Muffin Disaster

I think of myself as an averagely successful home cook prepared to experiment and try new things so it was with some enthusiasm that I sat up and noted a practical demonstration of christian discipleship, involving food, being given in a dramatic presentation at a recent church meeting.

One of the youth leaders, Josh, was making a muffin mix using fresh ingredients and had enlisted the help of a six year old, Jack, to show him how it was done. Another volunteer was required to let the six year old show what he had learnt. I volunteered. It was all about discipleship! Josh was explaining the principle of a mentor working with a mentee and teaching by showing and doing. It actually worked very well, but.....

Back at home I thought I would put into practise what I had learnt in the morning. I thought I could remember the "recipe" and since I had tasted Josh's muffins on a previous occasion and just loved them I thought here was a chance to try it out for myself.

The principle of discipleship is Josh did it and I enjoyed it, Josh did it with me, I did with Josh and then I did it alone.

I missed one crucial step I think. Doing it with Josh watching me.

So I made the batter - that bit was quite easy but then I realised I didn't have any muffin cases or deep enough fairy cake cooking trays. So having found some small le Creuset dishes I poured in the batter only to realise I hadn't put any fat or oil into the mix. I poured the batter back into the mixing bowl to add the oil then back into the dishes by which time any air in the batter had been completely lost so I was expecting the mix not to cook very well.

Sure enough after 20 mins at 180 degrees C a nice crust has formed but the insides were not cooked. Back in the oven the dishes went and another 5 mins passed. Still not cooked! Another 5 mins by which time the crust was beginning to get a bit dark, but at least the inside was cooked - ish!

So I now have two slightly stodgy banana muffin cakey things, nice and crisp on the outside but only just about edible on the inside.

Tomorrow will see me me popping out to buy a flexible Tefal muffin tray to try again!

Excuse me while I make a banana-ery sort of over-under cooked muffiney flavoured burp.

I guess there must be some lessons on discipleship here somewhere or just basic cookery!