Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Zucchini Banana Muffins - Dance Mom Approved!

Our girls lit up the stage!!!
Dance Photos: Kit Chow - San Diego Photographer & Dance Dad


I'm a Dance Mom. And I'm proud of it.  However, while Liv and I can't get enough of the Dance Mom show on tv, I'm happy to say that my reality is far different from their reality show.

Our two worlds do combine with closets overflowing with fancy costumes, rhinestones littering the kitchen floor and talented dancers whom we try to keep healthy and strong.  Not in our world though, are the backstabbing comments, ridiculing teachers, and moms who are above nothing to see their daughter get a better spot in the line up.  

Dance Moms meet Twitch!
I'm lucky to be surrounded by Dance Moms who have proven to be some of the most supportive friends a Mom could ask for.  We are the girls' personal planners for their weekend competitions, we dress them during quick changes, change hair styles and put together costumes.

And it was last week that brought costuming to a whole new level with:

 The Boots

Our own Miss Abbie decided that she wanted boots for her small group tap number.  Not just any boots, but colorful boots.  Neon colors, at that.  I'll spare you the creative details as we tried and failed and then tried again with different tools.  Lets just suffice to say that my husband didn't eat well last week, Liv Life didn't get updated and the house is still a bit messy.

Luckily, Miss Abbie liked them.  But like any good dance teacher, she knew we still had more in us and she asked for embellishments.  Several trips to multiple craft stores and even more hours later we had a finished product.

The transformation.... Paint on, paint off, new paint on, glitter on, embellishments on, laces on.  Taps... on.
My husband laughed at the long hours Liv and I put into these babies (more he grumbled at the lack of homemade dinners...), but Liv and I smiled when we finished and thought, "They look good".

Liv & The Boots rock the stage!
Packing our treasures ever so carefully, last Friday we hit the road for beautiful Upland, California for the team's first competition.  Lacing up our creations, the moms stood back and thought "I sure hope nothing falls off... but damn, those boots look good!"

And they did.  The girls nailed the number, garnering compliments back stage from other studios on the "cool tap boots" and cheers from the audience for their performance.

Apparently the judges liked the boots too.  Well, perhaps it was the performance, but I'm thinking they might have been blinded by the beauty of the boots while they awarded the girls not only a 1st Place overall but also named KixMix the top scoring number of the day.  Way to go girls!!

The boots rock.
Photo credit:  Kit Chow

And these muffins rock too.  Healthy, delicious and fuel providing for the girls, they didn't last long and I've even had requests to bring more for the next event.  Thanks to Savoring the Thyme for a wonderful recipe, I'm thinking these beauties will be traveling often with The Boots.



Zucchini Banana Muffins


1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose-flour
3 Tbs oat bran
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup honey
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup applesauce - no sugar added
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup grated zucchini
1 ripe banana, mashed
raw sugar

Preheat oven to 375º.

In a large bowl combine the flours, oat bran, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder, and salt.  Whisk to combine.

In a smaller bowl combine the honey, brown sugar, canola oil apple sauce and eggs.  Whisk to blend.  Add the vanilla extract and whisk again.  Add the zucchini and banana to the wet ingredients... and whisk again.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients  and stir just until combined, being careful not to overmix.

Spoon batter into muffin pans, or mini muffin pans and sprinkle with raw sugar.  Place in the oven and bake.  For full size muffins bake 25-30 minutes, checking at about the 20 minute point.  (insert a toothpick and if it comes out clean they are done!).

For mini muffins bake 12-15 minutes, or until the toothpick comes out clean or the muffins spring back when touched.  Cool for a minute or two on a wire rack, then remove muffins to cool completely.

1st place overall

 

21 comments:

  1. Oh, boy do those boots rock!!! So fun! And the memories you and Liv and the girls made are so much more important than a clean house or an updated blog! Congrats to the girls!!!

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  2. PS...forgot to mention how fabulous those muffins look!

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  3. Love the dance photos and the costumes! You must be proud! The muffins sounds delish too :-)

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  4. Fun boots! what kind of paint did you use?

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  5. Congrats Liv and team!!! And congrats to the pround moms :) The pictures are incredible and the girls are SO beautiful and full of life... the muffins sound awesome, Kim! I love zucchini breads and you can be sure I will make these and love them! Thanks for sharing :)

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  6. Oh my goodness! You moms work just as hard as the girls just in a different way and I'm sure you know that more than anyone! :)

    Those boots look super cool but I think they look even better with the full ensemble! What an incredible job!

    I could have used those muffins last week. I made zucchini lemon muffins but they didn't turn out so good. :( I'll just stick to recipes like the one you made. :)

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  7. Congrats my friend :D
    Eveyrthing sounds wonderful and those boots look like they are made to celebrate and dance!
    And these muffins - fit to be devoured - YUM!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru
    Latest: Rich Sticky Date Pudding w/ Butterscotch Sauce

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  8. I'm laugh when I saw that boots! I think that not just rock, but cheerful! and I feel the boot brings spirit for the girls, Congratulation btw. and the muffin looks Rocks too!

    cheers

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  9. These muffins sound irresistible! Two of the best breads combined in one muffin?! Amazing.

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  10. congrats to all. those boots are great :) and i'm sure the girls put them to good use.

    the muffins also look good. zucdo you think carrots could be substitued for the zucchini is not in season here and i don't have any in the freezer - do you think grated carrots would work as a replacement?

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  11. Congrats to Liv and the girls! Looks like they rocked it! Always so rewarding for the girls when their hard work pays off.

    I love those boots, so much fun! I might wear them just out with my friends hehe ;-)

    Your muffins are fabulous! I always love anything with zuchinni in it because it adds such a nice touch of moisture. Great job!

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  12. Those boots are super-fun--and they look great onstage! Congratulations to the girls.

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  13. Wow, what a spectacle! :) Congratulations!

    And the muffins sound delightful.

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  14. Love the color in those boots! And the zucchini in the muffins...they remind me that summer is coming soon!

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  15. These look incredible! Last summer I made zucchini cornbread muffins, and loved them. I am definitely going to try these, I love banana in everything!

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  16. Kim- I first want to say that you are such a wonderful momma and sure hope to see you around Southern Cali this year. Those boots and muffins Rock Baby! But just one question; can I get a pair in size 8 1/2? And maybe colors that will match my red hair. :)

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  17. Kim,
    Kudos to you and the other dance Moms, creating such fun boots. And of course Congrats to the dancers and all of their hard work and First Place.

    Your muffins were a winner, too. love the banana zucchini combo

    Have a great weekend!

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  18. Oh woooow...Congrats!!! She look amazing Kim, as well as her boots:)
    Your muffins are perfect way to celebrate the occasion!!! Have a wonderful day sweet lady!

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  19. Hi, Kim. Catching up on your posts--last week was kind of a blur. I don't know how you can blog with all you have to do but I have enjoyed getting a glimpse of Liv and her dancing and you as a dance mom. Those boots rock and the dance shots are awesome. The muffins are great, too, but they definitely don't outshine your daughter on stage. I bet you are one proud mama. :)

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