I first set eyes on Paulo when I was at a surprise birthday party thrown by my one of my husband’s friends wife. A couple of families including us unlocked ourselves into the house with the key she gave us and began making the arrangements to surprise her husband while the couple was away. The place was new to me and I couldn’t help glancing around and immediately drawn towards the bookshelf. There was when I saw him. Paulo Coelho.
I saw his name in most of the books. Most of them were hardly used or well taken care of. I ran my fingers through the lines and lines of books like a child who has been given a new toy to play with. I get excited when I see books. I felt the familiar feeling creeping inside me. I resisted the urge to grab a couple of books,find a peaceful corner and completely submerge myself in a totally different world. I didn’t feel like borrowing a book since I had met this couple for the first time.I had to forget Paulo Coelho and what his books are like. I had a surprise party to help with.
One fine day I woke up and decided to bring back my old hobby into life. There’s no way I can keep ignoring it. I’m fully well aware what it’ll do me.But this time around I’ll have control of it. I’m a grown up woman. I have children and a husband to take care of. Not bury myself in books and expect someone to take care of me. Not a teen obsessed with reading every free moment she had,ignoring her mother’s countless pleas to eat or get some sleep until she finished reading till the last page.
I went in search of a second-hand bookshop,because I like buying books that way,and found one after many attempts. I walk past the last bookshelf towards the door with the heavy bundle of books I purchased,I sight him again.I decided to buy “The Zahir” by Paulo Coelho. And glad I did.
Words aren’t enough to express the feeling I had, when reading the book. I was asking myself,why didn’t I find this sooner. It had made me take a journey through myself, tapping into my soul, giving the form of word to my thoughts.Thoughts which I confronted and backed away for I had not known the answers. A spiritual journey,nonetheless,of understanding the nature of love.
I know I’ll be reading this book again and again. And I can’t wait for the next trip to the bookshop for more of this wonderful author’s books. If you’ve already read his books you know what I’m talking about. If not,grab a copy and be prepared for some soul searching.
Now,coming to the muffins,this is the first time I had made savory muffins and I’m glad it turned out good except being a tad too salty for me.Trust me,when I say I have a way with salts. I’ve omitted the salt in the recipe.
I buy this gorgeous red carrots,now in season.They are juicy and soft compared to their orange counterparts.Besides I’m completely in awe of the color.So I decided to grace one of the weekend mornings with carrot filled muffins.A great way to get some veggies into the kids breakfast too.My kids loved it.
Photos were taken hastily while the muffins baked in the oven and after they came out smelling spicy delicious,three hungry mouths were waiting to devour them.They were delicious with a dollop of tomato ketchup on the side to smear them with.My son Ahi, graciously held onto his half bitten muffin while I took a photo of it.I loved these carrots so much I went a bit overboard clicking them.
And next time around,I will use a combination of wholewheat flour and all purpose flour instead of white flour and add a bit of wheat germ too.
Here’s the recipe
Spiced Red Carrot Muffins
Ingredients:
2 cups self-raising flour
1 cup carrot finely grated
few shallots,spring onions finely chopped
1/2 cup grated cheese
zest of 1 lemon
1/2″ inch ginger finely grated
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
1/4 cup melted butter or vegetable oil
dash of kashmiri chili powder,cumin powder and ground pepper
Method
Preheat the oven to 200 degree Celsius.Spray 12 muffin tins to grease.
Sift the flour in a large bowl.Add carrots,shallots,spring onions and cheese.Add the spices.Combine the veggies with the flour to coat them.
In a separate bowl,whisk the eggs,milk,vegetable oil or melted butter.Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and gently fold until everything is combined.
Spoon the batter into prepared muffin tins.
Bake in the pre-heated oven for around 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Cool on a wire rack and serve with ketchup.
*A word of note-I’m not promoting this book,simply sharing my thoughts with you lovely readers on what interests me as I feel blogs are all about having that personal touch.
Healthy n delicious muffins,awesome clicks…
Thanks a lot,Premalatha .
These look delicious and the photos are wonderful, too. I like the spices that you added, a unique flavor. Have a wonderful day.
Looks amazing..I want to make these..
Looks amazing..I want to make these..
Looks amazing..I want to make these..
Interesting that you added chili and cumin powders to the muffins. Nice snaps!
very healthy n innovative muffins…lovely pics!
Thank you so much.
Let me know how it turns out.. 🙂
Thanks Indu.
It would be healthy if you have swapped the all purpose flour for wholewheat.
If you loved Zahir then you are definitely going to love the Alchemist and 11 minutes and Veronica decides to die. Get them pronto!!
Lovely looking muffins and an interesting way to include veggies into the first meal of the day.
xx
Anita
Awesome recipe,muffins looks so soft n healthy.
i am a HUGE paulo fan / addict, love his work… like u even i get lost in the alternate world he spins through hiw words. u must read 11 minutes, i think its his best work till date 🙂 the muffins look delecious! love the deep red of the carrots
Thanks a lot dear Anita.Can't wait to get those books.
Thanks a lot,Deeps.He is amazing,isn't he?
Lovely muffins Farwin..I am very fond of savoury bakes. The carrot clicks are gorgeous..I too buy them this season to make carrot halwa.
And we are on same lines..I too have started to catch up on my reading..apart from being on pinterest, reading is what I have been doing..and my blog has been ignored. Last week I read 2 books and have started on 3rd one..and next in line is Paulo's Veronica decides to die…if you want some good read then you can read Khaled Hosseini's kite runner and thousand splendid suns..that is,if you have not yet already read them 🙂
Thanks a lot,hun. I've seen the film "Kite Runner".Loved it.Normally I read the book and then watch the movie but this time I couldn't help watching it thrice.I'm yet to get my hands on his books.
I always forget how much I love carrot- especially in dessert. Yum!
Have you viewed Decking Ipe website