“Thank you for voting my muffins into today’s Foodbuzz Top 9!” 11.11.11
After traveling for three weeks, I’ve returned with renewed vigor, ha! What I have done, is create a Facebook page that has the same name as my website, finally. I’ve had a Facebook page all along, but it was called TopMomBlog; and I thank each and every one of you that has “Liked” TopMomBlog. This is the name I chose for my website when I started it two years ago – which is forever ago in the blogosphere. So much changes in two years – a blog is like a living and breathing entity that changes as you grow and find your niche, voice, passion, etc. My original idea was to honor moms (beginning with my mom, of course) and, in addition to the comfort food with a healthy twist and family friendly recipes that were my focus, to spotlight a mom each month with a dish that she loved as a child, or that her kids love, or that speaks to her culture.
With my girl off to college and recent developments in huz’s health, my focus began to change. I waited, and waited, and waited for Facebook to allow pages to edit their name, but that would be too easy – even with all the changes they’ve implemented, that wasn’t one of them. So, this weekend I used my extra hour to build my page and begin the task of rebuilding my fan base. To jump start this process and show my appreciation, I’m giving away a signed copy of Mario Lopez’s new book, Extra Lean Family. In his second book, Mario shows you how to apply the rules from his New York Times bestseller, Extra Lean, to broaden the spectrum of foods you and your family eat and how to enjoy food and maintain your best health.
Look what I went through to get this book signed for you!
In early October, Mario and Chef Jamie Gwen co-hosted Restaurant Rave, a welcome and tasty addition to this year’s Style Week OC at Irvine Spectrum. Once Mario took the stage, most of the hungry crowd took a break from sampling tastes and gathered around the stage to watch him make fish tacos and guacamole. Later, Mario greeted fans and signed copies of his book while chefs from new Irvine Spectrum Center restaurants Capital Seafood, Paul Martin’s American Grill (slated to open later this month) and CUCINA Enoteca (early December opening) took the stage with cooking demonstrations and food sampling, music, and dance entertainment continued under the glittering Giant Wheel.
Back to the book: I liked that the recipes are simple enough for novice cooks and use ingredients that you can find in any market. They can also be assembled in 20 minutes or less, so are great for the busy people we are! When I do a cookbook giveaway, I think it’s important to test one of the recipes and, being crazy for coconut, decided on the Banana Coconut Muffins. It took me about 30 minutes from gathering the ingredients to getting the muffin tin in the oven because my baking ingredients are not in a central place (way to organized for me) and it was 8:00 a.m. and I was still on my first cup of coffee 😉
Other than, substituting pecans for walnuts and eliminating the salt and half the baking soda (strict sodium restrictions for huz), I stuck to the recipe. The applesauce and bananas add their natural sweetness (so very little sugar is needed) and contribute to the nutritional value and moistness of this mildly coconut-y muffin. Oh, I added a few organic coconut flakes to the top for texture and a little crispy crunch with every bite.
Banana Coconut Muffins
(From Extra Lean Family by Mario Lopez) Yield: 12 muffins
3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed banana (about 2 bananas)
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup low fat milk
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners, In a large bowl combine flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add bananas, applesauce, canola oil, milk, egg, and vanilla;mix gently to combine. Fold in walnuts and coconut. Using a 1/3 cup measure, scoop batter into muffin pans and bake 20-25 minutes until puffed and golden.
Enjoy 🙂
Extra Lean Family is very down-to-earth – like Mario. His interest in healthy eating and knowledge of the role that food plays in your metabolism stems from his childhood. He was a “big” baby – a sure sign of a healthy baby in his mother’s loving eyes. “My parents taught me to love food, but my Mexican upbringing meant that I didn’t necessarily eat the healthiest foods that I could.” In middle school he became active in wrestling and other sports and by high school he was a wrestling champion and “much more conscious of eating healthy foods for energy rather than devouring whatever was around” and, later, as an actor, realized that being fit was part of his profession.
He’s sharing the life style changes he made and, as one of the most famous finalists of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars which led to him being named People’s Hottest Bachelor in 2008, and now, host of Extra – it’s worked out well for him! He knows that you care about your family and you want them to be healthy, energetic, and live life to the fullest and he wants to help you achieve this with three crucial steps and a five-week meal plan in Extra Lean Family. Take charge of your food, control the quality and preparation of your meals, and consistently achieve lean results with:
* Simple, delicious recipes that can be prepared in 20 minutes or less
* Double Duty options, offering two quick meal variations with the same ingredients
* Metabolism-boosting and nutritious snacks to combat hunger between meals
* Weekly grocery lists and easy tips for efficient meal preparation
* Practical steps to control your metabolism and maintain target weight
A “Double Duty” recipe – Beef Taco Wraps and Tex Mex Salad
Mario prepping with his French bulldog Julio Cesar Chavez Lopez 😉
Now, for the GIVEAWAY!
All you have to do is “Like” the new and improved She’s Cookin’ Facebook page and leave a comment here telling me that you did and, tell me what your favorite healthy food is – if you feel like sharing 🙂 No pressure. You can visit the page and see what it’s all about or just click on the Like button in the sidebar. If you’re new to She’s Cookin’, we’re about simple + seasonal recipes with a heart healthy focus, Orange County restaurant reviews that highlight healthy dining options, the occasional indulgence to drool over, and delicious Travel Eats from destinations near and far. Sound good?
The giveaway is open to residents of the world until 10:00 p.m. PST on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at which time the numerical savant Random.org will pick a winner. And, guys, don’t be shy – I have quite a few male followers and we know you care about your health and family and desire abs like Mario’s, too 😉
Thanks for playing!
“Thanks again for voting my muffins into today’s Foodbuzz Top 9!” 11.11.11
Comments are now closed. Thanks to everyone who participated!
The winner is: Aubrey: littlegray88 at yahoo dot com
I can’t wait to try these muffins! I love the banana and coconut combination and the use of applesauce to reduce the fat content is a real plus. Fantastic recipe.
Hi Priscilla-Love the shot of you and Mario;)Your muffins look fantastic. I can’t wait to hear more about your trip:)I’m off to “like” your new FB page. Congrats on the new page:)xx
Well, I already liked your new Facebook page even before you had this giveaway. That’s just how much I love you, and your blog 🙂 Sorry I have been so MIA lately. I know you’ve been traveling too. Life is just CRAZY sometimes!
Of course I liked your She’s Cookin’ page! And one thing that struck me was: Bachelor but Family Cooking? What? LOL! But he’s cute, the food looks fabulous and he’s got a French bulldog so all is fine with me 🙂 And our favorite healthy food? Big mixed salads with an Asian twist.
Hi, Jamie,
Thanks for liking my page and leaving a comment! Mario Lopez is no longer a bachelor – he’s married and they had their first child last year, but we don’t expect you to know that, being a Francophile, now!
Recipes like this make me really sad I can’t eat bananas! I really love that it uses whole wheat pastry flour – love adding that to my baked goods.
These muffins look fantastic! I “like” you on Facebook.
These muffins sound hevenly!! Especially with a HUGE cup o joe!
Those muffins sound so good! I am going to have to try those once I get some bananas that are ready. What a treat to meet Mario!
Yum, those look good! I would love to win the book!
Shoot…I thought you were giving away Mario Lopez! Still, his book is a good thing too.
I had to do the same thing Priscilla. Really stupid Facebook. Hundreds of followers for old site name and I’ve had to start over. Not being a huge fan of Facebook before, that sort of put me over the edge and I pay even less attention to it.
The muffins sound terrific…thanks for sharing them with us.
I liked your new FB page!! Love the new logo, my fave healthy food is banana bread. Fruit + carbs = healthy right?
I already like the new page, and darn I thought you might be giving away a date with Mario or something, lol. Great review and that must have been just awful getting that photo with him.
-Gina-
Welcome back! These muffins sound really delicious – and I just love that they’re healthy for us too =)
yeah welcome back Priscilla! Oh wow you got to meet Mario! He’s so cute 😀 Your banana coconut muffins look so delicious! Yeah I was confused with your facebook page too. Oh well, now I can refer to the right FB page 😀
Your new page looks great! As well as does the cookbook, not to mention the delightful muffins 🙂
What Barb said – I thought Mario was the prize. 🙂 Great giveaway!!!
xoxo
Heather
p.s. I liked your FB page.
Hi Priscilla, You went all Holywood with Mario Lopez:). Love hearing how your blog evolved and just liked your new FB page!! 🙂
These look so good. I wish someone would sneak into my house and bake these for me before I woke up.
Actually, that would be creepy.
But that’s how good they look! Heading over to Like your new page now!
Gorgeous coconut muffins. I need to bake these for the holidays.
I just made Mario’s recipe for Paella- Style Chicken and Rice, which was wonderful, so I would certainly like one of his cookbooks. I’m heading over to your FB page now.
I “like” your new Facebook page
Cool giveaway ;-))
Those muffins look fabulous!
I like your fb page!
i like your new fb page
littlegray88 at yahoo dot com
Great photo of you and Mario – I love the shift and new direction your blog has taken!!
Hi, You have a new follower from India now. Loved going thru all the recipes and feel quite happy about the quality time spent at your space. Liked your FB Page too. Just now I posted a banana chocolate chip cake in my space and here I find yours.. I love coconuts in any form. So bookmarking this. will try it out and get back to you,
Congrats on the Top 9!! Those muffins look and sound insanely delicious! Have a great weekend!:)
Love the muffin recipe! They look absolutely delicious 🙂 And congrats on top 9!
I like Mario Lopez’s values and habits. He has the cutest dimples!. My favorite healthy food is bananas, but only if they are partially green. Once they turn yellow they become too mushy for my tastes!
Hi Priscilla, Congratulations on the Foodbuzz top 9 today! So deserving with these scrumptious and healthy muffins. The pictures of Mario and his dog are adorable 🙂 Good luck to all the participants. I love the shot with you and Mario, you look gorgeous. Ah the things a girl does for her blog 😉 Have a great weekend.
Thanks Nancy 🙂 Mario is every bit as nice as he is adorable! Thank you for tweeting the giveaway also. *hugs*
I like on FB!
I saw a photo of these muffins few days ago and I kept telling myself, I have to come and check the recipe! I love this exotic combo. Banana and coconut, so delicious!
You look great in your photo with Mario! And your new FB page is awesome!
Priscilla – you had me at Banana and Coconut. Can’t go wrong in anything with that winning complimentary combination.
Wow, to meet Mario…he’s sure a cutie – will have to check out that cookbook. 🙂
Love the new name and look forward to seeing what’s to come!!
What delicious muffins…what a lovely post and review…and what a great giveaway! I’m happy to hear you have a facebook page. And I’m happy to hear your sweet voice. You always make me smile. Congrats on Top 9 too!
I liked your Facebook page!
Love the recipe..and totally want to bite my ** because I missed your giveaway!!! Congrats to a lucky winner!
Muffins look and sound PERFECT!! and congrats on meeting Mario, what a great photo of two of you!!!