Pumpkin Muffins

I mentioned my adored pumpkin muffins in a previous post. I just made some tonight, and I must say: they are delectable!. The best batch I've made this season. Chocolate chips melting in your mouth, the perfect combination of buttery pumpkin and spicy ginger...mmm!

When I had an eating disorder, I was very protective of my recipes. I wouldn't share them with anyone. I admit, there's still one family recipe that's so sacred I won't even share it with my fiance until we're actually married (it has to stay in the family!), and that's our Sunday pancake recipe. But I'm generous with the pumpkin muffin recipe.

When my little sister was 4 or 5, she would play with her friend Sarah who lived in the neighborhood. Sarah's mom, also a friend of my mom's, used to make mini pumpkin muffins for the girls. Obviously not as protective of her recipes as I have been, Sarah's mom gladly shared the recipe with our family. I make the big version (12 to a tray), but the little ones would be sweet for a tea party or a brunch if you were baking assorted treats.

Last year around this time I sent out Happy Fall cards, and I tucked the pumpkin muffin recipe inside. Here it is for you all to enjoy: they come out all golden and warm--the perfect autumn treat!


PUMPKIN MUFFINS

2 eggs
1 c sugar
1/2 can pumpkin
1/2 cup oil
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon powder
pinch salt
1 cup choc chips
1 2/3 cup flour


15-20 min at 400 preheated

Mom says you put everything in together and then mix it...don't over mix. And it's good to sprinkle granulated sugar on top just before you put them in the oven!!

New Gig!

I'm happy to announce that in the next several weeks I'll begin representing Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program (SEDOP) as their Marketing and Outreach Coordinator. I'm thrilled to be part of such a strong treatment center, and look very forward to many new opportunities and connections.

Reading...Writing...and Gaining!

I thought I'd mention a fantasic book: Gaining, by Aimee Liu. Aimee and I have corresponded a bit this past year, and I look very forward to an oppotunity to meet her some day soon. But in the meantime! Her book is fabulous. I read Gaining this summer after my mother gave it to me as a gift, but I read her first book, Solitaire, sometime last year, and was mesmerized.

You can read more about Aimee Liu here, and order her books on Amazon.

I feel a kinship with Aimee because not only are we both passionate about eating disorder recovery, but we're both writers. In addition to her work with eating disorders, Aimee Liu teaches in the MFA Writing program at Goddard College. (I finished my MFA in 2006 from California College of the Arts.)

October 2007

Happy October everyone! I just bought a pumpkin to put outside our front door. I love fall: chilly nights, warm days, and sweet treats. My family has a favorite chocolate-chip pumpkin recipe. I've already made two batches, and will likely make many more before Thanksgiving rolls around!

It's also the perfect time of year for outdoor exercise. The sun isn't too strong and the rain hasn't started yet. I've enjoyed some runs along the American River Path. I've also been doing a lot of walking, lately, as I've experimented with making exercise more a part of my daily routine rather than a separate activity. This means strolling to the grocery store with a backpack on, or walking to the library when I have the time.

Whatever your pursuit, this season of decay (falling leaves, early setting sun) can be full of so much opportunity for new growth. So, sieze it while you can! Life is beautiful when you're out there living it.

(And ski season is right around the corner!)

I leave tomorrow for NEDA in San Diego. Looking forward to connecting with lots of friends from around the country.