Sacrifice of a muffin

We couldn't resist borrowing this beagle puppy called Muffin to pose with our own little beauty. Model 1 - 8 weeks old. Model 2 - 8 minutes old.

Of course, we had to sacrifice the muffin, and help was on hand in the snowy garden (the evidence is in the snow on the lower chops...).













We are taking a break through Boxing Day but for orders from 27th and over the turn of the year, please contact MagogMuffins@gmail.com

Meanwhile, a happy festive season from MagogMuffins and friends.

Travel bag - Kenya

When Magog Muffin has to travel, the sturdy Gog Magog Hills Farm Shop bag goes too, swapping its usual cargo of local goodies for laptop, files and the odd refugee item from an overstuffed suitcase. Thus it sometimes finds itself on the horns of a dilemma or hanging about at the equator.

Magog Muffin does not expend carbon easily, but when it is unavoidable adds on as much value as she can. So an overnight in Nairobi with family came up with some Kenya varieties of savoury muffins (of which more anon). Meanwhile, "safari mzuri" or words to that effect.

Magog Traditions

This colourful 16th Century parchment apparently depicts Alexander (with a bit of help!) building a wall against Gog and Magog. Variously giants or tyrants, Gog and Magog appear in numerous texts and mythologies.

For us, they are the names attached to the local "hills" (I know, I know, mere pimples on the landscape for real mountain people, but all that the flatlands of East Anglia have to offer...). We are, however, attaching a new tradition to the Magog name, one of ethical good taste, and we are guarding it jealously.

But here's some more food for thought. Could these same hills be the real site of Troy and gazed upon by fair Helen of Troy?
Iman Wilkens in the book "Where Troy once stood" argues that Troy was located on the Gog Magog Downs here in Cambridgeshire. Hmmmm.

Red muffin day

How many muffins is enough?

Testing mixed packs of a 'baker's dozen' as relief for office overload.
So far so stress-relieving!

Muffin Poetry Award for Palm oil free campaigner

The forest on the left in the north of Sumatra Island is storing carbon and other ecosystem services, providing habitat for orang utans and other creatures, as well as livelihoods for people living nearby. The palm oil plantation on the right has knocked out this biodiversity, destroyed the ecoystem services and slewed the local economy.

Haiku competition panel have awarded the Muffin prize to twitterer @kusasi for his ethical content - congratulations Neil (and his palm-oil-free website)

paper overflows
sweet sponge chocolate or fruit
palm oil free goodness

Runner up is the double Haiku offered by twitterer @miametro (and her lovely photography)

you should take flavour
suggestions - PB&J
definitely yum!

or maybe perhaps
a bit more traditional
cherry almond, NOM.

Magog Muffins is struggling slightly with the concept of peanut butter and jelly flavour........ but thinking of trying this for a Fourth of July offering or in celebration of Barak Obama's Nobel Peace Prize. All flavour suggestions very welcome here in our ecokitchen - please use comment form (or tell us on twitter @MagogMuffins). If we take any up we will gladly send you a sample from the first batch out of the oven.

And that guest judge? He declined to be named this time around, but might reveal himself if we run another competition next National Poetry Day (perhaps combine with a tweet up eat up?)

Introducing.... Midi Muffins

A maxi-muffin is a meal in itself. Mini-muffins just touch down on your taste buds. Our solution would make Goldilocks squeal with delight - the Magog midi-muffin is moist, munchable and "just right".

Enclosed in our hand-crafted 'petal' wrappings, these 'Apple streudel' muffins contrast the tartness of Granny Smiths with a honey and oatmeal crunchy topping. All grown within an apple's throw of Gog Magog Hills Farm Shop and Delicatessen. Fall treats in store. Shortly to be in store anyway.

And are there muffins still for tea ...?

On reflection, the muffins started appearing more regularly at Sunday tea as an affordable treat in the recession. It was a comforting recollection of village life that John Betjamen conjoured up with ".. stands the church clock at ten to three, and is there honey still for tea?" With us it was muffins.

Then they started to impose individual personalities. 'Lemon Tea' was at once sweet and astringent; 'Double Ginger' was infused with crunchy chunks of spicy pleasure; 'Your very good health' offered a winter immunity boost with chewy apricots and revitalising goji berries. The elegant 'Cambridge Blue', bursting with blueberries and poppy seeds, represented the spires on the horizon.

Soon they insisted on moving beyond the confines of the family table. Trademarked as "Magog Muffins - ethical good taste' they are guarding their credentials, insisting all ingredients are organic, fairly traded and as locally-sourced as possible. With that pedigree they have found a friendly niche at Gog Magog Farm Shop and Delicatessen and you can catch up with them in the cafe there from next month. We'll try to keep up with their story so check back here to see what's new in the life of mouthwatering Magog Muffins.