OAT MUFFINS with vanilla, basil, anise, and fennel

In standard Saturday fashion, I made my way to the Farmer's Market this morning happily thinking I'd come home with the standard fare. Armed with a good friend and some cash, we meandered down the corridor of vendors taking in the sights and smells while filling our baskets with fresh goodies.

At one stand a large green bush caught our eye. Reminiscent of a full grown chia pet, we asked about this mystery plant. Both having spent some time on farms and in gardens, it's not so often we're stumped but this one had us.

Globe basil friends.

The tiny leaves are packed with such a powerful flavor punch an obligatory pause in admiration is simply a must. It's basil flavor is highlighted by anise, a beautiful combination and the delicate leaves lend itself to an obvious center piece option. Of course, we each took one home.

With basil on our mind, we headed back to the kitchen anxious to test out this delicious combination of complex flavors on a muffin recipe I'd been massaging, testing, changing, and trying over and over since Christmas.

If you can't find globe basil, there so many varieties that any will do. Tarragon or rosemary would be lovely as well.

The combination really is divine. Light and summery while rich with flavor depth. I've also included the pumpkin version I've been making quite regularly as well.

This has become my go-to muffin recipe. Enjoy!

[THE RECIPE]
Makes 18 regular muffins
Adapted from Gluten Free Hope Mini Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes

1 1/4 c. ground oat flour
2/3 c. buckwheat flour
1/2 c. rice bran or tigernut flour*
1/2 c. coconut sugar, finely ground**
1/2 c. tapioca or arrowroot flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/4 c. globe basil [or variety of choice], finely chopped
1 vanilla bean
4 - 5 anise stars
2 tsp. whole dried fennel seeds
1 1/2 c. water
1/4 c. hemp seeds
1 T. raw apple cider vinegar
2 c. applesauce
1 T. pure vanilla extract
1 c. coconut oil, melted
3/4 c. dried/dehydrated blueberries [or 1 - 2c. raw]
1/2 c. chopped walnuts or pistachios, optional
maple sugar, optional

*If you make tigernut milk, save the pulp and either dehydrate on low [105 degrees] or bake on low [170 degrees] until dry. Cool and grind in food processor, coffee grinder or appropriate blender until fine powder is achieved.

**I like to grind my coconut flour into a fine powder when baking but this is optional.

In a large blender bowl or glass mixing bowl, combine oat and buckwheat flours, bran or tigernut flour, sugar, tapioca / arrowroot flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix well and set aside.

Pour water, hemp seeds, and vinegar into a blender container and blend on highest setting until very smooth. Gently cut the vanilla beans down the spine [length-wise] without pushing the knife through the back. Separate and scrape a spoon down it's length to remove seeds. Place vanilla seeds, vanilla extract, fennel, and anise in blender with milk. Blend on high until smooth. Add applesauce to milk mixture and blend to combine.

Melt coconut oil over low heat in a small sauce pan.

Pour coconut oil and blender contents into mixing bowl with dry ingredients and mix on low to combine. Slowly increase speed until muffin batter is well blended and smooth. Scrape batter from sides with spatula and re-blend if necessary. Consistency should be that of cake batter or a thick smoothie. Add more water if too thick and more flour if too runny. Once correct consistency is achieved, add basil, dried blueberries, and nuts if using, gently folding into batter with spoon.

Place compostable muffin cups in muffin tin and fill until the batter almost reaches the top. Sprinkle with maple sugar.

Bake at 350 degrees for 22 - 25 minutes or until a toothpick or knife, when inserted into a muffin, comes out clean.

Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Remove muffins from tin and place on cooling rack until cool. Store at room temperature in a tightly sealed container for 3 - 4 days or freeze for later use.

[PUMPKIN VARIATION with ginger and cardamom]
Makes 18 regular muffins
Adapted from Gluten Free Hope Mini Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes

1 1/4 c. ground oat flour
2/3 c. buckwheat flour
1/2 c. rice bran or tigernut flour*
1/2 c. coconut sugar, finely ground**
1/2 c. tapioca or arrowroot flour
2 - 3 tsp. ground ginger
1 heaping tsp. ground cardamom
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1 1/2 c. water
1/4 c. hemp seeds
2 T. raw apple cider vinegar
2 c. pumpkin puree
1/4 c. molasses
1 T. pure vanilla extract
1/2 c. chopped walnuts, pistachios and/or dried cranberries, optional

Follow directions from above recipe.

WEEDS IN OUR INNER GARDEN

Yesterday I spent some time out in the garden. Over the years the garden has taught me lessons about myself, about humanity, about the world. Lessons that, honestly, I'd rather not learn. These lessons can be difficult to take and generally require action, movement, and growth; diligence and discipline.

There's a certain plant in said garden that reminds me a bit of a porcupine. At first glance it seems harmless, docile even, but go to touch and bam! hand full of quills, or in this case small punctures, wounds from a spine of thorns. It's flowers are deceptively beautiful, each birthing pods of hundreds of rebel seeds ready to reek havoc on any bit of dirt they touch.

This is horse nettle friends. And it's a real...well you know.

The thing about this particular plant is the act of pulling it out of the ground actually aids its spreading. Horse nettle seems to come up easily, compliantly letting me draw it from the ground and walk away naively thinking I was victorious. Then boom! a few days later it's back, stronger in number. Farmer's in the area have found pesticides are no match and tilling is like giving frisky teenagers a car and directions to the nearest park.  

It seems that forcing it out actually makes it grow. 

The only way to rid our land of this annoying, painful plant is to cut it down in infancy, just below the dirt. And then repeat over and over and over and over throughout the summer. 

It demands I surrender to it's strength, respect it's place in the garden, and then do the careful, gentle, monotonous work of watching and culling, watching and culling, watching and culling. 

You do this enough and a pattern emerges. In fact, garden long enough and you reap both physical fruit and find lessons of life abound. 

Here's what I learned: taking care of horse nettle is no different than taking care of the places in me that are in opposition to my True, authentic self. No amount of ripping, grinding, or muscle will remove the hostile places I keep hidden deep within. The places I cover over with shame and anger and guilt. It seems this is like compost, providing nutritious food for these toxic habits.

In the same way I deal with horse nettle, watch and cut in infancy, I now care for these addictive tendencies in myself. With mindful awareness, self-compassion, and surrender, we can gently work to improve the land of our soul, the garden that lies within. When I enter the flow of what is rather than aggressively try to beat it down, I find the freedom I've been seeking, the peace I so desire. Oh, and the garden teaches on thing without fail, over and over again - it's never too late.

It's never to late to begin. That's called grace.

Namaste* friends.

*Namaste means the Light in me sees and honors the Light in you.