One of our wild "pets."
Doughnut Muffins! Recipe below.
Cardinal hens - through the sewing room window.
This has bloomed before. I have two of these - one on either side of the door. These are the first I have ever had to bloom. I think it is because instead of being houseplants, they are outside.
I got this recipe on the HGTV food forum from Martha (aka Linderhof - her blog is in the list on the right)
DOUGHNUT MUFFINS
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 to 1 1/4 teaspoons ground nutmeg, to taste
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 2/3 cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 cup milk
Topping
3 tablespoons melted butter
3 tablespoons Cinnamon-Sugar Plus
1)
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a standard muffin tin. Or
line with 12 paper or silicone muffin cups, and grease the cups with
non-stick vegetable oil spray; this will ensure that they peel off the
muffins nicely.
2) In a medium-sized mixing bowl, cream together the butter, vegetable oil, and sugars till smooth.
3) Add the eggs, beating to combine.
4) Stir in the baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla.
5)
Stir the flour into the butter mixture alternately with the milk,
beginning and ending with the flour and making sure everything is
thoroughly combined.
6) Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared pan, filling the cups nearly full.
7)
Bake the muffins for 15 to 17 minutes, or until they're a pale golden
brown and a cake tester inserted into the middle of one of the center
muffins comes out clean.
8) Remove them from the oven, and let
them cool for a couple of minutes, or until you can handle them. While
they're cooling, melt the butter for the topping (this is easily done in
the microwave).
9) Use a pastry brush to paint the top of each
muffin with the butter, then sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar. Or simply
dip the tops of muffins into the melted butter, then roll in the
cinnamon-sugar.
10) Serve warm, or cool on a rack and wrap airtight. Store for a day or so at room temperature.
Yield: 12
We have one television. Can you guess that the boob-tube is not a big deal in our home?
A few months back, grandson Colt and I were in the bedroom. I was folding a few items out of the dryer on the bed. He helped a little, then settled back on the pillows, crossed his ankles and said, "TV." I told him Granny did not have a TV in the bedroom. He looked around then said, "Okay." Finished "helping" me fold laundry.
Having just one television is starting to be a 'big' deal for me. I can be settled in watching a program, get up for a bathroom break, come back, and DH has taken possession of the remote and is scrolling channels.
Yesterday early evening I got back from a milk run (I have to have milk - chocolate preferably - every morning). I put the milk in the refrigerator, walked into the living room portion of the open floor-space room and turned the news on. I went back into the kitchen to start prepping for supper. I can see the television clearly from the kitchen. Sam was in his office at the computer. He walked through the kitchen to the living room, picked up the remote and started scrolling channels. I was flabbergasted. Did he think the television turned itself on? I politely asked him that when he got through scrolling would he please turn back to channel 7 for the local weather.
Just a couple of evenings ago, he scrolled for an hour and a half. An HOUR and a HALF!! He never settled on anything longer than 3 seconds. Folks, we do not have cable or satellite. We are still on antennae. We only have access to SEVENTEEN channels! He scrolled SEVENTEEN channels for an HOUR and a HALF!!!!!
I'm thinking about putting a television in my sewing room...
