Try Some Double Chocolate Muffins!!

I wanted to use up some of the buttermilk I had in the fridge, so I just typed in buttermilk muffins, yummm, some chocolate muffins sounded good to me, actually double chocolate muffins!  It's an easy recipe and more than likely you have the ingredients on hand, well, maybe not the buttermilk, put it on y our grocery list!!  It's great for baking and homemade buttermilk pancakes are the best!   The recipe originally comes from Jen at Jen's Favorite Cookies.

1/2 c. vegetable oil, I used canola

1 c. buttermilk

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 c. white sugar

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. cocoa powder ( I didn't have any regular cocoa so I substituted the dark here, the only cocoa I buy now is a darker variety at Bulk Barn)

1/4 c. dark cocoa powder 

1 c. chocolate chips

Mix ingredients in order - how easy is that???

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.  Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes.  

Give them a try - I don't think you'll be disappointed!!!

Easter Swap Goodies are Here

I was so jealous of all the posts around Valentine's Day - so many people had taken part in the Valentine's Swaps, I said to myself, I am signing up for the next one and as soon as I read Sandy's news on her blog, 521 Lake Street, I didn't hesitate, I signed myself up!  We had to make a spoolie, using an old spool and decorating it any which way we wanted, but it had to be for Easter.  We were given our partner and that's when we started to get to know each other a little bit and figure out just what other goodies to include in the box.  My partner was Sally, her blog is Sally Annnie Magundy - pay her a visit, she's a sweetheart!

Today my package arrived, all the way from sunny California and was it a welcome sight , it's snowing in Ontario - please go away winter, you've been hanging around way too long.  I just wanted to dive right into the package, but time has to be taken to take the appropriate pictures and study everything closely.  The package was packed beautifully - it was just so pretty!  I give you warning, there are numerous pictures...

I will be keeping this and SMASHING it.

And this too...

Even the styrofoam peanuts are Easter like  - I took out the basket, ever so carefully and the two brightly wrapped gifts...

And, then there was more.....

This whole package was so much fun to open - it was just like Christmas!!

Buttons and charms inside - what fun!

Who can't use a bunny stamp?  I can!

Crocheted bunnies, bunny buttons, chip board basket, eggie stickers, a vintage card,  little yellow chicks - I am going to have a nice Easter page in my SMASH book!

These chicks are the softest - and there's bunnies too.

Finally, here is the main attraction of the whole swap and the package - the spoolie

Sally's Spoolie that she made for me -  the spools belonged to her grandmother - how nice that she used them for me and made such a special little Easter decoration - just everything about this screams cuteness!!

I placed him in the Easter basket,  look at the crepe paper ruffle she made for the basket.  Love it!  And, all that chocolate is going to taste really good too...

This has been such a fun experience, a bit nerve racking at times, it all worked out fine in the end,  thanks to Sally for such a fun box of goodies and thanks to Sandy for hosting the "Spoolie Swap."  Happy Early Easter

I made a button spoolie for Sally - I am so glad it made it all the way to California in one piece!