Baking//Why This Is Important

Hi friends! So this week I am talking about something a lot lighter and SWEETER! This week I am talking about baking!

I love baking, and I always have. I mean who doesn't love eating some sweet treats? There is something therapeutic for me when I can work on something that I love and then enjoy it after with the people I love! But looking back on the last couple years I realized that I haven't been baking as much. School, family, friends, a new relationship, and other commitments made my life more busy! Not bad, just busier. I had forgotten to do the one thing that brought ME joy and some great self care time. Baking.

A few weeks ago I decided I was going to make a pie! My famous peach pie that I made often as a young girl. So I got all my ingredients and set out to make a pie. Sadly the pie did not turn out that great (because it had been so long since I last made one) but it made me happy to get baking again and still tasted yummy! Reminded me of how much fun I used to have when I was younger baking with my dad and my grandma.

So why am I taking up your time talking about pies and baking? Because this is something that is important to me, it brings me joy and reminds me of who I am. It is so easy to get caught up in the world, what people want from you or who they expect you to be that we forget who we really are! So my friends this week I challenge you to do something that YOU love and brings YOU joy. Take sometime for yourself to remind yourself of the real you! I even would suggest to try and make this a habit so that no matter what goes on your life or how busy you get you can always find time to make a pie, sip some coffee or whatever your thing is!

(Yes that is my Gilmore Girls mug because what else do I drink coffee from??? #GGatheart)

If baking is something you love, below I have a recipe for some chocolate zucchini muffins. These are my FAVE things to bake! It is such a simple recipe! Not to mention these muffins are healthy friends!!! I usually double the recipe (which makes about 18 muffins) but below is just the original recipe. So try them out, trust me you don't even taste the zucchini. ENJOY!

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

(Makes approx 9 muffins OR put in a baking tray for chocolate zucchini brownies)

Ingredients

1/2 cup almond butter

1 medium sized banana

1 egg

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tbsp ground flaxseed

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup zucchini, shredded and squeezed of excess liquid

1/4 cup chocolate chips, plus more for sprinkling on top

Instructions

1. Blend all ingredients together in blender except for zucchini and chocolate chips

2. Wring out all water from shredded zucchini

3. Add zucchini and chocolate chips and bake at 375c for 20 mins

XOXO

Maggie