Chocolate Chip Muffins

Hi!

I loooove IKEA. Really, I do. There is no better place to find frozen yogurt :) Kidding aside, on a quick trip there this past weekend, I snagged a pair of their oh-so FUN muffin/cupcake liners. Isn’t that the best excuse to make a batch of Chocolate Chip Muffins? They are exactly like the classic Chocolate Chip Cookies, but these you can have for a breakfast treat. This recipe makes moist muffins, and they’re not too sweet. With a hint of chocolate, this is not a muffin for cocoa lovers. If you want to make a batch with more chocolate, try replacing the two tablespoons of flour with cocoa powder, as the original recipe calls for.

I tried something a bit different with the pictures today. Black and white are a refreshing change, yes?

Chocolate Chip Muffins Adapted from Nigella Lawson

ingredients

• 1 1/4 plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 3/4 to 1 cup mini chocolate chips {The regular size is fine, but I prefer to use mini chocolate chips for this specific recipe.}

to make

1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
2. Put the flours, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar in a large bowl.
3. Place the milk, oil, and the egg in a liquid measuring cup.
4. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients, and combine with a wooden spoon.
5. Stir in the chocolate chips. Do not over mix; a few lumps are perfectly normal, and actually make better muffins!
6. Grease a muffin pan, or use your fun liners :)
7. Spoon about 1/3 cup of batter into each cup, filling it 3/4 the way full.
8. Bake for 20 minutes.
9. Let cool in pan before transferring to a wire rack.
10. Delicious!

Bella :)

The Secret World of Arrietty

Hello!

The Secret World of Arrietty {2012}

Stars:

• Bridgit Mendler
• David Henrie
• Amy Poehler
• Will Arnett
• Moises Arias
• Carol Burnett

Summary: The Clock family cooks, cleans, plays, works, just like any other family. There is only one teeny-tiny exception – they are only four inches tall. Living in the floors and walls of a suburban garden home, Pod {Arnett}, Homily {Poehler}, and Arrietty {Mendler} “borrow” what they need from the Beans, or humans. They only take small amounts, nothing the homeowner and housekeeper {Burnett} would notice was missing. For example, a sugar cube, a tissue, maybe even a needle! When Shawn {Henrie}, the homeowner’s nephew, comes to the house for some peace and quiet, he stumbles upon “the little people.” He and Arrietty have a rocky start, but they soon become good friends. However, not everyone believes that the Borrowers mean no harm. The housekeeper, Hara, would rather have Arrietty and her family caught. Will they be able to escape from Hara with Shawn’s help?

My Thoughts: The Secret World of Arrietty is adorable and oh-so sweet! It is definitely not action-packed, but I liked the “quietness” of the plot. I did not expect it to keep my interest for the entire movie, but to my surprise, I was engaged right until the very end! Arrietty was a fabulously developed character, and combined with Mendler’s acting, she was one memorable main character. Her doubtful personality added a sense of realism to Arrietty, despite her petite size ;) Homily was perfect as the comic relief, and I thought that casting Amy Poehler to play the mom was a great decision. Pod was a quiet man, and he kept to himself, but he always acted well under pressure and panic, and he seemed like a good dad. Another good move casting wise was hiring David Henrie to play Shawn. I loved him {as well as Selena and Jake} in Wizards of Waverly Place, but now that the show has ended, he must want to branch out into other roles. Shawn and Arrietty were an unlikely pair, but their scenes together were the best. {especially the ending!} I found Hara hilarious, but I also hated her for disliking the Borrowers. I guess it was a love/hate thing. The animation was gorgeous! It was clear and the movement wasn’t choppy. Anyhoo, The Secret World of Arrietty took a terrific novel and made it into an outstanding movie!

Pros: Great casting, a sweet plot, fairly developed characters.

Cons: The movie has little action, but whether that’s a con or not depends on your preference. I didn’t mind it at all!

Heads Up: Nothing to be concerned about.

Overall: I give it 5 stars {*****} for a cute, family friendly movie that keeps the watcher interested. I recommend it for ages 8 and up. {Little kids probably wouldn’t last the whole movie.}

Bella :)

loving >> week 13

Hi!

*I published this on Friday, and my subscribers received the post, but for some reason, it didn’t appear on my home page! So, I am publishing it a second time, hoping that it will turn up. With that being said, I may pop in later this afternoon to talk about The Secret World of Arrietty. Thanks for understanding! B :)

I’m loving…

toms ballet flats

I have been eyeing these shoes for a while, so I jumped at the chance to buy them on Tuesday! TOMS are pretty popular at my school, so I knew I would cave in eventually, but I am SO happy that they released their ballet flats this month! They are very me, but they are still in style. It was the choice between natural {shown above} or chambray. Both were adorable, but I ended up deciding on the more natural of the two – the  natural pair. They are extremely comfortable, and fit perfectly in my spring transition wardrobe :)

the march/april issue of american girl magazine

It being the last full week of February, I was expecting my AG March/April issue this week! It finally came today, and it was worth the wait! It was jam-packed with plenty of quizzes. My favorite would have to be the “Which Raincoat Suits You?” or something of that sort. The article on the four American Girl fans around the world was interesting, and I enjoyed reading about how their new lives differ from their lives in the US. The article on how to make a raincoat and umbrella for your doll was adorable! Since April is coming up, I might have to make a pair for my dolls ;)

the oscars

I totally forgot that the Oscars are coming up on Sunday! This past year has had plenty of memorable movies and performances, and The Academy Awards celebrate everyone’s hard work. There are some outstanding nominees for categories like “Best Picture,” but I would love for Jane Erye to win in “Costume Design!” Speaking of which, I am also looking forward to seeing what the actresses will wear on Sunday. The dazzling dresses are always my favorite part!

the pretty pantone collection

While I was at the mall buying my new flats, my friend and I stopped into Bath and Body Works to make good use of their 5 for $5 deal on hand sanitizers. I needed to stock up on a couple of spring ones, considering I am still using one from Christmas! I chose Pop of Pink, and it is my new favorite scent. I also picked up Royal Purple for my sister because she LOVES purple. A lot. The bottle design is a different look for B&BW, but it was definitely eye-catching!

juicy couture’s “venice” eyeglasses

It has been a bit of a struggle, but I have finally accepted the fact that I need glasses. It is not all the time, only when I can’t see the board in class, but I have already chosen my glasses and bought a Vera Bradley glasses case :) I fell in love with this Juicy Couture pair this morning, and I think these will be the one! The color combination of lime green and a deep plum are fun, but not too over the top for me. And the added detail of the little high heel on the side just sold it for me. I actually smiled when I wore them. I think that is an improvement.

Hopefully this actually publishes this time. I have no clue what happened!

Bella :)

Mockingjay: A Book Review

Hello!

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

*Read on the Kindle

If you have never read Mockingjay, or are in the middle of reading it, I would suggest NOT reading the review because of the amount of spoilers ;) You have been warned.

Summary: The citizens of Panem have struggled for a long time. They have gone hungry for weeks, been tortured for nothing, and have had to live under the rule of President Snow. Now, they are declaring war against the Capitol, and the “rebels” won’t stop until they get what they want. Freedom. Living underground in District 13, Katniss had been chosen as the Mockingjay, the face of the revolution. She leads and inspire the people of Panem through propos and visits to the dilapidated districts. Although she may look calm and collected on camera, Katniss is close to breaking down. She is constantly worried about Peeta and his survival at Capitol, and she is unable to function on her own half the time! The rebels need her, but will Katniss be able to survive the war herself?

My Thoughts: I went into reading Mockingjay knowing that many fans of the first two books disliked it, but I didn’t think it was that bad. It has a much different focus, that’s for sure! This one is on the war, well the other two books are on the games. I thought Mockingjay was more depressing, especially with the amount of deaths and accidents. I actually didn’t mind Katniss at first, and then I began to dislike her, and now I can’t stand her! The Hunger Games shaped her into a negative and depressed woman, and she was never fully “there” in the book. Katniss was always crying, over thinking, doubting, or feeling bad for herself. Peeta wasn’t “real” in this one either. I miss the sweet, compassionate baker! Like Katniss, The Hunger Games shaped him into an unstable and depressing man. I hated that Collins killed my favorite characters off :( Why did Cinna, Boggs, Finnick, and Prim have to die? The author created a lot of flat, one-dimensional characters that were there for a few chapters, and then were killed off. I didn’t like the effect that it had on the story. The ending felt rushed, and it squeezed in the result of the Love Triangle in four pages. I know Katniss was going to end up with either Peeta and Gale, but I am really glad that she choose Peeta. I can’t wait for that part in the movie :) I think I am going to stop now, but overall, I was disappointed with the last book in the trilogy.

Pros: The writing was solid.

Cons: Flat characters, sad plot, and okay story developement.

Heads Up: War, violence, drinking.

Overall: I give it 3 stars {***} for a disappointing ending to a wonderful series. I recommend it for ages 12 and up.

To read my The Hunger Games review, click here.

To read my Catching Fire review, click here.

Bella :)

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Hi!

I don’t think you all know, but baking with me is kind of funny. Yesterday afternoon, my friend and I whipped up a batch of Double Chocolate Chip Cookies. In that time, we managed to spill cocoa powder over the counter and sink and dropped the box of butter on the floor countless times. But that is nothing compared to past recipes ;) That’s another story! Anyhoo, Double Chocolate Chip Cookies are basically Chocolate Chip Cookies with cocoa powder. That’s it. No secret ingredients, no fancy equipment. In fact, these are very similar to Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, with even more chocolate! Make sure to have a glass {or carton} of milk on hand. These cookies are very rich!

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Adapted from American Girl’s The Mix-It-Up Cookbook by Tracy McGuinness

ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips

to make

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat together butter, sugars, and egg.
3. Add flours, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
4. Stir in chocolate chips with a spoon.
5. Grease two baking sheets.
6. Using a tablespoon, scoop out dough and roll into balls. Drop into 4 rows of 3 on each baking sheet.
7. If your dough is soft, place in the fridge for 2 to 3 minutes.
8. Bake for 14 minutes, switching sheets halfway through.
9. While the cookies are baking, leftover dough can be put into a container and be put in the refrigerator.
10. Let cookies cool on sheets before transferring to a wire rack.
11. Yum!

What an episode last night! We had Karfosky’s suicide attempt, Sue’s announcement that she is pregnant, regionals {Is that capitalized?} and Quinn’s car accident that ended in a cliffhanger! Fortunately, Quinn seems to be alive in a spoiler photo, so that’s all good. I would hate for her to die :( I think that both Max Adler and Chris Colfer should win an award for their OUTstanding performance last night. Glee tackled a tricky subject, but they were able to pull it off. Sue is just Sue. Hopefully, we will actually be able to see her child! Regionals was a bit dull this year compared to past ones, but I <3 the numbers and seeing Sebastian’s soft side. We don’t even know if Rachel and Finn are getting married or not! And, of course, FOX decides to make us gleeks wait until April to find out. It’s madness, friends.

Did you catch Glee last night? Do you have any silly cooking stories? Do tell.

Bella :)