Having early classes means not getting up until the last possible minute. Because I enjoy my sleep, I sacrifice time for eating breakfast. Usually it’s just a granola bar to last me until I eat lunch, usually 11 or 12. I wanted to eat something on the go when I don’t want a granola bar. Muffins, if prepared with the correct ingredients, can be a healthy alternative. I was getting antsy in my relatively new apartment, so I decided to bake for the first time this semester. I wanted to try out my orange extract I bought but never opened. I love the combination of chocolate and orange, so I searched for an orange chocolate chip muffin. After a few minutes of searching on Recipe Zaar, I found one. Now, these aren’t the healthiest because of the chocolate, but it’s still better than a Pop Tart or sugar cereals (which I cut out of my diet since I eat enough junk throughout the day). These muffins tasted fantastic, but they could’ve used a little more volume. Maybe next time I will try adding oats. Or I may have overmixed the batter. If you have an orange available, I would add orange zest and cut back on the extract to 1 Tbsp. I used 1 cup chocolate chips, but there was way too much chocolate in one bite (not that it tasted bad or anything ;) ) so I would go with 1/2 cup. As a side note, I don’t buy eggs unless I plan on using alot, so I subbed for it and it turned out fine. I included that in the recipe below.

And if any of you have been paying attention, this is recipe #2 towards my goal.


Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins


2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg (or use 2 Tbsp water + 1 Tbsp oil + 2 tsp baking powder)
2 Tbsp orange extract (or 2 Tbsp orange zest + 1 Tbsp orange extract)

Preheat oven to 400F. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and chocolate chips. In another bowl, whisk milk, oil, egg,and extract. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir together for 20 seconds, or until just moist. If you see lumps, it is OK to leave them. Lightly grease muffin pan or use paper liners and fill each 2/3 full with batter. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Best served warm. Makes 12 muffins.

Source: Recipe Zaar

What do you eat for breakfast?
I eat Quaker chocolate and peanut butter granola bars or Honey Bunches of Oats cereal. Occasionally I’ll have french toast, waffles, hash browns, sausage, biscuits and gravy (!!!), leftover cake, or a banana.