I imagined my summer was going to be this over-exposed heat wave during which I would make gazpacho, read novels, write daring manuscripts, snap effortless, enigmatically flawed photos with a Brownie, and cook everything over an open fire. Float. I look at too many photographs. These real months did not turn out to be a languid roll of film full of light leaks and rippling water. I may have not seen the seaside or spent as many evenings on the porch as I’d imagined, but instead this summer was animated. We have a our new project afoot that I keep alluding to and between the two of us have been researching everything from holiday in Romania to how to make kombucha to the Chinese zodiac. I am, as it turns out, a water pig in love with a fire tiger. Huh.
Tomato Ginger Muffins with Pine Nuts, Olive Oil, and Orange Blossom Water
Ingredients
Ruhlman’s Basic Quick Bread/Muffin Ratio (by weight):
- 2 parts flour
- 2 parts liquid
- 1 part eggs
- 1 part fat for this recipe I used 1/2 part fat
- 1 tsp baking powder per cup of flour
- 1 tsp salt per 2 cups flour I just do it to taste
- 1 part sugar if making a sweet bread/muffin… I use sugar to taste
Ingredients
Dry:
- 1 cup 120 g unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 cup 120 g whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/2 cup cane sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
Wet:
- 1-2 large eggs 120 g
- 1/2 cup 120 mL tomato purée
- 1/2 cup 120 mL buttermilk
- 1 tsp orange blossom water
- 1 Tbsp fresh ginger finely minced
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup 60 mL extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350° F.
- Toast pine nuts in a dry pan over medium high heat, stirring/tossing often until browned & fragrant.
- In a mixing bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together the wet ingredients.
- Gently mix the wet ingredients into the dry, stirring until only just combined. Add in the pine nuts and stir until just distributed evenly. You don’t want to over stir because this will make your muffins tough.
- Pour or scoop batter into a well oiled or lined muffin tin filling 3/4 of the way full. I use a non-stick spray whether I use liners or not.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until risen & a cake tester (or toothpick or skewer) comes out clean.
- Let cool on a rack. Enjoy!