I'm not quite sure where I lifted the original recipe from, but I modified it a bit.
Please note that these are better eaten relatively soon after cooking, as they are dry-ish muffins with low oil content. They will dry out mercilessly if left uncovered. They might dry mercilessly even if covered, as the fruit absorbs the moisture from the surrounding matrix. Dunno. Eat 'em quick.
Honey Fig Muffins
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
scant 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (adds a lot, but strength of aroma increases with keeping)
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup butter, melted (you could double this and they'd keep slightly better)
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups chopped dried figs
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a regular-sized muffin tin with 12 paper muffin cups.
Mix dry ingredients together, whisking well. If your baking powder has clumped as has mine, curse and break clumps with fingers. Whisk again.
Melt butter and add honey and milk to it in that order, stirring well. Add egg to this wet mixture with vanilla and whisk. Mix into dry ingredients. You may want a silicone spatula for this -- your whisk will not go through the thick batter.
Stir in fruit and nuts, and turn dollops of dough-like batter into the muffin cups.
Bake for 20 minutes. Makes 12 deliciously wholesome-tasting, iron-and-fiber-rich muffins.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Eeeeeeeeediots
Can you believe this shit? (We've been talking about it for days, but link is once again lifted from Bill.)
In related news, relatives are staying in town and I am exhausted. I don't want to have to entertain, as I would prefer to take good care of myself -- healthy food, exercise, and the sleep I need -- instead. (As opposed to "as much as possible, on top of entertaining." Which isn't helped at all by snarky fam-isms like "you are barely pregnant -- you're gonna feel an awful lot sicker when it really gets started." Excuse me? Morning sickness happens EARLY.) And I am tired of wearing my bra, since I put on 2 cup sizes in 2 weeks. My hastily-ordered replacements haven't arrived and I am really getting tired of wearing my tight ones for hours and hours a day because I am amongst people who make comments about my body.
I am tired of putting up with: hatespeech; insane beliefs about the apocalypse being, like, tomorrow; denigrating my church; interrupting any comment I make that I saw a cool animal with stories about killing said animal; racist and other patently insane remarks; busybodyism (which wouldn't be so annoying except for...); knowitallism (with a healthy dose of THEY REALLY DON'T); and general inability to be courteous enough to inform people your plans. Grr.
Enough bitching from me, already.
Scrubbles is singing and bathing outside, I have honey fig muffins in the oven, and the new life in me has already begun development of every vital organ, and is starting on eyelids and tongue. Wow! Have you ever really thought about how fast babies develop in utero? It's fast -- crazy fast. My little spark of life is already starting to resemble a human; only a very few short weeks ago, it was only two cells who hadn't met.
In related news, relatives are staying in town and I am exhausted. I don't want to have to entertain, as I would prefer to take good care of myself -- healthy food, exercise, and the sleep I need -- instead. (As opposed to "as much as possible, on top of entertaining." Which isn't helped at all by snarky fam-isms like "you are barely pregnant -- you're gonna feel an awful lot sicker when it really gets started." Excuse me? Morning sickness happens EARLY.) And I am tired of wearing my bra, since I put on 2 cup sizes in 2 weeks. My hastily-ordered replacements haven't arrived and I am really getting tired of wearing my tight ones for hours and hours a day because I am amongst people who make comments about my body.
I am tired of putting up with: hatespeech; insane beliefs about the apocalypse being, like, tomorrow; denigrating my church; interrupting any comment I make that I saw a cool animal with stories about killing said animal; racist and other patently insane remarks; busybodyism (which wouldn't be so annoying except for...); knowitallism (with a healthy dose of THEY REALLY DON'T); and general inability to be courteous enough to inform people your plans. Grr.
Enough bitching from me, already.
Scrubbles is singing and bathing outside, I have honey fig muffins in the oven, and the new life in me has already begun development of every vital organ, and is starting on eyelids and tongue. Wow! Have you ever really thought about how fast babies develop in utero? It's fast -- crazy fast. My little spark of life is already starting to resemble a human; only a very few short weeks ago, it was only two cells who hadn't met.
Friday, March 26, 2010
An afternoon saturated with awesomeness
Out of focus but still kinda cute:
First, this alphabet of awesomeness by Neill Cameron, link stolen from Bill, who is also awesome.
Second, there was a lizard in my computer room. My carpet is less than fastidiously vacuumed, in this room in particular but everywhere right now, and since I knit and spin, there are little knots of fiber everywhere. I dodged stepping on one while racing for the phone, thinking, "that knot looks hella like a lizard!"
It was a teeny lizard. I caught him in a drinking glass (still had to touch him with my phobic, phobic fingers, though). He pooped in the glass and held very still. I took his picture. Then I put him outside near our mini-woodpile where there is shade and bugs. I realized that he looked shocky and listless, and might be thirsty after his Adventures in Shag Carpeting, and I sprinkled droplets of water all around him. He moved only enough to start lapping at the closest one, so I poured water plentifully near him. He ran to the edge and got a good long drinky. I feel good about myself. And he feels better than he would have on a warm, dehydrated afternoon -- particularly squished by my giant feet or slowly shriveling away in unvacuumed carpet.
So, awesome.
First, this alphabet of awesomeness by Neill Cameron, link stolen from Bill, who is also awesome.
Second, there was a lizard in my computer room. My carpet is less than fastidiously vacuumed, in this room in particular but everywhere right now, and since I knit and spin, there are little knots of fiber everywhere. I dodged stepping on one while racing for the phone, thinking, "that knot looks hella like a lizard!"
It was a teeny lizard. I caught him in a drinking glass (still had to touch him with my phobic, phobic fingers, though). He pooped in the glass and held very still. I took his picture. Then I put him outside near our mini-woodpile where there is shade and bugs. I realized that he looked shocky and listless, and might be thirsty after his Adventures in Shag Carpeting, and I sprinkled droplets of water all around him. He moved only enough to start lapping at the closest one, so I poured water plentifully near him. He ran to the edge and got a good long drinky. I feel good about myself. And he feels better than he would have on a warm, dehydrated afternoon -- particularly squished by my giant feet or slowly shriveling away in unvacuumed carpet.
So, awesome.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Perspective: big food companies, not evil?
The world is a-changing. For instance, in recent days, I have discovered that Wal-Mart is surprisingly green (they came to it late but with a fervor and the power of their commercial empire.)
Here's another article offering refreshing perspective on food corporations. Go read it, it's great.
Now, mind you... food LOBBIES are still pure, pure evil. They are about money, brainwashing, and turning tax dollars into obesity. Make no mistake. But the article linked above may make you feel more empowered and cheerful about the companies themselves.
Here's another article offering refreshing perspective on food corporations. Go read it, it's great.
Now, mind you... food LOBBIES are still pure, pure evil. They are about money, brainwashing, and turning tax dollars into obesity. Make no mistake. But the article linked above may make you feel more empowered and cheerful about the companies themselves.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
My turn! Linkage!
Pathy pointed to me in his blog with a delightful review, so I feel the need to point back. One of these days soon, I will even update the links in the sidebar...
iNk (worksafe!)
I've been a bit, um, preoccupied, so I haven't sent you to Pathogen's blog yet -- I've been greedily keeping it to myself. Look, it's new enough you can catch up if you start now, prolific enough that you'll want to start now, and always has thrilling images and buoyant prose to give you moments of energized tranquility ... and afterimages of cussed creativity. Do you need mental rocket skates? Go.
The Roommate Chronicles (mostly worksafe, and never an image to offend)
Cindy was my best buddy in grade school, and I am thrilled to be back in touch. After a split with her long-term partner (don't worry -- the new girlfriend is adorable), she made the necessary mistake of taking in roommates. The snippets of dialogue and ranting that she posts on The Roommate Chronicles blog make me pee myself laughing. If you need a belly laugh... well. Go.
Thoughtviper (mostly worksafe -- but if it's not, it's sure to be in all-caps, because Bill is a man of passion)
Bill kept me sane during the 2nd Bush campaign and win, when I was trapped in Peru and gnawing my nails raw to the knuckles. He is a cat-loving liberal and I love him with all my heart for it. He's also very funny and talented. For acerbic wit, shithouse-rat-crazily infuriated critique of the far right and its ancillary artists, and a loving perspective on the world... go.
Oblio's Cap (almost always worksafe)
Robert is a consummate intellectual, internet blue-dog, and a joy to know. You will only ever see the tip of the iceberg -- his poetry, rife with allegory and experimental form, has deep undercurrents of intellectual struggle, mathematics, and computer science. He's also an amazing guy. Sometimes he doesn't update frequently, when he checks out for a vacation in "meatspace," vowing never to come back. Thankfully, so far, he has always returned. Go.
The Warren Ellis Dot Com (hardly ever worksafe)
Warren Ellis is a serious comic book artist and an author, and for some reason, I think that if he ever stopped cranking the (steampunk) handle, the Internet would stop working. I hesitate to give you this link because you will never think I'm sophisticated and cool again -- I do a lot of farming his site for links. This is an unhealthy addiction that I impart to you gleefully. Go. But not at work. (And if you click anything labeled "Conan! What is best in life?", don't say I didn't warn ya.)
Well Fed, Flat Broke (always worksafe)
Emily, aside from being just adorable, comes up with some of the most jaw-droppingly delicious recipes ... all within the grasp of the casual (and usually broke) home cook. Her blog is funny and sweet. For goodness' sake, go.
Now to the less personal stuff that makes me happy.
Cracked (not so worksafe. Enjoy from home.)
This is where two of my favorite humorists ended up, as editors (Seanbaby and David Wong). It's also the humor magazine that I collected (in paper format) as a young, freckled, red-haired rat-child. There are usually three articles a day, at least two of which are 1) funny and 2) at least in a trivial-pursuit way, educational. Go, learn something you can quote later, and then mumble "sompin I read" shamefacedly when someone asks you, "how'd you know that?"
Regretsy (sometimes not worksafe, and prides itself on "whimsicle fuckery")
Call me mean, but there's something excruciatingly funny about handicrafts gone wrong (or people reselling junk that by no means can be labeled "handicrafted." Etsy needed a watchdog, and I needed the laugh. Goodness gracious. My inner bully says you need this kind of schadenfreude in your life. So, go giggle.
Cakewrecks (almost always worksafe, sometimes not, so not really... and you will guffaw)
Again, call me mean-spirited... but when well-meaning "wreckerators" screw up cake decoration, it's just about the funniest thing since lolcats. You know you want to go look. It's a hoot.
Not Always Right (safe except for language)
Short stories, by retail employees, about how their customers have exhibited some of humanity's most baffling stupidities, crazinesses, and downright weirdnesses. Go, laugh. Funny and usually believable.
Go Fug Yourself (I'm pretty sure it's worksafe... at least all the photos in it were taken in public, but they may have body parts a-showin'. The site usually labels those.)
Do you always go for the People magazine at the doctor's office so that you can laugh at the famous people dressed badly? I do. So do the wonderfully funny ladies who run this site. Plus, sometimes there are haiku contests involving photos of bad fashion. And when you do go, click the Lady Gaga link in the sidebar and enjoy. Yowza.
The Escapist: Zero Punctuation (not worksafe and you need sound)
Yahtzee's reviews are gaspingly funny, and he doesn't need no stinkin' punctuation... or, evidently, to breathe. I love his stunningly stylish, simple animations, particularly when they get absurd. Do you like video games? Go.
Okay, okay. I'll stop for now. But do have fun with these. Pathy started it, and you should go see his WONDERFUL list because, well, he's got some there I would include too... and because you'll love him.
iNk (worksafe!)
I've been a bit, um, preoccupied, so I haven't sent you to Pathogen's blog yet -- I've been greedily keeping it to myself. Look, it's new enough you can catch up if you start now, prolific enough that you'll want to start now, and always has thrilling images and buoyant prose to give you moments of energized tranquility ... and afterimages of cussed creativity. Do you need mental rocket skates? Go.
The Roommate Chronicles (mostly worksafe, and never an image to offend)
Cindy was my best buddy in grade school, and I am thrilled to be back in touch. After a split with her long-term partner (don't worry -- the new girlfriend is adorable), she made the necessary mistake of taking in roommates. The snippets of dialogue and ranting that she posts on The Roommate Chronicles blog make me pee myself laughing. If you need a belly laugh... well. Go.
Thoughtviper (mostly worksafe -- but if it's not, it's sure to be in all-caps, because Bill is a man of passion)
Bill kept me sane during the 2nd Bush campaign and win, when I was trapped in Peru and gnawing my nails raw to the knuckles. He is a cat-loving liberal and I love him with all my heart for it. He's also very funny and talented. For acerbic wit, shithouse-rat-crazily infuriated critique of the far right and its ancillary artists, and a loving perspective on the world... go.
Oblio's Cap (almost always worksafe)
Robert is a consummate intellectual, internet blue-dog, and a joy to know. You will only ever see the tip of the iceberg -- his poetry, rife with allegory and experimental form, has deep undercurrents of intellectual struggle, mathematics, and computer science. He's also an amazing guy. Sometimes he doesn't update frequently, when he checks out for a vacation in "meatspace," vowing never to come back. Thankfully, so far, he has always returned. Go.
The Warren Ellis Dot Com (hardly ever worksafe)
Warren Ellis is a serious comic book artist and an author, and for some reason, I think that if he ever stopped cranking the (steampunk) handle, the Internet would stop working. I hesitate to give you this link because you will never think I'm sophisticated and cool again -- I do a lot of farming his site for links. This is an unhealthy addiction that I impart to you gleefully. Go. But not at work. (And if you click anything labeled "Conan! What is best in life?", don't say I didn't warn ya.)
Well Fed, Flat Broke (always worksafe)
Emily, aside from being just adorable, comes up with some of the most jaw-droppingly delicious recipes ... all within the grasp of the casual (and usually broke) home cook. Her blog is funny and sweet. For goodness' sake, go.
Now to the less personal stuff that makes me happy.
Cracked (not so worksafe. Enjoy from home.)
This is where two of my favorite humorists ended up, as editors (Seanbaby and David Wong). It's also the humor magazine that I collected (in paper format) as a young, freckled, red-haired rat-child. There are usually three articles a day, at least two of which are 1) funny and 2) at least in a trivial-pursuit way, educational. Go, learn something you can quote later, and then mumble "sompin I read" shamefacedly when someone asks you, "how'd you know that?"
Regretsy (sometimes not worksafe, and prides itself on "whimsicle fuckery")
Call me mean, but there's something excruciatingly funny about handicrafts gone wrong (or people reselling junk that by no means can be labeled "handicrafted." Etsy needed a watchdog, and I needed the laugh. Goodness gracious. My inner bully says you need this kind of schadenfreude in your life. So, go giggle.
Cakewrecks (almost always worksafe, sometimes not, so not really... and you will guffaw)
Again, call me mean-spirited... but when well-meaning "wreckerators" screw up cake decoration, it's just about the funniest thing since lolcats. You know you want to go look. It's a hoot.
Not Always Right (safe except for language)
Short stories, by retail employees, about how their customers have exhibited some of humanity's most baffling stupidities, crazinesses, and downright weirdnesses. Go, laugh. Funny and usually believable.
Go Fug Yourself (I'm pretty sure it's worksafe... at least all the photos in it were taken in public, but they may have body parts a-showin'. The site usually labels those.)
Do you always go for the People magazine at the doctor's office so that you can laugh at the famous people dressed badly? I do. So do the wonderfully funny ladies who run this site. Plus, sometimes there are haiku contests involving photos of bad fashion. And when you do go, click the Lady Gaga link in the sidebar and enjoy. Yowza.
The Escapist: Zero Punctuation (not worksafe and you need sound)
Yahtzee's reviews are gaspingly funny, and he doesn't need no stinkin' punctuation... or, evidently, to breathe. I love his stunningly stylish, simple animations, particularly when they get absurd. Do you like video games? Go.
Okay, okay. I'll stop for now. But do have fun with these. Pathy started it, and you should go see his WONDERFUL list because, well, he's got some there I would include too... and because you'll love him.
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