December 25

Annie Lennox's Birthday

Christmas baby Annie Lennox was born in Aberdeen Scotland, and began her recording career as a member of the British pop band The Tourists. She, subsequently formed the pop duo Eurythmics with former bandmate David A. Stewart. The duo gained international prominence over the course of the 1980s with singles such as "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)."

In the 1990s, Annie embarked on a solo career and has since released four successful studio albums and a greatest hits compilation. In 2004, Annie won the Academy Award for Best Song for "Into the West" from the film The Lord of the Rings:; The Return of the King which also won a Grammy award and a Golden Globe award.

Annie s 1992 solo début album, Diva. It was a commercial and critical success, charting #1 in the UK, #6 in Germany, and #23 in the US. Lennox's profile was boosted by Diva's singles, which included "Why" and "Walking on Broken Glass". "Little Bird" also formed a double A-side with "Love Song for a Vampire,, a soundtrack cut for Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 movie Bram Stoker's Dracula. Her second release, Medusa, was released in 1995 and was an album of cover songs, including songs originally performed by Bob Marley and The Clash. The album was her second solo UK no.1 and the the single "No More I Love You's" received the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Annie has been named "The Greatest White Soul Singer Alive" by VH1 and one of The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine, Annie Lennox has earned the distinct title of 'most successful female British artist, in UK music history', due to her enormous global commercial feats since the early 1980's. Including her work within Eurythmics, Lennox is one of the worlds best-selling music artists, having well sold over 80 million records worldwide. She has also been a tireless AIDS activist raising millions of dollars for AIDS charities.

To celebrate Annie's birthday, what could be more appropriate than the classic Sweet Dreams and watching her perform in Edward II (1991)?

Sweet Dreams

Ingredients

1/4 cup instant oatmeal
1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 TB peanut butter
2 TB canola oil
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened and cut into
chunks
1/2 cup egg whites
1egg

1/4 cup frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
3 TB sugar
1 TB flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup mixed chopped frozen berries
Nonstick cooking spray

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Line 12 large (2-3/4-inch) muffin pan cups with paper or foil baking cups.
Place large skillet over medium heat. Add oats; cook and stir 3 to 4 minutes or until lightly
browned. Remove from heat Immediately, stir in graham cracker crumbs, peanut butter and
canola oil; mix well.
Divide crumb mixture evenly and press into baking cups.
Beat cream cheese, egg whites, egg, apple juice concentrate, sugar substitute, brown sugar,
flour, cinnamon and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium until smooth and fluffy.
Divide batter among cups.
Top with berries (about 1 TB per muffin cup). Spray tops with cooking spray.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until edges are golden brown.Remove from oven to wire rack; cool completely.