Easy & Fluffy Banana Nut Muffins

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As previously mentioned, I was lucky enough to be chosen to be an advocate for @FamilyRated’s Becel program and the second product I was given to try was Becel’s Salted Margarine sticks. Let me tell you… it was a game changer! I love baking (I mean, I did study pastry for about a year and a half) but I love it even more when it’s quick and easy, and often times I’m craving sweet later at night (like most people). I try not to have too much junk in our pantry (you know… to avoid temptation and whatnot) and sometimes fruit just can’t curb the craving, but to make a dessert at 9:30pm and still have to wait for the butter to soften just makes me hangry. I don’t know how it took so long to create this but BECEL has done it! These margarine sticks can be used straight from the fridge, no need to wait for what seems to be the equivalent of watching paint dry and creates the fluffiest texture to your baked goods without compromising the recipe. So here’s how easy it is to use Becel’s Salted Margarine sticks :

Ingredients:

1 stick Becel Salted Margarine

1 1/4 C. Brown Sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

2 Eggs

3 Ripe Bananas

2 C. Flour (I use Pastry flour but there won’t be a difference in this case)

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

1 C. Walnuts (I enjoy a very nutty banana bread – but put as you wish)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350*F and line cupcake tins.
  2. In a mixer, cream together Becel’s margarine stick (yes straight from the fridge – trust me) and brown sugar.
  3. Add in eggs and vanilla and mix until all combined.
  4. In a seperate bowl, mix together all dry ingredients.
  5. In thirds, alternate adding in the dry ingredients, bananas and milk to the mixture.
  6. Stir in nuts.
  7. Fill cupcake tins 2/3 of the way and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes for perfectly golden muffins.

**Note: You can also add the batter to a greased loaf pan and make it into a true banana bread. In that case, bake for 20 minutes in a 350*F oven, then lower the oven to 325*F and let it go another 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when poked into the center of the loaf.**

These are honestly the easiest muffins to make and so versatile. You can have them for dessert or wrap them individually and have them as a snack on-the-go. You can maybe even substitute some nuts for some oats and make it more of a quick breakfast option. Whatever you choose, don’t forget so send me your feedback and some pictures if you get a craving like I did for this quick “midnight” snack.

Thanks for baking,

alongwithb.

Tomato & Mushroom Rosé Pasta Sauce

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I was chosen by @FamilyRated to be one of their advocates for a couple new Becel products and anyone who knows me knows I love being in the kitchen, testing out new products and creating or tweaking recipes, so I was up for the challenge to incorporate Becel’s Avo Plus oil and Becel’s Salted Margarine sticks into some recipes.

The first product I was intrigued to try was the Avo Plus oil… I’m kind of an olive snob and am very particular about the flavour of the oils I typically use. Now the advantage of this particular oil is that it is a combination of canola, avocado, and mid-oleic sunflower oil which means it heats up faster and is thinner than your conventional olive oil (which makes it better for frying), has no trans-fats, is low in saturated fat and is a good source of Omega 3 & 6 (bonus)! Without further ado, here’s how I used it:

Ingredients:

2 tbsps Becel’s Avo Plus oil

2 Onions (small)

2-3 Garlic cloves (your preference)

1 pint Grape Tomatoes (or cherry tomatoes)

1 tbsp Basil

1 small can Tomato Paste (use photo as reference for what I mean by small)

1 C. 10% Cream

1 basket White Mushrooms (sliced)

Directions:

  1. Finely chop the onions and the garlic and toss them into a large sautée pan with Becel’s Avo Plus oil and let them cook down until onions are translucent.
  2. Add in halved tomatoes and let them cook down until the skin starts naturally peeling off and tomato juice starts filing the pan.
  3. Add in basil and salt/pepper to taste and stir for a couple of minutes until aromatic.
  4. Empty out can of tomato paste and cream and stir until perfectly combined.
  5. Lastly, put in the thinly sliced mushrooms and let simmer for about 10-15 minutes and BAM!

Boil up your favorite pasta and serve overtop or (as I prefer) mix it in completely with the sauce, top with some cheese if you’d like and enjoy!

Check out my next post to see how I used Becel’s Salted Margarine sticks and share some photos of how your Tomato & Mushroom Rosé sauce turned out. I’d love to see them all!

Thanks for cooking,

alongwithb.

 

Top 10 Emmy ’17 Looks

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10. Vanessa Kirby in Marchesa: I love how ethereal and elegant this whole look came together. What really gets me is that bold lip that is a perfect ode to that matching sangria colour in the flowers.

Vanessa Kirby - Marchesa

9. Julianne Hough in Marchesa: Black was a hugeeee colour on this year’s red carpet. TBH, I’m personally not a big fan of wearing black unless it’s a gala in the winter, a good pant suit or a funeral, but this works! The lightness of the fabric and the delicate pastel flowers makes this look seem so effortless tying it into the equally natural hair and makeup makes for a very well thought out ensemble

Julianne Hough - Marchesa

8. Madeline Brewer: This icy colour on her pale skin tone, mixed in with the auburn hair and crimson lip is simply divine. I love the eccentricity in the shoulders and the appliqués in the neckline that drifts off going into the hemline paired with the stunning silhouette makes for just a killer put-together look.

Madeline Brewer

7. Angela Sarafryan: Besides the statement sleeves, there’s nothing REALLY that special about this dress but the whole look together blows me away. Her glowing skin to her beautiful caramel hair to her bronze makeup… who needs dramatic jewelry – this look was just so easy, refreshing and breathtaking.

Angela Sarafyan

6. Reese Witherspoon in custom Stella McCartney: I mean it’s Reese Witherspoon so right off the bat she can do no wrong but this azure suit jacket dress paired with the pop of red/orange is INCREDIBLE!! This dress accentuates her waist like a dream and the length of it is perfect, the ring and earrings and the velvet similar coloured Louboutin’s -it’s the simple elegance yet sexiness that makes her a true vision.

Reese Witerspoon

 

5. Shailene Woodley in Ralph Lauren: I LOVE EMERALD GREEN, so this was an automatic front-runner for me. I’m not mad at the fact that its such a rich velvet because it’s balanced by the delicate straps and beautiful plunging neckline. She styles her hair effortlessly out of her face with a smoky eye that ties her whole look together with her mesmerizing green eyes.

Shailene Woodley - Ralph Lauren

4. Gina Rodriguez in Naeem Khan: I think you’re starting to see a pattern at this point… I’m a sucker for simple elegance and Gina Rodriguez definitely does not disappoint. This beautiful red beaded number joined to that deep V and the classic hair and makeup with the drop earrings are to die for!

Gina Rodriguez

3. Yara Shahidi in Prada: OK, can we talk about the fact that she’s only 17 years old!?!? This dress looks like a second skin on her and the whole ensemble from the dress to the accessories to the hair and makeup look so mature yet age-appropriate. The embellishment on the nude bodice that flow into the skirt just hit the nail on the head for miss Shahidi!

Yara Shahidi - Prada

2. Ellie Kemper in Jenny Packman: Clearly, I also have a sweet spot for appliqués and beading and this a WINNER in my book! From the perfect blue short and strapless dress to the dramatic ombre embellishment on the overlay to the higher collar, the cap sleeves, the up-do, the stunning statement earrings and the bang-on makeup… simply put – she killed it!

Ellie Kemper - Jenny Packman

and my top 2017 Emmy Look from head to toe goes to………

1. Erin Lim in Raisa & Vanessa 😍😍😍: First of all, mad girl crush alert, second of all there’s nothing I don’t LOVE about this whole picture. Yes she does black, but it doesn’t overpower the whole look, she has that stunning red beaded overlay on that two-piece and the lace badass collar… JUST STOP!! The one braid in the up-do is so rockstar and the neutral smokey-eye is so sultry and that’s exactly what this look is for me – badass and sexy and I live for it!

Erin Lim

Thanks for tuning into another award show fashion post. It was incredibly difficult to narrow it down to 10 this time around since these women certainly did not disappoint!! Until next time!

xoxo,

beingbrittney