mmm mmm good (:

...i was on a new food blog i had stumbled across the other day. it's called An Edible Mosaic and it has all sorts of unique recipes. i found one for pistachio-chai muffins and just had to try it! (i love pistachios and chai!) so i made them for my cooking adventure and they turned out to be AMAZing. like seriously good. if you like chai tea you'll love them! i also made glazed pork chops & apples for the main dish. i found this recipe in my cousin Maria's cookbook. the chops were fairly easy and delicious! i then made butter-toasted carrots for the side dish, which i've posted on here before. (click here) it's a super quick and tasty way to cook carrots.

Recipes:

Pistachio-Chai Muffins
TIME: 28 minutes  YIELD: 12 muffins
 Muffins:
cup milk (I used 1%)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup coconut palm sugar (or lightly packed brown sugar)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 chai tea bags, opened (I used Tazo Organic Chai)
1/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/4 cup shelled roasted, unsalted pistachios, chopped

Glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2-3 teaspoons water

Directions: 
[1] Preheat oven to 375F; line a muffin tray with paper liners (or butter and flour the muffin wells).
[2] Pour the milk into a medium bowl and drizzle in the lemon juice; let the milk and lemon juice sit for 3 minutes without stirring or moving the bowl.
[3] Whisk together the flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and tea in a large bowl.
[4] Stir the oil, vanilla, and egg into the bowl with the milk/lemon juice.
[5] Stir the wet ingredients into the dry all at once, being careful not to over-mix.
Scoop the batter into the muffin tray and sprinkle the pistachio on top.
[6] Bake until a toothpick inserted inside comes out clean, about 16 to 18 minutes. Cool completely.
[7] Once the muffins have cooled, make the glaze. Whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla, and enough water so it reaches your desired consistency.
[8] Drizzle the glaze on the cooled muffins and allow it to set before serving.

Glazed Pork Chops & Apples
SERVES: 4
 Ingredients: 
4 boneless pork loin chops
3/4 tsp. rubbed sage
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. Canola oil
1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. chicken broth
1 Tbsp. cider vinegar
2 medium tart apples [thinly sliced]
4 tsp. brown sugar

Directions:
[1] Preheat oven to 350
[2] Sprinkle pork chops with sage and salt
[3] In a large skillet, brown chops in oil on both sides. Transfer to an 11" x 7" baking dish coated with cooking spray.
[4] Stir flour into the pan drippings until blended. Gradually stir in broth and vinegar. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes until thickened. Remove from the heat.
[5]Arrange apples over chops; sprinkle with brown sugar. Drizzle with broth mixture. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 160.