Snowy Daze!

If you don't have anything nice to say ... then post pretty pictures from the snowstorm, and of the little germ-magnets crafting.

Back porch as the snow began 

Our one tree!  This was when it was starting to fall a little faster

The next morning.  That's our little potted Yule tree, waiting patiently for the thaw and to be planted.  Please excuse my incredibly formal tarp-draped wood pile next to Butterbean's scoot-scoot toys.
Being snowed in always inspires me to bake, and I had cranberries left over.  So I made these super yummy muffins.  The recipe is adapted from an Everyday Food recipe - I try and eat pretty healthy overall, and if I'm going to have  a muffin I want it to taste good and have some redeeming qualities.

4 Tb unsalted butter, plus more for pan (I swap this out with melted Smart Balance spread)
1 c white flour
1 c whole wheat flour
1 c packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 lg egg, beaten
3/4 c milk (Martha says whole milk, I swap in soy milk and a dash of the Mister's half-n-half)
1 bag (12 oz) cranberries
1 Tb clementine zest (optional, but so good)

Topping:
1/2 c pecans
2 Tb brown sugar
2 Tb melted Smart Balance (or margarine, or butter)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a muffin tin.  Whisk together flours, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  In a separate bowl mix together the 4 Tb melted butter, egg, and milk.  Pour wet mixture into dry mixture and mix just until combined.  Add cranberries and clementine zest.   Use an ice cream scoop to scoop batter into muffin tin.  In a food processor, combine pecans, brown sugar, and butter.  Pulse until finely chopped.  Add one heaping tablespoon to the top of each muffin.  Bake 1 hour, until toothpick inserted in muffin comes out clean.  Let cool in pan on a wire rack, then remove from pan and let cool.

Mooch also got inspired to up-cycle an empty sushi rice container into a bird house/feeder.  The results were ... ummm ... well I'll let you see for yourself

GLITTER!!!!!  The herpes of craft projects! (Thanks, SMKR website)

Dear gay birds of the mid-Atlantic, your new hangout is complete.
She even decided to share some of her craft supplies with the 'Bean

I'm not sure what Butterbean was crafting, possibly an ornately decorated shiv.  Or she's making a list of people to destroy in 2011.

I will be back at some point this weekend, and I will be positive.  I will!  I got my beautiful leather journal yesterday in the mail, and I'm going to start crafting my B.O.S.  Hope all you blog lovers have a great weekend!