How to Prevent Muffin Top in Fashion

I was trying to tell my sister today that after loosing 20 lbs I would of thought that I had dropped 2 or 3 sizes but NO I only went down 1 size. Not that I am complaining I have not been in a size 8 for years. So, I was asking her about some Maddie pants but could not find any BKE capri's that I did not have a little "muffin top". My sister asked what is a "Muffin Top". which prompted me to write this blog. So for all of you that are not familiar with this term PLEASE read on.



There is nothing worse than walking down any street in America and you will see the muffin top. No, it's not a baked good. Even though these are WONDERFUL.










A muffin top is a condition that happens when the belly spills over the waistband. It is a curable condition; just follow these steps to get rid of your muffin top.










This is how to avoid this mishap.

Step 1. Wear clothes that fit all of you. Your hips may fit a size 8, but your waistline is busting out of a ten. Wearing clothes that fit your whole body prevents the restriction on the abdomen, which leads to a muffin top.


Step2. Wear a size larger. The long-standing myth is to make yourself look smaller by wearing smaller clothes. Well, this is how a muffin top is formed; the tight waistline constricts the belly fat, pushing it up and out of the pants. Find your size, and then go up one. Contrary to belief, a size larger is flattering on a woman's figure. The clothes lay on the body, accentuating it, not clinging to it for dear life.


Step3. Get rid of the belly fat. There are several ways to rid the abdomen of the fat that causes a muffin top. Weight training, cardio exercises and eating well are a few ways to reduce the belly fat, and eliminate the muffin top.

Step4. Banish those low rise jeans. They were once thought to prevent a muffin top, but low rise jeans actually create one. Go for the mid rise jeans which have an added bonus: they prevent the showcasing of your underwear to that world--an unwanted feature of low rise jeans.

Now that you are hungry here is a true Muffin Top recipe

Blueberry Muffin Tops Servings: 12 regular size muffin tops or 6 jumbo muffins.

Ingredients:

Batter: 3/4 stick 6 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/3 cup whole milk

1 large whole egg

1 large egg yolk

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)

2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

Topping: 3 tablespoons (1.5 oz/42g) COLD unsalted butter, cut into bits

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

3 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Special equipment: 2 muffin-top pans, each with 6 (4 x 1/2-inch) muffin-top cups (1/2-cup capacity
Instructions:

1. Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Generously butter muffin pans.

2. Melt butter in a small saucepan over moderately low heat, then remove from heat. Whisk in milk, then whisk in whole egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until combined well.

3. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest (if using) in a bowl, then add milk mixture and stir until just combined. Fold in blueberries gently but thoroughly (if using frozen blueberries, do not thaw. Also, whether using fresh or frozen blueberries, toss blueberries in a little flour so the berries don't sink to bottom of muffins or muffin tops).

4. Divide batter among the 12 muffin cups, spreading evenly. For Topping and Baking Muffins:

5. Rub together all topping ingredients in a bowl with your fingertips until crumbly, then gently pat evenly over batter in cups.

6. Bake until golden and crisp and a wooden pick or skewer inserted diagonally into center of a muffin comes out clean, 18 to 22 minutes.

7. Cool muffins in pans on wire rack for 15 minutes, then run a knife around edge of each muffin top and carefully remove from cups. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Where To Buy Muffin Top Pans Muffin top pans are available at cookware shops and can also be purchased online at Cooking.com, Amazon.com, King Arthur Flour's website, Crate and Barrel's website and at many other Internet cookware stores. How many Muffin Tops does this recipe really make?

***Even though this recipe states that it makes 12 muffin tops, I have found that it can easily make 6 very large (jumbo) muffin tops OR 12 regular size muffin tops. Using almost all of the batter and filling the 6 muffin top cups to the top is easily achieved without having to use 2 muffin top pans. You may have a small bit of batter leftover which you can spoon into a paper muffin liner and bake along with the 6-cup muffin top pan.

ENJOY

Anal Organizing

As I have said many times I like to organize. An anal trait I have I guess. Since my business has been very slow with the current economy I decided it was time to start Spring cleaning. I have 1 room at a time and started to do deep cleaning. Isn't that what we all do? Right cleaning is on the top of your list I know. This was last weeks project.

All cleaned and in order. I had NO idea just how much crap was expired. I threw away 6 bags of stuff that either expired or had NO expiration date on this stuff. I can see once again every thing I have and my kids will not be able to tell me. Mom this expired years or months ago.

Try this. One day at a time and see just how good you feel.

Just when you thought it was safe!

Just when you thought it was safe for grandma to take the grand kids shopping you turn around to find your grandson hit the concrete floor and split his chin open. Poor Jax's ran over to me and I thought he was just embarrassed so I told him " you are tough" great comment don't you think. What the hell was I thinking. I said let me look and see if you are ok. Well, he wasn't I had blood all over my coat and he had it on his coat and the floor. I quickly asked the clerk for a Kleenex's and band aids. It was split open the size of 2 nickles. I figured we were heading to the ER for stitches. I am always so careful to watch them. Yeah right don't trust the old lady with grand kids I was sure Mom and Dad were thinking when I talked with them. So I packed up the boys and off we went to the Veterinary office. I know you are wondering "is she fricken nuts"? Dump lady the ER not the vet. Ok don't freak out yet, you see we own a Veterinary hospital and my husband was on call and Jax's Dad was there working. I wanted them to take a look and see what damage I caused and than make a decision for stitches or NO stitches. Great news a little surgical glue, a couple butterfly band aids and we were off again to try shopping once again. So I am telling all you grandparents never assume because that is when it happens.

The greatest guy in the world

My "hubster" (sorry Kelly had to use that it is so darn cute to say) told me he never knows what to get me. Really I am not that hard to buy for I love anything. So for Christmas (had to set the scene) he got me a Sapphire and diamond necklace to go with my ring and bracelet he had bought last year. I know what you are saying. She is really spoiled. Well ok I am. Like I said I am the luckiest lady to have a wonderful "hubster".

Last night when I was cooking dinner for him I had decided that I had been on this diet and could not take it any more.

I asked my hubster if he wanted some wine with his meal. I was not eating but the wine sounded wonderful, a real drink after only having diet tea, water and 500 calories a day for 35 days. Did not take me a second to get the glasses out and the wine opened when he said yes. Nope not a second. ...............

Before I knew it my hubster was gone and when he came back he had these beautiful earrings all wrapped up telling me Happy Valentines Day.

To top the evening off we enjoyed a box of strawberries from Sheri Berries my favorite place.

So now today I had to get back on track to complete the weight loss program. What a drag..........................

Valentines and grandkids

I was working in my office when one of my grandsons came in and handed me these beautiful flowers. He said "grandma happy valentines day and thanks for all you do for us." They are so precious.

Grandmas Valentine Decorating Cookie Day

Be ever so careful to decorate the famous Valentines cookies. Ava was very neat as she smoothed out her frosting until.

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Her hands became sticky with frosting. I told her to just rub it on her new apron. So she did and on we went with the project.

Is this not the cutest picture. I found this apron and I have one to match so when we cook we can look alike. I love my aprons!!!!!!!

But as Colin could see the frosting was just as good as the decorating and decided to show me how to make a mustache.

He very carefully spread various colors to show off his creations.

It was very important that we all have aprons so I gathered what I had making sure Jax and Colin had boy aprons on.

Jaxon was so careful to make sure it was just right and if some spilled over he would say "sorry grandma" I would just smile and tell him that is what makes a good cookie is a little mess now and than. He just smiled and continued on.

With the creativity flowing the little bakers continued on until all 12 cookies were decorated. They did not even stop to eat the candy which I had to say was a surprise. Now you judge for yourself if these are not absolutely beautiful masterpieces.

Pizza Surprise

As you can see it was pizza making as I watched my adorable grand kids yesterday. I remember as a little girl making these pizza's out of biscuit dough and smearing sauce on the top and putting on the TOPPINGS!!!!!!!!!! Oh what memories this was. Ava does not like to have messes on her hands so as you can see she was a little bent out of shape. As far as the boys go well they were making each one PERFECT.

Oh Jaxson just could not wait any longer as he told me "grandma this sauce is so good with a little cheese on it."

The final results were Oh so good. Colin kept saying "I can eat 10 of these they are soooooo good." The memories they give me are priceless.

As Colin went to bed all he said was "grandma can you make sure and tell Mom how to make these pizzas because I can eat 10 they were soooooo good." I told him his Dad knew how to make them because we made them when he was a little boy. Than Colin said "you need to make sure because I want to make them again." How adorable these words are to me. Simple things in life are all that matter. We should all learn from our kids and grandkids as to what is important.