Muffin-making morn

For hours this morning -yes, hours; we were up early- not a thing sounded appealing for breakfast. I nibbled on a fresh peach while I drank my coffee and got the boys ready for school, but until about 9am, I was at a loss. But then I saw one more peach in the fridge and thought, well, I'll make ginger peach muffins because the freezer stash needed replenishing anyway. While those were in the oven, I started getting more excited about a morning of muffins and decided to make one with apples. Y'all, this is a hit, and I will make this recipe all fall and thereafter as well. Click here for the recipe. I reduced some apple cider and then stirred into that (while still hot) so thinly sliced apple chunks. Meanwhile I made a vanilla-brown butter, whisked that with egg and buttermilk and stirred it into my flour mixture which contained lots of cinnamon and freshly ground nutmeg. I folded in the cider apples along with some of the reduced cider, and baked until golden. Sooo good. If T and I weren't going out to lunch -mid-week! such a rarity!- I'd eat more of these treats.

Per the usual, my muffin photography failed, so I took this pic in a "1960s" direction and actually think it improves things. Ginger Peach in the background, Apple Cider in the front.

www.em-i-lis.com

Fab farro salad!

In all seriousness, I'm not sure I've had this hectic of a day in some time. And coming from me, that's saying a lot. It started at 7:30a -still dark out!- with a fantastic presentation at the kids' school. Now it's 8:17p, and it's all kinda blurry. Not least cuz I've had two glasses of wine. And the gov shut down. And all that jazz. I will say that it's true that cats LOVE catnip -sweet Jesus is that true- and that I created a fabulous farro salad to go alongside our grilled chicken this evening. Y'all, seriously, this is delicious. Farro, roasted golden beets, feta, maple-glazed pecans, chive-sage oil... Bene, bene. I'll post the recipe tonight.

www.em-i-lis.com

Thank you for the wonderful response to Cinderello, by the way. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your many notes of support and heck-yeahs!