Be Silly, Be Honest, Be Kind

These are the words that I try and live my life by. Contrary to its imagined harm to one's dignity, silliness makes life's Polaroid moments. It frees the spirit and is just plain fun. The honesty part is easily deceptive. We lie to our selves all of the time, and learning to be honest with yourself gives your life a much added layer of richness. And what can I say about kindness?  Kindness never hurts anyone, neither the giver nor the receiver. I'm not always a wonderful person ( Never get between me and my morning tea) but I must admit that I am addicted to kindness, both giving and receiving.  I love the strange mixture of surprise, gratitude and slight embarrassment that a person has when you let them go ahead of you in line at the market, when you hold a door, when you do something so small as to pay for their cup of coffee. If everyone did one small kind act a day, the world would be in much better shape. This I truly believe. When I'm gone I always want to be remembered as a kind soul.

So by way of all three of my aspirations, I am starting my blog with a favorite recipe!  The silly part? Ginger puffs just call to my mind fat ginger haired cherubs. The honest part? These suckers are fattening! And the kindness part? I'm sharing my recipe =P


~ GINGER PUFFS ~
 muffin recipe ~
1/4 cup softened butter
1/2 cup sugar ( I use baking Splenda and it works just fine)
1 egg
2 tsp freshly grated lemon peel ( if you're not a lemon fan, only add 1 tsp)
2 cups of flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fresh grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
1 cup milk

Topping recipe
1/2 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp ground ginger

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add the egg and the lemon peel and mix until blended
In a separate bowl sift and combine the flour, baking powder,salt , nutmeg and ginger. Slowly add this to the sugar & butter mixture, alternating with the milk. Make sure that it's all blended but don't over mix.

Fill greased muffin tins 2/3 full ( I like to use my muffin top pan) Bake at 375 for about 15 minutes. While still hot brush the melted butter over the muffin tops and sprinkle lavishly with the ginger & suger.

Enjoy with your favorite drinkable!