Yummy Fall Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

I don't know where this recipe came from.  As it's written, it's not vegan, GF or DF.  I just adapted it to fit our family's lifestyle.  ENJOY!

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

3/4 cup sugar (I used 1/4 cup of Turbinado an it was plenty sweet!)
1/4 cup vegetable oil (I used 1/4 cup applesauce.  This cuts back the fat content, adds flavor, and more nutrients.)
2 eggs (I used ground flax seeds instead.  Use 1 tbsp. ground flax seed/3 tbsp. water for each egg.  Due to the moisture of the pumpkin, I didn't need to add the water to the flax seed.)
3/4 cup canned pumpkin (Whole Foods often has organic pumpkin on sale this time of year.)
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (I use Bob's Red Mill GF all purpose flour)
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. ground cloves  (I didn’t have this in my spice cabinet and it still tastes like fall.)
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips (I use the WF brand vegan chocolate chips.)



DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease and flour muffin pan or use paper liners.

2. Mix sugar, oil, eggs. Add pumpkin and water. In a separate bowl mix together the rest of the dry ingredients. Add wet mixture and stir in chocolate chips.

3. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake for 20-25 minutes. (I baked mine for 20 minutes and they were just right!)

Slient Screams

“Silent Screams”



I screamed so many times but no one ever heard

The pain was there, the anger true, yet didn’t say a word

Muffled time and again by someone else’s need

Always, their desires, their screams that I must heed



I hold my baby as she cries

Letting all her anger fly

Wondering how it would feel to not have it all tied up inside

I want to let it out, to finally be free.

But all too often I’m still swept up in someone else’s need



The words of my scream must finally be heard

If not, lies will win; not giving them the last word

Behind the walls, with loving eyes, I’ll give the rage its face

I’ve found it’s not my own, began long ago, another time and place



I fight for now, to feel myself alive within my skin

Groping blindly, missing moments, still I won’t give in

Sit with sadness, embrace joy, listen to the ache

For now it’s not just for me, my heritage at stake



I hold my baby as she cries

Letting all her anger fly

No more wondering, I cry with her as I’m freed with tears long passed by

I let it out, I’m finally free

Not consumed, yours and mine – humanity’s - great need