Here, Kitchen Witch: Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
Poppy seeds add a mild nuttiness and light crunch to baked goods. The Romans knew this, incorporating them in breads along with parsley and fennel. In mythology, Demeter was given the poppy plant by the god Morpheus to ease her grief and suffering in the absence of her daughter Persephone, becoming a symbol of solace, eternal sleep, and death.The poppy and its seeds have long been associated with sleep, and of course, opium, the earliest reference to opium cultivation and use being 3,400 B.C. in lower Mesopotamia.
These days, poppy seeds are most commonly consumed in the form of muffins and pound cakes. These lemon poppy seed muffins are quick, easy, and delicious! No mixer required.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup of granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons of poppy seeds
- 1 tablespoon of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 cup of milk, at room temperature
- 1 stick of unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of fresh lemon zest
For the lemon glaze:
- 1 cup of powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400°F.
Line a standard muffin tin with paper liners.
In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, poppy seeds, baking soda, and salt.
In another bowl, whisk together the butter, juice, egg, milk, and zest. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
Divide evenly among the muffin tin cups.
Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the edges are golden, about 15 minutes. Let cool until barely warm.
To Make the Glaze
In a small bowl, combine the sugar and lemon juice until a smooth, thick glaze forms.
Drizzle or dip each muffin top with the glaze.
Let set before serving.
Serve, or store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days.
Muffins can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Tip: for taller, more tender muffins, cover and refrigerate the batter overnight. Chill the batter in one large bowl, and bake directly from the fridge.
“Poppy Seeds: WATER/AIR. Luck, invisibility, tranquility, and honoring the dead. Poppy seeds carry all of the magical properties of the flower. At one time in Europe, poppy seeds were dipped in gold and worn as lucky talismans. For centuries, it was believed that red poppies sprung up where men died in battle, and the Ancient Greeks and Romans presented them as offerings to the dead. Sacred to Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep and dreaming, he carried a horn filled with poppy juice. Feminine in nature and Moon-aligned, poppy seeds are sometimes added to esoteric dishes to bring about calmness or deepen feelings of peace and love. Poppy seeds are good for any ritual done in the name of Hypnos, Somnus, Nyx, Demeter, or Persephone.”
– from the magical reference, “Felicitous Foods: Adding Spice to your Magical Life!” by Dame Dana Saqua
Did you know that lemons, butter, and salt also have their own esoteric properties and magical correspondences? Five types of salt are discussed in this magical reference and gives descriptors of their flavors!
Listening to the more experienced kitchen witches’ complaints about many books on green and kitchen witchery being extremely basic and a bit judgemental, Felicitous Foods goes beyond the Pinterest-level list of herbs, fruits, and vegetables; this volume breaks down over three hundred food items by magical property, flavor profile, and suggests what other food items are most likely to pair with them. One can learn the elemental and magical properties of wine, but also wines’ broad categories, and examples of what cheeses might pair the best with them. While Felicitous Foods includes handy sections on setting intention and magical correspondences by popular topics (Luck, Protection, Abundance, etc.), the emphasis on flavor pairings makes Felicitous Foods accessible to all people who are interested in food and food pairings.
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