Oatmeal Muffin Recipe with Ginger

As I write this, I’m having a cup of coffee and nibbling on one of these wonderful (if I do say so myself) oatmeal and ginger muffins that I made yesterday. I’ve never been one to conform, so, when I ran across a recipe for oatmeal muffins, I decided it needed a little something to give it some kick.  The addition of the ginger and cinnamon were my idea. They turned out great.

• 1  1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup quick oats
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 beaten egg
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup cooking oil (I used canola)
• 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon powdered cinnamon

Line muffin pans with either paper baking cups or grease them well.  Use the regular sized muffin pan, not the jumbo.

In a medium sized bowl mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt and set the bowl aside.

In another bowl mix together the egg, milk and oil.  Blend together well with fork or whisk.  Add to the flour mixture all at once and stir just until moist and combined.  The batter should be lumpy.  Overmixing the batter can create tunnels in your muffins or give it a rough texture.

Spoon batter into muffin cups, a little over half way full.  Bake in a 400 degree (F) oven for 18-20 minutes or until a golden brown and an inserted, wooden toothpick comes out clean.

by Cat Stewart

produce at East Nashville Farmers Market

In the heart of its second year, the East Nashville Farmer’s Market is a big success, drawing many of the vendors that spend their Saturday mornings at the Franklin Farmer’s Market. Their recent move two blocks behind the Turnip Truck, where the market was located last summer, has created more space for vendors and increased available parking.

            What awaits you at the Market?  Fresh produce, grass fed meats, fresh dairy milk, free range eggs, and hand made cheese to name just a few items. Much of the produce is grown organically and the animal products are produced without exposure to antibiotics or hormones. Another great plus is that farm direct foods are not subject to sales tax.

            This week’s feature vendor is Peaceful Pastures. They provide grass fed beef, lamb, goat, pork and pasteurized poultry products. Their grass fed meats are higher in Vitamin E, the Omega-3 fatty acids, CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) and other nutrients than that of commercially raised meat products. There is also a lower risk of E. coli. The animals are raised in a humane environment and not confined in stalls or feedlots. Grass fed meat is also lower in fat and therefore lower in calories than the meat of animals that are pumped full of hormones and antibiotics and fattened on corn or other supplemental feed. They also bring farm fresh eggs, but you’ll want to come early to get those as they sell out quickly.  Check out their website at www.peacefulpastures.com to see the full range of products available for pre-order.

Peaceful Pastures at East Nashville Farmers Market

            While many people buy locally because they enjoy the improved flavor and nutrient content of just harvested produce, there are other benefits as well. Buying local produce reduces your carbon footprint significantly because the transportation costs of just a pound of food are significant. The average mileage racked up by many of the items on your supermarket shelf is 1500 miles! The fossil fuels required to transport food this far make a big carbon impact. In addition to being more environmentally friendly from the transportation standpoint, local farms generally use sustainable methods to produce the food. No harmful pesticides, no genetic modification, and no chemical fertilizers as well as little to no packaging all go into the plus column of the green check list.

            The best reason to shop at the East Nashville Farmer’s market is FUN! There are frequently musicians or singers that pick a few Bluegrass tunes, kids romping and playing, dogs sniffing their way toward a treat sample at the Peaceful Pastures table. Beautiful colors, enticing smells, tasty samples and interesting conversations make the market the place to be every Wednesday afternoon from 3:30 until 7.

Roy and I love our Netflix account.  The last movie that arrived in our mailbox was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. I liked it but I think Roy was a little bored by it.  It’s true, it did creep along rather slowly.  But I have a sneaking suspicion that it will be one of those films where, when I watch it the second time, it will become one of my favorites.  Towards the end, it finally picks up speed and the years of his life begin to unfold at a faster pace.  Having never read the short story be F. Scott Fitgerald that it was based on, I had no idea where the story would end up.  Towards the end, it was easy to figure out, but … isn’t that so much better than a film where you know exactly what is going to happen after the first ten minutes?  I’d rather have my “ah ha” moment towards the end of a movie.

A wonderful story, beautiful cinematography, great performances by the actors.  I love Cate Blanchett but have to admit that I’ve only seen maybe half of Brad Pitt’s movies.  But it WAS a truly interesting story and watching his life in reverse, gives some perspective on the things we take for granted every day.  Would I watch it again?  Yes.

The Netflix synopsis:  

David Fincher directs this Oscar-nominated tale of Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) — a man who was born old and wrinkled but grows younger as the years go by — with a screenplay adapted from a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The plot throws linear conventions upside down to explore love, loss and memory from the perspective of a character living under incredibly unique — and unexpectedly difficult — circumstances. Cate Blanchett co-stars.