Busted, and Lunch Box Muffins
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Apparently some schools in Britain are sending home notes asking parents not to show up at drop off in their pajamas. They consider the practice, “slovenly and rude.” I’ve got my fingers crossed our preschool doesn’t follow suit. Because some mornings I show up in my comfy velour pajama pants. But I leave my hair curlers and slippers at home.
And while I may appear slovenly, I think the teachers should be thankful I have clothes on at all. Because most mornings, I feel as if I’ve just conducted a fire drill, with an escape plan as follows: feed breakfast, pack lunches, stuff backpacks, lay out outerwear, dress each child, re-dress child who has undressed herself. Then we evacuate, and when I return home, I shower. So I can stand alone beneath the spray. Well, except for the 1-year-old, but she’s my third so I hardly notice her.
Kidding! How could you not notice that lil’ beauty?
But just in case that mandate makes its way to the States (I worry about a lot of things I shouldn’t), I’m trying to streamline our morning exit by planning ahead for our sons’ lunch boxes. First up, Lunch Box Muffins, adapted from Deceptively Delicious, with a bit of protein mixed in to give those carbs some staying power. Make on a Sunday with your leftover fruit, and use in lunch boxes throughout the week.
For the base:
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup flour (whole wheat or unbleached white)
- 1/4 cup instant oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Pureed in your blender:
- 1/2 cup protein (peanut butter, buttermilk, yogurt or ricotta cheese)
- 1/2 cup fruit (fresh or frozen banana, blueberries, strawberries, pears, oranges, grapes etc.)
- 1/2 cup sweet steamed/baked vegetable (fresh or frozen carrot, sweet potato, cauliflower)
- 1 large egg
- 2 – 4 tablespoons melted butter
Mix both together, put into cupcake tins, and bake at 350 for 16 – 20 minutes. Makes 12.
Store in an air-tight container for 3-4 days, or until your kids complain they’re rock hard, depending on what type of parent you are. You can also freeze for up to 3 months, and let thaw in the lunch box.
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You are making me nervous for the start of the school years, especially if we have more kids. Nice post.
If you want to boost the nutrition value even more, add ground flax seed. Fresh ground flax won’t give a noticeable flavor, but it will add lots of omega-3 and help the texture of the muffins be even more smooth and moist. I like to add it to a variety of baking and to morning pancakes. Anna just gets cuter every day! I tried to bring up the idea of a 4th kid with Jon last night. Let’s just say it didn’t fly!
Looks yummy! BTW, I gave you a blog award on my blog last night! Just because.
I’ve long said that when selecting a preschool, parents need to consider how they will feeling showing up in their PJs after a sleepless night. It’s so true! Thankfully, my boys are older; they just get on the bus now.
My PJs are a Tshirt and underwear so I’d be in BIG trouble if I showed up to school like that. I do often go without having showered or brushed my teeth though. And the little two accompany us in their PJs.
Those muffins would be a great breakfast that I could set out on the table the night before for the kids to eat while I continue sleeping. Not that I let them roam the house while I’m asleep or anything. *ahem*
Never shown up in my pj’s, but often in “work out” gear that is just as comfy as pj’s, hair in a pony tail, no makeup.
Ha! Still laughing over that “hardly noticed” third kid bit (poor things! so resilient, though, no? And brilliant with those little legos, at such an early age.)
I’ve been looking for a good muffin; will give these a go, thanks!
What a fabulous and delicious idea – even though my kids are a bit older, it seems to take longer to get them out the door in the mornings.
Those muffins look great. I’ll have to pull out my DD book, or just use your written recipe.
Just trying to play a little blog reading catch up, if got 23 posts of yours in my reader. Ah!
So, love the new look to your blog, also.