Spring Flowers 2014!

I hope you've had a fab week back to school/work after a lovely long weekend.

The weather was lovely a few weeks ago so I had the opportunity to take a few pictures with the Sun out. I was planning on getting some more and posting this actually at the end of Spring but the weathers hasn't been amazing recently so I thought I'd just share what I got now!

Good hiding Beth aha!

I hope the person who owns this house doesn't mind being on here! It was such a good photo opportunity how could I not.

How picturesque (big word I know). I can almost imaging a little fairy living in that trunk.

And what a fabulous view that fairy would have as this is directly opposite!

Pretty in pink.

"Buzzzzzzzzzzzz"

Cherry Blossom are one of my all time favourite flowers, they're so delicate and pretty!

Living in the coutry side has it's draw backs but all these beautiful flowers and nature make it a lovely place to walk through. I hardly edited these pictures at all as to keep it as close to what they really looked like.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday,

Love Vic x

PS.  I won runner up in the competition I entered this muffin recipe into last week so I you HAVE to try it now!

PPS. I was so happy I ran upstairs and woke my Mum up to tell her!

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Healthy Raspberry, Banana and Chocolate Chip Muffins!

Raspberry, chocolate and banana muffins

This is a recipe I created for http://celeryandcupcakes.com/2014/04/07/healthy-baking-competition-for-all-you-baking-enthusiasts-out-there/ and I'm actually really pleased with them! 

They still taste delicious  but you can feel slightly better about them due to there reduced sugar, reduced fat and addition of raspberries, banana, wholemeal flour and even dark chocolate has been proven to have health benefits. If you want, you can add a handful of nuts, orange zest, shredded coconut - the choice is endless!

Makes 12 muffins or 14 squares as I baked mine in these tins.

175g/6oz margarine

170g/4oz caster sugar

1tbsp honey

2 medium ripe bananas

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

250g/9oz flour (1/2 whole wheat ½ plain flour)

1 level teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

2 eggs

1 egg white

75g/4oz raspberries

50g/2oz dark chocolate chips/chunks

Preheat oven to gas mark 3/160 deg C/fan 150 deg C/325 deg F.

1. Place the margarine, sugar and honey in a saucepan over low heat stirring to melt. Leave to cool. Mash banana.

2. Sift the flour with the bicarbonate of soda and stir in about 1/3 to the melted margarine and sugar with a wooden spoon.

3. Whisk the eggs and white together until paler and foamy. Add ½ the beaten eggs.

4. Add another 1/3 of the flour mixture.

5. Add the rest of the beaten eggs, along with the mashed bananas, orange juice, zest and chocolate.

6. Fold in the last 1/3 of flour, followed by the raspberries.

7. Scoop into greased muffin tin and bake until well risen and a skewer comes out clean of the muffin. Approximately 20 minutes.

Love Vic x