Monday, July 22, 2019

T Stands For Birthday Bash


Next week we will have the after party and celebrate sharing each person's ATCs they received.  I jumped the gun last year and won't do that again this year.

One day while the children were here (and NO, I'm not going to say which day), we celebrated a birthday.

I was no longer in charge of two teens and a tween, but am happy to say the youngest is now a teen, too.

These children are so diverse.  They LOVE everything I throw at them, from art to botanical gardens to finding murals in town to the science museum to the library to the youngest's joy of baking.

Heaven only knows from where this baking craze came.  The child's mother thought of food in terms of how long it took to heat or prepare something in the microwave, and I'm certainly not fond of baking, or even cooking for that matter, even though I have hundreds of cookbooks.

The youngest prepared and baked these muffins for each of us.  I've been given the exact measurements and instructions used.  I was given the recipe as written out (computer generated) by the youngest.  BTW, the cup and saucer are evidence of my soon-to-be drink.

Raisin bran muffins
This recipe makes six muffins
Ingredients 

1/4 cup vegetable oil (I used canola), plus more for baking tin if not using paper liners
3/4 cup milk (but I used half and half because that's all Elizabeth had) 
1 1/2 cups raisin bran cereal  
1 cup all-purpose flour (be sure it's level)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I let the teaspoon overflow because I love cinnamon)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, beaten
1/4 cup packed dark-brown sugar (I added a bit more because I didn't level the measuring cup)
4 teaspoons quick cooking oats (optional, for decoration purposes)*

Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 400. Lightly oil a 6-cup standard muffin tin, or use paper liners like I used. In a medium bowl, combine cereal and milk.  Let stand until softened, about 5 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
  2. Stir oil, egg, and brown sugar into cereal mixture. Fold in flour mixture. Divide batter among cups.  Sprinkle a few quick cooking oats on top of each muffin batter.  Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in muffin tin 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.  Let cool completely, or serve warm.
*This was the youngster's idea of adding a bit of decoration to the muffins, since they seemed so plain sitting unbaked in their liners.

It's now time for you to share your own drink related post.  It can be gifts you received, photos, a place you visited, movies, postcards, mail art, junk mail, books, sketches, mixed media, drawings, paintings, tags, scrapbooking, or other art that is digital, hybrid, or traditional, as long as it in some way relates back to a drink, any drink.  You might even want to try the muffin recipe that will go with your favorite drink.  Regardless, please share below and Bleubeard and I, along with the rest of the T gang will be by to visit.   Please link only your T post and not your blog in general.  Old photos are acceptable because they may be taken any time, not just on Tuesday and not just this year.



28 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

Those muffins look wonderful, the youngest definitely has talent! Thanks for sharing the recipe, too. I made pancakes today as I had a visitor who loves them. And we ate them before I remembered to take a photo, we were both greedy! Happy T Day, Valerie

Divers and Sundry said...

It's been ages since I had raisin bran muffins, and I do like them. I'm editing my grocery list right now :) Happy Late Birthday to the new teen.

I've sent my ATC winging off to the UK and look forward to seeing what folks receive. What fun! Thanks for all you do, and Happy T Day!

johanna said...

i think it is an absolute joy to bake (and cook). to say the truth, before my retirement i had a different view on it, all had to be quick... but now i really enjoy it! the muffins look yummy!
well, the next heat wave is upon us now and meanwhile i really love rainy days. too less of them. being at home the heat is not a problem, but next week i´ll be on vacation, a city trip, and i really must think of an indoor programm, at least partially...
have a great week, elizabeth - enjoy the afterparty:)

Sharon Madson said...

Elizabeth, it sounds like you had such a lovely time with the children! And what wonderful muffins! They go great with tea. I am again having a lovely cup of Twinings decaf Lady Grey tea and eyeing those muffins! Happy T Day and thanks for hostessing our weekly parties!

Helen said...

I used to enjoy baking but don't do it any more. love the muffins.

Meggymay said...

It looks like another memorable day you had with the children. The muffins look really delicious I like how they were decorated with the candles, it must have made the occasion very special.
Happy T day wishes Elizabeth.
Yvonne xx

Eileen The Artful Crafter said...

This is how it goes. With some nurturing, each child finds their own heart. When our son was young, I wasn't an adventurous cook. We tried things together for fun like gathering wild berries and making jam, making dessert and dinner crepes. Lo and behold, I learned to love cooking and he ended up opening two restaurants. I love hearing about how the girls are doing and know you've been a crucial part in their lives since their mom passed away. The muffins look wonderful. I love reading about their visits and how they're doing.

But, how do you keep up with them, Elizabeth?!

Happy T-day! Eileen xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Now that looks like a celebration (Happy Birthday Teenager! My youngest grandchild will be a Teen next month!) Those muffins look delicious...and not too much sugar either!! I don't know how this recipe will translate into British ingredients but I am going to give these a try! Hugs, Chrisx

Rita said...

Look delicious! Happy whatever day birthday. :) :)

My name is Erika. said...

Those muffins look yummy. And I get the baking part. My mother was a heat it up lady too and maybe that's why I love to bake so much. But either way, they sound like they were fabulous guests and you had a lot of fun. Hope its a great T day. Hugs-Erika

Linda Kunsman said...

Oh what a fabulous time you and the children must have had! And how nice that they have such diverse interests and are willing to explore it all. I make a very similar version of raisin bran muffins quite often as they are my hubby's favorite. These look delicious! You say you don't bake but I still use a molasses spice muffin recipe you shared awhile back:) Happy T day!

kathyinozarks said...

Those muffins look delicious! sounds like a very fun time with the children-they will remember this one for sure with all the neat places you visited.
I am hoping to post a T blog tomorrow when up at the lake house-if not a seperate post soon about Fiber U soon I had a fun day
Happy T hugs Ktahy

Kate Yetter said...

Those muffins look delicious! That's great that you were able to spend time with the kids on their visit.
I am looking forward to seeing the atc's. I wanted to play along but I was really sick last week so I didn't get to link up.
Happy tea Day,
Kate

Halle said...

I've been suffering from a migraine all day...hoping to get my post up tomorrow morning and give a proper comment.

froebelsternchen said...

Wow..great muffins!!!
Happy T-Day dear Elizabeth!!!!
♥♥♥
Susi

sheila 77 said...

Thanks for the muffin recipe (with pictures, always essential for a recipe IMO) and I enjoyed your additional comments and "instructions". I always add extra cinnamon or ginger too.
How very nice that the youngest made these and gave you the recipe (computer written, of course).

CJ Kennedy said...

Sounds like a wonderful recipe. You can't go wrong with muffins or extra cinnamon. The candles are a nice touch to celebrate the T Day anniversary. Enjoy your day!

Halle said...

Those muffins look so yummy. I'm not a baker...those pesky measurements.
Thanks for the recipe though.
Happy T day!

Lisca said...

Sorry for the late comment. Unexpected things will happen. An early visit from out of town friends is always nice but it throws my plans completely.
I am impressed with those muffins. It’s nice when kids get the cooking bug when young. It is after all fun to do and very satisfying. (I know you don’t care for baking).
When you said that one tween was now a teen, I had to look up teen and tween. I always thought that a teen was a teenager ( aged between ten and twenty) and a tween was someone in their twenties. Ok, the question has now been set right .
Happy T Day,
Lisca

Let's Art Journal said...

It's sounds like you had a lovely time with the teens and how wonderful that the youngest baked these lovely muffins 😀. They looks so delicious and I'd love to try one. Thanks for the recipe, I find baking very therapeutic although I am aware other don't ...lol! Happy T Day! Jo x
p.s. thanks for your kind comments on my blog, the funeral is later this week which I'm hoping will help. Hugs, Jo x

Anne (cornucopia) said...

I'm glad you had fun with the youngsters Elizabeth. I like that the recipe makes 6 muffins: not too many, and they look delicious. I love that flower pattern tea cup, saucer, and plates you have. Happy T-Day!

Caty said...

OOhhh these muffins are spectacular Elizabeth !! Just want to eat one !! Happy Birthday to this wonderful teen !! ♥ They are the best always!!
Love your cup and the so beautiful plates. Happy T-day !!
Thank you very much for the recipe, yes, I would like to try it.
I wish you a very nice day, and send big hugs.
Caty

Words and Pictures said...

Delicious-looking muffins! Belated birthday greetings to the new teen... so great that you've been exploring all those diverse interests together.
Alison x

Sami said...

The muffins look wonderful :) Happy birthday to the teen.

RO said...

I agree. These kids are fantastic, and I would definitely love to hang out with them. Very cool to have kids that don't mind trying and learning new things. Those muffins look fantastic and quite yummy! I love your dishes so much, and they look quite elegant. Hugs and Happy Wednesday! RO

Lowcarb team member said...

Yum! Don't those muffins look delicious.

All the best Jan

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

Those birthday muffins look amazing. Blessings!

Jeanie said...

Maybe their aunt is a baker! Either way, it looks like a fun and festive time. I love it, that you and they connect so well on so many different topics and activities. They are lucky to have you in their lives, especially at this critical juncture of youth and young adulthood when guidance is so important, even if from afar. The muffins look delicious -- thanks for sharing them!