Zucchini Bliss and Erasable Pens

I got up this morning and made these:

Slightly overbaked, since I didn't take into consideration that I was using dark pans.  And we live at a VERY HIGH altitude (which sometimes really throws things off).  That solitary zucchini will at least be as thoroughly enjoyed as possible.  Here's the recipe (with my addition of whole wheat flour), just in case you have more than one.

Zucchini Muffins

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

2/3 cup skim milk

2/3 cup canola oil

4 large eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

3 cups shredded zucchini

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray muffin pans with non-stick spray or line with paper liners.  In large bowl combine dry ingredients.  In separate bowl combine wet ingredients, then add zucchini.  Add wet mixture to dry and stir to combine.  Divide among muffin cups.  Combine 4 tsp. sugar and 1/4 tsp. cinnamon and sprinkle over muffins.  Bake 25 to 30 minutes.  Makes 24 muffins.  (You can halve the recipe for 12.)

My friend Mindy has a chocolate zucchini cake recipe... sounds yummy!  I hope my three sad little zucchini plants can eke out one more squash before the first frost.  I looked the plants over today, and feel like it might take a miracle.  But I believe that miracles happen.  Maybe not zucchini miracles, but you never know.

And Mauri begged for an erasable pen after school yesterday.  Remember those trends I talked about last year?  Well, we're jumping right into the next new-best-thing in fourth grade.  Erasable pens.  Who would have thunk?

Luckily, we found some at Walmart.  (And lest you think I'm eager to run out and purchase my spoiled child anything she asks for, I was going to Walmart anyway.  If we couldn't find an erasable pen there, she wasn't getting one.  I haven't seen or looked for them since I was back in junior high -- or whenever it was -- when they first made an appearance as the latest and greatest new writing instrument.)

Not quite like the pen that whoever-started-it has from Walgreens that is fat, bulky, and has boy-appealing flame graphics on it.  But erasable.  That's the important part.

Mauri's done every bit of homework with it since (and she had a lot, since she just brought home the assignments missed while we were out of town).  She just can't wait to go show whoever that she has an erasable pen too.  Oh, the simple days, when an erasable pen could make you happy.