A Southern Grace: "change is inevitable...

November 2, 2009

"change is inevitable...

Yum

...except from a vending machine."

I love that.


The proof is in the pudding, or in this case, the gingerbread. If ever there was any question that a person's tastes change over time, I've selflessly stepped up and provided an example of it.

Let's wander back to last year, when I made a batch of sourdough ginger gingammonbread. Even with a lovely glaze, I found it difficult to really enjoy. Fast forward to last week and a similar recipe. Wonder of wonders, I liked it, even without a glaze! It was moist and fragrant, sweet and a little bit tangy. Granted, a robust cinnamon scent would've been preferred, but hey--a bit of ginger's all right every now and then.


See that? I'm growing.

Mendenhall (what the heck is that?) Sourdough Gingamuffins
(adapted from this recipe)

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ginger
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup hot water
1 cup sourdough starter
1 cup dried fruit (I used cranberries and golden raisins)

Preheat oven to 375F. Line a muffin tin with cups.
In a large bowl, cream together the brown sugar and butter. Blend in the molasses and the egg, beating continuously; set aside.
In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients together and blend into hot water. This will yield a pasty, doughy mixture. Beat this thoroughly into the creamed mixture.
Finally, add the sourdough starter slowly, mixing carefully to maintain a bubbly batter. Dust the dried fruit with flour and lightly fold into the batter. Spoon or pour the mixture into the muffin cups and bake about 20 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.


My ginger of choice:


58 comments:

Anonymous said...

not a fan of ginger.. at all.
but i must say that looks good :)

kat said...

I found I like gingerbread more with time too

Anonymous said...

I love ginger, especially combined with cinnamon. These look great to me!
Jillian@ butterandsugar.org

lisa is cooking said...

These muffins sound pretty much perfect. Cinnamon, ginger, molasses, and sourdough! These I have to make.

Dolce said...

Sounds like the perfect autumn muffin :)

Ingrid_3Bs said...

I've found since I started blogging I'm a lot more open minded and have had my taste change.
~ingrid

Barbara said...

Hey Grace- is that your dog? What a cutie. Looks like she's asking a question. Ginger is an appropriate name for that color!

Now this is a gingerbread recipe that my sister would NOT think was boring! Love the fruit and it looks so moist! Sourdough is an interesting ingredient too.

Jennifer said...

Wow that looks yummy, I adore cranberries, my tastes have changed too!!!

Dewi said...

Ginger and cinnamon, that is fantastic combo! I think we all experience almost the same thing. As we grow older, we find that our taste change.

nora@ffr said...

I bet it smell superb...from the combination! Great job!!
cheers!

Laura said...

I love gingerbread--but inevitably crave whipped cream to go with it. And I like your ginger of choice as well. :)

PS assuming you heard this is probably it for Dollhouse. And Fringe is on the bubble to thanks to their dumb time slot move! Argh! But joy of joys Friday Night Lights is back--do you have DirectTV? Or will I be ahead of you for once? ;)

LilSis said...

I've never made any kind of ginger bread, not even for gingerbread cookies...I don't know why! Oh yeah, I'm not a great baker. :-)

I do have pretty good luck with muffins though and these look really, really good. I guess for starters, I'd have to make some sourdough starter, huh?

vanillasugarblog said...

I have to make gingerbread cookies this year, but with a frosting.
I love the bread too.
You used the sourdough starter in this? What's his name again? Frank? LOL I tease.

Mimi said...

They looks fantastic, but I'm having a hard time with sourdough gingerbread. I guess I'll have to try it.
Mimi

The Blonde Duck said...

I love gingerbread! And is that a new puppy I spy?

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Yes, things change and so do our tastes... Those muffins must taste really good. I love your cute dog!

Cheers,

Rosa

Pam said...

The gingerbread looks and sounds good but I don't have a sour dough starter...

What a beautiful dog!

Hungry Dog said...

Your little doggie is so cute!

The gingamuffins look pretty good too--but I'm a ginger fiend. :)

Cheri said...

This sounds like an absolutely delicious breakfast! The combination of dried cranberries, ginger and molasses sounds divine to me. Reminds me of my mom's gingersnap cookies. Yum!

Marjie said...

it is so very kind of you to offer proof that one's tastes change over time. It's also nice of you to share your kittens' limelight with Ginger Dog.

Cookie baker Lynn said...

What a great muffin with fall flavors! I am always happy to find another way to use up my sourdough starter. Thanks for sharing!

Robin said...

Ginger is good and when added with cinnamon, it makes cinnamon pop! You're tastebuds are growing up-sniffle.

Faith said...

I've actually never had ginger bread or muffins (I know, shame on me! ;) ), but I generally like the flavor of ginger. I bet I'd love this recipe! By the way, your dog is adorable!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I am sure it is delicioso whatever it is called Grace.

George Gaston said...

Grace... Your Ginger is a beauty! So, are your muffins! I know I had to acquire a taste for ginger, but when it is moist like you muffin, it is usually delicious. Thanks

Gloria Baker said...

I love ginger Grace, and these muffins look really delicious. Is your dog?? is sooo cute!! gloria

kiss my spatula said...

how can you not love something called gingamuffins?! :)

Mini Baker said...

mmmmmm GINGAMUFFINS! I love the name! they look gorgeous and delicious! Can't wait to try this recipe :)
-Mini Baker :)

Abby said...

I'm game for anything sour-dough!

And that's one cute pup!

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Haha there's room in your heart for another spice I think! :D

Juliana said...

I love ginger wo these muffins will be a great hit for me ...yummie!

Anonymous said...

These muffins sound terrific! I love dried fruits in them.

Deborah said...

I like gingerbread ok - maybe I need to give it another try to see if I could now love it!

Unknown said...

I love ginger but finding a perfect balance can be tricky as it can overpower. Sometimes our tastes mature. I am finding my tolerance of certain greens is has changed over the years. The other day I actually had a craving for watercress :-) Gorgeous flavour combo in those muffins.

shaz said...

Here's to growing taste buds! I love ginger in any form - will have to try these out:)

Half Baked said...

I love,love,love gingerbread so these look great to me! Glad you enjoyed the ginger this time;)

Unknown said...

i loooove ginger!!! and these look great. I'd have to "grow" into the dried fruit tho...so many until then I'll use nuts? now...hand over some of that sourdough starter so I can make these :)

Cate O'Malley said...

Not a big fan of ginger, but those muffins look so moist and delish!

Jaime said...

it sure looks good! glad you've had a change of heart :)

Unknown said...

Thanks now I want to go and bake all my christmas cookie recipes and these too! :) This looks terrific!

Chef Jeena said...

The cake looks so moist and tasty mmmmmmm.

Love your doggy what a CUTIE!

Lynn said...

So to what do you attribute this change in taste? An attempt to eat healthier? Or simply a changing palate? I find that I am doing less baking than I did even one year ago because I don't want to pounds to creep on. . . plus we grew a nice garden this year and I hate to waste all those good vegetables. Funny how recipes that once sounded enticing, don't necessarily any more.

MaryBeth said...

Your dog is so cute...and this cake OMG how wonderful and moist it sounds.

noble pig said...

Your dog is so cute!

Chef Fresco said...

Gingammon - how fun to say! Cute pup and delicious looking treat!

Lele said...

Hahahah I've never heard that quote about change and I *love* it!

Jessica@Foodmayhem said...

Aww...all grown up. =) I think I was a bit ginger averse as a kid too. But, I've always loved doggies and your ginger could play with my Ice. =)

Anonymous said...

It's been the too heavy overspicing with everything OTHER than ginger that's kept me from gingerbread and your version DOESN'T do it! Can't wait to get out of this dr's office and try your recipe. Yum. I'd wear ginger to bed if my hubby got the connection. Thanks ever so much...you're gonna be my newest, best-est friend! (fyi, Mendenhall is a small town in Mississippi...does that help?)

Cucinista said...

Mmm... yum. Love the gingammon spicy goodness!

Donna-FFW said...

I hated gingerbread cookies as a child. I have grown to love the flavor now. These muffins sounds wonderful..My fav combo is gingerbread bars with a cream cheese frosting..

Lyndas recipe box said...

I like ginger as long as there's cinnamon to go with it! These are so moist looking and I love the cranberry addition, Grace! Great job!

kellypea said...

I'm so out of touch. Does anyone ever get change from anyone. What's a vending machine? Hahahaha! I'm thinking ginger is an adult type flavor and I still approach it with a bit of caution. But your gingamuffins could make me want to just dive right in. It's the cinnamon. Cute doggo btw. ; )

Jacque said...

Aah, what a pretty ginger dog. I love it when I get a good picture of my dog, it's not an easy task.

Your ginga-muffins do look delish. I'm glad you liked them this time around. Way to stick with it :)

Lindsey@pickyeatings said...

I happen to love gingerbread, but without dried fruit. That's one thing I am extremely picky about.

Kerstin said...

Mmm, what yummy gingerbread! My tastes definitely change too, I used to be a super picker eater.

Hornsfan said...

Looks tasty - but I'm especially fond of the picture of your favorite ginger :) Cute puppy!

Lori said...

I love my ginga! Good growth story.

I am still waiting for you to discover Indian. I thought I hated it until, a year or so ago. Alas, it is a world of treasures... minue the methe/fenugreek.

Cafe Fashionista said...

First of all...that quote? I'm completely obsessed! Second, never before have I tasted gingerbread, but these look so delicious! And incredibly perfect for the holidays! :)