Today's Quote: Dr. Suess

"Be who youare and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

-Dr. Suess

Happy Birthday Susan Branch, Gladys Taber, & Mike!

Today is the birthday of three of my favorite people - Susan Branch, Gladys Taber, and my husband Mike. It was ironic enough when I heard my two favorite authors shared the birth date, but holy cow when I met Mike and found he was born April 12th as well!

Birthday presents should be special and personal, I think. The real test of birthday gift is that it suits the one person, and no one else. Just the right book is better than a diamond bracelet, if you like books. A piece of Mexican glass, or a vase that is right for gladioli, or a plain wooden bowl for salad - these are the kinds of gifts. And a birthday letter is fine.

- Gladys Taber, The Book of Stillmeadow

Puffy Springy Muffins

I made these puffy muffins this weekend for out-of-town guests, and if I had time today I'd make them again and eat them for dinner, on the couch like a lazy bum with some milk and a Madmen episode. That would be just heavenly.

The recipe is from the Pioneer Woman blog.

Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes
Servings: 12
Ingredients
3 cups Flour
3 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
½ teaspoons Ground Nutmeg
1 cup Sugar
⅔ cups Shortening (Crisco)
2 whole Eggs
1 cup Milk
1-½ cup Sugar (divided)
3 teaspoons Cinnamon
2 sticks Butter
Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 12 muffin cups.
In a large bowl stir together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside.
In a different bowl, cream together 1 cup sugar and shortening. Then add eggs and mix again. Add flour mixture and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.
Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden. Dip fully in butter to coat all sides, then coat again with cinnamon sugar mixture. MUST be eaten warm to fully appreciate.

The First of April

-The delicate and delicious fragrance of the freesias came in through the door and floated round Mrs. Wilkins's enraptured nostrils. Freesias in London were quite beyond her. Occasionally she went into a shop and asked what they cost, so as just to have an excuse for lifting up a bunch and smelling them, well knowing that it was something awful like a shilling for about three flowers. Here they were everywhere- bursting out of every corner and carpeting the rose-beds. Imagine it - having freesias to pick in armsful if you wanted to, and in your summer frock, and its being only the first of April!

From the book The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim