Oatmeal + Blueberry Muffins

SO these aren't vegan. Yea yea I know, I'm a terrible human bean, but my Lenten vows ended with Easter. While I still eat ~mostly vegan, I have been eating dairy in moderation. The # 1 perpetrator has been yogurt--Fage is whats up.

Anyways, these little muffs could be easily veganized used 1 egg replacer or even 1/2 a mashed up banana may work. Oatmeal is my favorite grain, I love everything about it. From the Quaker Oats Quaker to the lovely texture it provides, ahh splendid. Plus, the addition of ze oats makes these energy packed bundles of breakfast joy. This recipe is slightly modified, but 100% based off of: http://familyfriendsandfood.blogspot.com/2009/03/oatmeal-blueberry-muffins.html, a cute blog I found via Tastespotting. The only changes that I made were to use rice milk + 2 t of apple cider vinegar instead of buttermilk, 1/4 t cloves, and I added about 1 t of vanilla. If you like your muffins to be sweet, you should up the sugar, but I think they are perfect just the way they are :P

I will leave you with Donatello...the muffin that closely resembles a Ninja Turtle...

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Strarrrrberry Season

What to do when you buy 2 lbs. of strawberries with no intentions: CRISP, yo! You probably have all of the ingredients already, which is the best part. Or maybe the best part is that in the scheme of things, this really isn't that bad for yer healthz. The options are unlimited with this, I added an apple that was going to turn bad soon. Any other berries, pears, peaches, plums, etc. would also be really nice additions.

Supplies:

2 lbs. of strawberries, hulled & halved (you can use less if you're adding other fruits)
1/4 c maple syrup
1/2 c AP flour
1/2 c light brown sugar
1/2 c old fashioned oats
1/3 c earth balance
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t ginger



How to:

• Preheat to 350 degrees and mix the strawberries (+ other fruits, if you please) with the syrup in an ungreased 8x8 in. Pyrex-style glass pan.
• Mix together all the other ingredients in a medium bowl. You can use a fork, but its easier to just do it with your handiest tools (note: hands). Pinch the chunks o' EB with your fingers until its like bean sized.
  
• Sprinkle the crumbles on top of the fruit and bake for 40-45 minutes!

Once its cooled for about 10 minutes, serve it up with some nondairy ice cream or just be boring and healthy. I'm way into vanilla bean coconut milk ice cream these days. Take advantage of cheap seasonal fruits while you still can!!!!

SIDE NOTE: Why is it that many people refuse to pronounce the word strawberry as it is meant to be? I've found that my parents' generation loves to say "straRberry". Wack. Yet, not as wack as some of their other made up words such as "warshing machine".