Blueberry Walnut Muffin Recipe

Gabriel has been asking for some cupcake so I decided to make some blueberry muffins and call it "cupcake". I came across this recipe from PCC's website and I found with a few tweaks, the muffins are really moist and yummy. I was going to make it gluten free but I don't have any gluten free flours at home so I just used whole wheat pastry flour.
Here's the original recipe http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/pcc/recipes/double-apple-spice-muffins and below is the tweaked recipe.

• 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup applesauce
• 1/3 cup butter/ coconut oil mix
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/3 cup organic coconut palm sugar (unrefined, pure)
• 3/4 cup frozen blueberries
• 1/2 cup pecans

Preparations:

Preheat oven to 350° F.
In a large bowl, combine flour blend, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and cardamom.
In a smaller bowl, whisk together eggs, applesauce, oil, soy milk, vanilla and brown sugar. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients and stir to combine. Let sit 5 minutes.
Gently stir in apples and walnuts, if desired. Line a muffin tin with parchment liners or grease well. Fill each muffin cup about 2/3 full.
Bake 18 to 22 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Remove muffins from tin and cool on a rack.

Result:
I love it! Gabe loves it too. The muffins came out very moist, lightly sweet and super yummy!

Review for Book title Desperate - Hope for the mom who needs to breathe by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson

Book Description

"I just can't be a mother today."

These words have been whispered to God in quiet desperation by mothers who love their children to the depths of their soul, but who are struggling with how hard motherhood is.

Motherhood turns you inside out. Sometimes you feel overwhelmed by how tired you feel; the days go on and on, and you want to be a "good" mom, but you feel like a failure so much of the time. What happened to all your ideals? When did you end up feeling so...lost?

Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson have been to the edge and back. Desperate is the story of one young mother’s trials and one experienced mentor’s priceless exhortations. Desperate is not a book about despair, nor is it a rule-laden mothering manual. It is a bouquet from a friend who has been there, reminding us that we are not alone. Sarah Mae’s unvarnished account of her own struggles mothering three feisty young children is a lesson in learning patience, loving idiosyncrasies, accepting help, and—most of all—leaning on God.

Each chapter includes a brief Bible study with journal exercises to help you find your own quiet center, and get you back into the fray soul-filled and refreshed. Written with candor, empathy, and faith, Desperate is like coffee with a trusted girlfriend; one who knows how hard being a mother can be, and how to navigate the often turbulent road.

This book has been helpful to me. First of all, before I became a mother, I had an ideal expectation much like Sarah Mae's. I pictured myself being so in love with my baby, taking care of the house chores well that my house would look sparkling clean and my baby never cried, that I won't be depressed but happy all the time. Fast forward a few years and a couple kids later, that isn't the reality. I struggle with responsibilities of  being a mommy. It is truly hard work. No kidding!

All the topics being discussed in the book really helped me with my struggle of being a stay home mommy cope with her day. I especially like chapter 3 which Sarah Mae discussed about physical discipline which didn't work with her daughter and made her son angry. I initially thought that one size fits all - only and only physical discipline will work towards teaching the toddler to obey; However, consider other method of discipline. Sally Clarkson reminds again and again....that formula doesn't work. We need to lay down our kids at the foot of the cross. I really like how she constantly reminds mamas to depend on Jesus for everything in life. By constantly coming to Him, I can trust Jesus that He'll make everything OK despite my shortcomings.

The questions at the back of each chapter to help with breaking down the issue into "bite sizes" so I can work towards resolving it. In addition, both Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson wrote on their blogs. Sarah Mae wrote her struggles while Sally Clarkson wrote encouragement and bible verses. This is so helpful to read. I usually go visit their sites on tuesdays and thursdays.

This book is like a comforting mentor who come along side of me to acknowledge that mothering really is hard but you are not alone. Other mothers go thru the same things and God will always there to help you if you are willing to give Him your burden.
Definitely a highly recommended especially for a new mom who doesn't know what to expect with life after baby.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for posting the author’s interview and/or book review on my blog.

This is my first time reading a book by Rev. Billy Graham. This book is a thick book of 387 pages of quotes, divided into different topics. When reading a specific title, for example on "time"....I can just read a quote and think about it. I feel like through this quotes, which have their base on the scripture, God's words are spoken. And thru reading a quote, I can get convicted and pray over whatever thoughts I have from reading it.
For example, Billy Graham's quote "Life is short; none of us knows how long we have. Live each day as if it were your last - for someday it will be." convicted me on my use of time to really embrace relationships, do what matters for eternity and to live each day to the fullest. Another quote "Only God Himself fully appreciates the influence of a Christian mother in the molding of character in her children" on Parents encourages me whenever I feel like it is too hard to teach or discipline my kid. A quote of prayer "Prayer is more than a plea, it is a place where we must spend time if we are to learn its power." is an encouragement for me to keep on praying, to spend my precious time on to be able to learn its power. 
Reading a quote or two may not replace reading the bible or listening to a sermon but it can be a simple reminder on a specific topic or an encouragement.

Book Description

A note from Franklin Graham: "My father, Billy Graham, is known for speaking out about the one and only thing that matters in this world: the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He remembers the call of God seven decades ago to preach the Word of God to all those who would listen about salvation that comes only through Christ. He took this high calling with seriousness and boldness in obedience to God and once said, 'I will travel anywhere in the world to preach if there are no strings on what I am to say.'
"My father has always prayed that his words would reflect God’s standard of truth as the basis to claim, 'I have given them Your word' (John 17:14). In this book, I believe you will see that he has faithfully spoken God’s Word that quenches the thirst of those seeking to draw from the wellsprings of Life. It is highly meaningful to see these statements now collected in one volume."
Drawn from an unparelleled collection of both personal and published works, Billy Graham provides input on more than one hundred topics, such as suffering, joy, money, addictions, peace, and many more.
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.