I am not big on breakfast. While I enjoy traditional breakfast fare, I rarely crave a spread of eggs, sausage, pancakes, toast, etc. However, I am a big believer in breakfast.  I think it is essential to kick-start your metabolism in the morning, and I know that a fiber-rich breakfast will keep me from snacking later in the afternoon.

So when I ran across this recipe, I was anxious to try it. These muffins are certainly filling. Equal parts oats and whole grain flour, without even a pinch of butter, make them a healthier choice than an Otis Spunkmeyer, but you can really taste the difference. They taste... healthy.  

It's just been 3 days since I've made these muffins and they are already pretty gross.  It must  be the applesauce and the blueberries, because the muffins are wet.  They even smell a little funny. Sadly, I would have to recommend against this recipe.

Oatmeal Blueberry Applesauce Muffins

Originally Published by Joy the Baker

Makes 12 - 15 muffins

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/4 cups oats

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 tbsp canola oil

1 large egg, lightly beaten

3/4 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)  -- I used one full cup

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper cases or spray with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, baking powder,  baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. In a medium bowl combine applesauce, buttermilk, sugar, oil, and egg.  Make a well in dry ingredients and add applesauce mixture. Stir until just moist. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups 2/3 cups full.

Bake for 16 - 18 minutes.

It doesn't get much cuter than this.

It's finally time for the NCAA tournament. I look forward to this every year. In July, I'm already pining for March.  

Being a natural gambler, I am quick to fill out my bracket and I religiously monitor my progress and that of my competitors.  I have scoreboards ticking away on espn.com at all hours of the day, and while at work, I quietly cheer for my picks.  Most of the early games take place during the work day and it is a good thing they do.  

I am a sucker for the underdog.  The minute I start to watch a powerhouse team walk all over a team like American University, I secretly start to pull for the little guy. So here I am, glued to the games, hoping my bracket prevails, but secretly wishing for an upset. Maybe just once...but certainly not against of my favorite teams.

On Saturday, March 14, I became an aunt. Jacoby Drew Hawkins was born at 10:28 p.m.  I can't wait to meet him next weekend!

As you know, I typically write about the books I read in the sidebar. However, I've read a book that so moved me I felt I had to write about it here.

I read a lot. Many of the books I read I enjoy, but there are few that draw me in so completely that I continue to think about the characters long after I've finished the book. And while I am reading, I am engrossed fully in the story, feeling what the characters are feeling, happy when they are happy and even crying when it is sad. Ok, sometimes bawling.

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak is one of those few. I picked it up at the library book sale because I'd seen it on the NYT Bestseller list, but knew little about it. The book was originally published in Australia as mainstream literature and is now labeled young adult, though I find this arguable.

To quote The Book Thief

It’s a small story really, about, among other things:
A girl
Some words
An accordionist
Some fanatical Germans
A Jewish fist fighter
And quite a lot of thievery

Obviously, I highly recommend this book.

Theresa, if you haven't read it already, this book will be waiting for you in Kentucky when you return to the States.

Below I've posted some photographs I took while taking a walk through the neighborhood.