always on my mind.

There are several things that are always on my mind. The first one being home... I always want to be home, or making home better, or making myself better to make "home" better for myself and Patrick and the doggies. And I do have some good pictures to share, and some progress we've made on the house... but not quite yet.

The second one, lately, has been crossfit. I think this is a good thing. It has to be a great thing because Patrick and I are doing this together, and we haven't ever been fitter. Who knew I could ever learn how to do a pull up? I never thought I would, that's for sure. 

Patrick killing it on deadlifts. 

Me doing a toes-2-bar PR. 

Another thing that comes with crossfit is sticking with paleo... we started eating this way a while ago, but have really stuck with it and gotten some great results. I do, however, get the inevitable sweet tooth and craving for something "bread-y". Which is great, because then I get to make primal muffins. 

One of my favorites I adapted from this recipe for date muffins. I tend to substitute everything or modify an ingredient or two when I cook, so here is how I turned this horrible-for-you flour and sugar muffin recipe to something delicious:

• 1 cup milk - use no sugar added almond milk instead
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon orange extract or vanilla extract (i used vanilla)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, stir before measuring - use almond flour instead
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 2/3 cup sugar - DON'T USE !! use 1/2 cup pure VT maple syrup instead. This makes your muffins. for real. 
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts  - or whatever nuts you have, I didn't even put any in the ones in the above picture but walnuts or pecans are good in them
• 1 cup chopped dates
• 5 tablespoons butter, melted - I didn't use all this butter... start with 3 tablespoons or use coconut oil instead

Tell me I'm not the only one who cooks this way...