Recovering from Nap Protest

So, how do we recover from a toddler's nap protest with a sleep deprived mom on a rainy, cold October afternoon?  We make muffins!  Yesterday afternoon I found said toddler on her dresser with the wooden letters "L-E-Y" off her wall...in her lap - proudly naming each letter for me.  Aggravation and frustration doesn't begin to describe this tired mom.  So after time out lasting long enough for me to regain sanity, it was time to find something for us to do to rediscover our friendship.  (Note: time outs are as much to help me cool off and deal with Ashley patiently as they are to teach her a lesson).

Muffins have become our "go-to" cooking activity, and despite a few lost teaspoons of flour, they are relatively successful.  Ashley has figured out how to dump in ingredients without spilling all over the counter and she dutifully puts all of the muffin liners in the pans.  The result is sheer delight when the timer goes off and we look in the oven to find scrumptious treats.  The best treat for me, though is remembering what a good little buddy our oldest daughter has become.  We did indeed recover from this nap protest!

Oatmeal Pumpkin Muffins (modified from original recipe)
Preheat oven to 400, line muffin pan (foil liners are recommended but my paper ones worked great)

• 1 1/2 cups flour - (I used 1/2 cup whole wheat plus 1 cup white wheat)
• 1 1/4 cup oats (I stole a tip from America's Test Kitchen and ground 3/4 cup oats in food processor, left 1/2 cup whole)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 dried fruit (I used Craisins)
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup ground flaxseed (this is my addition - we thought they turned out great - make your own choice about it)
• Spices (you can also use 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice plus 1 teaspoon cinnamon)
• 2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1 pinch allspice

• 1 cup pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/3 cup oil 
• 1 egg

Mix together dry ingredients in one bowl, mix together wet ingredients in another bowl.  Blend the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.  Fill muffin cups.  Bake 20-25 minutes at 400.

Enjoy!