Maple Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins

Six days since the last post and you were probably thinking "I knew it!  I knew this frequent blogging wouldn't last."  But here I am!  Just proving you wrong.  For now anyways.

So the reason for the tiny delay was due to a weekend spent in Vermont!  Since we moved to Boston we have done a wonderful job exploring the region and Vermont was the last surrounding state that we had yet to visit.  So what better time than now, while the leaves are bright and beautiful, apple cider is to be had everywhere, and there isn't 10 feet of snow piled on the ground.

We basically spent the weekend driving around (as usual) stopping every once in a while so see the sites, including the Ben and Jerry's Factory (with free yummy samples!), the Magic Hat Brewery, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, and the great city of Burlington just to name a few.  It's a state that everyone should visit if given the chance.  It's quite a relaxing change compared to the hustle and bustle of the big city.

See that beautiful picture of the truck?  Kaston took it.  And it's incredible.  Isn't he just the coolest?

While we were there we stayed at this great Austrian themed bed and breakfast.  The accommodations were lovely and the breakfast was to die for.  So much so that it inspired me to come home and make a breakfast treat that involved maple syrup AND bacon.  Yeah you heard me. 

Maple Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins...

with bacon crumbles. 

 Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup oats
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup butter (melted)
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 5 or 6 bacon strips (cooked and crumbled)

Optional Toppings:

• 1/4 cup syrup
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/4-1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons butter.

1. In a large bowl mix oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.

2. Crack an egg into a smaller bowl.

3. Melt 1/4 cup butter.

4. Add butter to egg and whisk together.

5. Next you'll add the milk, vanilla, syrup, and sour cream.  Mix it all up.

6. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.  Mix until all the lumps are out of it.  (The lumps in this picture are oats of course!)

7. BACON!  Mmm Bacon.  Crumble it up and throw it in the batter.

8. Preheat the oven to 350° and bake the muffins for 20-25 minutes.  For the first batch I topped with a maple syrup butter consisting of 1/4 cup melted butter and 1/4 cup maple syrup.

9. For the second batch I topped with a pecan crumble.  1/4-1/2 cup chopped pecans, 3 tablespoons flour, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, and 2 tablespoons melted butter.

10. Grab a nice cup of tea (my favorite is Good Earth original!) or a steamy cup of coffee and...Eat!

Just a few more things...

As some of you may know, I live with 2 crazy musicians.  And these two crazies have finally put together a site of their own.  They are great guys with some amazing tunes and you should definitely check them out.  They would love it.  And you will too.  Here's the link: My Politic Music  Go give them some lovin'!

 Coming up: I've had a request for "Man Food" so I'll see what kind of manly concoction I can come up with.  I've also had an offer for a little authentic salsa making lesson.  So, hopefully I'll be able to share that in the near future as well!