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pumpkin cream cheese muffins
Nov. 22nd, 2012 03:01 pmI'm not doing much for Thanksgiving--my housemate has gone off to celebrate with some of his friends, so I'm here on my own storing up energy. (I work tonight, 9 pm to 1 am, and then 3pm-midnight on Black Friday and Saturday.) A little later I'll be making myself a pork chop and a nice creamy potato gratin.
But right now I'm making these pumpkin cream cheese muffins. I've sampled one from the first batch and they are delicious. I followed the suggestions in the comments about upping the level of spices: in the end I probably used about 3-4 teaspoons of cinnamon, 2.5 teaspoons of ground ginger, 2.5 teaspoons of allspice, nearly 2 teaspoons of freshly ground cloves, 1 teaspoon freshly ground cardamom, 1.5 teaspoons or so of freshly grated nutmeg, a couple of points of star anise (ground), a few grinds of black pepper, and a teaspoon of cocoa powder. I didn't use pumpkin pie spice, since I thought I didn't have any--as it turned out, the housemate had bought some--and also because it's just the same spices already used in the recipe. Also, since I didn't have any molasses to add, I substituted grated jaggery (an Indian sugar that comes in lump form and has a pronounced earthy, molasses-y flavor) for a couple of tablespoons of the sugar.
I'm topping the muffins with a pecan half, as in the picture, but I'll leave some pecan-free since I'll be bringing these to work to share with my colleagues. And the recipe makes a lot--closer to 3 dozen than the 2 dozen stated.
So, happy Thanksgiving to anyone who's celebrating. And, for any US folks who will be shopping today or this weekend: please be polite, patient, and kind to the retail workers you encounter. We are doing our best. Really. And for every bit of chaos and confusion you can see for yourself in the stores, bear in mind that the person serving you is also dealing with additional "backstage" problems. And other customers who also want their help who you may not be aware of. And the customer 10 minutes ago who yelled at them and made them want to cry, except that they're too busy even to take a break and calm down. Retail workers = people. People who are paid shitty wages and who usually have no health insurance, sick days, vacation pay, or decent retirement plan. People who can't answer back if you're rude, because they could lose their jobs.
Be nice.
Probably none of you who read my journal need reminding of this, but, well, it can't hurt.
ETA: And please respect the Walmart strike. Wal-Mart's underpaid, uninsured, mistreated workers need everyone's support.
But right now I'm making these pumpkin cream cheese muffins. I've sampled one from the first batch and they are delicious. I followed the suggestions in the comments about upping the level of spices: in the end I probably used about 3-4 teaspoons of cinnamon, 2.5 teaspoons of ground ginger, 2.5 teaspoons of allspice, nearly 2 teaspoons of freshly ground cloves, 1 teaspoon freshly ground cardamom, 1.5 teaspoons or so of freshly grated nutmeg, a couple of points of star anise (ground), a few grinds of black pepper, and a teaspoon of cocoa powder. I didn't use pumpkin pie spice, since I thought I didn't have any--as it turned out, the housemate had bought some--and also because it's just the same spices already used in the recipe. Also, since I didn't have any molasses to add, I substituted grated jaggery (an Indian sugar that comes in lump form and has a pronounced earthy, molasses-y flavor) for a couple of tablespoons of the sugar.
I'm topping the muffins with a pecan half, as in the picture, but I'll leave some pecan-free since I'll be bringing these to work to share with my colleagues. And the recipe makes a lot--closer to 3 dozen than the 2 dozen stated.
So, happy Thanksgiving to anyone who's celebrating. And, for any US folks who will be shopping today or this weekend: please be polite, patient, and kind to the retail workers you encounter. We are doing our best. Really. And for every bit of chaos and confusion you can see for yourself in the stores, bear in mind that the person serving you is also dealing with additional "backstage" problems. And other customers who also want their help who you may not be aware of. And the customer 10 minutes ago who yelled at them and made them want to cry, except that they're too busy even to take a break and calm down. Retail workers = people. People who are paid shitty wages and who usually have no health insurance, sick days, vacation pay, or decent retirement plan. People who can't answer back if you're rude, because they could lose their jobs.
Be nice.
Probably none of you who read my journal need reminding of this, but, well, it can't hurt.
ETA: And please respect the Walmart strike. Wal-Mart's underpaid, uninsured, mistreated workers need everyone's support.
