Sunday 28 January 2007

HAVE YOU SEEN THE MUFFIN MAN ????

I decided today that I must have a go at making the muffins from Elsie's
read the recipe from the computerThe idea of making a mixture up and then being able to keep it in the fridge; using as little or as much as you like at a time; really appealed to me. It was a new cooking experience for me as although I've made muffins before I always measure in ounces or grammes and Elsie's recipe measure in milles. I was so glad that I had a really big mixing bowl as I hadn't thought about the fact that Elsie makes her stuff to give away as gifts...so hadn't appreciated just how MUCH of the mixture I was making.
the mixture filled my largest bowl Still as it keeps in the fridge it doesn't matter too much; though next time I'll maybe halve the quantity. I hadn't been able to get buttermilk when I did my online shopping but thankfully Elsie responded to my query about an alternative....so I added lemon juice to our ordinary milk and it seems to have worked well. I cooked two batches; chocolate chipchoc chips
and coconut with cherries.coconut and cherries in these The chocolate chip ones I've put some chocolate icing on top of; I reckon with all that bran and wholemeal flour in they could be classed as healthy so we can afford to be a bit sinful.
My big problem came when I went to get my muffin tin out of the cupboard. It wasn't there!!!!...I haven't made muffins for ages and I've either stowed the tin away somewhere? or lent it to someone. Luckily I did have some muffin cases but they weren't very rigid so the muffins have sprawled somewhat........still "a rose by any other name?..."
after cookingI had to find are some guinea pigs to try them......Nicole,Manda and Chris came round so that we could give Nicole her birthday present..(a Playboy towel...it seems it's the "in" thing here for teenage girls to have lots of Playboy articles ...bet Hugh Hefner's making even more of a fortune out of it!)
ready for the beach....................they really enjoyed the muffins and Nicole is taking some to school tomorrow in her lunch box. I tasted one myself and am very impressed..they are really "wholesome" and taste great. Thanks Elsie!!!

n.b. For my non-British visitors;... the title of this post refers to a nursey rhyme I sang as a child;
Have you seen the Muffin Man, the Muffin Man, the Muffin Man
Have you seen the Muffin Man who lives on Drury Lane?
Yes, I've seen the Muffin Man, the Muffin ...etc.
( I believe Frank Zappa sang a different version).
n.b.2. For the British people who read my blog and know a slightly different meaning of the word muffin...........STOP GIGGLING!

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

They look more like branful bread rolls.

It did make me laugh seeing that bowl full to overflowing.

1st thing that's made me laugh all week...!

Christina S said...

Sorry - I always have to giggle ;-)

You're very brave, making cakes with your laptop right there on the worktop. If it were me I'd end up slopping dollops of mixture all over it I bet!

You look like you've made some yummy stuff as usual - good thing for you I'm not nearer than Bury or I'd be knocking on your door asking to be a guinea-pig!

RUTH said...

Glad you had a laugh GW...just been over to your blog..you sound pretty down.
Ruby; let's just say the words bomb and kitchen come to mind. I DID have to move the laptop in the end.

talj said...

Giggling? Me? Nooo I wasn't...honest lol :o) The muffin mix looked nice, I bet the finished ones were lovely!!! :o) looks like you had fun making them!! :o)

Elsie said...

Hey guys
You are not suppose to let this mixture rise.

Make and bake and leftover mix is kept in the fridge. The cold keeps it from rising.

Thanks Ruth, I really appreciate you taking the time to try this and even take pics and think you know how much I like your sense of humour. Muff.in man? Indeed, hehe

RUTH said...

The problem is when I'm cooking I have to do a bit; check Mick; do a bit; check Mick and one of the "check Mick" times came between adding the bicarb and putting it in the fridge. They are scrummy though and will be trying Elsie's Ultimate baking mix next time...you can keep that in the fridge for FOUR WEEKS!!!!

Elsie said...

I have just read your comment on my essential gifts post.

I will try your tips when I next bake a cake, thanks

Please tell me how I can grow my own lemon verbena - hairdresser lady would not mind sharing hers with me, but I would love to have my own. Gardening is definitely not my forte.

Even my lemon thyme died last year, and I did talk to it, too!!!

Smalltown RN said...

Those muffins look yummy!!!! Hey thanks for dropping by my blog...if you don't mind...may I ask how you found me? I like to know if it is just random or if you found me from someone else...regardless it's nice you made the trip.

As far as the "muffin man" goes....my mother use to sing that to us when we were kids...also when I was little it was in one of the nursery rhyme books....

I am really wanting to get into gardening this year....your blog looks like a place I will need to check into on a regular basis for some gardening tips!

Cheers!

RUTH said...

smalltown rn; think your name was on MyBlogLog and I just clicked on it. Always ready to help re gardening tips if I can.....you just may need to make adjustments as our weather conditions are different

Elsie said...

Thank you for the info re lemon verbena. I will really try to grow one,

The hairdresser's is rather like a tree, and just keeps on growing.

I have dried the leaves many times and use it in my wardrobes and linen cupboard.

Small sachets filled with the dried leaves are nice gifts, too.

Stay well

Lcxxx

Anonymous said...

Hi Ruth,

I just wanted to let you know that I have been reading your blog and have been thoroughly enjoying it. I don't have a blog myself, but just getting into gardening for the first time this year.

I can't remember how I stumbled upon your blog, I think it was a link from another blog I was reading (just typed gardening blog into google).

I just wanted to let you know that I think you are great. You seem to have endless energy (I don't know how you do it) to keep up with so many things.

I was originally looking for a blog on gardening, but I love to read about your family life. Happy birthday to your lovely grandaughter. Your poor son-in-law, posting that photo on your blog on his birthday! lol.

I'm married to a Mick too. I'm glad you managed to find your soul-mate. My Mick is my soul-mate too.

Thanks again for keeping us entertained. Your blog is the first thing I read when I log-on for the day.

Jo.

RUTH said...

Really pleased to meet you Jo. You should think of starting a blog; as you get into gardening it will be a good way of keeping a record of it. Any time you want any tips drop by and I'll do my best to help. Pity I can't send you a few plants over the net to start you off. Are you in England?
Elsie; I have read that they can grow really big...don't think we'd manage it here in England.

Annie said...

We've sung that song here in America. I remember singing it myself.

Today I made pancakes for breakfast and I had batter left over. I put it in the refrigerator and will try it tomorrow. Maybe it will be good again.

Pickledeel said...

Hi Ruth,
Thanks for dropping by. My kids had no idea about that nursery rhyme until the movie Shrek came along! A bit sad when the vector for culture is a cartoon. Anyway, pleased the blog bought back memories of Singapore - including the chit chats which can be very rowdy. Did you know you can tame them - they are great at keeping the cockroaches down! I have enjoyed your blog - but especially the human story behind it.
By the way have checked the "Australia" link - sorry can't help there. But there are papers that run those sorts of searches if you were inclined to touch base with them. Let me know and I can point you in the right direction.
Cheers
Pickled Eel (Bruce)

Jeanette said...

HI Ruth hope you didnt get any of the muffin mixture over the Laptop
The finished product look good enough to eat YUMMy Oh the Muffin man yep ive heard it many times And the little kids sing when the watch the movie Shrek. Take care ((((Hugs)))to you and Mick

Anonymous said...

Oh you are naughty - but I like you.

Wiggle wiggle

I am going to have a look and have a go myself.

Too good to miss.

Anonymous said...

Ruth,

Yes, I'm in England, Leeds in Yorkshire to be precise.

Thanks for your offer of tips, I'll bear that in mind when I'm stuck with something.

We only have a small garden here. I have one raised flower bed with a fence behind so I'm going to have a go at growing Sweet Peas up the fence and growing bedding plants to go in the bed, I love Petunias.

Because of the small garden I'm hoping to grow lots of things in pots, including veg, which is a little adventurous for me, I've NEVER grown anything edible before (well, I had a go at tomatos last year, and they were good).

I'm hoping that if I grow my own veg and get my kids involved in the growing aspect of it, it might encourage them to eat more veg.

Jo.

RUTH said...

Jo; the kids will love eating what they grow, and practically anything can be grown in pots even potatoes.Beans, peas, courgettes etc with big seeds are great for children as the seeds are big enough for them to handle.

RUTH said...

Pickled Eel; Used to name some of them and kept little eggs in a match box trying to hatch them. Thanks for checking the art link; the world is getting smaller all the time so who knows maybe one day!

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