I do know the muffin man or woman. Or whatever.

Before I write anything else I have to tell y’all that today is Bops’s birthday. Otherwise known as my daddy. Not everyone is fortunate enough to grow up with a dad who creates a lasting example of all that is good and right in a person, but I did. He is one of the best men I have ever known and I am so honored that he’s my dad. Of all the gifts God has given me, he’s toward the very top of the list.

Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you so much. And I’ll be bringing you a pecan pie later because nothing says I love you like pecans coated in karo syrup.

And now I am going to do something I haven’t done in forever.

Post a recipe.

Because my day yesterday consisted of some writing. And I mailed some stuff off at the UPS store. And then I answered some email, picked up Caroline from school, went to Target, cooked dinner, and put Caroline to bed just in time for P and I to watch a bunch of hunting shows.

Spoiler alert: The deer always dies.

Anyway, Caroline has a friend named Ella. And Ella’s mom is a gourmet cook. Caroline often wonders why her lunches don’t look like Ella’s lunches. Where do I begin? With the lack of creativity? Or basic culinary skills?

I usually just explain that some kids would consider Lunchables to be a special lunch in and of itself. I mean, where else can you find a hunk of fake cheese and three pieces of fake ham all conveniently wrapped in plastic?

And before you judge me, I’ll have you know that I always include an apple. Most of the time. Unless I’m out of apples.

Caroline doesn’t eat lunch until 12:45 every day which, let’s be honest, is absurd. It means that, in addition to packing her a lunch every day, I have to pack her a snack for snack time. This is what some may refer to as a beating at 7 a.m.

So it came as no real surprise when Caroline told me that she wished I’d make her Morning Glory Muffins for snack like Ella’s mom. Apparently the goldfish crackers I throw in a Ziploc baggie every morning paled in comparison.

But I decided I can bake some muffins. I emailed Ella’s mom to get the recipe and she sent it back to me. Then I baked an entire batch of Morning Glory Muffins and officially became Caroline’s hero.

Well, at least in the snack department. She doesn’t believe I know anything about finding distances on a map after yesterday’s homework.

And she may be right.

Anyway, I decided I’d share the recipe for the muffins instead of rambling on and on about nothing. It looks like I’m 342 words too late.

Morning Glory Muffins

Mix together:

1 1/4 cup sugar
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbs. cinnamon
2 tsp.baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Add:

1/2 cup coconut (I left the coconut out because I didn’t have it)
3/4 cup raisins
1 large apple peeled and grated
2 cup grated carrots
1/2 cup chopped nuts (I also left these out because I didn’t have them)

Stir to combine

In a separate bowl mix together:
3 large eggs
1 cup veg oil (Ella’s mom says you can use 1/2 cup. I used a whole cup.)
1 tsp. vanilla (I used two teaspoons because I love vanilla)

Mix dry ingredients into egg mixture.
Spoon into muffin cups and bake 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees.

(I added about 1/4 flax seed because I felt like it might offset the effects of the Lunchables.)

And that’s it.

They’re actually really good. And perfect for breakfast or snack or just to eat right out of the oven while you’re cooking dinner.

Hypothetically speaking.