OATMEAL BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

First off I have to say this was a learning experience. I have made 100's of muffins/cupcakes over the years maybe even thousands but never with such a mission before. I found a "Universal Muffin Mix" recipe posted by Smurfetta on an Organic website. It was a bulk recipe so you can have the mix then add your extras. I am trying my darnedest to follow my new "diet" but it isn't cut and dry so I just kind of have to eat and cross my fingers and see what happens. As with everything I do I somewhat changed the recipe as I went along because God forbid I actually do exactly what someone else says. I'll give the recipe then tell you my oops moments.

Muffin Mix

18 cups flour (I did 10 organic whole wheat and 8 organic white)

5 cups sugar

2 1/4 cups dry buttermilk

6 T baking powder

2 T baking soda

2 T salt

3 T ground cinnamon

3 tsp ground nutmeg

WET INGREDIENTS

3-4 eggs (this was iffy for me because I'm allergic to eggs but I did use eggs this time next

time I will use Egg Replacer)

3 tsp vanilla

2 cups water

1 cup oil (I used canola which I have never used before)

Stir in 5 1/2 cups muffin mix and your add in's makes 24 (I made 29)

FOR OATMEAL BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

Reduce mix to 4 cups, add 1 cup of oats, 4 eggs, 2 cups blueberries. (I also added 1/4 cup brown sugar)

BAKE at 400 DEGREES 18-20 MINUTES

My muffins turned out great. A little flat but I think that has to do with the fact that I tried to make streusel topping out of brown sugar, country crock and flour. That doesn't really work well. Also....frozen blueberries will drop to the bottom of the bowel every time. Without fail they will also turn your muffins a grayish purple. I am not a nutmeg fan. It is a spice I never use. Maybe because it has the word "nut" in it so I generally keep away from it. I did use it but next time I make this mammoth mix I will lessen the nutmeg. I had 3 muffins last night and my mouth felt weird. I checked Jessi and she was fine so I double checked our allergy print offs and we aren't allergic to any of the ingredients in the muffins. The only ingredient in the muffins that isn't on my allergy list at all is canola oil and like I said...I've never used it before.

Will I make these again? Definitely! There are a lot of different things that I can add in so I'll let you know as I go.

Day 3 of my new "DIET"

Today is day 3(?) of my new "DIET". Why would a 99 lb. woman need to be on a diet? I don't! I need to gain about 5-7 lbs.,(preferably in my bra but I don't see that in my near future). I now have to eat organic which is fine if not a bit harder on the budget. This is not what has caused my recent weight loss. I also have other restrictions. No pop, coffee and most teas. I can have a few Celestial Seasonings teas. No tomatoes which means my twice weekly spaghetti/ravioli nights are gone. No soy milk. I am allergic to dairy so that leaves me with rice milk and I'm just not going there. I can have blueberries and pears. All other fruits are too high in acid. I can have most veggies as long as they aren't high in acid. No pre-packaged foods. No lunch meat. No preservatives.
Why do I have to eat like this you ask? Because after some of the most unpleasant tests my doctor is relatively sure that I have Interstitial Cystitis. Basically it is chronic bladder pain. There really aren't any meds that can treat it and I am just in the beginning stages of figuring this all out. There are a few different treatments that can help some people. A cystoscopy can help but it can take a few weeks to kick in. I had one last week and am still waiting. I.C. bothers everyone in different ways. I have constant pelvic pain. It hurts to stand sometimes. It hurts to sit in certain positions. I always feel like I have to go to the bathroom. It is a mind game. I believe that I am mentally strong but there is always the what if in my head. What if ????? From what I have read depression is prevalent in I.C. patients. I just don't have the time to get depressed right now. I have my kids to take care of and a husband to boss around. Maybe I'll save that for later but right now I'm all about figuring out how to get this under control.
Today I am going to make a bunch of organic muffins and freeze them. At least this way I will have more to eat for breakfast than plain organic blueberry waffles. I think I am going to make some pear, blueberry, carrot and zucchini. Not all together...that would just be nasty. Yesterday I had 2 plain organic blueberry waffles, a plain chicken breast, some steamed veggies and plain couscous. Lots and lots of water. Do you notice what is lacking? FLAVOR!!!! I'm going to have to work on that...definitely. If my muffins turn out halfway decent I'll put up a pict and the recipe. I also have to put into consideration that I am allergic to dairy, nuts and egg whites. My Jessi is allergic to all nuts, egg whites and gluten (that one we only deal with if her stomach starts hurting or she looks run down). Last but not least is Danie, my vegetarian. Where to start? Somewhere in the middle probably!