Berry Lemon Muffins

These muffins turned out really well. I saw the recipe for Blueberry Muffins in the "Change One" diet book, and wanted to make some changes. They ended up moist, with a bit of a zing to them! Don't they look delicious?

Berry Lemon Muffins
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup skim milk
2 eggs
4 Tbsp margarine, melted
1/3 cup raspberry lemonade yogurt (I used Yoplait Light)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp lemon extract
1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen

Preheat oven to 400F. Line a a 12-cup muffin tin. Mix the flour, baking soda, and sugar in a large bowl; in a smaller bowl, whisk milk, eggs, margarine, yogurt, and extracts. Stir the wet mixture into the flour mixture JUST until blended--the batter may still be slightly lumpy. Fold in blueberries, then fill the muffin cups about 2/3 full. Bake approximately 18 minutes.

First EVER Fitness Friday!

My very first Fitness Friday! Woohoo!!

...okay, so maybe it’s not that exciting. But getting some exercise is worth forcing a little enthusiasm.

This week I went to the gym on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (today). Each day included some strength training and some cardio, though the ratios varied. Here’s a look at what I did this morning:

Treadmill walk: 3.4 mph, incline 1.0, 15:00 minutes

Lat pull down: 15 reps x 60 lbs, and 15 reps x 70 lbs

Dumbbell chest press: 15 reps x 8 lbs (per hand) x 2 sets

Triceps extension: 15 reps x 12 lbs x 2 sets
Biceps curls: 15 reps x 8 lbs (per hand) x 2 sets
Plank: 30 seconds x 2 times

There you have it—pretty straightforward, pretty healthy. And sweating a little always puts me in a good mood, too, so that’s a bonus!

(Muffin recipe coming soon, I promise!)

Introductions: Cooking on Campus

Hi! I'm Taylor, a sophomore at Webster University in Missouri. I spent my entire first year at college complaining about how much I missed having a kitchen while I was living in the dorms on campus. Last May, though, I got some great news: this year I'll be living in an on-campus apartment! What does that mean? A (small but functional) kitchen to call my own! In a few weeks I'll be moving into the apartment: unpacking books, putting up a shower curtain, and stocking my kitchen! I'm really super excited.

During the school year I keep pretty busy. I've got a reasonable course-load, an on-campus job, and involvement in various clubs and activities...but I still want to make time to eat well & be healthy. (I'm no Super Healthnut Girl, but I do try to exercise and eat my fruits & veggies.) So I decided to keep a blog, to keep myself accountable.

Here's the breakdown I've got in mind:
-Sunday Special: a dish that maybe takes a little more time/effort to make, because I'll have more free time on Sundays
-Fitness Friday: a recap of my recent exercise efforts
-Something else: No, that's not a title. It just means that I'll try to post more types of things than just the two above

So, that's the plan. I'll still be posting before I move into the apartment--I've already got a recipe for muffins that I made this morning to put up later. Until then!