Mandy and Jace

For my high school senior trip we went to Disney World. I remember lots of things about this trip, but the one thing that really sticks out to me is our quick stop to the Ghirardelli factory. We walked in and they handed me a sample of their amazing chocolate and I fell in love. Since I’ve been home I’ve been kind of a chocolate snob. If I have a choice I usually go straight to the Ghirardelli chocolate. This muffin recipe was on the inside of the wrapper around a white chocolate bar. I am normally in a hurry and just trow all the wrappers out, but this particular time I happened to glance at the recipe on the back and decided these were worth a try. They came out so good! They work well with any size you make them- mini, regular or extra large.

Raspberry white chocolate muffins
adapted from the Ghirardelli wrapper
makes 12 regular sized muffins

1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup and 1 tbsp sugar
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp baking powder
2 cups and 1 tbsp flour
1 bar of white chocolate, chopped or 1 bag of white chocolate chips
1/2 cup raspberries

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees

Grease or line your muffin cups
In your mixer cream the butter and 1/2 cup of sugar together until they are smooth.
Add the egg, milk, vanilla and continue to mix together.
In a different bowl whisk the baking powder, 2 cups flour and the white chocolate together.
Slowly pour the flour mixture into the egg mixture mixing slowly so you don’t shoot flower all over the room. Mix until just combined.
Fold in the raspberries until they are just combined. It’s ok if the batter is lumpy.
Spoon into the muffin cups until each are 3/4 full.
In a small bowl add the remaining 1 tbsp of sugar and flour and whisk together. Dust the sugar and flour over each muffin.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool and serve or store in an airtight container.

Sorry about the light posts last week. I kind of fell off the blogging wagon. Never fear though I have lots of posts planned for this week to cover for my absence last week.

I just wanted to let everyone know about these cute flower pins that my best friend Jamie is making to raise money for her trip to Africa. They look cute on a t shirt, tank top or in your hair. She’s making hair clips, broaches and magnets. They are not only adorable but are for a great cause. If you want to see more choices or want to place an order let me or her know through here, Facebook or email and I can hook you up.

Here’s this weeks plan.
Tonight: spicy beef stir fry
Tuesday: sauteed chicken and lemon thyme rice
Wednesday: chicken spaghetti
Thursday: take out
Friday: date night!

A couple of things I learned this weekend.

• Moving the guest bed mattress into the living room makes for a very relaxing weekend.
• Talking yourself into moving the mattress back into the guest room and not making it permanent furniture is not so relaxing.
• Hot dogs from a VW van are very tasty
• Give kids a water hose and they will play for hours
• Tea that is brewed by sunlight tastes better than tea that is made on the stove.

This week is going to be a little crazy so I’m not sure if we will actually get to eat any of this, but I’m prepared either way. Here’ s this week’s plan.

Tonight: family night
Tuesday: lemon spaghetti with meat balls
Wednesday: slow cooker BBQ pulled pork sandwiches and chips
Thursday: take out
Friday: date night

We love you both!!!