Mamma Yamma Muffins
How many of you will be impressed when I name drop Mamma Yamma?
How about Patty?
They have two of the most familiar (and when I think about it, comforting) voices in our home. Patty co-hosts (with Sid) Kids’ CBC, and Mamma Yamma is an extraordinary character on the show – a cook, in fact, with a big personality and a little deli in Kensington market. (On the show, not for real – don’t go looking for it.) Played by puppeteer Ali Eisner, who was not around at the time, Mamma Yamma was there in body, but not in spirit. Regardless, it was thrilling. I’m not sure who was more excited – me or W. (Who am I kidding? I was doing internal backflips. As if I could manage any other kind.)
Here’s a little introduction to Mamma Yamma – via one Jian Ghomeshi.
It almost makes up for the fact that Nigella Lawson is doing a dinner at the Royal York in Toronto tonight that I could have attended if we had been in town just ONE MORE DAY. And the fact that one JAMIE OLIVER is going to be in Toronto next week, and my editors at Parents Canada got an invite to go meet him. In person. How could I be so close, yet so far off?
But I got to meet Patty and Mamma and some of the great folks behind Kids’ CBC. I got to wander around the CBC building, and check out Mr. Dressup‘s tickle trunk and the Friendly Giant‘s stone wall. And, you know, at least we have our health.
We arrived home late last night and this morning W planted himself firmly in front of Kids’ CBC, proud that he’s on a first-name basis with Patty now, and I went through a near-empty fridge in an attempt to scrounge up some sort of breakfast. (What, no pastries and coffee?) My sister had planted the thought of muffins in my head when she told me about a meeting she had had a few days ago with the vice-principal of a school here in Calgary (I’ll leave out any identifying details here), who had told her she was coming in to the school today, on her day off, to bake muffins for her staff. (The ovens in the culinary arts department would enable her to bake more at a time.) I love that sort of story. How many people spend their day off baking muffins for their co-workers? (I also know she reads this blog from time to time, so if you’re reading this – thanks for making me feel all warm and fuzzy and inspiring me to bake muffins. I don’t really have co-workers per se, but there are a few people in my life – some with new babies – who may appreciate a batch. Thanks for the reminder that there are people in the world who bake just to make other people happy. Is there a better reason to?)
And yes – these particular muffins were also inspired by a friendly yam I met in Toronto.
Mamma Yamma Muffins
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup sugar (white or brown)
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 packed cups coarsely grated sweet potatoes (the dark ones most often labeled yams)
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup canola or light olive oil
3 large eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk or plain yogurt
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 pear or apple, coarsely grated (don’t bother peeling it)Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray muffin cups with nonstick spray or line them with paper liners.
In a large bowl, stir together the flours, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Add the yams, pecans and raisins and toss to combine well.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Add to the yam mixture with the grated apple and stir just until the batter is combined. Don’t worry about getting all the lumps out – overmixing will make the muffins tough.
Fill the prepared muffin tins almost to the top. Bake in the middle of the oven for 25-30 minutes, until the muffins are golden and the tops are springy to the touch. Tip them in their cups to help them cool by allowing steam to escape.
Makes a dozen or so muffins.
November 12 2010 | bread and breakfast | 9 Comments »
