Falling Forward and Muffins to Fall For!

Remember track and field day when you were a kid?

It was a fun time to try different events and for some of us, it might have been the only time we actually ran a timed relay race. We did the high jump, runs, throwing, agility tests, and the running long jump. One of the things that have stuck out in my mind was the long jump… not because I was good at it, but because of what was exclaimed over and over as each kid ran up to the line and lept for all they were worth. “Fall forward!”

The measurement isn’t taken where your foot lands but on the closet mark to the starting point. So if you jump and fall on your cusshy end, verses stretching forward to keep momentum, it could make a huge difference in the outcome. Falling forward is heading in the right direction.

That is such great advice, not just for the uncoordinated girl who was trying to see how far she could jump, but as a life lesson for now, the end of 2020.

FALL FORWARD!

Sure, this has been a crazy year. I really thought I would get a lot done, in fact, I had a whole list of things I thought I would accomplish during my social distancing time such as, learn to play the ukulele, organize rough totes of pictures in my garage (please don’t judge me), start a podcast, write a cookbook..and those are just a few. But the reality is, this year has been an emotional rollercoaster. The uncertainty created fatigue long after toilet paper was restocked.

And here I am, picking out my planner for 2021!

Instead of being frustrated with myself over all the things I didn’t do, I have decided to give myself the same grace I hope I give others. I have decided to be “Thankful” for all the little moments of success and cherish the times when I was just able to read, snuggle, and hold close the people who mean the world to me. Sure it would have been great to whip out my ukulele and play something amazing, but really, in the long run, just getting through 2020 felt like an event worthy of a ribbon.

You too?

Then let me give you a word of Field Day Wisdom…FALL FORWARD. Leave your mark to the best of your ability. No one wants to leave their bumprints in the sandpit, so brush the dust off and get ready to move forward.

And do it with an attitude of thankfulness.

Taste of Fall Pumpkin Muffins

November 16, 2020

by Marci

Cuisine American

Category Articles

Notes

This recipe was inspired by Sally’s Baking Addiction.
 

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup sour cream or plain greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup milk or buttermilk.
• CRUMB TOPPING
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• MAPLE ICING
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 2 Tablespoons milk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Spray an 18 count muffin tin with non-stick spray or line with paper liners. set aside.
3. Make muffins; In a large bowl sift together dry ingredients ~ flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Set aside.
4. In a medium bowl stir together oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin puree, eggs, and milk, until combined.
5. Add wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients and carefully fold together.
6. Spoon unit prepared muffin tins. 3/4 full.
7. Make crumble topping: whisk ingredients together and cut in butter until it resembles course sand. Spoon over the batter.
8. Bake 5 minutes at 425 then, keeping the muffins in the oven, turn down oven temp to 350 degrees, and bake an additional 17-18 minutes.
9. Allow muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing.
10. Make icing: Whisk all the ingredients together until smooth. drizzle over warm muffins.
11. Serve warm or cover tightly and store in refrigerator 1-2 weeks… seriously, I can’t imagine they would last that long!

https://marciseither.com/articles/falling-forward/