English Muffins and Stuff

Question: Was I looking forward to going to work today after finally having time to relax?

Answer: No. So I didn’t. I’m sick, can’t you tell?

…just kidding. More like…I didn’t want to risk life or limb driving in. It’s a wonder I haven’t blown away yet. In fact – it feels like today has been twenty different days all wrapped up in one.

• Started off listening to wind howling, saying “oh hail no, I’m not driving to work,” and wondering when the roof was going to come off.
• Realized it was going to be a long day not being able to a. go anywhere, b. bake (…much…), or c. get things done on the computer (due to aforementioned problems). So instead, started cleaning. A little obsessively, I might add. In my mother’s words, the kitchen sink is now shinier than she’s ever seen it. And she’s a good cleaner.
• Listed stuff I will never use again on eBay. Like old show clothes so that I can buy new for (hopefully) next show season!
• Mourned the loss of power and started layering up. Just in case, you know, we were out for three days again. Sorted through recipes.
• Did an electricity happy dance when it came back on an hour later. Oh thank you lord.
• Shoveled. A lot. There’s a lot of snow. It’s also really windy. Every time I’d throw the snow to the side, it’d just blow back onto what I was shoveling. It took some crafty maneuvering, but ultimately – I came out on top. You will not hinder me, snow.
• Baked anyways.

Oh yeah, and was greeted at lunch time by THE best gift ever.

Jess sent me cookie dough balls!! It made me realize how I’m always the one giving away baked goods – and receiving baked goods from someone else (especially a wonderful friend!) was really exciting for me.

And my mom and her boyfriend. I’m told I’ll be making these soon. And I agree – they are phenomenal. See, for some reason I just kept putting off Mama Pea’s cookie dough balls (I don’t know why)…and Jess definitely found a way to suck me into the cookie dough cult! I’m not sorry.

Can you tell what else has gone on in my kitchen? Well, besides the gnochhi, various tofus, polenta-chickpea bake and cranberry-lime-coconut muffins?

You win…English muffins! Ever since buying the spelt English muffins that the Vermont Baking Company produces, I’ve been reminded of my slight obsession with English muffins. I mean, think about it…they’re soft, doughy, perfectly sized, crusty exterior and you can do anything you want with them. (oooh, racy.)

Add to that the fact that I had more fun making them than a cat has with a laser pointer.

Oh, and they’re easy. And now I have homemade English muffins. na-na-na-na boo boo!

I followed this recipe, though I think I ended up using 2 c. white whole wheat flour and only 1/2 c. bread flour.  Oh, and used honey instead of sugar. The only problem I had was that the baking soda was really difficult to mix in, and they could be a little sweeter. (well, according to my mom, it doesn’t bother me any.)

Of course, I don’t consider myself an English muffin conniseur. I enjoy them, but I don’t really care about nooks and crannies. I’m perfectly happy being handed a Thomas English muffin. Although these are way better, so that could change in the future.

I made some of them cinnamon-raisin, too. Though it didn’t backfire, next time I’ll have to remember to just create two separate batters from the get-go. Stirring in cinnamon and raisins after the dough had formed was also tricky…even if I did get sort of neat swirls of cinnamon 😉

And what better use for my homemade english muffins than to make flaxy french toast for breakfast?!

Oh, how silly of me – of course you can have better than flaxy french toast. Like when it’s smothered in maple peanut butter, grilled banana, raisins, maple syrup and sunflower kernels.

D’oh.

Santa brought me this peanut butter in my stocking. While I may have been on the fence about the previous Vermont Peanut Butter Company flavors – this “Harvest” peanut butter is a real winner. Like…I would take a bath in this if it was socially acceptable. Why bathing in peanut butter isn’t socially acceptable is a debate for another day.

Anyways. Does anyone else think grilled/caramelized bananas sort of resemble tongues? Because I do. And if I just ruined grilled bananas for you, I sincerely apologize, but I don’t mean it in a gross way.

Personally, I think it’s kinda cute! And you probably think I’m on crack right now, but it’s really just good old-fashioned time off that’s making me this loopy.

And in case you were wondering how I made my flaxy french toast (you probably weren’t) I’ll tell you.

I mixed together:

• 1 tablespoon milled flaxseed
• 2 T. So Delicious coconut milk yogurt
• 3 T. unsweetened almond milk
• hefty pinch of cinnamon

before halving an English muffin and soaking each half in it, on both sides, and poking the bejeebus out of it so it’d soak up the maximum amount of goodness.

I’ve also got a thing lately for grilling stuff in Earth Balance (or butter could be the alternative). It owns non-stick spray anyday of the week. Well, depends on the circumstances I guess because sometimes it’s just plain easier to use spray (like for muffins, or when you’re sauteein onions in olive oil…work with me here)

Anyways. I think you’ve heard enough from me for one day, even though it feels like I’ve got a whole load of recipes to share with you.

What’s your favorite snow day activity?

OH!! And because I forgot yesterday and was unable to deliver the message prior, Teddie says Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays:

…I don’t humiliate him or anything…not at all!