Today marks the 56th day of unemployment, or should I say extended vacation. It has been a time of relaxing with a classic, enjoying endless dates with my husband, and working out at the gym only to indulge in baked goods. Somewhere in the pages of Anna Karenina, Levin's simple outlook on life taught me something about myself. He traded the prestigious life of politics and advanced education for one of hard work in the country. Levin had a keen desire to work with his hands matched by an unfading need to love and be loved. Thoughts about marriage and a house full of his children occupied his dreams. The sight of a loving husband and wife heightened his awareness of being void, and only intensified his need of love. Levin wanted life with a satisfying purpose and someone to share his pains, joys, and dreams. I discovered two things about myself in Levin's character. I am in constant need of love. I receive it with a verbal "I love you" affirmations and caressing touch. John 15:9 says "As the Father has loved me, so I have love you. Abide in my love". There is no amount of wrong that I can do or any amount of good that I can do to lose or gain God's love. He loves me completely. I'm reminded that my real need for love will only be satisfied in God's steadfast love. Secondly, like Levin, I too have an instinctive desire to work. David will often catch me pacing between rooms looking for work to be done. The shuffling of papers and grunting from heavy lifting is heard from the living room as I frantically clean the office clutter. I'll even be irrationally disappointed with my day if I didn't cross anything off my "to do" list. I start the morning with hot running water and a sink full of foaming bubbles. The dishes are done and the kitchen clean before 9:00 a.m. An instinctive need to work with abundant free time is a recipe driving me bananas.
However, tomorrow vacationing will be over and work will fill my days. The eagerly anticipated school year will begin. The school bells will ring and the once abandoned halls will be swarming with kids buzzing with chatter and excitement. I will start my job as a para-professional for the Vermillion School District. The hair-pulling, going crazy bananas will be swapped for the wildly enthusiastic "I will be working" bananas. Not to mention I am going to swamped with the Wellness Center's orientation to be a personal fitness trainer for the Biggest Loser Program. I am going bananas.
I only then thought it appropriate to make banana muffins.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Banana Muffins
- 1 & 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 cup rolled old fashioned oatmeal
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup ground flax
- 2 very ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (I used creamy)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 bag dark chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line muffin pan with muffin liners.
In a large bowl mix together the whole wheat flour, oats, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
I another bowl combine the mashed bananas, flax, sugar, vanilla, and peanut butter. Then slowly add in the milk while mixing.
Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir to combine. Be careful to not over mix-- just make sure that all the flour is combined into the wet mixture.
Fill the muffin liners 1/4 full. Then place chocolate chips in each muffin liner. (I used about 4-5 morsels per muffin). Divide the rest of the batter between the muffin liners. Put the muffins into your oven on the middle rack. Cook for 18-24 minutes.
Let cool for several minutes and then go bananas!
*recipe adapted from forealslife.com/blog
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