces, and place them in a hot frying pan with 1 teaspoon of sugar and a ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and toss well. Do not allow the pecans to burn; you just want to incorporate the sugar and cinnamon.
1½ Cup of All Purpose Flour
½ Cup Sugar
½ Teaspoon Salt
½ Teaspoon Baking Powder
½ Teaspoon Baking Soda
½ Cup Chobani Low Fat Greek Yogurt
½ Cup Oil
2 Large Eggs
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
1 Lemon Zest(grated) and a good squeeze of juice
1 Cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
2 Cups) fresh pineapple cut in small chunks
½ cup Cinnamon sugar pecans pieces for topping
Mix all your dry ingredients together in one bowl.
Lightly beat the eggs and add in the Chobani Yogurt, oil, vanilla, lemon zest, and juice from the lemon. Mix all these ingredients until well blended.
Add wet mixture to dry mixture and mix just enough to blend.
Now fold in the blueberries and Pineapple into the muffin mix. (do not over mix; it will make the muffins tough)
This will yield 6 large muffins or 12 small muffins
Sprinkle tops the cinnamon sugar pecan pieces and bake for 25-30 minutes at 375 degrees until the tops are golden brown.
If you’re not lucky enough to be able to find cinnamon pecans, just chop them up into small pieces, and place them in a hot frying pan with 1 teaspoon of sugar and a ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and toss well. Do not allow the pecans to burn; you just want to incorporate the sugar and cinnamon.
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