Camp Mom: Day One

Simon and Winston’s last day of summer Discovery Club was on Friday. Typically, they would spend the last two weeks of August visiting their grandparents in SoDak or hanging with a nanny, but this summer, since I remain blissfully unencumbered by a job, the boys are attending Camp Mom. This rigorous, two-week session involves infinite fun for a six- and an eight-year-old boy and their mom. On the itinerary: eating, mini-golfing, swimming, movie-going, cooking, playing with friends and more!

We kicked off Day One with a little baking. The boys each did their part—one with the wet ingredients, the other with the dry ingredients—in measuring, mixing, and baking banana-chocolate chip muffins. The recipe (which follows) is an adaptation from one that we found on a bran flakes box—no lie! It has become a family favorite so much so that I’m not allowed to replace it with any other banana-chocolate chip muffin recipe. When I figure out how to effectively replace the sugar sweetener, this recipe was be uber-healthy instead of just a little healthy (there’s a good amount of fiber, easily consumed). This morning’s version was made with less than ripe bananas (touches of green) and turned out just as well as if the fruit had been overripe (quite frankly, black), which is typical. Also, we used silicone liners in the muffin tin to great effect—the muffins slid easily out of the liners, perfectly golden, and clean up was a breeze. A worthy, small investment.

For the most part, we hung around the house this morning, getting our bearings for the week and making plans (stay tuned!). The boys sorted their Pokemon card collections into families (I have no idea what this means), while I engaged in my usual morning online routine. Later, John came home for lunch and fixed us the most amazing BLTs, made with awesome ripe tomatoes from the St. Paul Farmers Market. Tomatoes are one of my very favorite parts of summer.

After lunch, the boys helped me run an errand at Target (we needed teeny, tiny, delicate halogen lightbulb tubes for the boys bath, which serves as their hall nightlight). Then we saw Star Wars: Clone Wars at AMC Roseville. The boys LOVED the movie. Although I’m a big fan of Star Wars—episodes four through six—the animated movie just wasn’t my thing. In fact, I’m somewhat amazed I was able to sit through the movie. It wasn’t horrible, but I did find the battle scenes somewhat mind-numbing and felt absolutely no attachment to the prequel characters. Did I mention that the boys loved it? Well they did, and if your kids like animation or Star Wars, chances are they’ll like the movie, too. And, it’s all about the kids, isn’t it? And the popcorn.

Camp Mom is off to a really good start.

Banana-Chocolate Chip Muffins
adapted from the Post Bran Flakes box
makes 12 muffins

1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
2 ripe bananas
1-1/2 cups bran flakes
1/3 cup chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. In a small bowl, beat eggs with fork. On a plate, mash bananas. Stir bananas into eggs. Pour banana-egg mixture into dry ingredients and blend until moist, but do not overmix (some lumps are okay). Add bran flakes and chocolate chips, and stir until incorporated.

Fill muffin tins two-thirds full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until muffin tops are golden brown and toothpick inserted in muffin center comes out clean.