Doughnut Muffins. . .Crazy Yum!

I was looking for a unique muffin and ran across a recipe on Fine Cooking Magazine website that looked absolutely delicious! The thought of a muffin dipped in butter and then coated in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar gave way to thoughts of finger-licking goodness! I was a little worried about the ingredient list because for starters, I am using 24 Tablespoons of butter and second, the recipe calls for 6 cups of flour yet the outcome is for only 24 medium muffins. I loved the idea of the muffin but not the size. I could just envision cinnamon and sugar coating all over the place just trying to eat a muffin that size. What a mess that could end up being. Solution? Make miniature muffins.

To make miniature muffins, the baking time needs to be changed. I found that 19 to 20 minutes is sufficient. Any longer and the muffins will taste dry. Also, when making miniature muffins, there will be oodles! Down-sizing the recipe is an option BUT I have to be honest with myself here and say I have never been known to down-size anything. I believe true cooks are known for his and her attributes of sharing. I ended up with 5 dozen little muffins and I need to put a CAUTION note right here: Addictive and of Popable Size! You know the Ruffles potato chip commercial where they dare you to eat just one? Totally applies to these cute little muffins. I REALLY need to share and not have these sitting around in the house because my self-control is coming apart at the seams. . . .! But why cook if not to find the best recipes that are so good you can't forget them? I wonder if this fits in a martyr list?

On the weekends, it seems that each of us get a hankering for something to munch on while watching a movie or playing a game together, late at night. This time, we decided we were going to the Babylon A.D. movie on Saturday night. I kind of wished I had waited for the movie to come out on CD instead of wasting 8.50 on a movie ticket. The movie was fantastic for the first 3/4's of the movie and then it just ended. No explanations but the movie left us feeling like the directors ran out of money so they just buttoned it up and put a "the end" to the movie way ahead of time. The rest of the movie was incredible. Action packed and full of adrenaline rushing scenes. At least the little muffins were home waiting.

Doughnut Muffins
(adapted from Fine Cooking Magazine website)

For the muffins:
12 oz. (24 Tbs.) unsalted butter, warmed to room temperature
1-3/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 lb. 11 oz. (6 cups) all-purpose flour
1 Tbs. plus 2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1-3/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1-2/3 cups milk
1/4 cup buttermilk


For dipping:
8 oz. (16 Tbs.) unsalted butter; more as needed
2 cups sugar ( I used extra-fine sugar)
2 Tbs. ground cinnamon












Directions:
Put a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F.

In a stand mixer or a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until just mixed in. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg.

Combine the milk and buttermilk. With a wooden spoon, mix a quarter of the dry ingredients into the butter mixture. Then mix in a third of the milk mixture. Continue mixing in the remaining dry and wet ingredients alternately, ending with the dry. Mix until well combined and smooth, but don't over mix.




Grease and flour miniature muffin tins. Scoop enough batter into each tin so that the top of the batter is even with the rim of the cup.

Bake the muffins for 18 - 20 minutes or until firm to the touch and wooden toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.



To finish:
Melt the butter for the dipping mixture. Combine the sugar and cinnamon. When the muffins are just cool enough to handle, remove them from the tin, dip them into or brush them all over with the melted butter, and then roll them in the cinnamon sugar.

Disneyland for 2 days

After our long road trip, we arrived in Anaheim, CA at 11 p.m., exhausted. Reservations were made previously on the internet for the Hotel Menage. I was worried, since there seemed to be very few pictures of what to expect and, well, the name of the hotel made me a little leery. The reason we booked 2 nights here was because of location - less than 1/2 mile from Disneyland. The hotel did have a pretty bar next to the out door pool and inside, which we didn't take advantage of, and a restaurant called K'ya, which we also didn't use because the food in the pictures looked minimal on the plate but had a big price tag. Here is a sample of the menu:

APPETIZER
SamplePlatter
a creation of selected menu and appetizer specials (priced per person, minimum 2pp)................................$12
ahipoke
papaya, wasabi tobiko, avocado with spicy soy vinaigrette...............................................................$13
seared spicy garlic & herb shrimp
papaya salsa and chardonnay-lemongrass butter............................................................................$12
grilled petitlamb chops
asian slaw, spicy hoison-coconut glaze............................................................................................$13
flash fried calamari
sweet & spicy thai glaze, bean sprouts, carrots, peanuts, cilantro and green onions..........................$9
mauistylebbq beef ribs
sesame-soy marinated and flame broiled.........................................................................................$11
pacific lobster& grilled portabello mushroom
caramelized onions, tomato fondeu and garlic basil sauce................................................................$11
entrees
hibachisalmon
wok’d vegetables, white rice, spicy coconut sauce...........................................................................$18
Mahmahi
macadamia nut crust, lehua-honey butter sauce..............................................................................$19
sesamcrusted ahi
(seared rare) brown rice, sauteed spinach, mushrooms and onions. soy-mirin butter, unagi drizzle................$19
d seascallops
sautéed arugula, mushrooms and onions, mashed potatoes, chive-white truffle butter.....................$28
grilled chicken & garlic-herb shrimp
red thai curry sauce, white rice, wok’d vegetables..........................................................................$21
duck leg confit
sautéed arugula, onion, wild mushrooms, black truffle sauce..........................................................$19
d flatiron steak
gorgonzola cheese gratin, carmelized onions..................................................................................$21
grilled filetmignon tournedoS
asparagus, portobello mushroom, tear drop tomato, port wine sauce..............................................$34
roasted pork primerib
chilled apple sauce, calvados glaze.................................................................................................$22
1/2 lb. kobebeef burger
lettuce, tomato, onion, swiss and cheddar.......................................................................................$14
hunan braised beef shortribs
white rice, wok’d vegetables, carmelized pineapple.........................................................................$19

Disneyland was a blast and we managed to fit "all" the big rides in between 2 days. I don't think we really rushed either. The lines were reasonable and everyone that goes to Disneyland seems to always be smiling.

Have you ever noticed anywhere else where all the people seem to be having a nice time? I find this quite shocking and really enjoyed the whole environment!

One of the water rides required sharing a large innertube with several other people, which happened to be 3 adorable, young children and their parents. The two young boys, about 8 and 10, were happily telling us how they have been on this particular ride at least 3 times today when

the Dad chimed in that he was sure it had been 4 times. Then they asked us where we were from. Long story shorter, we all found out that we live about 45 minutes from each other. We live in Port Orchard, WA and they live in Olympia, WA. What a small world =D!

I talked Larry and Ashley into going on a rollercoaster, I couldn't believe they actually have a rollercoaster now, and I think the wait for this ride was the only negative in the whole trip. We waited in the heat, about 85 degrees I would say, for almost 40 mintes. The time at the beginning of the ride said 20 minute wait so that was pretty deceiving. Then, the ride itself was

over almost as quickly as it started. Disneyland is so good about their rides being elaborate and

the minimal wait being so worth it; I guess we were either just spoiled or surprised that this particular ride was short. If I was at an amusement park or 6 Flags, I would have expected this sort of thing. Funny, yes?

We all had a total blast and none of us was looking forward to leaving. In fact, we were contemplating ditching our reservations at the Westmark in San Francisco for the week, to see about staying in Anaheim. All in all, sadly we left the beautiful (and Immaculate) Disney park and left for our 6 1/2 hour roadtrip that Monday afternoon. We actually arrived in San Francisco about midnight that evening.

I have got to learn to schedule road trips better BUT I really didn't want to box the family into a tight time schedule. After this roadtrip, I learned time schedules are necessary sometimes.

I almost forgot. The nightly fireworks! What a huge and awe-striking event! How Disney can put this kind of show on every night is beyond me but we were all glad they do. The variations of colors and rhythm for shooting the different displays, letting time elapse for the smoke to

clear, then shooting several more, within seconds of each other, was not only-mesmerizing but a true art all in itself. We stood on our hotel balcony in comfort, to watch and take pictures.