Since my last post, I have started my second (and also last) year of my MFA program, my computer has died, come back to life, and gained a sibling (aka my new computer), I have been immersed in the Time Based Arts festival happening here in Portland, I started a Teaching Assistantship, I quit my job at the restaurant I was working at all summer, and am currently in the process of applying for several fellowships that will hopefully benefit my future in the coming year with deadlines only a few weeks away. Phew!

With all this and more happening, I am mastering the art of laying all my cards on the table without letting a few teeter off the end into the abyss of stuff-I-have-to-do-but-didn’t-have-time-to-get-to. I also have a new project I am working on plus a critique of Pietopia coming up next week. So, what is a girl to do with all this on her plate? I’m going to suggest to myself to try eating it with slow and willing bites, savoring every last flavor so each dish is fully understood and completely digestible. That and make berry muffins for breakfast .

Berry Oatmeal Muffins

3/4 cup quick cooking oats
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 cup blueberries/raspberries/blackberries

For the topping:

1/3 cup quick cooking oats
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease 12 muffin cups.
2. In a large bowl, mix the 3/4 cup oats, wheat germ, flour, sugar, walnuts, salt, and baking powder. Stir in the milk, oil, and egg just until dry ingredients are evenly moist. Fold in the blueberries. Scoop batter into the prepared muffin cups.
3. Mix 1/3 cup oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl, and sprinkle over the batter.
4. Bake 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Now for the zen-like photo montage of my step by step process of visually savoring this muffin early this morning on my porch… I knew I needed this early morning pick me up and it was lovely to have shared it with such a gorgeous day…