French Braid and Chocolate Muffins

A couple of weekends ago I kept K while D was on call for the weekend.  Friday night we made cookies.  Then Saturday K got up early, ate some cereal while I made pancakes for the next morning (a great idea if you have hungry kids who want to eat IMMEDIATELY and can't wait on you to make something), then we got dressed.  I asked K how she wanted me to do her hair and she said "a braid!"  So, I tried a French braid.  The first time it was too loose and crooked.  For some reason I couldn't get the braid straight...so I did a side French braid! 

Turned out pretty cute if you ask me!  Sunday after church and a nap (for K...just as I was falling asleep she got up..."Good morning!!!") we went back to D's house and made...gasp!...

 chocolate muffins for him.  It was a recipe that I found when searching for "chocolate chunk muffins."  Now, this is a healthy recipe...but D did eat them. There was something a little missing in them; the bites with the chocolate chunks in them were really good...without, not QUITE enough flavor.  Not really sure what I'd add.  I'd probably play around with these again...unless D doesn't want it again.  He's the chocolate fan!  :-)

Triple Chocolate Chunk Muffins

1 3/4 cup	Oats
3	Egg whites
3/4 cup	Unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup	Unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp	Vanilla extract
1/2 cup	vanilla greek yogurt
1/2 tsp	Cream of tartar (or 2 tsp. vinegar) - didn't have this, may have made a difference
1 1/2 tsp	Baking powder
1 1/2 tsp	Baking soda
1/4 tsp	Salt
1 cup	Hot water
1 cup	splenda
1/2 cup	Chocolate chunks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with foil cupcake liners, or spray muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

In a small food processor, blend oats until they are ground.  Then mix all ingredients together in a bowl on a mixer.

Gently stir in 1/2 of the chocolate chips (set the rest aside). Scoop mixture into prepared muffin pans.

Place muffins tins in the oven for 15-20 minutes.Cool muffins before removing from pan. ENJOY!!!