Vegan Carrot-Almond Spice Muffins

Ingredients:
3/4 cup cane sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups grated carrot
1/2 cup soy milk
1 2/3-2 cups white whole wheat flour
2 Tbs Ground Flax Seed
1-2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup ground almond meal
2 ½ tsp apple cider vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 350˚ and lightly oil 24 muffin tins
2. Mix sugar, oil, vanilla, grated carrot, and soy milk in a large bowl.
3. Mix/Sift together the flour, flax seed, ginger, baking powder, salt, and almond meal into a medium bowl.
4. Add flour mixture to liquid mixture and mix just until combined.
5. Add the apple cider vinegar, stir and fold in gently. You will see pale swirls and bubbles starting to form.
6. Pour into muffin tins, filling 3/4 of the way full, NO MORE! They will rise and cook better this way!
7. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool about 5 minutes in the pan and then move onto a cooling rack.

So GOOD! So moist and fluffy. I'm telling you, it's all in the vinegar at the end. It makes all the difference in Vegan baking! So many vegan baked goods are so dense. Not these!

I made these today for my roommate who is moving away, and also for my lovely boss who is working many long hours; never sleeping, and forgetting to eat. I am proud! When I make these again, I think I'll add a bit more almond meal, and maybe sprinkle the tops (pre-baking) with some slices almonds. I wanted more almond. I also wanted some cardamom, but I couldn't find my ground cardamom this morning so these don't get it. But next time... that sounds great.

Also, that is a tiny cup of turkish coffee in the back. Highly recommend ANYTHING with Turkish coffee, but expecially baked goods. oh yes, ooh yes.

Also, Also, the colors in the picture don't seem to be coming through very well. The bread is a little more orange than the picture, warmer colors.

ps. a variation:
omit the almond meal, add oats instead,
and a handful or two of raisins,
and a shake or two of cinnamon.
before baking, cover tops of muffins with thin layer of oats for some presentation points.
delicious!

The Shame of Quietness

And all misery come to me,
someone who keeps annoyances completely silent.
Oh, shut up. Stay under there!
The tablecloth trembling with desire to just
slop and dribble my secret everywhere-
to everyone- to be released into the raucous of some pillowed room.
In anger I stab with a livid fork, prodding any solid being
manifested under the stiff cloth.

Even I am afraid to look. The pang growing in my chest-
swelling up, the mortal immortal, neuter being
doubling over in size:
frightfully inept, and quite boisterous.
With a boldish effort I nudge and jab-
waiting like an expectant child for the soft rebound
of squashing prongs upon skin;
thick tar in the sun;
strangely elastic, stretched over too much fat--
expecting it,
the fork-prick;
but slowly elusive.