Tuesday, March 15, 2011

{TWD} Citrus Currant Sunshine Muffins


Although Spring is just around the corner, this year's chilly weather needs a bit of a push. Enter this week's assignment for the TWD bakers: Citrus Currant Sunshine Muffins. Not only do these muffins promise some sunny warmth, they deliver it first thing in the morning when it will get your day off to a bright start.

n.o.e.'s notes:

- Lauryn of the blog Bella Baker chose the muffins for us to bake this week. If you'd like to bake them, you can find the recipe on Lauryn's post.

- I had some whole wheat flour left after milling it for the Buffalo Barn Raisers bread that I baked earlier in the week, so I used it in these muffins. The whole wheat flour made up a little less than half of the total amount of flour in the muffins.

- The last time I stocked up on currants, the ones I found were extremely tiny, and I knew they would be perfect for muffins. I plumped the currants by letting them soak in warmed orange juice for about 10 minutes.

- My silicone muffin tins are dark in color, so I reduced the oven temperature a bit. My muffins baked 360 degrees for 18 minutes

- When the muffins came out of the oven they were flat-topped, just as Dorie described in the recipe.


the verdict:

Warm from the oven, these muffins were a taste of a bright sunny day, even in the middle of late winter chill - fresh and citrusy with a little shot of intense sweetness from the currants. They had a perfect balance of sweet and bright in a moist, muffin crumb. When the last muffin was gone it was like a little shadow fell over our kitchen.

10 comments:

Jules Someone said...

We really enjoyed these at my house! I forget how cute currants are.

chocolatechic said...

These were just so good.


I made coffee cake from it.

Di said...

I really need to make these. I don't use currants nearly enough. And I like your idea of using some whole wheat flour--very cool that you got to use some that you made yourself! =)

steph- whisk/spoon said...

oh, these are loaded with currants. they look good! and i always like adding a little whole grain flour to my muffins as well.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

On these cool mornings these would be a real treat warm from the oven.

Mary said...

You milled your own flour??!!! I bow down at your blogging feet this week...very very cool. I will have to add that to my to-do list.

Unknown said...

I echo Mary's comments - you milled your own flour?? That's impressive. At first glance I thought the currants were chocolate chips, but either way the muffins look great!

mike509 said...

Beautiful Nancy! Funny - I soaked my currants in OJ too! I love currants... sometimes more than raisins. Agreed - very citrusy, and moist, which is good for long-lasting muffins!

Cindy said...

I think we should always have sunshine in our kitchen. Off to make another batch!

Kayte said...

Those look lovely. I was wondering what kind of pan you used to get the sides of the muffins to look like that and then voila, you showed it! Thanks. Love the sunshine and the description of the shadow...but then you knew I would notice that and be appreciative, right? Just the sort of thing I always look for in photos...like all those great 365 day photos you did...I'm not going to forget those.