Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Baking and Soup Day

I just pulled a batch of Bran Muffins out of the oven. I let them cool and I just took a bite of one. They are good, but I wanted my mom's Great Muffins and didn't get it. Her recipe is lost. DAMN! These might be better a little warm with butter smathered all over. Hmmm...I'll try that with my next taste test in three...two...one...naw! Just kidding, I'll wait til morning. That is why I made them. I have been trying to not stop and get coffee and donuts every morning before work. I want to save some money and calories.
The recipe is as follows:

1-1/2 cups wheat bran
1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease muffin cups or line with paper liners.
Mix together wheat bran and buttermilk; let stand for 10 minutes.
Beat together oil, egg, sugar and vanilla and add to buttermilk/bran mixture. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir flour mixture into buttermilk mixture until just blended. Fold in raisins and spoon batter into prepared muffin tins.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool and enjoy! Makes 12 smallish muffins.
I got this recipe from Allrecipes.com. It was submitted by Janet Kalman.

As for the soup part, I am preparing to make split pea soup today. The peas are soaking. I will put them in my crock pot tonight and let them cook on low all night. I'll turn it off in the morning and let it cool. Refrigerate them while I'm at work, were the flavors will blend nicely and then when I want dinner tomorrow night I can just heat it all up. I can't wait.

As for that recipe, I just throw a pound of split peas in my crock pot after they have soaked overnight, add about four carrots cleaned and sliced, one medium onion, chopped and two fist sized smoked ham hocks. When it's all said and done I add salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste. Oh heck, I've got to stop! My mouth is watering!

I am also making regular bread and banana bread today! (It must be cold or something outside. This is the best way I know to keep my house warm!)

10 comments:

Unknown said...

damn....will you come bake for me?

Anonymous said...

You are TAGGED!

And... YUM!!!

Debbie said...

Drooling here. I wish I enjoyed cooking. It does sound so rewarding. Would you do it if there was no one there to eat it but you? Probably :)

((Hugs))

kim-d said...

Hey You!!! Mmmm...split pea soup and fresh-baked bread. Lately I have been in a real soup mood, too, because it is freakin' cold here! Love good soup. But instead I've been microwaving the little bowls of Campbell's Chunky. Not QUITE the same, but it is portion control and I can scarf it down while doing schoolwork, which I should be doing right now :). As for the bread and muffins, when you get finished at Stacie's house, can you come to mine, please? BWAHAHA!

{{{{HUGE HUGS}}}} and love ya muchly, Claudia!

stitcherw said...

Shoot, now you've got my mouth watering too. The muffins, soup, and such sound wonderful. I'm trying harder to get organized with breakfast fixings for in the morning like muffins too, something that I can grab and go with. I don't have time to sit and eat, and it is way to easy to run through a McDonalds or such if I don't have something handy. Good luck with trying to perfect the muffin recipe. Sometimes I think it is the memory and the fact that they were made for us that makes them taste so great, and makes the taste unrepeatable on its own. With colder weather coming, baking and cooking is a nice option, warms the house and smells so good and comforting.
Sue

Mary Ellen said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog, and for sharing a bit of your story. I always wonder about how birth moms feel, and I appreciate your point of view.

It sounds like everything worked out with you and the adoptive family. I admire your courage.

I hope we'll get a chance to talk more as I head down this scary road.

And I think I'll have to have me some Bran Muffins for breakfast!

Niki said...

love split pea soup...hmmm...i may have to make a pot this week.
Thanks for coming to visit :)
Blessings,
Niki

Laura Marchant said...

You have already baked today?
I just got out of bed :-)

kim-d said...

Lovin' you EXTRA muchly on this Thanksgiving, Claudia! I hope you and your family have a Happy, Happy Holiday!

Debbie said...

Well, I just dropped by to with you a very Happy Thanksgiving! I hope all went smooth and you ate more than you should have :)

I doled out the commissary to the inmates then headed to friends to stuff my face. Just talked to David and he'll be coming home tomorrow. I missed him today, but oh well. Getting used to it :)

Later, girl!