Tuesday, January 11, 2022

9:03 PM

   Hi! This is not something I ever thought I'd be chatting about, blog-wise!  But I want to share today's gift with you!  

Thanks to meds, my shingles are under control and not at all horrible, as they often can be. I always have pain in my right thigh, so this is just a little more and a little different. Distraction is good! Hence, muffins!

   For years, 3 freckled bananas in our house meant 'muffins'. I make that recipe almost without thinking. Today I tried a couple of new ones. I wanted to use oats & buttermilk, ended up making 'Lemon Blueberry' and ' Apricot Orange'! Larry & I agreed that the apricot was the winner. Each recipe made 20 muffins. As soon as they had cooled down, I wrapped them up, so they wouldn't start 'evaporating' each time Mr. B. passed by the kitchen. We went on our muffin run and threw some of the packages at our friends as they stood in their doorway. (Keeping safe distance.) A few friends were on a scheduled 7:00 zoom meeting, so we asked a mutual friend to let the host know to leave his door unlocked and we'd leave their muffins inside. Well… the door was not locked. The message was not relayed. Our friend screamed as he thought a burglar had entered his home. A good laugh in the end, but not at the time.

   One of the drops was to a family with four young children. Their little guy knows me as the 'muffin lady'. His name for Larry is 'Scarry Larry'! As it turns out, we've stopped by a few times in a year, with muffins or cupcakes, and it just happened to be one of the children's birthday that very day. They are always a delight. I'm always so moved that their family prays for me every day. One of their daughters has Covid right now. We hope the symptoms stay mild for her.

   Shortly after we moved here, we were on the elevator one morning, with my arms full of muffins, and I offered one to someone we had just met, from our building. She was delighted. Two years later, we saw her and she called me the 'muffin lady'. 

  So, the greatest benefit of baking muffins for me, other than taking my mind off of my shingles right now, is in giving them away. They may not seem like such a big thing, but the delightful response of a friend who gets, even just two is a gift itself to us. 

  Even if muffins aren't something you enjoy. I'm sure you know someone who does. It just might make their day a little better, when you surprise them with a couple you've just baked. Anything made with love is a wonderful gift.

God bless you and all they ways you have helped others through these past 2 years of challenges. xoxo

APRICOT OAT MUFFINS     makes 18

Oven 400°   In a bowl, mix first 4 ingredients.

In other bowl, mix oats, apricots, butter & boiling water; stir until butter is melted. Cool 5 min.

Stir in eggs, milk, zest. (I used buttermilk & changed baking powder to 2 1/2 tsp & baking powder 1/2 tsp)

Stir into dry ingredients just until moist.                                                                        

Fill paper-lined muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake for 20-22 min.

Cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks.

NUTRITION: ea. 183 calories, 7g fat, 28g carbohydrate; 1g fiber, 4g protein.