Saturday, April 5, 2014

E is for Egret and Easter Hot Cross Muffins

E
Snowy_EgretOK I started thinking that an Egret was an Egret. I had heard about the Cattle Egret but didn’t know they were a different bird. There is a Great Egret, a Snowy Egret, a Cattle Egret and a Little Egret. The one’s we used to see regularly in the Carolinas were Snowy Egrets. They were all over the place and we loved to see them. They are a breed of heron, another thing I didn’t know. A to Z sure teaches me things. I thought this was a pretty picture of it displaying its plumes. Once upon a time Egrets were hunted for said plumes to decorate ladies hats and I don’t think it did the population much good as their populations were reduced to dangerously low numbers. They nest in colonies and travelling the coastal waters of the Carolinas one could see trees absolutely covered in Egrets, a lovely sight to see.

So ends the first week of the A to Z Challenge.

This is different, never heard of hot cross muffins before.
 

Easter Hot Cross Muffins

By Redsie on March 06, 2006
  • Serves: 12, Yield: 12 muffins Easter Muffins

 

"When I saw this recipe in Chatelaine magazine, I just had to try it! One of my favourite things about Easter is hot cross buns - so I was really happy to see an easy recipe for hot cross muffins! Now I can enjoy hot cross muffins all year round! You can bake as muffins or as a loaf."
 

Ingredients

    • 1/2 cup raisins
    • 2 tablespoons orange juice
    • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon allspice
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon clove (optional)
    • 1/2 cup candied peel
    • 1/2 cup chopped dried apricot
    • 1 egg
    • 1 cup low-fat milk
    • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
    • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla

    Glaze

    • 1 1/4 cups sifted icing sugar
    • 4 teaspoons orange juice

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F Place raisins in a small bowl. Pour juice overtop. Microwave, covered, until hot, 1 minute Set aside. Lightly coat or spray a 12-cup muffin tin or 9x5 inch loaf pan with oil. In a large bowl, using a fork, stir flour with sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, salt and cloves. Stir in raisin mixture, candied peel and apricots.
  2. In a medium-size bowl, whisk egg. Whisk in milk, oil, butter and vanilla. Pour over flour mixture. Stir just until mixed. Batter will be lumpy. Divide between muffin cups or scrape into loaf pan and smooth top.
  3. Bake in centre of preheated oven until a cake tester inserted into centre of muffins or loaf comes out clean, 20 to 25 minute for muffins, 1 hour for loaf. Remove pan to a cooling rack. After 5 minutes, remove from pan and cool completely on rack. Store muffins or loaf in an airtight container and store at room temperature up to 3 days or freeze up to 2 months.
  4. Glaze:.
  5. Stir sifted icing sugar with orange juice until smooth. Drizzle over cooled muffins in a criss-cross pattern to mimic hot cross buns or spoon over loaf, if you wish.
Have a great weekend
Jo (2)

38 comments:

  1. I usually catch up with egrets in Michigan in lakes that are part of golf courses - so two favourites at one time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We can't golf any more sadly.

      I love to see egrets.

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  2. I'm not sure if they are egrets or storks, but there's a bird here that looks like that and it is HUGE.

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    Replies
    1. Could be an Ibis Alex. There are a lot of them in the Carolinas and they do look very like the egret.

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  3. Hi Jo .. that snowy Egret is pretty cool looking - I think I'd love to see lots of them around my landscape - I'll have to make do with gulls?!

    Hot Cross Muffins ... I think I'll stick with my hot cross buns toasted with some butter - warming for the soul .. and I got cold earlier talking to a friend outside .. a cup of tea and hot cross bun would be good!

    Cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That does annoy me, reply and it disappears.

      They are lovely, especially when you see trees full of them as one does around the waterways of NC.

      Used to make my own buns, they aren't quite the same here, but recently found some at the Scottish bakery we go to now and again so I bought some, should be authentic I think.

      Delete
  4. I remember as a child that I heard of these in one of my favorite Nursery Rhymes but had never heard of them or knew anyone who tried them. So how did they turn out if you made them?

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    Replies
    1. No, not made them, I will stick to hot cross buns I think

      Delete
  5. Love hot cross buns! and hot cross muffins...? well can't be bad can it? Will have to try it out. Happy a to z challenge and bonjour from us in France http://detoutcoeurlimousin.blogspot.fr/2014/04/everyone-should-make-mistakes.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bonjour to you too. You will have to cross La Manche to get authentic hot cross buns I think unless you make them yourself.

      Delete
  6. Ah, Hot Cross Buns! Some of those would be nice right now. And it was one of the first songs my son learned on his trombone :)

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    Replies
    1. One a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns. Only ever eat them on Good Friday and then maybe finish them off on Saturday.

      Delete
  7. Those look delicious. I am going to have to try that recipe out, maybe even this Easter. Thanks for posting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They do look good, but I am sticking to hot cross buns I think.

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  8. I just might have to try these (the muffins, not the egret). I'm always up for new recipes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope you enjoy them. I have Hot X Buns to eat at least this year.

      Delete
  9. I've always enjoyed birds, and it's fun to learn so much more about them in your posts. I think I've seen egrets in Annapolis, MD, but I'm not sure. Our waterfront (family property) place has a resident heron whom we all enjoy.
    Tina @ Life is Good
    A to Z Team @ Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2014

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am sure you probably have seen egrets there, they abound the east coast. With ibis and heron of course.

      Delete
  10. We have lots of herons around here and lots of different types. I think when I was looking up the different kinds we have in the area, I saw that the names are interchangeable, but I could be wrong about that.

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    Replies
    1. I think you may be right Andrew. Sinlaw said I had the names wrong, and he knows birds, but later I found egrets so maybe the names are interchangeable. Will check it out.

      Delete
  11. We have ibis galore around where I live. They are pests stealing the cat's food and messing all over my patio. They look great in flight I must admit. I'm not sure about Egrets in North Queensland Australia. Our town's symbol is the Brolga.

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    Replies
    1. I didn't know they could be a problem like that. Don't know the Brolga will have to look it up.

      Delete
  12. I never realized the feathers in so many ladies hats came from egrets. Your recipe reminds me of the old nursery rhyme - Hot cross buns, hot cross buns, one a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns.

    MJ, A to Z Challenge Co-Host
    Writing Tips
    Effectively Human
    Lots of Crochet Stitches


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it was nearly the end of the species at the time.

      Been reciting that today.

      Delete
  13. We see herons during their migratory path around our area. I've seen them nest and raise their young, then fly off when the time is right. They walk with their knees bent backwards. That's the best I can describe the. Fascinating birds and fun to watch.

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    Replies
    1. How interesting to be able to see them nest and fledge. Not sure if the colonies we see in NC are breeding colonies or not.

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  14. So are the hot cross muffins better than hot cross buns?
    Jude visiting from the A-Z challenge Earth Laughs in Flowers

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    Replies
    1. Don't know, never tried them. Sound good though with a lot of similar ingredients. Not likely to make them as my hips don't need them.

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  15. That recipe sounds really good. I've never made hot cross buns or muffins, so I'll have to give these a try.

    I love it when you can learn new things during the A to Z Challenge. It helps keep things interesting.

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  16. I will be interested to know how they turn out. I have, as I said, made the buns but not the muffins.

    Learning new things at any time makes life interesting.

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  17. Your recipes are looking great. Can't wait to see the rest of the alphabet.

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  18. All behind in commenting - just to say have enjoyed all so far - great idea having the two each day and some of those recipes are just wicked:) keep it up

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Alberta, glad you are enjoying them so far.

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    2. I would have returned your visit Alberta but I can't find you.

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  19. Thank you for visiting my blog. Can you believe I never made hot cross buns, I just made apple fritters for the first time and which will be post for the letter F.

    When I was running my ceramic shop I sold a lot Egrets. I believe I live to far North, Idaho in panhandle.

    Coffee is on

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  20. Yum, those muffins look amazing!!
    From AtoZ at The Five Dog Blog

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    Replies
    1. Unfortunately I will never know. If I make them I will eat them and I DO NOT NEED them. Maybe I can get a friend to try them and then I can have just one.

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