Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins for the Weekend
It’s currently baking weather. Seriously, when I opened the weather app on my phone it just said “Baking Weather.” Actually, it said nothing of the sort, but it also didn’t say anything about it being a blizzard outside when I would be walking home from the gym, therefore I’m declaring it useless and using my own instincts to proclaim it a baking day.
Snow + gloom + not wanting to work on my resume = baking day.
Simple math, folks. And let’s not mention that that happens to be the only math I’m capable of doing. I was an English major after all. We don’t do well with math and science. Which is why I won’t be going into the medical field, thankyouverymuch, Mother.
Anyways. I think it had something to do with the giant poppy seed muffin an ex-co-worker (how’s that for hyphenation?) was eating the other day, but I was struck with the strong need to bake up a batch. Let it be known that you can find poppy seeds on the baking aisle with all the other spices. It will cost you $3 and you will probably never use it again, but like I said, it was a strong need to bake up a batch.
I halved the recipe. Because I can’t trust myself around baked goods? Absolutely not. Because when you live in a two-person household where only one of you is helping eat baked goods and the other is going out at 9 PM on a Thursday to get a pint of Ben and Jerry’s that they will finish in one sitting, you risk the chance of having those baked goods around for too long and getting a distinct whiff of mold when you go to put a piece of zucchini bread in your mouth. Not that I would know anything about that.
I used sour cream instead of buttermilk because it’s what I had on hand. And if you have to ask why I keep sour cream on hand, you clearly don’t eat enough sour cream.
I think that’s why the texture of mine is more biscuit-like than muffin-like, but those imperfect little muffin tops are what we like to call character. Or what I like to call delicious. And these really are. Especially when you wait the full 18 minutes it takes them to bake stalking to oven, switching the light on every 2 minutes and eating one right out of the oven without waiting for it to properly cool. Even though I’m pretty sure I only have half the amount of taste buds a normal person has (read: a person who doesn’t burn their tongue on daily basis), I can tell these are good.
Craving satisfied. And just in time for the sun to come out 🙂
Have a happy weekend, friends and make these muffins. And you know what? Go ahead and make all 12. You’ll thank me later.
The Truth About Girl Scout Cookies
Two days ago, I had sent Joey no less than 3 texts asking important questions. You know, stuff like “Even though I don’t have a job, can we still afford to take a vacation to Europe?” or “How do you turn the TV on?!” Pressing stuff.
When he finally replied, it was with “Do you want Girl Scout cookies?” I asked if he had gotten any of my texts and he replied, “Yes I did. Do you want Girl Scout cookies??” Then he proceeded to call me to ask what kind of Girl Scout cookies I wanted. Either a Girl Scout had a gun to his head or he really likes those cookies.
Even though I distinctly remember telling him to get a box for himself and I would just have some of his, he returned home with four boxes. Did you know there’s 11 different kinds of GS cookies?? I guess I should be glad he only came home with four.
I’ve always been under the impression that I liked GS cookies, with Samoas and Tagalongs being my favorites, but after opening those boxes last night, I stand corrected. Guys, those cookies are not good. And it has nothing to do with the fact that hydrogenated oil is one of the first of like a million indecipherable ingredients listed on the box — if there’s peanut butter or chocolate, I’m willing to overlook those kinds of things. It has everything to do with how they taste like poorly made junk, and can we just talk about the size of the cookies? If I’m going to eat a cookie, I need it to be a substantial size. I get the feeling you would need to eat at least one sleeve of GS cookies to get your fill. I think I’m starting to understand why he came home with four boxes.
Of those four boxes, one tasted like a chalky and sour punch in the mouth.
Another tasted like how I imagine a dog treat would taste like. I wish I was kidding.
Don’t even get me started on Thin Mints. What is it with those cookies??
I still stand by my opinion that of all those junky cookies, Samoas and Tagalongs are the least horrible, but seriously, save your money for the Boy Scouts. You can’t mess up popcorn, right?
P.S. Can you go to jail for speaking out against Girl Scout cookies??
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Do you ever buy Girl Scout cookies?
Do you have a favorite?
Is there a product or trend that you can’t understand the popularity of? I would add Twilight, beer and Taylor Swift to that list.
National Peanut Butter Day
Did you know today is National Peanut Butter Day?!
I’ll admit, I had no idea. Thank goodness for Twitter, the home of real news.
Maybe I didn’t notice because everyday is national peanut butter day in my life. And speaking of things you were born loving, peanut butter is my most primal favorite food. I can remember having a banana and peanut butter as a nighttime snack when I was younger, smearing some Jif on a slice of bread, folding it in half and washing it down with a glass of milk, slicing up an apple and dipping it in the jar and how could I forgot the DQ peanut butter sundae phase I went through.
Through thick and thin, peanut butter has been a life long love. It’s just one of those foods that I will always with associate pure, simple, honest happiness.
So in case you’re at a loss for how to celebrate this most monumental of national holidays, I give you my 5 favorite ways to eat peanut butter.
1. On a banana or with an apple.
I don’t know what people who don’t like peanut butter or who are allergic eat as snacks.
Nine times out of ten, if I need a snack some fruit and peanut butter is my number one choice. It’s filling and delicious, yes please!
2. Peanut butter toast.
Peanut butter toast is one of those things I can trace back to early childhood and my mom.
Joey thinks the idea of warm melty peanut butter for breakfast is nauseating. I think he’s completely insane.
Who doesn’t love having a sticky mouth?!
3. In cookie form.
Have you ever had one of those giant peanut butter cookies they sell at Whole Foods? If you ask me, that’s the epitome of a perfect cookie.
4. In a dressing.
For some reason, I’ve spent the past 22 years overlooking peanut dressing. For shame!
If you need a good one, this is my personal favorite.
5. The classic: a good old PB & J.
I can be quite the food snob, but even I will admit there’s nothing like a plain and simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Nothing fancy. Just a two slices of bread and a couple minutes of work.
There’s only one rule. PB & J gets cut diagonally. No if, ands or buts.
I could list about 100 other ways you could enjoy peanut butter, but sometimes it’s the simple ones are the best. In that case, I guess I should have just taken a picture of me eating peanut butter with a spoon, huh?
Happy National Peanut Butter Day!
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What’s your favorite way to eat peanut butter?
Is there something in your life that represents pure happiness?
Lauren Loves Good Food 