Running Up That Hill

June 13, 2016

“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.  It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.  You rarely win, but sometimes you do.”
~ Atticus Finch, from To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

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Peace, love, kindness, healing and resolve be with you all!

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This week, in honor of love, I am posting my 2013 recipe for Jackson Pollock Muffins with a new name:  Rainbow Pride Muffins.

jpollockmuffins

Rainbow Pride Muffins
These abstract expressionistic rainbow colored treats are easy to make.  You simply add food coloring to a basic muffin batter.  For an even easier recipe, you can prepare boxed white or vanilla cake batter, according to package directions, and then skip to the food coloring step in this recipe.  India Tree makes natural food coloring with no corn syrup or synthetic dyes (I used them to make the muffins in the picture above).  India Tree food colors can be found in the spice section at Whole Foods market or online.

(This recipe can be doubled to make a dozen)

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

1 large egg
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/3 cup sugar
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Zest of one orange

Food coloring in blue, yellow and red

1/2 cup slivered unsalted raw almonds
1 teaspoon anise seeds

Variation: substitute 1/2 cup white chocolate pieces or chunks for the almonds

 

Preheat oven to 400°F

Line six cups of a 12 cup muffin pan with liners.

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Mix well and set aside.

In another bowl, combine egg, yogurt, sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla and orange zest.  Mix well.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until just combined.  Divide batter into three bowls.  Add food coloring to each bowl to create three different shades.  Add enough food color to make the shades intense and bright.

Divide the almonds and anise seeds (or white chocolate chips, if using) among the bowls and stir in briefly.

Now place some of each color in the muffin tins, spooning small amounts of different colors on top and alongside each other to create a splatter effect.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of muffin comes out clean.

Cool in pan for a few minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 6 muffins.

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