Honey Oat Muffins

The smell of these muffins baking is powerful stuff. It smells sweet and warm and oh so nice on a snowy winter morning. I seem to bake a lot of muffins this time of year. I think because I feel like baking for the warmth of the oven and the heavenly smells, but am also feeling a little lazy. These muffins will do you right.

Honey Oat Muffins

via Food & Wine

3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup canola oil
2 large eggs

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Coat a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray or vegetable shortening, or fill with baking liners. 

In a large bowl, mix the oats with the whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, coriander and salt.

In another bowl, whisk the honey with the buttermilk, canola oil and eggs. Pour the honey mixture into the dry ingredients; mix just until combined.

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups and bake for about 18 minutes, until they're golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean. 

Let the muffins cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Note: I experimented with half the muffin tray filled with liners and half greased with vegetable shortening. I was worried there wasn't enough oil in the recipe to keep the muffins from sticking to the liners, but both methods worked equally well. 

Animated holiday card

Back in October, I had the opportunity to work with an animator for the first time. We put together a holiday card for Zuckerman Spaeder LLC, a law firm in Washington, D.C. It was so much fun to see my drawings come to life in very simple animated form. It was also an interesting process to think about movement and how the scenes would piece together. Each of seven scenes was tied together by a triangle form that mimics the firm's logo. We also did a printed piece in black and white with just a bit of blue and the triangle die-cut. Here's a look at a few of the stills from the finished piece. You can see it in its entirety here.

METAL fabrication, art, design and more

Have you heard about or been to METAL in Ann Arbor yet? It opened last April, but it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I finally explored its inner workings. The shop deals in all things metal, including everything from fabrication and design to a gallery of artists' works and vintage metal finds. While I didn't tour the workshop areas, I spent well over an hour examining its shop and gallery. It's definitely one of those places where there is so much that more and more and more reveals itself to you as you wander. Have a look…

220 Felch Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.