It is so lovely for you to visit. I am just about to make myself some tea. I decided to stay home and rest today because I am feeling really "pants". I wish I could stop getting sick! I think my body might be taking the brunt of this more than I thought!!
There is something about baking that makes me feel so accomplished. And if you get to share with others, they get so excited when you give them a muffin!!
I am delighted to share the recipe with you!! Here it is:
From Mollie Katzen's Sunlight Café
Cherry-Vanilla Ricotta Muffins
2 cups of unbleached flour 1/2 teaspoon of salt 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda 1 tablespoon of grated lemon zest 1/2 cup of sugar 1 cup of ricotta cheese 1 cup of buttermilk 2 large eggs 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted 1 1/2 cups of cherries (fresh or frozen, undefrosted), pitted and sliced, or 1 cup of dried cherries
Grease 12 standard sized muffin cups.
Combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, lemon zest and sugar in a large bowl. Make a well in the center.
In a medium-sized bowl, beat together the ricotta and buttermilk. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well with a metal whisk after each addition. Then, beat in the lemon juice and vanilla.
Pour the ricotta mixture, along with the melted butter and the cherries, into the dry ingredients. Using a rubber spatula, stir from the bottom of the bowl until the dry ingredients are just moistened. Take care not to overmix.
Spoon the batter evenly into prepared muffin cups. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 - 25 minutes, or until lightly browned on the top and a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean. (If you are using frozen cherries, the baking time will be a little longer because the cherries contain more liquid). Let the muffins stand in the pan for 5 - 10 minutes, then transfer to a metal rack to cool. Wait at least 30 minutes before serving.
Let me know how it goes! I expect a full muffin making report!!
'm going to make aa batch tomorrow morning- so exciting because I loved baking pre-bomb and haven't even turned the oven on since H left. I will definitely let you know a) how I get on with the recipe and b) how much weight I put on from eating the delicious goodies when they're done!
How are you feeling today? I hope the tea helped you feel a bit less pants. Are you going to rest this weekend? I am prescribing rest, a good book and lots of delicious treats. And maybe some higs. Heree's the first one!
On Thursday I stayed home from school and just slept, and Friday I had to go in for orchestra rehearsal (I'm not allowed to miss right before a concert) but still got lots of rest. I had a very quiet evening, making Broccoli Cheddar White Bean Soup and then Chai Chocolate Pots de Creme, which I had been meaning to make for a while.
This probably sounds silly, but I also watched a little bit of "Lost" the 2nd season. My B got into "lost" before I did, and asked me to make a pact to watch every single episode, in order, over the course of our lives. So it was our special show. I have been holding up my end of the pact post-bomb, thinking it would be kind of romantic after we (hopefully) get back together to tell him I was waiting to watch the rest of Lost with him. Does this sound crazy? But I started finishing the season 2 DVDs. I decided it would be "OK" if I only finish Season 2. Has anyone else had thoughts like this??? It sounds weird that I am even thinking about it, but I thought someone might understand.
I also had this weird moment a couple afternoons ago where the whole R just seemed like this crazy, distant dream. Has anyone else had those feelings?
The funny thing about being home and resting is I can become aware of how I am still thinking about this all the time, whenever I'm not doing something too demanding. I guess that's what is good about music, it takes up all my brain space and gives my head a rest from thinking about the R.
I also ran into some stuff about depression on the MLC and Depression thread. I had to laugh at myself because especially right after the bomb I definitely was showing major symptoms of depression and anxiety, and maybe still am a little. But around bomb-time, so was my B. I think I didn't really see it because I just thought what depression looked like was acting sad, but now I have better information. It is funny that there are still layers of the crisis unpeeling themselves, even almost four months after the last bomb.
Tonight I'm going out to see a movie with a good friend, and maybe dinner too!
I hope all of you have beautiful weekends ((HUGS)) T
Thank you so much for your message, you made me laugh out loud!!!! Let me know how the muffins turn out! I realized after I put up the recipie that you probably have to do metric conversions on all the measurements but since you are a *scientist* that should probably not be too difficult??
I love my special new name!!
(((ONE DAY I WILL BE QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE)))) transformer
I made the muffins today and they were AMAZING!! In fact after making them I'd eaten so much mix and then muffin I had to sit on the sofa (couch?) all afternoon rubbing my tummy and saying 'Mmmmmmmm'.
Oh, and no problems with the measures- I have a set of 'cups'. The go beautifully with my falsies!!
I can understand the feelings about the R seeming like a crazy, distant dream. I sometimes find myself wondering whether my H and I were really ever together, and whether I imagined the whole thing. It's sad isn't it? It even makes me sad writing it down actually. (((T)))
Hope you're having a fab day today. I'm just trying to decide whether to go to a birthday party or not, but you know, I think I might stay in with a book and eat more muffins. Enjoy the movie tonight.
L.xx
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart. And you'll never walk alone.
Oh my gosh, it makes me so happy to imagine you eating those muffins!! I'm glad you have a set of 'cups' to go with your falsies!! You make me laugh so much!!
It actually helps me feel better to know that sometimes you have the "crazy distant dream feeling" also. I am sorry to bring up something sad though. Is this a stage of detachment or something? I thought it might be a sign that I was losing my marbles, but maybe it is all part of the journey!
Maybe you could take some muffins to the birthday party! But I fully support staying in with a book & eating more muffins solo as well. Down time is important!!
I noticed you left traces just a few moments ago. Can you please give me a reciepe (SP?)of the simpliest muffins you have? Chocolate muffins (my son loves them).
Oh yes, we all have this kind of thoughts. Some of us daily. Some times I am afraid to relax, besause I am worried I will ALLOW this thoughts to come rushing in... But I am getting pretty good at stopping them early enough to where I don't get really depressed...
Oh and about the "Lost". One of my goals is to take the kids for a ski weekend (they don't ski but to the snow). I am deliberately -subconciously putting it off because this was one of our best moments of the year and I don't want to do it without him. I guess I'll have to because the snow will soon start melting...
Well, all the muffins are gone! I think there will definitely be another batch made next week!!
Originally Posted By: transformer
It actually helps me feel better to know that sometimes you have the "crazy distant dream feeling" also. I am sorry to bring up something sad though. Is this a stage of detachment or something? I thought it might be a sign that I was losing my marbles, but maybe it is all part of the journey!
I think you are totally NOT losing your marbles- you are right on the money!! The distant feeling, I think, is a by-product of detachment, and I DO think it's part of the journey. I'm glad it made you feel better that I feel like that. It really made me feel better that you felt like that too!
Hope you've been having a good weekend. I am about to start jumping up and down on my new mini-trampoline. It's so fun- every time I get on it I feel like I'm 5 years old and can't stop giggling!
Sounds like the muffin making is starting to be contagious. I haven't made any but I did buy some last week!! I guess that means I can be in the muffin eating club!
Here is my recipe for Chocolate Ricotta Muffins!! It's from Mollie Katzen's cookbook "Sunlight Cafe". A little bit special because of the ricotta, but still very easy to make. And I see they already have converted the measurements into metric! Let me know how they turn out!! Thank you always for sharing your thoughts and letting me know I am not alone with all my funny thoughts
((HUGS)) TRANSFORMER
Chocolate Ricotta Muffins:
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
1 1/3 cup (320 ml) milk
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
4 tablespoons (57 grams) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 1/3 cups (325 grams) all-purpose flour
1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup (35 grams) Dutch processed cocoa powder, sifted
1 cup (170 grams) semisweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Place rack in the middle of the oven. Line 12 muffin pans with paper liners or spray with a non stick vegetable spray.
In a medium sized bowl, whisk the ricotta cheese and then add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the milk, vanilla extract, and cooled and melted butter, mixing well. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder. Add the ricotta mixture to the flour mixture. Stir just until combined and then fold in the chocolate chips. Do not over mix this batter or the muffins will be tough when baked.
Divide the batter amongst the 12 muffin cups using two spoons or an ice cream scoop.
Place in the oven and bake about 20 minutes or until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
Makes 12 regular-sized muffins.
Source:
Katzen, Mollie. 'Mollie Katzen's Sunlight Café'. Hyperion. New York: 2002.
