Martha Washington's Great Muffins

Saturdays are the only day of the week when I have enough time to make a more elaborate breakfast than coffee and a bagel.  This morning, I decided to bring to life an idea that's been brewing in my head for a little while--Martha Washington's Great Muffins.

As loyal readers will recall, last December I made Martha Washington's Great Cake.  I enjoyed the combination of cranberries, almonds, and orange extract, and wanted to apply the concept to muffins.  Accordingly, I made up the recipe that follows!

Martha Washington's Great Muffins


Ingredients:

• 2 C. Bisquick or other baking mix
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 1 C. milk
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp. cardamom
• 1/2 C. dried cranberries
• 1/4 C. sliced almonds
• 1/2 tsp. orange extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line muffin pan with paper muffin cups.  (The muffins ended up sticking to the paper cups, so you might be better off greasing the pan instead.  The muffins are definitely still edible in paper cups, but might require a fork.)

2. Combine all ingredients.

3. Distribute batter evenly among twelve muffin cups.

4. Bake 13-15 minutes or until golden brown.

5. Enjoy!  (Or, read on to make it even more delicious...)

When I tried a muffin, I enjoyed the orange-cranberry flavor, but felt that there could have been more cardamom, and maybe a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg.  I also felt that something was missing--somehow, deep down, I was expecting this muffin to be sweeter.  And, that's when it dawned on me that this muffin was basically an unfrosted hot cross bun!  So, I whipped up a little glaze (1/2 C. powdered sugar and 1 tbsp. milk), and here was the result:

Much improved.  Between the muffin sticking to the paper, and the sticky glaze, however, this is definitely a muffin that requires a fork.  Nonetheless, the result was what I had been aspiring to create: a muffin that reminded me of Martha Washington's Great Cake!

March to Victory

I have been working non-stop for the past three weeks!  My human rights fact-finding report on the repatriation of persons with mental disabilities is officially complete--sent it to our graphic designer this morning!--after a ton of work from our amazing group of nine students.  I've been putting in about 25 hours of work per week on the report this month, on top of my full course load, the Poverty Law Journal, the Catholic Student Association (CSA), and searching for a job.  However, I'm energized rather than exhausted.  I love being busy.  Boredom is my worst enemy.  To that end, here are some highlights from the past three weeks...

• I got a very short haircut, which I'm enjoying immensely.  It is so nice to not have hair on my neck!  I told the stylist that I didn't want any hair past my jawline, and she did a great job.
• I did a series of informational interviews with immigration non-profits in the Bay Area while I was in town for Spring Break.  No one was hiring, but I got some good information about what it's like in the field, and about public interest law in general.
• I tried out a delicious, yet simple, sautéed shrimp recipe from my new cookbook, and had Brad and Marie over for dinner.  Yum!
• The CSA had Fr. Ray Schroth, the author of a new biography on Fr. Bob Drinan, come speak at an event.  I enjoyed learning more about Fr. Drinan, and even got a signed copy of the book.
• My journal hosted a symposium on the intersection of legal education and poverty law, which was very successful.
• It started to feel like spring, but then regressed to winter.  Snow in late March?!  I do not approve.
• I did some trash clean-up at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, which is so beautiful!  We sorted and bagged over a dozen giant bags of trash and recyclables.  I really wish people would stop littering.

There are many more things that I could talk about: e.g., getting addicted to John Grisham novels, journal bake sale tabling for prisoner literacy, planning the CSA budget, Bluebooking, crashing the Tax Journal's end-of-year party, handing out free St. Patrick's Day cookies, sooo much report editing...  But, I don't want to ramble.

In other news, there are five weeks of classes left, and I graduate in 55 days.  Our human rights report launch is in two weeks, and we have a ton of amazing advocacy meetings lined up with D.C. policy makers.  It's definitely starting to feel like the home stretch, and I'm excited!  Please keep my job search in your prayers--I have an interview this Friday (which I don't want to blog about until after the fact).