Saturday, November 5, 2011

Wintery Weather Warning means Time to Bake!

I had so many plans this morning to get my house and errands taken care of before all the fun weekend football games.  I even woke up early to take on the opportunity of an early start...

I woke up, stretched, got a cup of hot hazelnut coffee (love my husband!) and then it struck me... Why were all the windows white?  I opened the door to take a peak, it happened:  The First Winter Snowfall.  Of course this wouldn't hold me back, I could overcome the mounds of snow quickly covering my porch and driveway.  Even my cat, who thinks he is a mountain lion, decided to run out and, for the first time in his life, experience snow.

Maui the "Mountain Lion"
So where I planned to go out and run errands, I needed to fill in the gap.  My husband, a man who easily adapts, found himself on the couch, computer in hand, and game day playing on the TV.  Me, I found myself thinking, what is the best way to melt this frost?

And then it hit me, Fresh Winter Muffins!  I remembered I bought some cranberries, and being me I never find it hard to find anything one can dream of in my pantry.  And so I said, "Aimee, why not make a Cranberry Orange Muffin" to make today melt into sheer joy?!

So literally not but 20 minutes from waking up, I pulled out my tools and whipped up some fresh breakfast:



Cranberry Orange Muffins
What You Need:
3 1/2 cups Flour
2 Sticks Butter
1 cup Sugar
1 tsp Orange Extract
Zest of 1/2 Orange
1 cup Fresh Cranberries
2 Eggs
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 cup Milk

To start add the butter and sugar into a bowl and beat together. Add the eggs, milk,  and extract and blend.  Next, add the flour, baking soda, and baking powder.  Fold together lightly so not to over mix.  

In a food processor add the cranberries and 1/3 cup sugar.  Pulsate 4-5 times to chop.  Mix into the muffin batter.

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, or until golden brown tops.  These are awesome served with butter and a dusting of powdered sugar!  

I didn't dust these ones with sugar until after the photo, and they were so adorable because they had a fresh layer of "snow"!


Just to say it, these look amazing with the snowy background, so while looking for my mountain lion pet, I took my fresh baked muffins out to snap a few shots with pine trees in the background.  Now with my coffee, muffins, and husband in hand, I will say today was a great success, even if the original to do list was left behind!  And I had to post another picture as the sugar made these perfect!


May the snow melt with your warm baking treats!!
XOXO,


19 comments:

  1. OHHH!! Thanks!! I am going to share with my neighbors... their kids were pointing while I stood in the snow photographing my breakfast lol!! I guess this is outside of the norm haha!

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  2. I love cranberry orange muffins! These were the perfect choice for your snowy morning!

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  3. Stunning! Your cat is so adorable and this was a GREAT post. Your muffins look delicious! The way you described your morning was heartwarming! I wish I could buzz it more than once!

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  4. Thanks so much Ann, I appreciate it :) My cat is crazy huh? lol We were trying to teach him how to raise the roof!

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  5. Sounds like the perfect day! Baking muffins on a snowy day, that's what I call fun! These look wonderful, especially with the snowy background, I love it!

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  6. Wow - already a snowfall? I'm not quite ready, but I know I'll be baking up a storm to keep the house warm once it does hit! Enjoy your snow and these amazing muffins =)

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  7. Thanks ;) WHile a pittsburgh girl, I am currently living in Salt Lake City. Here it snows from October -- May. If you like to ski, its heaven. If you're me, its an excuse to bake :)

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  8. Aimee. Great article and beautiful looking muffins. My fave! I am going to try your recipe today! Thank you and enjoy the snow! Tell Steve hello!

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  9. Is this with 3.5 cups of flour or 3, 1/2 cups of flour? Because with 3.5 cups of flour I have a very dry batter. Is there a way to fix this or is it supposed to be that way? Thanks.

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  10. if your batter is dry, i'd add a bit of milk. I wonder why it was dry for you. Let me know if you altered it at all, and if that worked out for you!

    Best,

    Aimee

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  11. Allison-

    I am curious if your muffins worked. I hope they did, I'm thinking about you!!

    Best,

    Aimee

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  12. Hi Aimee-

    I ended up adding another cup of milk to my batter and the consistency seemed right. I baked them up and they were pretty good but I think I should have added a little more of the cranberry mixture. I'm not sure what I did wrong to begin with but I'd like to try them again.
    Thanks!

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  13. Aliison: I am so hopeful the next batch is for the better. Maybe use 1/2 cup less flour next time. I have a Chemistry Minor so baking problems spark my interest to the next level! I am curious if there is an altitude or maybe even humidity difference that caused the minor differences? Sometimes it is teh weirdest theings that casue the strangest results. Being a dry batter for you, I would def cut the 1/2 cup flour, so total only use 3 cups.

    Let me know!

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  14. I love the combination of orange and cranberry and the "snow" covered muffins photo is fabulous! I get a cozy feeling all over :)

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  15. Thanks Anita!!!!! These were just what a snowy day needed ;). Glad your back and hope all is well!!!!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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    1. Ps: you are so right !!!! That powdered sugar snow does give such a cozy feeling!!'nnn

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  16. i'm craving these so bad right now!!!!

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