This week the seniors took the General Ordination Exams. Seven 3-hour exams over 4 days time. It’s pretty brutal–both because of the schedule and because (like any comprehensive exam) the amount of material covered is daunting. I mean, the church as been around for a while… so there’s that.
Each year, the Juniors and Middlers (and some lovely spartners & staff!) chip in to make sure the Seniors are fed and cared for during this grueling time. It’s pretty special. This year I decided to make a different kind of muffin for each morning. The first round (peanut-butter) were not so special. But rounds 2-4 were yummy enough to share with the broader public. Enjoy!
rounds 2, 3 & 4 (because round 1 sucked)
Banana Nut Muffins: This recipe is a special one. It comes from a cafe in Lubbock, Texas that has since closed. My mom asked the owner for the recipe before we moved to Virginia, but she refused. A few weeks later, Mom was sitting in the cafe for the last time when the owner slipped a piece of paper under Mom’s plate. Mom walked out, unfolded the slip, and found this:
- 1 ½ cup whole wheat pastry flour
- ¼ cup wheat bran
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup chopped nuts
- ¼ cup oil
- ½ cup honey
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup bananas (2-3) mashed
- 1 lightly beaten egg
Mix wet ingredients together, then add to dry ingredients mixing only
until incorporated. Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes
The only changes I make to this recipe are: instead of bran I use a mix of oats and almond meal… and instead of oil I often use yogurt, apple sauce, or coconut oil, depending on what I have.
Cranberry Walnut Muffins (Modified from this recipe…)
- 1 egg
- 1 cup greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup oil
- 1 1/2 cups oats and almond meal (for nutty texture)
- 1/2 cup craisins
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1 1/4 cup flour
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon table salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Mix wet ingredients together, then add to dry ingredients mixing only
until incorporated. Bake at 375F for 20 minutes.
And my favorite new find: Chocolate Banana Muffins (Modified from this recipe…)
this will be a new “standard” in the holder house
- 2 large bananas
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar (I used mostly honey and some sugar)
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, plus more for topping
Mix wet ingredients together, then add to dry ingredients mixing only
until incorporated. If batter doesn’t seem wet enough (like because I used 2 bananas when it called for 3) add some greek yogurt. Bake at 375F for 20 minutes.
lauren laughs 