Honey-Oat Muffins

Each year, I try to bring breakfast for my juniors on the morning of the ACT test…something healthier (like fruit, homemade granola or power bars, peanut butter-oatmeal energy bites, whole-wheat bagels & cream cheese) than what I think they'd usually eat (sugary cereal, pop tarts, fast food, chips from the vending machine or nothing at all).

This year, I made a recipe I'd saved on Pinterest. These muffins were very easy to mix together (two bowls, 1 spoon) and baked for only 15 minutes. I like that they contain oatmeal & whole-wheat and honey instead of sugar. Be warned: These aren't sweet muffins. They taste "healthy."

Disclaimer: Muffins are always best warmed and smeared with butter.

Did I say "healthy"? ;-)

Beer-Steamed Mussels with Chorizo

I spent last week on the beach in Englewood, Florida, visiting my Aunt Nancy. My plan was to spend some time near the water, eat a bunch of seafood, and RELAX. Mission accomplished.

Corey and I explored the tiny island of Manasota Key, eating and drinking at a few local beach bars. We ate lobster rolls, steamed clams & shrimp, conch fritters, fried lobster bites, and grilled grouper. For a couple dinners, we made freshly-caught mackerel (that I prepared blackened & sautéed) & stone crab claws at Nancy's house.

On Thursday, drove about an hour to Peace River Seafood & Crab Shack in Punta Gorda to eat blue crabs, but they didn't have any that day. I had been looking forward to that meal for a month and was so disappointed. We ordered other seafoods for lunch, and it was still tasty.

But since I had blue crab on the brain, I decided to buy some at Seafood City in St. Louis (the only place in town that usually has live crabs) and cook them today. Alas, there was no blue crabs to be found there either.

I am determined to hunt down the elusive blue crab very soon and create an authentic crab boil in my own kitchen. For now, though, here's one of my favorite seafood recipes to make at home.

Beer-Steamed Mussels with Chorizo