Apple Muffins

I box Spice Cake Mix or Carrot Cake Mix

1 can apple pie filling
1 egg (lightly beaten)
4 T. lemon juice – one lemon

Mix well with large spoon until all the dry mix is mixed with other ingredients (do not beat with mixer)

Fill oiled or sprayed muffin tins (18 muffins)

Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Test a few of them and I use a round toothpick

Remove from muffin tins and let cool on a rack. These are moist and delicious and taste more like cake than muffins.

I wanted something sweet today and didn't want to go to too much trouble so I looked to see what mixes I had on hand.  I adapted this muffin recipe from the Weight Watchers' Pumpkin Muffin recipe.

They are very good and should freeze well.  I am going to freeze individual muffins in zip top bags and see how they taste in about 1 month

Ya'll come back.
Nuff said,
The Georgia Peach



Chocolate Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins

 

Good morning and come in for a muffin(s) and coffee or cold, sweet milk.  I was going to do my Pumpkin Applesauce Muffin but decided to add a few ingredients and it worked wonderfully well.  You will enjoy this easy and delicious recipe and if you try it, let me know what you think.

Chocolate Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins or Cupcakes

• 1 Spice Cake mix
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1 cup chunky, homemade applesauce (I use my crock pot applesauce)
• 1 can pumpkin – not pumpkin pie
• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
• 1 tsp. Black walnut flavoring

Makes 12 -14 cupcakes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin tins with cupcake liners or spray with cooking spray

Mix cake mix and cocoa and add the other ingredients as listed. Stir until well mixed. You don't have to beat. Fill cupcake liners or muffin tin cups 2/3 full and bake until top springs back when lightly touched – about 20 – 25 min. This is a dense dough so you can fill your muffin tin cups to the top. Remove from muffin tins and let cool on rack.

Hope you will try this recipe and enjoy.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Fashion Show and Muffins

Southern Gardenia by frances robson

Good morning and come on in to the porch and have a glass of peach tea with mint for it has finally cooled off after the nice rain this morning. It was so good to have some rain this morning for even though it is only May, it has been 90 to 100 degrees this week. I hope this is not the harbinger of what to expect this summer.

You know it is hard to shock me anymore for I taught in a high school for 20 years and you see and hear most anything but I was reminded yesterday that I can still be shocked. Maybe disgusted is a better description than shocked but it was not pretty and again I have to take some people to task about the clothing issue.

We were in a hospital waiting room yesterday sitting with a friend who's husband was having knee surgery and the parade of fashion faux pas proceeded. It was quite obvious that several factors did not enter into their choice of attire with not having a "A Good Southern Mama" or the Southern Fashion Police as part of their childhood as the main factor. Either of these would have not let them out of the house or in the house dressed as they were. Mama would have told us to go back to our rooms and find some clothes to put on.

It was also quite obvious they didn't any fashion sense either for it was quite awful and they were parading through that hospital like the Queen and King of Sheba or like they were on the New York Fashion runway. The group which was sitting directly in front of us were all large women of various ages and they were all obese - past the fluffy stage or pleasingly plump. It had hit the "where can we find scales that won't break when we step on them" size and they seemed to be proud of it for they were showing off most of it. Their muffin tops had grown int0 large inflated tires around the middle.

Close your eyes and picture lots of rolls of flesh hanging out, over, under and all around jiggling and moving around as they walked or moved. Several times I could see boobs almost popping over the little bit of cloth straining to cover the mountains and I was praying they wouldn't bend over. Too much would be seen that no person should have to be exposed to. What amazed me is the fact they chose these clothes to attire their bountiful bodies and then had the task of trying to keep it all covered with inadequate resources. In other words we saw just about everything for it was all on display.

My mama and the fashion police would be having fainting spells and heart palpitations at the lack of decency displayed for all us to try not to see. Those parts which were covered in some cases were covered so tightly I just know they had to use cooking spray to grease it down so they could slide the clothes on. I was just hoping they wouldn't move around too much for if they did some of it was going to rip right down the middle of the seat - oh me oh my what a sight that would have been. The patients in those beautiful hospital gowns that open down the back had on more clothes than this group did.

Then you had the others who just looked like they threw some clothes up in the air out of the dirty clothes basket and their bodies caught them as they ran out of the door. Dingy, unironed, and certainly not matching was the results of this "dressing to go to the hospital" attire. When will some people learn that clean and ironed is so much better than dingy and wrinkled is the look we should strive for when dressing our bodies for public or private viewing. I wouldn't even dress like some of them at home for the cat might throw me out the door.

Now for the shoes - house slippers are not to be worn in public and especially if they are about the size of ocean liners. If you are a patient in the hospital then that's OK but please visitors in the lobby, put on something else for the big, sloppy, dirty house shoes are just not appropriate. There are some really cute flip flops available for not a lot of money and would look a whole lot better.

If you are wondering if I am a snob - I'm not but our Southern Mama taught us that dressing decently in and out of public is the polite thing to do. After all women, a little mystery is good but letting it all hang out is revolting and especially if you have a whole ton of it. Men, we like you cleaned up, hats on straight, pressed and with shoes on if we are going to be seen with you.

Just saying that yesterday afternoon was interesting and I hope the next time I have to sit in the waiting room of a hospital or any other public place it will be freezing so some people will put on some clothes.

Speaking of obesity and muffin tops, I have a good recipe to share with you but if we eat only one, it won't add too many pounds and at least we can cover it up if we have it.

Carrot Orange Muffins

1 12 oz.(340 g.) Carrot Cake Muffin Mix - (I used Anastasia Bakery)
¼ cup vegetable oil
½ cup orange juice
2 eggs
½ cup coarsely grated carrots
1/3 cup oatmeal
½ cup dried cranberries
1 tsp. Orange extract or flavoring
optional – add zest of orange when mixing

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Spray or line muffin pan – 12 muffins
Combine orange juice, oil, and eggs in small bowl. Combine the muffin mix, grated carrots, oatmeal and dried cranberries in large mixing bow and add the oil, orange juice mixture and flavoring and mix for 2 min. Do not over mix or the muffins will be tough. Divide the batter among the 12 muffin cups and bake in preheated oven for 17-20 min or until toothpick inserted in center of muffin comes out clean. Cool 2 -3 minutes in pan before removing.

Ya'll be careful going home and come back to see me and I will always have sweet tea waiting on you with a sprig of fresh mint.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Over the River and Through the Woods

Lakepoint State Park, Eufaula, AL

Good evening, ya'll. Come on in the house and have a coke with me. I am baking muffins and will share a hot one with you for they are pretty good. It is a new recipe which I will share with you later in the posting.

I am a tad tired or rather a lot tired for we had a busy day. We wrapped up the Operation Christmas Child site at our church today and sent 452, filled to the brim, decorated, shoe boxes to Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. They went to Northside Baptist Church in Tifton, GA to join thousands of other boxes in big trucks to go to Atlanta. There they will join with thousands and thousands of boxes to be packed to go all over the world and the US for boys and girls who will be overjoyed to have gifts to enjoy.

This has become a holiday event for us which lasts all year. We will begin collecting items for the boxes this week for next year for our goal is 1 box a month so we can have at least 12. Spreading it out over a year will make it easier and allow us to buy items on sale and maybe prepare more than 12. Each time I wrap and fill a box, I think of a bright, happy little boy or girl as they eagerly remove the top to see the gifts for these children have very little to call their own. They also receive additional gifts and they hear the life-changing message that God loves them. Wow, what a blessing to have a little part in! Dr. Franklin Graham and his foundation do a stupendous job in this ministry and many others and I thank them for helping us reach needy children with a little bit of joy.

Our church food pantry was also open today and I worked there this morning. We gave out groceries to 176 families and there was more this afternoon. There is a tremendous number of families in our small town who need food and it is such a joy to be a part of a church who tries to meet these needs. Alone, Roy and I can't do a lot but with our church we can feed many and what a blessing. It is a tad hard on the old back though but a nap this afternoon cured that, for a while. Getting old is not all it's cracked up to be and it has "cracked" my back big time.

Thanksgiving is almost here and I know many of you are frantically cleaning house and cooking great and a lot of food. Family will be gathering or have already gathered and many calories will be consumed, hugs and kisses exchanged, children laughing and playing, and many precious memories made and photographed.

Ovens and stoves will work overtime and dishes will be filled and then washed. Good china and crystal will be washed and shined and silver will be polished to set on the freshly laundered tablecloths. The cornucopia will be filled with fruit and flowers to place in the center of the table or a handful of wildflowers put in the best vase.

At our house we did it a little differently. For a few years I did all the china, silver and linen tablecloth and napkins and then we got smart. Our fine china became chinette and the silver became heavy plastic and the crystal became plastic cups and paper napkins was the wipe of choice. This gave us a lot more time to spend with each other and less time setting out, washing and putting up and I like the time together. After all, we are rather plain folk at our house and the good chinette is just fine. The only criteria is that they have to be big and heavy to carry all the food which will be piled on it.

Roy's family and mine made this decision many years ago and we still do it this way. Occasionally I get the wild idea of getting out the good stuff and then I stop, shake my head to clear it and say nooooooo. Spending my time on cooking the best food I can, talking with our family and catching up on all the news is more important to us than setting a fancy table. Maybe this year at Christmas I will try it one more time just for old time's sake. We'll see.

This year we are even going farther and beginning a new tradition. If you go over the river and through the woods to this grandparents' house, you will find it empty and no one home. We are going over the river and through the woods to Lake Eufaula in Alabama and spend the week at Lakepoint State Park. They have a beautiful lodge there and we have a room reserved and they will be preparing a Thanksgiving meal in the restaurant. It is going to be an old fashioned Thanksgiving meal served buffet style and our son and his wife will join us for a delicious meal which we won't have to cook or clean up afterwards. We can then go sit on the porch by the lake, take a nap and catch up on all the news. A walk may be taken but I kinda doubt it for it will probably be a "roll" not a walk after that big meal.

If this is a good as I think it will be, it may be the beginning of a new, Robson tradition. I think I could get used to that don't you. Ya'll come on up and join us. Look up Eufaula, AL and Lakepoint State Park and get your reservations in now and we'll look for you at dinner.

I said I would give you my new muffin recipe, so before I close I will share. They are really good and makes 24. I made them to take with us to eat for breakfast this week. Try them and enjoy.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup cooked pumpkin
1/2 cup cranberry juice cocktail
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cloves
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup chopped pecans

Makes 24
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a small bowl mix vegetable oil, eggs, cranberry juice and pumpkin. In a large bowl mix this mixture with the sugar and combine well. In a small bowl mix the flour. baking powder, soda, salt and spices. Add to the first mixture and blend together with a mixer on a low speed just until well combined. add the cranberries and pecan ,mix and let sit for 1 hour at room temperature.
Grease muffin tins or use cupcake liners (24). Fill each muffin cup about 2/3 full and bake for 15-18 minutes. These can be frozen for later use.

I hope you all will try these and serve them with sweet butter and a glass of cold, sweet milk or good, hot cup of coffee. Let me know what you think.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach
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Muffins and a Dessert

Good evening, ya'll. Come on in and have a cup of coffee or glass of sweet iced tea. I hope you had a great weekend and are now enjoying another week. Now I remember that Mondays could be a hassle but just thank the good Lord you are here and I thank Him that I could get out of bed. When you get my age and Arthritis and Bursitis visit right regularly, you are just glad to be able to get out of bed and walk to the coffee pot.

Being able to walk to the coffee pot is the most important task to accomplish in the morning for without that first taste of caffeine nectar from the gods I am not worth killing. After all, I am Burt Williamson's first and only granddaughter so coffee is the first joy of the day and all day. I have enjoyed coffee that was absolutely wonderful and I have had some that was absolutely horrible, but coffee is coffee and with enough cream and sugar most of it is drinkable. There is one coffee that I cannot drink and that is instant coffee. I have tried every brand and prepared it every way that is known to man, but I can still tell you it is instant and is good for nothing except to pour down the sink. So please, if instant is all you've got just give me a glass of tea.

Now I am saying this with a smile and being polite so mama and the "Mama Police" won't get their panties all in a wad. You know that even from heaven, looking down, they can still lay a guilt trip on you if you are impolite. That little niggling voice in the back of your mind is not your conscious but your sweet Southern Mama and the town's "Mama Police." Remember their responsibility is to make sure you mind your manners and be polite whether you want to or not. It's a Southern thing.

On Sundays it our family custom to have muffins for breakfast. Now it's not a big deal for I have always used muffin mixes to do this. That makes it quick and easy and while they are baking I could get the children up and begin to get ready for church. I have continued to do it even now that is just Roy and me. It still takes me awhile to get ready for church and we just like muffins.

Now that I have a little more time and watch Food TV all day, I have become a little more discriminating and I now change the mixes somehow. Some really delicious recipes have resulted from my experimenting and some not so good. I have posted several and I have another one I want to share. I baked this one yesterday and they are very good. So enjoy.

ORANGE BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

• 1 14 oz. box Blueberry Muffin Mix (I used the Dollar Tree brand - Harvest Hill and it is good)
• 1/3 cup quick oatmeal
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 egg
• zest of 1 orange
• optional - 1/2 cup frozen or fresh blueberries (I used frozen for I have my own bushes)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease a 12 cup muffin tin

Mix the orange juice and egg in small bowl. Combine the mix, oatmeal and orange juice mixture in large mixing bowl and stir until smooth. Do not beat. Add orange zest and mix. Fill the muffin cups about 3/4 full. I found that an ice cream scoop is great for this. 1 scoop is enough for each cup. Serve warm with sweet butter. The leftovers are great to split, butter the halves and toast lightly - if there are leftovers. These would be good served with orange marmalade or blueberry jam.

Bake for 20-30 minutes.

Oranges are in season and not too expensive right now and today I used one and made a good dessert I dreamed up. I have pears that I peeled, sliced and froze this summer and this is what I used for this quick and easy dish. You could use fresh and you would need about 4. Not sure it would work with canned.

POACHED PEARS WITH ORANGE JUICE

• 2-3 cups frozen pears or 3-4 fresh pears, peeled and sliced
• juice and zest of 1 orange

Place the pears in small saucepan and pour the fresh, squeezed orange juice over the pears. Sprinkle the zest over the pears and orange juice, bring to a slow simmer and simmer until pears are tender. Don't cook until mushy. You want them to hold the shape of the slice.

Take a small dessert dish, coarsely crumble a shortbread cookie in each dish. Spoon the warm pears over the cookie and crumble 1/2 cookie on top of pears. You could top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and sprinkle the cookie crumbs over the ice cream. You can use whatever cookie you have and today I used and almond cookie I get from the Dollar Tree. The almond taste was good witht the pears.

This is quick, easy and sugar free. Pears have a lot of sugar in them and orange juice adds just enough sweet.

Hope you enjoy these and please comment if you do. Click on the small envelope at the end of the posting and let me know how you liked them or ask any questions.

Remember to be polite and mind your manners.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

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Pumpkin Apple Muffins

Pumpkin - Apple Muffins

Low fat makes 16

1 Carrot cake or spice cake mix

1 Can of pumpkin (not pie mix)

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup chopped apple - about 1/2 of a medium apple

1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 °. Place cupcake wrappers in 18 muffin tin cups. I use a 12 cup pan and a 6 cup pan.
Combine dry cake mix, pumpkin, applesauce, raisins and nuts by hand until well mixed. The dough will be fairly stiff. Divide the dough among the 18 cups - I use 1 level ice cream scoop per muffin. Bake for about 20 minutes or until slightly brown. Test with toothpick in center of several muffins. I also touch the top of several muffins to see if they are done. Remove from tins and place on cooling rack. These are moist and will keep for 2-3 days in a covered container but I put them in the refrigerator if any are left.

This recipe is based on a Weight Watchers muffin recipe with Frances additions.
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These are good for breakfast muffins but are also good enough for dessert. You could add a frosting if you really wanted one, but these are rich and sweet. Try 'em, you'll like 'em.

Happy eating.

The Georgia Peach