I have received one butternut squash and one dozen eggs every Tuesday for the last three weeks from my CSA. Â Up until yesterday, I had exactly three butternut squashes on my counter and three dozen eggs in my refrigerator. Â I always like to kid myself and say things like “When fall gets here and the kids are back in school, I will finally organize their baby books. Â Or clean out the storage area. Â Or have that yard sale I’ve been meaning to do since June.” Â Instead, I am confronted with back to school nights, violin shopping, supply acquisition, homework helping, pick ups and drop offs, driving, soccer, snacks, and maintaining some level of personal hygiene.
And this entire month has been consumed by the Bloomsburg Floods. Â We have the luxury of not being in the epicenter of the destruction and our busy schedule is pretty trivial compared to what the residents are going through. Â But it has meant a lot of back and forth travel — which means bags that don’t have a chance to get unpacked before they are being packed again. Whirlwind is how some describe it, I think. Â But as I talk with friends who are having their homes condemned, I am pretty sure a whirlwind would be a welcome feeling. Â Never mind the “problem” of having all of your children’s baby book items in a box, rather than in a muddy heap never to be looked at again.
This whirlwind seems to blow cooking and eating rules out the window. Â The grown ups have eaten a lot of Thai takeout. The kids have eaten way too many pasta dinners and lots of dessert. Â It was the boy’s 5th birthday too, which seemed to provide an endless supply of cookies, rice krispy treats, cakes, and cupcakes. Â But no more!
I turned on the oven yesterday (and it still worked!) and I made these muffins in an attempt to make a relatively healthy treat or breakfast that the kids would enjoy. Â They are whole grain, quite low in sugar and fat, and filled with both butternut squash and apples. Â They were a nice fall treat and used up one whole squash and 4 eggs.
Only two squash and 32 eggs to go.
2. Â In a large bowl, mix wet ingredients by whisking together cooked squash, eggs, dark brown sugar, applesauce, and vegetable oil.
3. In a medium bowl, mix dry ingredients by combining salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and whole wheat pastry flour.
5. Â Combine streusel ingredients (brown sugar, cinnamon, and pumpkin seeds) and sprinkle a nice spoonful over top of each muffin before baking.