Another February Already!

"One month is past, another is begun,

Since merry bells rang out the dying year,

And buds of rarest green begin to peer,

As if impatient for a warmer sun;

And though the distant hills are bleak and dun,

The virgin snowdrop, like a lambent fire,

Pierces the cold earth with its green-streaked spire

And in dark woods, the wandering little one

May find a primrose."

February 1st. 1842 ~ Hartley Coleridge 

Mockingbird

Eastern Grey Squirrel

Male House finch

Today I enjoyed the birds, baked pistachio muffins (shared with my neighbor

 who shared his excellent seafood stew with us), and did some

 much-needed paperwork. I feel as if I'm in hibernation . . . . . . it would

 be so easy just to be lazy.  February is never my favorite month. 

Thank goodness for Valentine's Day in the middle. It does lift the spirit

 somewhat with all those red hearts popping up, and makes me want

to write pretty cards . . . . . . and eat a little chocolate!

Easter greetings -

~ Easter Breakfast ~

We love these easy to make Pistachio Muffins (click for the recipe) all

 year round. Being green they are perfect for Springtime and Easter.

A perfect pot of lilies with seven buds - an Easter gift from a dear friend.

I will plant them in the garden later and hope for a rebloom next year.

~ Wishing you all a beautiful and blessed Easter ~

Bakery-style Pistachio Muffins -

No gloom and doom today - let's do something fun!

You requested, so I'm sharing, my green and gorgeous

 Pistachio Muffins recipe. 

It's a very simple, quick to mix and bake, recipe. . . . . . . . . . . . .

 . . . . . . . .and you will find just about everyone loves them.

PISTACHIO MUFFINS

Makes 8 jumbo muffins

1 box (16.25 OZ)  'Betty Crocker' WHITE Super Moist Cake Mix**

1 box (3.4 OZ)  'Jello' Pistachio Instant Pudding & Pie Filling

2 Large Eggs

1/2 cup Water

1/2 cup Vegetable oil

1/2 cup Buttermilk***

1 Tablespoon PURE Almond Extract - don't use artificial extract and don't skimp as this makes the muffins taste so delicious

Topping:

1 Tablespoon roasted and shelled Pistachios*, crushed with a rolling pin -

or

1 Tablespoon sliced almonds - I sometimes use both mixed together

1 Teaspoon golden granulated sugar or sparkling sugar for crunch

Preheat oven to 425F

Grease muffin pans or use paper liners****

In a large bowl, mix together cake mix and pudding mix.

In a small bowl, lightly beat eggs, add water, oil, buttermilk, and almond extract, whisking well to blend. Add wet ingredients slowly to dry, stirring until well mixed.

Spoon into 8 muffin pans - fill 3/4 full. Sprinkle mix of nuts and sugar lightly on top.

Bake on middle rack at 425F for just 7 minutes - this produces a more domed top, then reduce heat to 350F and bake 13 -15 minutes, watch carefully so as not to get too brown - test with cake tester for doneness. Remove from oven. Cool 5 minutes, remove muffins from pan to wire rack, cool completely.  

The muffins are good anytime but I actually prefer them next day.  These freeze really well in plastic bags and are still great when defrosted.

Some tips from me because I want you to make good muffins, in fact so good,

if you share with your neighbors their eyes will light up each time they see you

 coming to their door plate in hand!

*Shelled and roasted pistachios are often expensive - but so delicious!  

I buy mine from ALDI or LIDL - good prices, and the bag will last a long

 time, unless you gobble them up between muffin baking days!

**I buy Betty Crocker cake mix as it seems to be the best. I tried
 another brand recently but it seemed stale and lumpy.

***I always have a jug of this in the refrigerator. It's the best - full fat buttermilk, don't 

buy the watered down version - and it keeps so well.

****I spray my pans, even though they are non-stick, with canola oil for easy removal,

Personally I don't like paper liners as they often stick and cause the muffin

 (or cupcake) to crumble on removal, especially when fresh.

OK ladies, and any guys out there who love to bake, (unfortunately I don't have one 

who bakes, but I do love him for other reasons), give these a try, when you can get 

the ingredients, and let me know what you think.

"Happy baking, time in the kitchen, days"