5.06.2013

Cappuccino Muffins, a Cookbook and a Giveaway


When I was approached to review an Amish cookbook, I was pleased to do it. We've talked about it before and all agree: the best recipes come from these kinds of cookbooks.......community, club or church driven, where everyone tends to send in their old family favorites. I have quite a collection of them, but not one from the Amish community.

You'll learn something of the history of the Amish as well. The introduction contains a narrative about their background and 
scattered throughout the book are marvelous vignettes and photographs along with the homey recipes. Yes, it's a comfortable cookbook...not cutting edge, but chock full of the kind of recipes you'd serve your friends and family. Some you've made or have similar recipes for and some, hopefully, are new to you.



Did you know there was a large Amish and Mennonite community in Sarasota, Florida, in an area called Pinecraft? We all think of Pennsylvania or Ohio, but not Florida. As it turns out, there are far more Amish communities than I had imagined. I DID know about one in Western Michigan because my sister, who lives in Michigan, took me to a lovely store that carried their work. This cookbook originates from Pinecraft and the recipes from those who reside or winter there.





The book is available where books are sold and at Amazon. The nicest part of this post is the author, Sherry Gore, is making one copy available to my readers. If you leave a comment, you're in the running. Not going to get into that "follow me for an extra chance" stuff. Just plain and simple....leave a comment. I'll announce the winner on May 13th. Make certain I have your email address so I can contact you.

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It was really difficult to choose a recipe. I loved the idea of making the overnight French toast and the chicken and biscuits made my mouth water. But the cappuccino muffins were too tempting to pass up. No doubt the old "is it a muffin or a cupcake" question comes up, which as I recall, frosting was the determining factor. But these are muffins, definitely breakfast food, and they DO have a frosting, although it's not terribly sweet, which balanced the cupcakes perfectly. Be sure to use the mini chocolate chips so they will melt into the cupcake as well as the frosting.

Cappuccino Muffins
Recipe by Sherry Gore, Pinecraft Fl.



Ingredients:

For the muffins:
2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons instant espresso
1/2 cup butter, very soft
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

For the Topping:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon instant espresso
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Method:
Preheat oven to 350.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a bowl.
In another bowl, stir milk and espresso until dissolved. Add softened butter, beaten egg and vanilla. (the butter will not mix in completely. That's OK)
Stir in dry ingredients 1/3 at a time until combined. Fold in mini chocolate chips.
Fill paper muffin liners 3/4 full and bake 17-20 minutes.


While they are baking, mix the ingredients for the topping and set aside.



Remove muffins from oven and frost immediately so the mini chocolate chips will melt slightly.
Makes 12 of the deeper paper liners that I used.


32 comments:

  1. I would have chosen those muffins first too!

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  2. Gorgeous muffins! They look fabulous.

    A lovely giveaway!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  3. Are they delicious? Just the icing says they are..
    I go to Sarasota frequently..not frequently enough..really it's not frequently..let's say I have been :)

    Never knew!WE have seen such cute adorable children and their families....now I know..I thought they were visiting..like me.

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  4. I would love to have this cookbook. I am in Canada, in case you are not shipping up here.

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  5. My aunt has an old Amish and Mennonite cookbook - it's wonderful! Lovely old-fashioned dishes. These muffins sound like just my cup of tea, although cappucino sounds much more exotic than the usual Amish fare!

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  6. I love your muffins look stunning and love so much amish recipes; I dont know if I can particioate anyway is a nice giveaway!!xo

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  7. I want those sand dollar cookies. I miss the beach!

    There is a huge Mennonite community on both sides of the mountain here, and an Amish one "in the Valley" as well. Great food, to be sure.

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  8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  9. lovely muffins (if they are muffins you can eat them for breakfast).

    my grandmother was German and from PA so though she wasn't officially Amish (Lutheran), she made all of those wonderful German recipes.

    Awesome giveaway!

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  10. I have a Mennonite cookbook that I just love for family, homestyle recipes. I'm sure this cookbook would be great too.

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  11. These muffins look way too delicious :D

    Cheers
    CCU

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  12. I had no idea there was an Amish community in Florida. My, those cappuccino muffins look yummy!

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  13. Where I grew up in Southern Ontario I went to school with many New Order Mennonites. We used to go to a farmers market in St. Jacobs where the old order would bring their products to to the market by horse and buggy. I loved the charm. As for the cappuccino muffins...I'm pulling up a chair now.

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  14. These look delicious. I'm sure the cookbook is wonderful, too. We used to visit Amish country in Pennsylvania when I was growing up ~ they do make some wonderful food.

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  15. Muffins are good for you, right? I wouldn't feel guilty at all for enjoying one (or two) of these any morning. :)

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  16. What a treat! lovely looking book and the muffins look scrumptious!
    Mary x

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  17. I read an article once where the writer pretended to be Amish for the week-- doing the same amount of physical activity, eating pancakes and bacon for breakfast-- and she lost 10 lbs!

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  18. I'd love a chance to win this. Thank you!

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  19. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  20. Such an interesting cookbook...the muffins look great...love the coffee flavor.
    Have a wonderful week Barbara :)

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  21. These muffins with cappuccino sound and look fabulous.

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  22. Amish cookbook? Who could resist something like that? ps: muffins look divine.

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  23. The muffins look so good & yummy = )

    Never tried any Amish recipe.. Thank you for the giveaway

    Blessings
    Christine T

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  24. Oh so good looking - I really want to eat those muffins now. Anxious to see what else is in the book if the recipes are on a par with this one.

    Thanks for posting.

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  25. espresso, chocolate, and cinnamon really are quite magnificent together!

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  26. An informative post. The muffins look awesome and I am drooling over the last pic!!

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  27. Mmm,I would love to have these muffins on my table. They look absolutely scrumptious! Great giveaway Barbara!

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  28. Good Afternoon Barbara, I love cookery books and I do own quite a few, some I use for browsing through to get inspiration, some, just because the photographs are beautiful, but I also love cookery books with ingredients which I know I can go to my store cupboard and cook something straight away.
    This cookery book has a beautiful cover, I would love just to pick that hibiscus off the back of the basket and plant it in my garden. I would like to enter this giveaway as it would be interesting to learn about the Amish and Mennonite community and to sample some of their cooking.
    Thank you for tempting us with the recipe for the muffins.
    Best Wishes
    Daphne

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  29. I treasure the Amish/Mennonite cookbooks I have, and would love to add this beautiful book to my collection. These muffins look most delicious! Sue

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  30. How much sugar for the muffins?

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  31. I love cappuccino so I know I would live theses muffins! Delicious flavors.

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  32. Oh
    My
    Stars.

    I love everything coffee flavored. This is going straight into my shopping list and then into my tummy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

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