Good Morning + PW's Good Morning Muffins

Good morning!  Today is my first full day alone with the two girls.  


I had plans to go to MOPS this morning {I was so excited to show-off my new little pink bundle}, but unfortunately Callie woke up with a fever of 101.5 so we have to stay home.  So far, things are going better than expected - Callie's not acting too sick, so maybe she will get better soon.  She's eating fine but is just a little tired.  Somehow I managed to get both girls down for a nap at the same time (hence my time to blog)!  


Oh, if you want to see some pics of our Christmas, including a few of us in the hospital on the night Clara was born, click here to see my sister's blog.  Thanks Ki!  


And a friend came over and took some family pictures for us last week.  Here's a little peak of mommy and baby (so nice to have since I can't take pictures very easily of myself)!  Thanks, Annie!  Oh and another friend is making me some awesome birth announcements {see her website here}...I can't wait to see what she comes up with, and I will make sure to share them with y'all.  Thanks so much, Steph.


I have such awesome friends!

And my sweet sister-in-law Elyse {an awesome cook} brought us some muffins for the first morning we were home from the hospital.  They were sooo good, I just have to share the recipe.  They are Pioneer Woman's, and almost tasted like donuts with a subtle orange flavor.  I'm definitely making these soon, and you should too!


Picture and recipe from PW's blog.





Good Morning Muffins

• Muffin Batter
• 4 cups Flour
• ½ cups Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Baking Powder
• ½ cups Shortening (can Use 1/4 Cup Shortening With 1/4 Cup Butter)
• 2 cups Orange Marmalade
• 1 cup Orange Juice
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 2 whole Eggs Beaten
• _____
• Topping Ingredients
• ¾ cups Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Nutmeg
• 1 Tablespoon (plus 1 Teaspoon) Melted Butter
• ¼ teaspoons Salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Sift together flour, sugar, and baking powder. Place in a mixing bowl. Use a pastry cutter to mix in shortening (or butter/shortening if desired). Mix marmalade, orange juice, and vanilla in a small bowl. Pour into dry ingredients. Beat eggs and pour into the bowl. Mix all ingredients together gently, using fewer than 10 large strokes.

In a small bowl, mix topping ingredients.

Fill muffin pans with batter. Sprinkle 1 heaping teaspoon of topping ingredients over each muffin.

Bake for 20 to 22 minutes until done. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack. Eat warm or at room temperature.