Yesterday Angie and I had planned an afternoon of English Muffin making. Angie wanted to learn to make them and I was happy to show her how I make them. I use sourdough so I make the dough the night before, then on the morning I’m going to bake them, I roll out the dough, cut the muffins, let them sit for an hour or so before cooking them so, to avoid sitting and waiting around for hours, I tried to plan ahead and have some of the steps done, but yet I wanted Angie to see the entire process.
On Friday evening, I made up two batches of dough. On Saturday morning, I rolled out one batch, cut them and had them rising when she arrived. The second bowl of dough, I left for Angie to roll and cut. I put the first three muffins in the skillet and showed her how I cook them, then she cooked the rest. While they were cooking, she rolled out the second batch of dough, cut it and then we set it aside for me to cook later.
Next, I showed her how I feed the starter, then let her feed a batch and she took that home with her.
Finally, I wanted her to see the process of stirring up the dough so we made up another recipe of dough and Angie asked “Could you add raisins and cinnamon to the dough?” Sure! I wasn’t sure I had raisins since I don’t like them but I had dried cranberries and walnuts so I chopped those, added them to the fresh batch of dough. Then I divided that dough in half and sent half home with Angie and I kept half.
I don’t know why I had never thought of adding anything to the dough because the cranberry walnut English muffins were great! I had bacon, muffins, apple and cheese for breakfast.
We had a fun few hours of cooking together. I wondered if it felt weird for her to be cooking with me in her old kitchen.
I hope she has many years of making and enjoying English muffins.
Liz says
It starts with making English muffins, but what happens next? Using a pressure cooker, canning, cross stitching, knitting, quilting?
Being around you, in person or via the blog, sure starts a lot of people on new hobbies. 😉
Judy Laquidara says
I’ve already given lessons on canning green beans since we did all those together. She has a quilt top that her mom made for her and we’re going to quilt that as soon as I get the longarm set up. Hopefully her housekeeping commitment will rub off on me but I doubt it. Her home always looks like the front cover of a decorating magazine.
Cynthia F says
I want to thank you for posting your recipes and methods. I began sourdough bread because of you and have had constant success ever since I started using Elaine Boddy’s website you shared. I bought her book and yesterday I made the spelt and pumpkin seed bread and wow, it was delicious! I posted a picture of the loaf and my sister now wants me to give her some starter and I will probably coach her along. I made this sourdough muffin recipe and my family loved it and now I’m looking forward to making it with cranberries and walnuts. FYI, I went and bought new Aida cloth (I won’t say how many pieces I bought in order to find the exact one I was looking for) and now I’m looking to start cross stitch again…lol. Not brave enough to try linen yet but who knows? 😀
Judy Laquidara says
I haven’t tried the pumpkin seed/spelt recipe. I haven’t seen any pumpkin seeds in my kitchen so I’ll get some and try it. Thanks!
Glad y’all liked it with cranberries/walnuts!
Ahhh . . cross stitching, are you? 🙂
Helen says
Judy, wish you were closer. It would be so fun to have a friend to cook and bake with. Your heart is so filled with love, I see evidence of that with almost every post on your blog. (((hugs)))
Judy Laquidara says
Yes, it would be so fun! Thanks! That’s very kind of you to say!
Rebecca says
I had wondered who the friend with all the green beans was, and how you were making friends without going out!
It is funny to think of her cooking in what was her kitchen. I can picture her reaching for things that you have in a different place. 😀
Judy Laquidara says
She has very good manners and never made me feel like an intruder in her kitchen.
Andrea in MO says
I didn’t realize you put these in a skillet. I guess I just thought bread = an oven, but now that I think about it the one side does look like it was in a pan. Huh, the things you teach me!
Judy Laquidara says
Oh, yes – the good and the bad . . I have a lot to share, don’t I? 🙂