Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Plum Yogurt Muffins

Yogurt Plum Muffins

Please take a moment to marvel at these thighs. (And, disregard the gratuitous add for the brand name diapers that we received from the hospital.)

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While generally I would not be so bold as to be so self-promoting, in this case, those thighs are thanks to me. My little Tiger loves to eat, and I have been on call 24-7. It is a very new sort of relationship.

My Belle has always been far too busy to enjoy a meal. (Though now at the ripe age of 2, ice cream is something I have found she can make time for.) When I nursed her, I remember tickling her little toes to get her to eat. During those feedings, there was frustration on my part and snoring on hers.

At the hospital with the Tiger, she fed more than any other baby. No, I am not being hyberbolic—the lactation consultant came to give me a gold star for my efforts. (Yes, we thought the gold star was hokey too.)

So what have I been eating in this one-handed life? Well not as much as I had hoped after the year of nausea. I am trying to make and eat grab and go food heavy on the nutrients but easy to eat when you are carrying around a small human. I have also been adding flax seeds, chia seeds, brewer’s yeast, and wheat germ to things—pasta sauce, calzones, gratins, salad dressing. My husband has been surprisingly calm and silent about this. After going through pregnancy and post-pregnancy before, he has clearly wizened up to the ways of the hormones. And, apparently in it for the long haul, he knows better than to start the great “Flax Seed Fight of 2009.”

In some cases, he has even endorsed these recent experiments outright. These muffins, he said, are “actually really good. I mean, you should have made a double batch.” The “actually” does of course imply a sense that there were other items in the past that were the opposite of good and that his comments in those cases weremisleading if not actually false. But, hey, why should I start the great “ACTUALLY??!! Fight of 2009”

Yogurt Plum Muffins

Recipe:
Plum Yogurt Muffins
adapted from Rose's Recipes

Separate 2 eggs. Whip whites.

In a large bowl, mix:
3/4 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
2 large egg yolks
1 T ground flax seeds
3 T orange juice
1/2 t vanilla
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 t almond extract

To that bowl add each successive ingredient and stir to combine:
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
¼ cup ground almonds
2 tsp. baking powder
pinch of salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
3 T wheat germ

Fold in the whites.

Fill muffin tins to ¾ full. Top with thinly sliced fruit.

Bake at 350 for about 10-12 minutes. (Watch them and check at 8 minutes and then 10.)

15 comments:

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Such a beautiful post!

Melissa said...

Actually! Ha!

You always make me smile MM. In either amusement or joy, or in this post, both.

Thighs! Hee! =)

Soma said...

Awwwww. sweet little baby:-) How exciting & congrats!! you are already back to cooking & baking!!

my dd2 had to be tickled & undressed to be fed & probably still does!

All i can do is stare at those cute legs.

Sophie said...

Lol I am familiar with the 'actually'. I think they look so yummy, I love the top, so pretty! What a cute little photo!! Baby toes are the best!

Reeni said...

What precious little baby legs! The muffins look scrumptious - love how you put the fruit on the top instead of inside.

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Those muffins look very promising! I love plums soooo much!

Those thighs are so pretty ;-P!

Cheers,

Rosa

Elizabeth said...

What do you do with the two extra egg yolks? (Why do I suddenly think of Hollandaise sauce?? Especially when I know that making Hollandaise sauce one-handed would be a major feat.)

So you think that the egg whites really made a difference to the texture of the muffins?

-Elizabeth

P.S. In re peach lassis: I know that ginger works well with peaches because I often add ginger. But what a great idea to cardamom and pepper!! But if you try this combination before we do, do let me know what you think.

Johanna GGG said...

those thighs are mighty impressive - as is your commitment to good food - these muffins look wonderful - makes me long for plum season!

Anonymous said...

These are simply gorgeous! I love the plum flavor, can't wait to try these delicious muffins!

grace said...

wow. i LOVE the splayed plum slices on top--they make for a really attractive muffin! very nicely done!

lisaiscooking said...

Those are adorable thighs! And, the muffins sound delicious too. The fruit slices on top look great.

pam said...

The muffins really do sound good. Really. And those baby thighs...ahhh!

Alicia Foodycat said...

Magnificent thighs! You do good work.

Very nice muffins too.

we are never full said...

CONGRATS!!! those thighs! THOSE THIGHS!!! adorable. really, congrats!

Caitlin said...

I attempted this recipe today and failed miserably. It seems there is a very delicate balance here and I disrupted it by substituting the white sugar with 1/2 cup of honey. They were still uncooked after 25 minutes of baking. That's a pretty big kick in the pants after I whipped egg yolks by hand, hand squeezed an orange, hand ground flax seeds and spent 10 minutes chopping almonds. My toddler and I were quite sad that we couldn't eat the "muh muhs" (muffins). I'm sure they're delicious if done right but I don't think I have the patience to try again.