Poor Tony. On mornings when I am running short on time, the kitchen looks like a mini tornado went through it. I have no idea how I didn’t hear my alarm – I know I switched it from a CD to wake me up to the radio, but it was the same time. All I know is that I had to pick up pies for my bosses birthday on my way to work, and in order to get to work on time, I needed to leave exactly 16 minutes after I woke up!
No problem! I had a few things going in my favor. I had already made the blueberry muffins the night before as a birthday breakfast treat. One of my bosses favorite dishes I make is my Chobani Chicken Tikka Masala. I had already made the rice the night before, but the chicken had been marinating overnight and still needed to be cooked.
- 7:29 – wake up
- 7:30 – put cast iron skillet on high
- 7:31 – wash face, brush teeth, put in contacts, brush hair (skip shower)
- 7:33 – put chicken in hot skillet
- 7:35 – get dressed
- 7:37 – stir chicken, add jalapeno and cumin and tomato sauce
- 7:39 – turn on Keurig
- 7:40 – make coffee in to go cup
- 7:41 – pack up the muffins, rice and gym clothes, put in car
- 7:44 – put cooked chicken in container (figuring I am going to heat it up and finish the cooking process at lunch)
- 7:46 – in car ready to pick up pies – whew!
I was doing great on time, until I got to Bakers Square and my pies weren’t ready. I had ordered them online the day before. The place was empty too and they were just disorganized, no one had a key to the register. After my speedy morning, I ended up being 10 minutes late. Oh well, I had excuse – I had pies!
So here is another version of my Chobani Blueberry Yogurt Muffins. The last recipe, my recipe instructions sucked ass, so I decided to rewrite it.
Chobani Blueberry Muffins with Lemon Zest Sugar Crunch Topping
- makes 12 muffins
- each one 214 caloires, 5 fat, 177 mg. sodium, 37 carbs, 1.2 fiber and 4.7 protein
Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons room temperature butter,
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 6 oz. container of Chobani vanilla (or blueberry)
- 2 cups frozen (or fresh) blueberries, tossed in 1 tablespoon flour
Topping:
- 1/4 cup sugar
- zest from 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup chopped slivered almonds
- 1 tablespoon of flour
Heat oven to 375. Spray muffin tin with Pam. In a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until creamy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add in vanilla and mix well. Add in yogurt and mix.
Add in flour, baking powder and salt. Then add the milk. Lastly, toss in the blueberries and mix the blueberries by spatula or spoon so you don’t break them in the mixer.
The dough is going to be SUPER creamy – no worries. Mix the topping ingredients together, and divide evenly over the top of each muffin. Bake for 25-30 minutes, depending on your oven.
I wish I had a better picture of these, but they got rave reviews – I think the lemon zest in the topping made these. #winning!
I actually thought I might not be able to work out yesterday. We were short a secretary, and it was just busy. I finally got my window at 1:15!
My workout inspiration for yesterday? My step-son Joe. Last week he posted this workout on Facebook.
This is what I posted after I saw it:
- Beth Hills Velatini What incline are you at on this Joe??
- Joe Velatini Full incline!
- Beth Hills Velatini You are a bad ass!! (and secretly I will try this!)
- Joe Velatini You will have an ass of steel!
I had a much shorter window because it was so late and I was already hungry when I got to the gym. I ended up doing just under half the workout – 32:31 minutes at 15% incline at 3.8 mph – I did exactly two miles.
I imagined Dolvett from the Biggest Loser saying “don’t touch my machine!” It was hard not to hold on, but I did it. Not sure I could have done the whole 65 minutes, but it’s a goal to work up to! Thanks for the inspiration Joe – I love you!
So lunch was the chicken tikka masala – I was disappointed that I forgot the cilantro, but it was still delicious. Since I marinated the meat overnight, the spices almost made the chicken look like chicken thighs! My boss loved it, and I also gave her roasted brussel sprouts on the side, since it’s her favorite vegetable.
Mind you, this is the boss that didn’t even acknowledge my birthday, but I decided to take the high road. The old saying “do to others what you would have them do to you.” And I had made enough to give to two other attorneys, one of whom is my other boss who can handle the heat and sent me an email that just said “That was fantastic.” I need to make this more often! I’ve even made a tikka masala soup with cilantro and shrimp if you want to check that out. I just love the flavor profile of this dish – so complex.
I had plans on making homemade pasta for dinner last night, but we just got a replacement for our water filtration system (we have well water) and I had to get under the sink to screw some stuff in. By the time we got finished with that, it was on to Plan B. Penne pasta with sausage in a butter garlic parmesan sauce.
I cooked the sausage on the side, let it cool, then cut it into slices. I cooked the pasta and drained it. In the pan for each serving, I melted 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 teaspoon of minced garlic and let that cook for about 2 minutes. I added half the pasta, 1/2 the sausage to the butter mixture in the pan, cooked another minute, then plated and sprinkled with a teaspoon of Parmesan cheese.
The only difference I did to my plate was add spinach and crushed red pepper to my butter mixture.
I ended up eating only half of this, it was really filling. And garlicky!! I am morphing the leftovers into lunch for me and my boss today.
So it’s WI Wednesday! Last Wednesday I was 170.6. Today?
Minus 1.2 thank you very much! Not bad considering I didn’t work out from Friday through Monday. I also need to pay more attention to sodium, keep up with my water intake on the weekends too. But I am happy to be in the 160’s again!
Alright, I have to log off, it’s getting really stormy and thundering so I need to shut off the computer. Happy Hump Day – make it a great day!
Oh I HATE rushed mornings! That’s on the top of my list of “things I hate most”. Seriously. The worst. These muffins, however, are on the top of my “must-make” list!! Yum! They look amazing.
Thanks Gina! Yep, it kind of set the tone for the day, glad i got up at my usual 6:30 this morning!
That pasta looks sooo… good. I love that you added spinach and red pepper flakes. Onion would be a nice addition, too. 😉
Ha, maybe in your world you’d have onions! 😀
What a bummer after your dash you were still late, I would have been grumpy! Congrats on being back down in the 160s, I need to work on my water intake on the weekends too. I do great at work, but don’t know why I slack at home.
I know why I slack at home, I switch from water to wine! 😀
What a crazy morning, right? Lightning, thunder, and rain! I’ve been so nervous about how Shazam is holding up–I can’t wait to get home. Congrats on -1.2! Nice!
I know! It got pitch black, then thunder – hope your pups was okay during the day today!
I cannot believe how much you did in 16 minutes! Awesome workout inspiration. I love it. The sun has been my inspiration lately. It comes and goes, it’s hot, it’s cold so when I see the sun out I can’t help but take advantage of it and go for a run. Those muffins look delicious. Lemon zest adds such a great flavor. Great weigh in this week!
Thanks Aimee – cannot wait to see sun – we’ve had nothing but gloom and rain all week.
Hey, arriving late with pies is always acceptable! Love your morning run down – I’m all about kitchen multitasking!
And the funny thing is Courtney, only four people even had pie! Oh well, it’s the thought – and the birthday girl took one pie home to her family. 😀
All of this looks so amazing! Bummer about the bakery snafu…but who can get angry at the lady with pies? No one.
Your right, #winning! Love that you are fostering cats now – so cute!
I hate when my pie isn’t ready. OMG, I did NOT type that. NO, I didn’t….it was my evil (and dirty minded) twin. Who only seems to come out to visit when I’m commenting on your site. Have a great day Vat!
Ha Roz – you crack me up! 😀
The muffins look great. Yes, you did take the high road with your boss. You are a good person for that Biz!! What a bummer that the pie place made you late after you busted ass to get out the door. Seems to be how it works though huh? 😉
Yep – cannot wait to try your latest chicken dish – yum!
Can I just say….I have no idea how you get ready so fast, blog, cook and get out the door in the morning.
Well, it helps that I download my pics the night before, and after being a secretary for 20+ years, I type like 120 words a minute! 😀 Um, and I don’t have two little ones at my feet to worry about.
Mmm, those muffins look SO good…I haven’t made blueberry muffins in way too long!
I have gotten myself out the door in 10 min flat before when I’ve slept in, but I was lucky that I had made my lunch the night before, and was able to at least grab a Clif bar to chow in the car (I don’t always have those in the house). I don’t know how you do everything you do in the mornings so quick – I am slooooowwwww!
I do prefer the slower pace. This morning? Up at 6:30 and out of the house at 8:05, thank you very much. 😀
PHEW! I hope you put your feet up after this crazy day! Way to make it to work only 10 minutes late! Rock star. The muffins look perfect. You know I’m Chobani obsessed. And also…way to take the high road. Everyones birthday should be special. Hope your boss will appreciate your birthday next time around. Have a wonderful day
Thanks Erica – loved your latest Elle workout outfit – so cute!
I couldn’t move that fast in the morning. I need to wake up at least 90 minutes before I have to be anywhere so I can piddle around, drink coffee, stretch, write and just be calm.
I am putting your chicken Tikki Masala on my list of dishes to try. If you have a TJ’s near you, I highly recommend picking up a pack (frozen) of the naan–it’s amazing; 1-2 minutes in a hot oven and it’s just as good, if not better than most Indian restaurants.
Enjoy your day.
Never even thought about frozen naan! Thanks for the tip. And maybe one of these days I’ll try your lamb dish! It would surprise the shit out of Tony if I made it!
It takes me 16 mins to roll out of bed and stumble to the kitchen to make my coffee, I’m impressed. Also, the food looks amazing. I really want those muffins right now! I’m currently reading a book (and will blog on it soon) called the Fast Metabolism Diet. It’s pretty awesome, you might find it interesting. It’s based on eating REAL foods, no gimics, but eating them in certain phases. Claims you can lose 20 lbs in 28 days. I’m hoping to start it next week. We’ll see! I’ll let you know how it goes!
Wow, let me know how it goes Kim!
Woo hoo – awesome loss!!! I can usually get my crap together quickly if I need to be somewhere, but 16 minutes? I don’t know how you do it!
Let’s just say I didn’t look very pretty, mkay?! 😀
You are fast!
Great job on the loss!
Thanks Andrea!
You’re killing me with all these yummy muffins! This is my day three without bread, and I’m about to cave! That anonymous comment was me. I forgot to sign in…see what happpens when you are bread-deprived?
Ha, love it – I’ll just blame it on you not having coffee yet??! 😀
You’re kiling me with all these yummy muffins! This is my day three without bread, and I’m about to cave!
I don’t know what kind of office you work in but consider this my application for a job there!!
Best,
Bonnie
Ha, thanks Bonnie! Where is our spring? I loved the Senate Bean soup you made – we call it “Methodist Bean Soup” because its at pot lucks at church frequently!