Thursday, September 29, 2016

Cowboy Cranberry Orange Muffins

We're talking all things cowboy today, and that's because of this....

Oh be still my heart, I love this cover!

And I just found out yesterday that "Home on the Range" was given 4 1/2 Stars Top Pick! from Romantic Times Review....

Oh, be still my heart AGAIN!!!!! Thank you Carrie Townsend and Romantic Times!!!!

So we have to celebrate. Why? Because why not? We should always celebrate good times, and the thought that this sweet story is touching hearts... and souls... is an absolute thrill.

Today we're going to reward someone with a copy of "Home on the Range"... Leave a comment here, and if for some reason the blog does not cooperate, then leave me a comment on facebook/Ruth Logan Herne... and if you need to friend me, I'll consider the friend request an entry!

The Double S Ranch books have a GREAT KITCHEN. I mean, it is huge, sprawling, state-of-the-art amazing and I'd give my right arm to operate a kitchen like that, but for the moment, I'll operate in my sweet old farmhouse kitchen!

And we sell baked goods at our farm stand, whatever form of deliciousness happens to jump out of the oven that day, and I wanted to try Cranberry Orange muffins.... so you're going to get TWO distinctly different recipes today. I think I'm partial to recipe #2, but that might be because it's PINK....

Recipe #1:

2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup dried, sweetened cranberries chopped lightly
3/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup oil
1 egg
2 tablespoons orange zest (grated orange peel)

Pour orange juice over cranberries, heat for 30 seconds in  microwave, then let sit while gathering everything else.



Mix dry ingredients together. Add egg, oil, juice and cranberries mixture. Mix with spoon just until all ingredients are mixed in. Sprinkle top with sugar.

Line muffin cups with paper liner or spray/flour each cup. Fill 2/3 full and bake at 375° for 12 to 15 minutes.

These were hot and they steamed my camera lens!!!!  Do you see that I used colored sugar on the top so you get a kind of happy sparkle????

RECIPE #2:

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
2 cups cranberry orange relish

Mix dry ingredients. Add eggs, oil and cranberry orange relish.


Mix until all ingredients are moistened. The relish turns the batter PINK!!!! It's so pretty! Pink with flecks of orange and bits of cranberry goodness.



Bake at 375° for 12 to 15 minutes, until muffin springs back when touched lightly with finger.

Look at the difference! The pink recipe is moister, more like a carrot cake consistency... the extra 1/4 cup of oil, I think... the first recipe is more traditional old-fashioned muffin consistency, moist, but not spongy.... And with a wonderful hearty flavor.

But who wouldn't love PINK MUFFINS??????

I used multi-colored "sanding" sugar on top, it's the only color I had in the house, but it's pretty, isn't it? Sanding sugar is the bigger grind sugar that sparkles on baked goods...  Here's a link to some on Amazon:  SANDING SUGAR 

And the farm is hopping this week with fun pumpkin sales, great customers, and folks are putting our signs EVERYWHERE!!!!

It's so fun to see young families (and some not-so-young ones, too!) come by and have a great autumn experience for affordable prices. Our slogan is "We bring Farm-Fresh Friendly to You!" and with no middleman.... we can keep prices down. Win for everyone!!!

That's it for today.... and be sure to comment or dash over to facebook and let me know you want to be entered in today's drawing for "Home on the Range".

And if I can add you to my mailing list: Pure Bonus!

Multi-published, bestselling author Ruth Logan Herne is living her dream and generally wakes up pinching herself to see if this is real... and it appears to be! She lives on a fun, cray-cray farm in upstate New York that shelters children of all ages, dogs, cats, chickens, a mega-load of pumpkins and her fair share of wild creatures who occasionally gain access to her house. (She is not amused by such happenings, by the way).  Friend Ruthy on facebook, stop by her website, or hang out with her and her cool buddies in Seekerville where the daily chat is about writing... and reading!

35 comments:

  1. Hi Ruthy, Love the cover. I don't think of cowboys though when you mention cranberry orange muffins. They make me think of a hot cup of coffee and a morning snack. Yum.

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  2. Sandra, I mostly think of horses and cowboy hats and rodeos and singing by the campfire... and our trip to Fort Worth, remember???? When I scared you with my driving, but we lived!!!

    So I combo-ed up the cowboy and the cranberries!

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  3. Hunky cowboy, cute kid... What's not to like about this cover, Ruthy? So if the muffins are even half as good, which I'm sure they're not. I'm sure they rival the cover because, well, I'd expect nothing less of you. Not sure my guys would go for the pink muffins, though I'd definitely give them a go. That said, I love cranberry and orange together. It's like peas and carrots. Except they're not savory.

    Wait, wait, wait... When did you come to Ft. Worth? It better not have been recently or I might have to hurt you for not letting me know.

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  4. I love this book. Just love it. It deserves the 4 1/2 stars Top Pick!!!

    These muffins look scrumptious. :) I'm sure any cowboy I know would snarf them down with no problem - pink or not!

    And I love that pumpkin sign! Where else can you buy pumpkins for only five bucks! Only in Upstate, I'm sure. :)

    Enjoy the pumpkin patch!

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    1. Jan, folks are loving the $5 PUMPKIN!!!!! It makes Dave so happy to see all these young families coming and having fun!

      We love the pink ones. Lacey suggested they could use some orange zest so next time I'm going to grate a tablespoon or two of orange peel into them.... but the texture was spongy-moist deliciousness!!!

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    2. And Jan, thank you for being an early reader/endorser of "Home on the Range"!!!!! I'm so grateful for your time!

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  5. Love the sweet cover! The muffins sound great too! jarning67(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Joan, thank you! I'm tossing your name into the hat!

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  6. Both sound really good! I love anything with cranberry!

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  7. Love the cover of this one, Ruthy! And I think I'd love the first cranberry orange muffin recipe, too, but I'm missing an orange to grate. I have pumpkin, though, so now that you've got my mind set on muffins, I think I'll bake myself a batch of pumpkin muffins. I have my daughter's easy-but-yummy recipe for those, and all the ingredients.

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    1. Carol, thank you! We've been enjoying pumpkin muffins daily because we're making them for the produce stand... and we get the extras! Go for it, my friend!

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  8. Congratulations!!! What a beautiful sweet cover. The muffins would be perfect with coofee, great recipe for National Coffee Day. Thanx for the giveaway!!!

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    1. Jennifer, I'm so glad you stopped by! Wait...

      NATIONAL COFFEE DAY????? HOW DID I MISS THIS??????

      OH MYLANTA, WOMAN!

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  9. I agree with Jennifer. Coffee and some muffins. Just the thing for this rainy CHILLY (LOVE) day in NYC.

    I adore this cover.

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  10. wonderful cover , and who doesn't love a cowboy?

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    1. Sarah, right???? I love this cover... and I'm so proud of this book!

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  11. It looks like it is going to be a great read. I love cowboy romances! Thank you for having the giveaway and a chance to win but the greatest thing of all is the two recipes that look yummy :)

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    1. Paula, you're welcome! And yeah, we enjoyed both versions of the muffin but leaned toward the consistency of the pink one... and I freeze extra cranberry orange relish each holiday season so I have it on hand whenever we cook a turkey. Finding cranberries out of season is a tough task! And I love homemade cranberry orange relish.

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  12. What a great cover picture! With cowboys and children together, this has to be a wonderful story!! Thanks for this giveaway.

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    1. Donna, you're welcome! And yes... wonderful cowboy and precious children???? What's not to love????

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  13. When I think of cowboys I think of determination, dedication and bravery. Karen Guetzow

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    1. Karen, me too... the cowboy "code". I also think of the parable of the lost lamb and how the shepherd risks all to go save that lamb... Beautiful imagery, thank you!

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  14. Love the cover. Going to try making the muffins this weekend. Thanks for having the giveaway. I love curling up by the fireplace with a cup of coffee and one of your books.

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    1. Aw Patricia, thank you! I love the image of you curling up with coffee and a Ruthy-book!!!!

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  15. I loved reading Home on the Range--I couldn't stop once I started. Thank you for sharing the recipes for Cranberry Orange Muffins. I'm going to have to try recipe # 2 for the pink. Recipe # 1 is almost idenitical to my recipe for Cranberry Orange Muffins.

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    1. Marilyn, I'm so glad you loved it!!! (Marilyn is an early reader for me, so she got an ARC copy a few weeks ago) And you know, that first one is done in common ratio of baking powder/soda to flour, etc... so it's an old-fashioned style muffin. I'm not surprised that yours is similar!

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  16. Ruthy!!! I miss you, sweet lady! What a joy to read your posts and hear the sound of your voice in my head. I know it's crowded in there, sorry about that (and I am not even an author) but you are one of my favorites!
    Eat a muffin for me and please put me in the drawing!

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    1. Beth Erin, you are the cutest thing! I miss you, too!!! I love being in your head: LAUGHING!!!! Thank you for your kind words!!!! And I'll enjoy a muffin in your honor... thanks for coming over!

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  17. What a nice book to read and what delicious recipes from the Double S Ranch . Will have to try the recipes. Also read the book. thanks for the drawing for a copy of the book Read the book and eat the muffins and drink your choice of beverage What a way to spend a fall afternoon or evening

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  18. I would love to read Home On The Range. We lived in Texas for 4 years and I sure do miss those cowboys! I also love cranberry orange muffins. Recipe #1 sounds yum to me! Those are great pumpkin prices too. Here at the farm in NY they charge about 40 cents a lb. Its steep but helps support the local farms in metro NY.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Maryann

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  19. Delicious muffins and congratulations on your 4.5 pick!

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  20. Hi Ruthy! Those cranberry orange muffins look delish :-) How fun to have colored sugar on top to make them sparkly. Kind of like you (your sparkly personality)!

    I sure wished I lived closer because I'd be visiting your farm buying some fresh pie pumpkins. Ever since I learned how to cook and use them for my pies, I've never gone back to canned! So fresh & delicious, my family practically demands them every Thanksgiving, lol. Of course the best part of all that, I'd get to meet you and your family :-)

    I am loving this cover for Home on the Range, just as much as the first book. Cowboys & horses or cowboys & kids just go together! Thanks for both the recipes and giveaway.

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  21. Wow. 4.5 So fun! This sounds like a fantastic book and I just love the cover. Thank you for sharing your muffin recipe and for the giveaway.
    ttmom 42 at gmail dot com
    Feel free to add me to your newsletter

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  22. So, did you make it to the historic Stockyards in Fort Worth? Love the cover and the recipes! Cathy. dixiedobie at yahoo dot com

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