The Guilty Baker: Orange-Cranberry Mini Muffins
✿ Procrastination inspires industrious bouts of housecleaning, and guilt brings out the baker in me. I had been flying solo all week, while my husband basked in Florida on some pretext of simulating NASA satellite software (why couldn’t the tests be run in good old Maryland?). By Thursday, I had run ragged with the stress of haranguing my 14 year old out the door and into the school bus by 6:22 am. Dinner degenerated into nachos and guacamole.
✿ Sharp pangs of guilt (or was it hunger?) gnawed at my maternal conscience as I dawdled over my morning coffee. When I came across claudia lamascolo ‘s recipe for orange muffins, I decided to face that burden head on. By 8:30 am, a dozen of these little delights were bagged and bound for the lab, while the house smelled of sugar and spice and all things nice. Welcome back, honey. Yes, I’ve been baking and slaving in the kitchen all week. 😉
✿ The tang of orange zest and cranberries was a delicious counter to the sweetness, with bits of pecan surprise in every other bite. The edges were a bit tough, so I think I will try those frilly paper muffin liners next time. Do you like the cross-stitched napkin? I embroidered the set when I was a pigtailed school girl. My mother saved them for me all these years. Now that I’ve established my Martha Stewart creds, I hope we can keep that junk food dinner between us, okay?
Recipe: https://madamescientist.wordpress.com/2012/12/01/the-guilty-baker-orange-cranberry-mini-muffins/
madame scientist's not-so-mad musings 
yum! and lovely story to go with it. 🙂
E.E. Giorgi , thanks. The story is as much fun for me as the baking and cooking 🙂
Rajini Rao Who says procrastination is wrong. Especially with this result? Thx for sharing the whole story. Makes me hungry and nostalgic. Both are human needs.
Thanks Feisal Kamil . I told you about the chips and guacamole dinner on Thurs night. This made me feel better 🙂
I thought of you while eating dinner yesterday, Rajini Rao. A very crappy little Indian place changed ownership we noticed as we were driving by. We decided to stop and had, among other things, an excellent Masala Dosa! (No Malai Kofta or Aloo Paratha, unfortunately.) In the attached market they sold a dry mix to make your own dosas. I didn’t buy any, but I think I will next time.
Linda Hedrick , delighted that the dosas were good! Let me know if the mix works out.
Gina Duarte , perhaps Julie Sahni? Let me find a link for you.
Gina Duarte , Julie Sahni’s Classic Indian Cooking is, well, a classic. Here it is: http://goo.gl/Cy503
I have the vegetarian version and it’s great. She has more recent cookbooks as well that I’ve not checked out. If I buy Indian cookbooks, they tend to be very regional and specialized.
Are you a guilty baker too, Rashid Moore ? Do divulge your transgressions 😉
You know me well, Feisal Kamil 🙂
I knew it was you who took that bite when my back was turned, Rashid Moore 🙂
I want one! ;-D
Have two, Maria Soledad Velastin . They’re minis 🙂
Then give me more 😀
Actually, we polished off the last two this morning. I took most of them to work, to feed my hungry students 🙂
They didn’t seem to mind that the bottoms were a bit crusty!
You and I might, Feisal! These kids today have a high bar.
They would dump me with the sawdust and
harassfind another mentor 😀They look so good!
Feisal Kamil , you would have been an evil prof. I imagine your exam questions would be sneakily tricky. Michelle Beissel , do you use those little paper thingies? I read somewhere that they keep muffins moist. I don’t have a problem with the regular sized ones, but suspect that these little ones dry out/bake faster.
Now, I am hungry….
Rajini Rao where are you in Baltimore again? I need to come visit…. LOL (j/k)
mary Zeman , north on I-95, exit when you smell the orange zest 😀
Hope your friend likes it, Gina!
hoooo
Those look really yummy! I’m not a guilty baker, cuz I don’t bake, but I thought of you when I bought spices the other day….cumin, coriander, and saffron. I remembered the photo of your spice cabinet 😉
I’m delighted to hear of your investment in spices, Mara Rose . So nice of you to think of me along with spices…especially saffron, mmm.
Hehe, what a louuvely story Rajini Rao ! :p Not to mention the pics. Feel like eating a muffin but alas there’s nothing remotely similar/tasty like that in fridge. I’m gonna have to sleep with hunger-dreams
tonightnow. Thanks!You’re welcome, Rahul Joshi . Just add baking (guilty or otherwise) on your very own wonderwoman wish list 🙂 Sweet dreams!
Damn right I will! Gnite! 🙂
Rajini Rao It’s true about the paper cups; they keep them from drying out so much. They don’t give you any crust when you peel them off though and it’s kind of like eating the inside on the outside.
My trick is to put a big dollop of yogurt in the batter and it makes them stay moist. Works with any cake or biscuit. You can use sour cream also.
Thanks for the tips, Jim Carver . The other muffin recipe I make often (blueberries/lemon) does have yogurt and I was wondering why that one did not crust up as much. I’ve never tried the paper cups..should look for them in the store.
Looks delicious Rajini Rao Save me some !
Rajini Rao Sure, they do make them very easy to get out too. I think like ‘real’ bakers, whoever they are, use parchment to line the pan/cups. I’ve never tried that. I guess that’s when you get really real.
Anybody know the difference between a cupcake and a muffin? I’m not trying to be coy. Is it cupcakes are sweet and muffins aren’t? How about sweet muffins? Or one is eaten with a meal and the other (cupcakes) for dessert?
A cupcake is sweeter and is essentially a cake recipe (finer end product). Usually frosted. Muffins are a bit more bread-like and have fruits/nuts and stuff. I don’t think cupcakes have fruits in them, unless they are like fruit cake.
Rajini Rao Oh yeah, right, it has more to do with texture. Of course I’ve made both, just wondering if there was a precise def., thanks!
Those were just my off the cuff thoughts..I’m sure there are bakers here who can straighten us out.
Yep, pretty sure that’s right.
My wife made three different types of cookies. I’m not complaining but I need them like I need a hole in my head.
Just be sure to go for a jog with Ana when you’re done wolfing them down, Chad Haney 🙂
Too hot to bake here Chad, unless it was outside. It’s 82F and I would need to turn on the A/C. Turn on the A/C in December? That’s just crazy.
It’s surprisingly warm, 56F but she baked them a few days ago when it was more like 40F.
I’m taking odds the Pine Island glacier might break free this season, and that’s one big cupcake.
Procrastination, this reminds me of the old times when before an exam (and I had to study), I decided to clean the house, just to “get ready.” The end result I think was great a clean house & better studying …so procrastination gets a BAD reputation in my book. And you have muffins! 🙂
Been there, done that Cheryl Ann MacDonald! I too had quite the housecleaning/dishwashing zeal when exams came around. Even now, I refuse to start a big project, like starting on writing a grant, unless my desk is clean 😉
Rajini Rao Cheryl Ann MacDonald Not me, I didn’t take time for frivolous activities. Stack ’em on the floor or get some take-out. 🙂 Especially now when every hour not spent studying or writing could cost a lot.
Of course I would allow one diversion: Playing, “A Man Needs a Maid”, on the piano. 😉
I really admire the way you manage your work and home Rajini Rao and enjoy both!
Thanks, Sirome. The cooking gives me a way to de-stress, actually. It doesn’t take that much time, and in any case, we do need to eat 🙂
The tea post in your honor is still going strong!
You totally rock Rajini Rao.
Shah Auckburaully , thanks 😀
I love saffron in basmati rice. Lovely. Your spice cabinet was inspirational.
I know it’s not your cup of tea, but the spice must flow.
EON- The Spice Must Flow 1991
Lulz Gnotic Pasta
Where is Feisal Kamil ?
Chad Haney , well, I got the reference to Dune at the beginning, if that counts 🙂
Mara Rose , I also have spice blends stashed away in the freezer and fridge 🙂
Haha, Gnotic Pasta . Must I admit in public how well I know that song?
Yes, he who controls the spice, controls the universe. Time to walk the dog. She controls the universe.
Have a good walk, Chad Haney , and bundle up.
Why it’s 57F?
That’s still chilly, Chad Haney 🙂 Better safe than sorry.
Dan would be in shorts.
OK, don’t complain later when you catch cold 😉
Dan, she (Crystal Gayle) could be in the harem.
Enjoy the visit to the
haremdiner, Dan! Catch you later.Can I have one ?
I’ll have 2 of your nice warm muffins! Did I say that out loud?
… bad Jimmy! ….I go too far 😛
Rajini Rao ” I had run ragged with the stress of haranguing my 14 year old out the door and into the school bus by 6:22 am”-
Wait till it is 16-17 years as my daughters are and you will feel like torpedoing them into college campus faster than you can say “it is 630am now, you will be late to school….”.
Btw, I still love them very much…. 🙂
mandar khadilkar , oddly my daughter was a paragon of organization and self-sufficiency through her school years (she’s a senior in college now). The contrast makes it even harder 🙂
Hey give the little beatnik a break. Maybe he figures he can’t compete with big sis.
Let me guess, you have five sisters Chad Haney ? 😉
Is that relevant?
Let me paraphrase, Chad Haney . Are you speaking from experience?
Not exactly.
awesome
waoooooooo
I like your muffins
Thank you 🙂
I do too with extra syrup.
You bet Feisal.
So sweet 😉
So Sci-Fi sounding Feisal Kamil ! Will you meet the beauteous Padme?
The Flow of Fruition could be a distant galaxy to rival the Milky Way.
With nuts, no wait, that’s Snickers
As long as you’re not a Milk Dud, Chad Haney 😉
Laffy Taffy is OK under the circumstances.
Don’t you be running after a Tootsie Roll, Chad Haney .
nice
beautifull
sean
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I Love Muffins Alot😏😏😏