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PAGE 10 hOmE & lIfESTYlE IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2020
My Favorite Muffin
challenge. Whether on the spur of the
moment or planned in advance, it always
brings me joy to transform pantry sta-
ples—no exotic ingredients needed—into
something this irresistible.
Having made these muffins so many
times, I think I know the ingredients and
measurements by heart. However, I still
double-check the recipe before beginning
again for the umpteenth time—just in case.
ISI
OATMEAL MUFFINS
INGREDEIENTS
< 1 teaspoon vinegar (apple or white)
< 1 cup whole milk
< 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
< 1 cup all-purpose flour
< ½ teaspoon salt
< 1 teaspoon each baking soda and
baking powder
Since they aren’t overly sweet, these oatmeal muffins seem right any time or any meal of the day. < ½ cup brown sugar, packed
Photo by Gail Jokerst. < 1 large egg, beaten
< ½ cup flavorless oil
Additionally, it’s easy enough for kids
BY GAIl JOKERST to master yet satisfying for adults to create DIRECTIONS
from scratch. A moist muffin with a tender 1. Stir vinegar into milk. Pour milk into
It’s probably foolhardy to claim I have crumb, it hits all the right notes for me and a mixing bowl, then add oats. Let soak
a favorite muffin any more than I have a freezes beautifully. one hour. Meanwhile sift together dry
favorite pie or flavor of ice cream. Whatever It may sound odd, but I especially appre- ingredients and set aside.
I’m eating, if my taste buds shout hosannas, ciate the simplicity of these muffins. No 2. Blend together brown sugar, egg, and
qualifies as my favorite—at least for the added nuts or raisins are required to lend oil, then add to oat-milk mixture. When
moment. interest. No added butter is necessary to well mixed, stir sifted dry ingredients into
Despite having said that, I really do have slather on top, unless you’re feeling indul- wet batter.
a go-to oatmeal muffin recipe I’ve relied on gent. Since they aren’t overly sweet, they 3. Bake at 400 degrees in greased muffin
for some 30 years—and for good reason. seem right any time or any meal of the day. tins (or use paper liners) for 15 to 20
Aside from the fact that I crave the slightly I’m even fond of them as trail fare, minutes or until golden brown on top and
nutty flavor and chewy texture of this muf- though they aren’t sturdy travelers. the center tests clean when poked with a
fin, it unfailingly comes out perfect. So far While not as speedy as using a Betty toothpick.
it has never disappointed me or anyone else Crocker boxed mix, whipping up a batch
who has eaten one. of these muffins is hardly a world-class
CROSSWORD CROSSWORD CLUES
Across
1 Penthouses, e.g.: Abbr.
5 Smartphone downloads
9 Metaphor for responsibilities
13 Adriatic port
14 March Madness org.
15 “Beavis and Butt-head” spin-off
16 Bickering
17 Start of a Charles M. Schulz quote
19 Rub the wrong way
21 Twelve-step helper
22 Quote, part 2
24 Non-neutral atom
25 Light sleeper’s distraction
26 Living area in “The Martian,” with “the”
28 A Gabor sister
30 Acts of faith?
34 Classic sci-fi villain
38 Quote, part 3
41 1980s attorney general
42 Shade related to violet
43 Responsibility
44 Bend
46 Cope with
48 Dept. head
