Morning Glory Muffins for the Fire Station
I have been waiting so long to make these muffins. For the last 3 years, while Yancey's been trying to become a firefighter, our conversations would go something like this:
Me: If you get in, I can't wait to bake treats. What should I make your first day?
Yancey: I don't know, Sarah. It's a long time until that happens, if it ever does.
Me: I know, but I'm believing. I know it will happen. And they are going to love to my cooking.
How's that for confidence? There were many days, weeks, months, when this dream of ours seemed foolish and far-off. But dreaming about baking for the firefighters was one of the things that kept me going. As Emily said when he got the job, "Sarah, it's a whole new group of people for you to love on!"
After four months of training, today is Yancey's first day at the station and he starts his first real shift on Memorial Day. Meaning, he'll be driving the ambulance. [Freak out here.] He's what's called a "probie" (short for "probationary firefighter") and they are not messing around with this probation thing. Very few missteps are allowed. And part of what's he's learned by talking to other probies is that baked goods are expected (along with washing the dishes, always saying "yes, sir" and volunteering every time to clean the toilet.) Did they hire the right guy or what?
Wyatt helped me last night, judiciously stirring the dry ingredients and remembering all the times I've made these for birthday parties. On those occasions, I top them with cream cheese frosting for a part healthy/part fattening effect that pleases both adults and children. I've also made them without frosting for all the teachers and staff at Van Asselt Elementary. I had a couple teachers thank me for not bringing in doughnuts. (I revere doughnuts, but I think they get too many of them.)
Taking the muffins out of the oven and arranging them on a tray was almost unbearably poignant for me. Yancey's perseverance in this process has been so inspiring, and I love to think of him out there doing his job. I cannot think of someone I'd rather have around in an emergency or someone better suited to bring a comforting, calming presence to people who are confused or afraid.
And I cannot wait to spoil those firefighters. Watch out for The Leftoverist.
Morning Glory Muffins
adapted from The Gourmet Cookbook--this recipes makes 30 muffins, but I never halve it. You can freeze or give away extras.
4 c. flour
2 1/2 c. sugar
4 ts. baking soda
4 ts. cinnamon
2 ts. salt
12 carrots, peeled and grated (I used my food processor)
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and grated
1 c. chopped pecans
1 c. sweetened, flaked coconut
6 eggs
2 c. vegetable oil
2 ts. vanilla
Line muffin tin (or tins) with muffin liners or butter them. Preheat oven to 350.
Whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in large bowl. Stir in carrots, pecans, coconut, and apples. Whisk together eggs, oil, and vanilla in another bowl, then add to flour mixture and stir until just combined.
Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling them to the top. Bake muffins, in batches if necessary (I have a convection oven. Don't hate me.), until springy to the touch, about 30 minutes per batch. Cool in pans for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a rack and cool to warm or room temperature.
May 19, 2009
Reader Comments (19)
May it be so...and so it is!
Watch out is right. Bring on the LOVE! They don't know what kind of delicious love fest is about to begin.
Nice job not displaying any identifiers on the FD clothing :)
Em
when i was little, my best friend's dad was a firefighter. he was a big and strong man ... his looks were very intimidating for the boys who later wanted to date melissa. but housed within a huge stature, was a bigger heart ... and a gentle demeanor. he was so kind. he shaped the image of a firefighter in my mind. and yes, the thought of yancey in that role is so fitting. congratulations :) i'm smiling wide. love fest indeed.
bd
I love reading your food blog.
I hate cooking, but I enjoy the commentary!
I will take my muffin with the cream cheese frosting, please!
Kim, you're not my only reader who hates cooking! I consider it the highest praise that you tune in despite that. Thank you! Rebecca, I'm so happy to have you reading from China (!!). I hope you and Chad are doing well.
Oooh! I have some cream cheese frosting leftover from the coconut cake I made for Patricia! I'll try to make these for Mama & Papa when they spend the night Friday. I got all teary reading about how the moment came when you finally got to bake for the firefighters. What a feeling of joy and relief after all the anticipation and dreaming! I am so excited for your family for this new phase. Love you.
Cooking and baking for deserving (and hungry!) people is the best! Congrats to your husband.
morning glory muffins....what a way to win friends and influence people, along with yancey's charming personality.
i'm liking that navy blue hanging on the fireplace. it was a long time coming. they made an excellent choice! best wishes to yancey on his 1st official week at work,can't wait to hear about it.hope all goes well.
These look great! A local bakery sells morning glory muffins and I'm sure this is the recipe.
OMG I ADORE morning glory muffins. Thanks, Sarah!!!
Sarah, this is beautiful. I can't stop reading your blog. And the beautiful things you wrote about Yancey here are putting tears in my eyes. I left a comment after your comment on my blog, but just wanted to post something here, too, to say hello. I'm glad our moms bumped into each other. xoxo
12 carrots would give you what quantity? I often use baby food carrots to save time and work- it works well with carrot cake.
seriously.... 12 carrots!!!! ho-kay....
I think my carrots must be a bit big... 7 seemed fine... (and to fit in my mixer!)
just wanted to comment because every recipe i've made of yours has turned out fabulously.... Thanks! a great big THANKS!
And i really like the site. very simple and very pleasing. Thanks
ab
Thank you! I'm so happy your muffins (and other things) turned out, and happy to have you as a reader.
I love these, and I substituted 1 1/2 cups of Applesauce for the oil...left in just 1/2 a cup of oil. These are tasty...and tasty out of the freezer too! I put a bunch in a week or two before I went back to work and now I just take out a bag every now and then. Instant before school snack:)
I'm licking the crumbs of these yummy muffins off my fingers as I try and one-hand type. I've tried 3 of your recipes in one week, since discovering you blog, and am hooked! What a great read and most importantly, tasty results! thank you leftoverist!
Good morning, Michelle. I wish I had one of those muffins right now! So nice to have you here.
Hello these look great I think I will make some this week. I know a couple of people have asked, but what kind of carrots should we use? By that I mean, how much will "12 carrots" get you?
Use the kind of carrots that might come in a 2# bag--no baby carrots, but your run-of-the-mill long carrot. I don't know how much it is in cups--it shouldn't matter. The recipe can absorb slight varying amounts.