Muffin Mania Gottatries ~ Easter Goodies

Here are some muffin-specific recipes for my Gottatries list.  I thought it would be fun to have a muffin spread either Easter Sunday or right after Easter.  Probably that week since they'll have some candy and sweets Easter Sunday - or maybe a different type of muffin for snack that whole week.  These will all be adjusted (if I have time/energy/focus to prep ahead!) to white whole wheat soaked muffins.

Applesauce Muffins (make a small pot of applesauce ahead of time and needs 1 C milk)
http://www.talkingdollarsandcents.net/muffin-monday-applesauce-muffins

The Ultimate Popover.  This isn't even sweet but I want, want, want one right now!  I wonder how it would do in a regular cupcake tin or even with paper liners.  This may have to be a compromise white flour unsoaked recipe; I don't see how it could work soaked because egg is tricky to incorporate the next day.
http://coleensrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/02/ultimate-and-easy-popover.html

Muffin Poppers.  Do cinn/sugar on top only?
http://coleensrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/01/muffin-poppers.html

Doughnut Muffins:
http://coleensrecipes.blogspot.com/2010/02/doughnut-muffins.html

Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins.  Try all but eggs and apple soaked night before and then add them the next morning. (Pull pureed pumpkin out of freezer)
http://coleensrecipes.blogspot.com/2009/03/pumpkin-apple-streusel-muffins.html

Whipping Cream Biscuits.  Not a muffin but they look easy and good.  Use kefir instead of cream or whatever is on hand:
http://coleensrecipes.blogspot.com/2009/11/whipping-cream-biscuits.html

Cinnamon Rolls:  I have GOT to try this right away (another not-a-muffin-recipe hidden in this muffin post; but if I don't put it here I'll lose it!).  This would be great for Easter Sunday:
http://coleensrecipes.blogspot.com/2010/03/best-cinnamon-rolls-we-have-ever-tasted.html

Orange Banana Muffins.  I actually have all of these ingredients on hand right now:
http://willcookforsmiles.blogspot.com/2011/04/orange-banana-muffins.html


Zucchini Coconut Muffins.  I just ran out of shredded coconut but I can make it without the coco.
http://willcookforsmiles.blogspot.com/2011/04/zucchini-coconut-muffins.html

Strawberry Cream Cheese Muffins.  Needs 2 C fresh cut strawberries.  I don't think our strawberry patch will give us that many at a time so I may need to buy some if they're on sale.  I can't wait to check the garden tomorrow for strawberries, though!  Also needs 2/3 C cream cheese so I need to have that ready
http://eatingmywayback.blogspot.com/2011/04/light-strawberry-cream-cheese-muffins.html#comments

Pumpkin Muffins.  Take 2 C pumpkin out of the freezer ahead of time.
http://jos2ndact.blogspot.com/2010/10/pumpkin-muffins.html

Oatmeal Date Muffins.  I've never bought dates because they seem so expensive to me.  I usually use raisins instead of dates in recipes.  However, I think I may splurge for this recipe.  It calls for 2/3 C chopped dates.  They have them in bulk now at Kroger so I'll check prices.
http://happyindolevalley.blogspot.com/2011/04/muffin-monday-oatmeal-date-muffins.html

Cranberry Orange Muffins. Needs 3/4 C orange juice.
http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/?p=1751

Bread Pudding Muffins.  Oh, wow, these look good.  This will have to be a compromise food with unsoaked regular unbleached white flour.  I can't see how it could be soaked since you need the liquid to soak the bread... Unless you soaked the bread with the flour overnight.  I'll at least use sourdough bread since we don't have any bread to spare right now.
http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/?p=498

Blueberry Muffins.  I need to pull out my blueberry muffin recipe that already has soaking notes on it... UPDATE:  I just found a recipe online that's already adjusted for oatmeal blueberry muffins!
http://carolinamomma.blogspot.com/2009/04/nourishing-breakfast-soaked-oatmeal.html

Sour Cream Coffee Cake.  I really, really shouldn't look at recipes before breakfast!  This looks fantastic.  Soak 2 C flour and 1 C kefir night before with all other ingredients except egg and leavening agents.
http://twomaidsamilking.blogspot.com/2011/04/sour-cream-coffee-cake-two-maids-baking.html

Oatmeal muffins.  These are simple enough that I don't need to wait until Easter or after Easter - Yeah, I can make them today! (soak all but eggs and baking powder)
http://sweet-d-creations.blogspot.com/2011/03/oatmeal-muffins.html#comments

Pumpkin Muffins.  This recipe is already a soaked recipe.
http://www.butterbelle.ca/recipe/recipe-soaked-pumpkin-muffins/

I could go on and on but I'll make myself stop!

Easter Goodies:

I went to a local store and got some Sundrops, Yummy Earth (dye-free) lollipops, and some dye-free Annie's gummy bunnies for Easter treats. I was also thinking about making some peanut butter cups (okay, so that one's for me!). If I'm really feeling productive (and my adrenals/firbro hold out) I'll see if I can find some appropriate candy molds to melt some Enjoy Life chocolate chips (they changed the packaging so it looks weird but same ingredients as far as I can tell).  Unfortunately they'll be getting plenty of goodies full of synthetic dyes, fake sugars, trans fats, brain killers (excitotoxins), etc.  My sweet mom doesn't get the dye thing and I don't want to hurt her feelings.  It's a very fine tightrope we walk between love and charity and safeguarding their health.  I love going to her house for Easter Supper but dread the whole candy thing.  She has a Sprouts and organics right in her grocery store, but...

Easter Egg Hunt Cookies:  Couldn't I just bake a roll sugar cookie recipe smooshed around the bottom/sides of a cupcake tin?  Then fill with the sundrops I got after filling with green whipped cream using all natural food dyes?
Rice Krispie Treat Eggs:  I still have some homemade marshmallows in the freezer so this may be a possibility (with maybe some adjustments):
http://willcookforsmiles.blogspot.com/2011/04/rice-krispie-easter-eggs.html

I've been so overwhelmed with things on the homefront that I haven't had the courage to check out Catholic Cuisine for Easter ideas.  I'll humbly admit it, it's been a pathetic Lent for me.  I've been very unfocused and self-absorbed.  I truly appreciate all of the many traditions that help us stay focused on Jesus during this time.  I slacked off due to other goings-on and really noticed a difference and difficulty keeping myself 'reined in' spiritually.  In fact today we're planning on just spending about an hour going through all of the Holy Heroes Lenten Adventures that we missed (read:  all of them!).  Youngest dd reminded me last night that we haven't done it yet this Lent.  Sad when your child has to give you the nudge!  We have a note on the fridge to prioritize it (sigh).  We WILL make sure to go to the Stations of the Cross at 3:00 today.  I think it would be a very powerful experience even if you are not Catholic to attend one of these services at your local Catholic Church.  It takes you through the Passion of Christ (and there is usually a booklet to follow along so you will know what's going on!).  If you can't go, there is a MP3 download from Holy Heroes of The Stations (it won't let me link it right now nor put the image below - I'll have to update the link later).

Divine Mercy Novena starts today as well (Good Friday). "For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."  Matthew 18:20.