Yummy Healthy Edible Muffins

Fanua, Naki and I discovered these oh so yummy! muffins at a local bakery in Boise when we were waiting for the 5K run to start one brisk, early morning in October. Since then I've tried several times to recreate this memorable taste by trial and error; heck, I even buttered up their local newspaper columnist to request and publish the recipe (to boost their readership s0 badly needed) with no luck. Anyway, Nana, Tori & Mele, Fanua, Nisi, & Anna's families have been my willing taste test guinea pigs and by George, I do believe I've nailed it! Here's Dylan gleefully scarfing one and the other photo is Fanua, Amanaki and myself awaiting the start of the fun event.

Mum's Morning Glory Muffins (ala Zeppole’s Bakery, Boise, ID)

½ cup white flour

1 cup whole wheat flour
½ cup ground flaxseed meal

¾ cup white sugar
½ cup brown sugar

1 TBSP cinnamon
2 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt

3 eggs
½ cup pumpkin puree

¼ cup oil
1 TBSP vanilla

1 cup grated carrots
1 cup grated zucchini

1 apple, peeled & grated
½ cup chopped pecans

½ cup crushed pineapple (drained)
1 cup raisins (soaked in OJ or pineapple juice– to cover raisins)

Preheat oven to 375 deg. Spray or lightly oil 18 muffin cups.

Large bowl – whisk together eggs, pumpkin puree, oil & vanilla.
Medium bowl – flour, flaxseed meal, sugars, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda & salt. Stir in carrots, zucchini, apple & raisins. Add to pumpkin puree mix until just moistened. Add pecans & pineapple.

Spoon batter into muffin cups, ¾ full. Bake for 20 mins. or until they spring back when lightly pressed.

The Office

As in my favorite TV show...seriously, who could not love The Office?

And not the British version, the US version. Having grown up on British telly, I find it mind boggling that I'm not a fan but really, the US version is just my cup of tea. I'm almost done with Season 5 (yay NetFlix) and it only improves with each season. My girls love this show and in my office life I can relate - there's a Dwight Schrute in my office, a Toby, a Jim, a Pam, a Daryl, a Ryan, definitely quite a few Kelly Kapoor's (hello, I'm in Utah...ha ha), ditto Phyllis. They all rock - Stanley, Creed, Oscar, Angela, level headed David Wallace, The Nard Dog, Meredith, Kevin, Jan, Karen & Holly. But Nisi reckons I am most like the quirky, insecure and loveable Michael Scott - I just want everyone to be happy. You nailed it...ha ha.

Zucchini Pineapple Bread

A tribute to my daughters who love to cook and here's to the abundance of summer zucchini! This is my favorite recipe for zucchini bread and credit goes to Paula Deen (fun & super talented cooking guru). The pineapple makes all the difference and this recipe beats the other zucchini breads/cakes I've baked, hands down! Plus, it's Nana's favorite as well.

Ingredients

1. 1 3/4 cups sugar


2. 1 cup vegetable oil


3. 3 large eggs


4. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract


5. 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour


6. 1 teaspoon baking soda


7. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon


8. 1/2 teaspoon baking powder


9. 1/2 teaspoon salt


10. 2 1/2 cups shredded zucchini


11. 1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained


12. 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 2 (9x5-inch) loaf pans.


2. In a large bowl, combine sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth.


3. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Add to sugar mixture, beating until smooth. Stir in zucchini, pineapple, and pecans.


4. Pour batter into prepared loaf pans. Bake 50 to 55 minutes, or until a tester inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.

Makes 2 loaves

Maui No Ka Oi

In early June, a group of my SkyWest girlfriends and I went to Maui for a few days. We are long time friends (Jill Jones, Marla McDonald, Karalee Smith & Larraine Caldwell) united by our place of employment but friends because well, we're a super nice, fun loving bunch of ladies who enjoy traveling, laughing, eating and shopping. Stayed on the Wailea side of Maui at the WorldMark timeshare condos. We rented a mini van and aside from the swap meet, Kihei cafe/Zippy's (& more) dining, ABC store, early morning walks & beautiful downtown Lahaina we spent equal time at the beach and resort swimming pool working on our tans.

You are the butter on my bread & the breath in my life

Meryl Streep will surely get an academy award nomination for playing Julia Child in "Julie & Julia". All characters did an awesome job, it was mostly wholesome and so sweet! Funny, delightful and quality relationships which was inspiring. Go see it!

Mele's Hair Accessories

Check out my creative daughter's (Meletule) original and noteworthy bridal hair accessories on her website http://www.tulet.etsy.com/etsy.com/

Update - Latanya's Yap Address

Please write Latanya in Yap (packages & letters anticipated and gleefully accepted by Sister Pikula)

PO Box 456

Colonia, Yap 96932 FSM

Naki is in da house!

Amanaki Matagi turned 1 on May 29, 2009 so Fanua & Sefa had a birthday bash shingdig for our cute Naki during the Pikula family reunion. Folks, ignore the "7" birthday candle on this one year old's cake. Winn Co must have been all out of the "1" candle. Comments from studly Naki's parents will surely follow. We love you Naki! Mum xxxx

Wayne & Annie's Wedding - Photo Link

Check out the professional (and very beautifully captured) photos of the happy couple's wedding. http://kayleentphotography.blogspot.com/

Paris in the Spring Time

Oh yes I did... I went to Paris in the spring time (just like the song). WOW oh WOW! My coworker Jill Jones and I flew to Paris in April for a few days. The Louvre, Versailles (my fav), Monte Martre, Sacre Cour, Champs Ellyses, Notre Dame, riding the metro (surprisingly easy), eating crepes & chocolat croissants (oh my) - bakeries are on every corner. We walked miles daily and needed to (after failing to pass up yet another bakery). Jill got us a great deal at the Paris Hilton, we didn't take enough Euros but money exchange booths were readily available. What a trip! Can't wait to go again - hopefully this time it will be a trip with some of my kids.
Magnifique! Sensationnel! Merveilleux!

I'm Baaaack!

My excuse for not updating is I forgot my gmail logon & password and finally figured it out! So much has happened since my last posting. My oldest handsome son Wayne got married to beautiful Annie at the Mt. Timpanogos temple June 19, 2009. Pikula family reunion was held around their wedding so it was a great week! Latanya is LOVING her mission, especially being in Yap and becoming fluent in the language. Milika's kids have been doing great in sports with Breana excelling in track and field. Nisi's family has been enjoying the summer break - school is only 2 weeks away. Anna and her 3 little ones have attempted to come to SGU for a well deserved break but we're still waiting... Fanua & Sefa will head out for a mini vacation in August and I'm going to Boise to watch Naki - yay for me! Mele had a debut showing of her stylish hair pieces at the MOST beautiful La Caille restaurant in Little Cottonwood Canyon (trust me, when I do start the dating game thingy, a lunch/dinner date WILL happen at this little piece of heaven). Check out Mele's web at tulet.etsy.com Tori has had a memorable, fun filled summer - Bear Lake, etc. Joe FINALLY got a job - SLC airport food catering planes. His passion is rugby and he's quite the studly stud. Wayne also got a job at Delta (ramp agent) - just ask me how excited I really am to have Delta flight bennies!! Oh yeah, my new passion is Zumba! Discovered this heart pumping, fun filled aerobic work out (music is awesome!) so when I'm not traveling I go about 4x per week. Love it!

March - month of family celebrations!

March 15 - baby Nisi Alexis Chanova Kuma's blessing in Salt Lake. Daddy Sione Kuma gave a beautiful blessing surrounded by many family and friends in the blessing circle. Jaxon wasn't feeling well and clung to his mom; Miss Taisa was dressed to the nines with a cute headband, pretty spring dress and waiting for me to show! Mele & I took Jaxon after sacrament while Taisa went to nursery. We all ate around 5:30 with delicious food prepared by the Kuma's and then I flew out that evening. Joe also drove up with his buddy so was there for the event. Milika and baby Mele got bumped and sadly did not make it on the flight.

March 18 -Andy & Milika Moeai's anniversary. Happy anniversary to the parents of some of my precious grandchildren (Wes, Noa, Breanna, AJ, Malie & Mele.

March 19 - Wes turns 14. Hard to believe the oldest of my grandchildren is more handsome than his Uncle Joe. Wes, you are such a cutie and we love you!

March 21 - Nisi's birthday. Happy birthday to my #2 daughter - enjoying life with her lovely family and a flourishing business.

March 23 - Brooks turns 8. A talented, happy and fun loving boy - happy birthday Brooks! We love you.

Sister Latanya K. Pikula - Micronesia, Guam Mission

Latanya sends her alohas and ofa atu lahi to all her friends, fans and family. Loving Guam, loving the people and truly loving the work she was sent to do. Her outgoing personality, happy dispostion, strong testimony and love for life has contributed to her success in reaching out to investigators and members with baptisms already under her belt. She has a wonderful companionship with Sister Kanakom (Thailand) & Sister Loeak (Marshall Islands) - they are very sweet and enjoy working together. Please write to Latanya as she does get homesick and really really really wants to hear from you - (letters and packages)

Sister Latanya Pikula

Micronesia Guam Mission

PO Box 21749 GMF

Barrigada, Guam 96921

Congratulations Wayne & Annie

My romantic son Wayne proposed to his sweet girlfriend Annie Mailo last month in Lanai. He respectfully asked Annie's dad (Ken) and then proposed to Annie while they were on the island. Wedding date June 19, 2009 Mt. Timpanogos Temple - woo hoo!

My grandkids are the cutest! Yes, they are...

Anna wrote about Siutaisa, her almost 3 year old recently...

Monday we took the kids to the temple and after we were done I went into the car with Jaxon and Nisi (cause I can't bear the cold!) and Sione took Taisa to the waterfall at the Conference Center so they could throw pennies.

Sione: Throw your penny and make a wish!

Taisa: What?

Sione: Make a wish means what do you want?

Taisa: I want to go potty.

Not everyone can be thin, but everyone can be fit.

"Get moving!" I remind myself daily. Working at a computer and sitting for 10 hours a day just isn't what God had in mind when He created our bodies. I have not done His plan justice and it's apparent in my BP levels and heart health (thanks Grandpa! sheesh...) so I keep my Ipod charged and buy quality running shoes (Saucony, my personal fav). Thankfully I live in a hilly location so my personal gym consists of the hills near work and home. When Latanya ran her 1st 1/2 marathon 2 years ago, she did it without music - that's right, no Ipod!?! I couldn't go 10 minutes without music recharging my drive... Paying tribute to the inspiring marathoners, runners or walking heroes in my life - Mum (Nana), Nisi & Anna (SGU Sand Hollow marathon), Fanua (yes, Fanua & I walked Amanaki on the 3 mile Boise walk for health run in 2008), Milika (always running), Latanya (SLC 1/2 marathon 2007), Mele & Tori (always a gym membership on hand), Wayne & Joe (cute sports jocks - rugby, football, wrestling, golf...) and of course Chelsi Dawn Petersen - if you were fortunate enough to know her (and her family), it was instant love. She inspired us all!

Welcome to my blog!

My kids have been nagging me to put up a blog so here it is! Ta da! (as Jaxon says...) Label me a very proud mother of the beautiful and talented Pikula Angels. We moved from Hawaii to the southwest and have enjoyed our tour of duty - SGU has been good to us and for us. Over the last several years some of my kids have married and started families of their own, headed off for college and LDS missions or the bright lights and jobs of SLC have quickly claimed them.

So I'm transitioning from the survival mode to enjoying life more. Personal health, working "smart", using my vacation hours for actual vacations, loving and supporting my kids, grandkids, mother, brother & immediate family, working on my debt snowball, monthly "ladies night" at my house are some of the goals I've been having fun with this year. My cup runneth over, I am truly blessed!