AUTHOR • ARTIST • ACTIVIST • GRANDMOTHER

When I was a kid, we spent a lot of Easters with my Dad’s family in Indiana. One year my sister and one of our cousins snuck most of a bag of the little, foil covered chocolate eggs into an older cousin’s bed where the three of us had been sent to sleep. Apparently Molly and Shirley didn’t eat all the eggs because we woke up covered in melted chocolate. Joe, the regular occupant of the bed, was unamused!

Then, there was Aunt Bea’s carrot cake. Yum!!! And the peonies blooming in her yard.

Bill and I, being only half way through the vaccine journey, are hanging out at home this Easter. Wow, do we miss the kids! But, there are dogwoods blooming across the street and frittata with actual Italian truffle shavings for dinner. And, as much reminding as it seems the world needs, Easter means, as the old stories remind us, what it has always meant… new life.

One leg of the big table in my studio fell on my foot yesterday. (You kinda had to be there!) It hurts but isn’t nearly as bad as it might have been. I’m holding out for paint time tonight in terms of major exercise like walking.

For now… remembering. Kenzie was about 2 1/2 and Taylor a very new baby the first Easter I made my version of Aunt Bea’s carrot muffins, taking into account some of the food quirks in our family. Here, with much love, is the recipe…

The Carrot Muffins Aunt Bea Would Have Made if She’d Known!

Ingredient Note: Because this recipe is made with sprouted grains, it may be well tolerated by some gluten-sensitive individuals. The body perceives sprouted grains more like vegetables than ordinary grains and flours, making them a good choice for diabetics, as well.  There’s way less sugar involved in the fabulous icing, which would also work for Red Velvet Cake, if you’re into that. And, they’re delicious!

Equipment Note: A food processor is handy, but not necessary for this recipe. If you like muffin tops, you may wish to use either a 24 c. muffin pan or two 12 cup pans so that you can spread them out. 

MAKES:  8 large muffins

Depending on room temp. and desired baking time, remove 8 oz. organic cream cheese and 8 oz. Mascarpone cheese (preferably organic)  from refrigerator and allow to come to room temp. on counter, up to 8 hours. 

Adjust oven racks so that muffins will bake in the center of the oven. 

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Using the grating disc on your food processor or a hand grater, coarsely grate:

1 ½ c. scrubbed and trimmed organic carrots, peels left on if possible.   (About 2 med. carrots.)

Melt ½ stick (2 oz.) organic, salt free butter and allow to cool slightly.  

Beat together in glass measuring cup or small bowl:  

3/4 c. buttermilk, preferably organic, 1 good egg, and ¼ c. honey.

Add cooled, melted butter and mix. 

To large mixing bowl, add and mix well:

1 c. organic sprouted grain flour.

1 c. organic sprouted multigrain flour mix.

¼ c. light brown sugar.

1/8 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg.

 ½ tsp. cinnamon.

1 tsp. grey, Celtic sea salt, finely ground.

 1 tsp. aluminum-free baking powder.

½ tsp. baking soda

To dry ingredients mixture, add and toss to coat:

2/3 c. organic walnuts chopped to med. sized pieces.

Add grated carrots and mix well.

Add 2 Tbsp. freshly grated orange rind, preferably organic, or washed well! (Reserve oranges for juice to serve with muffins!)

Grease muffin cups with butter, or line with paper liners as desired. Just before ready to bake, mix:

Wet ingredients with dry ingredients. Stir quickly with a silicon spatula until just mixed. Do not over-beat!!!

Scoop batter quickly into prepared cups. Bake 30-35 minutes until muffins smell nutty and are starting to pull away from tin. Allow to cool, tipped in tin or on rack for about 30 min. 

While muffins are cooling, prepare icing. Cream together:

8 oz. organic cream cheese.

 8 oz. Mascarpone cheese (preferably organic).

3 Tbsp. confectioners sugar (preferably 10x). Really, only 3 Tbsp.!!!

Ice muffins and enjoy! 

Boardman,  Grandmothers Are In Charge of Hope, 82.

ps… It seems to me that the world needs all the love it can get right now. This is a good day to remember that. (Okay, every day is a good day to remember that. It’s just that today I’m not simultaneously remembering and swearing at CNN.)

pss… Next week, big changes on my painting! In the meantime, some available for adoption here!

If all goes according to plan, my kids will be here at this time in one week!

I never imagined what a big thing it would be – what a whole consciousness thing – to write this sentence.

It feels very big, indeed.

Half the adults are fully vaccinated. The other half are half-way there. The girls are too young.

I am, as you might imagine, thrilled. It’s been over a year since I’ve hugged my girls. One of them has had a birthday. The other has had two. And they’re in the tween/early teen phase when they change from moment to moment.

I have changed, too. Frankly, I’m scared. I mean, they’ll have to stop and put gas in the car. What if one of those people who doesn’t believe Covid is a big deal works at the gas station? They can’t drive clear from Virginia without food. What if somebody coughs on their sandwich?

And they’ve started back to actual school part time. Talk about another 9 million what if’s !

Then I watch the news, especially just now in Atlanta, and remind myself that there are always what if’s. We’re just not always quite so aware of them.

A couple of my heroes helped me remember the big picture this morning. You see, The Rev. Dr. William L. Barber and Senator Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock were speaking the Word.

Specifically, Dr. Barber was reminding us that God’s plan, God’s theology, is All Theology.

I won’t spoil it all for you here. I will share this link so you can join in yourself. You are, in fact, invited!

And I’ll also confess that, as I listened and watched virtually, I couldn’t help but remember that, despite my fears about my kids and traveling and Covid, I have had a lot of social advantages in dealing with those fears and with the possibility of becoming a pandemic statistic.

And we need to keep working on making those advantages available to everybody. Just turn on CNN and pick your issue. Then, in whatever way it works for you and your beliefs, think what the world would be like if we all heard Dr. Barber reminding us that, “God’s way is everybody in. Nobody out.”

And what would happen next if we acted, and voted, on that belief?

So, having sat, figuratively, in the pew at Ebenezer Baptist Church for the first time in about 30 years, in the midst of what feels like mountains of laundry and trying to figure out how to fit four more people amongst the easels, I’m making prayer dots.

I know. No surprise!

It really helps. When I pray with my eyes and ears and hands and heart, there’s less room for what if’s. There’s less room for fear.

And there’s more room for all.

Then, when I take a break from the dots, I’ll do what Grammies have done for centuries. I’ll check recipes and make grocery lists for Grampy to take shopping. I’ll wash the flannel sheets. I’ve even ordered garden seeds in case they want to help plant.

And, good friends willing, I’m sending the beasties off for a bath. It has been more than a bit longer than optimal.

One of my favorite things about our kids is that they’re really good at figuring things out.

It’s entirely likely that I’ll cry the whole time they’re here, with the relief and joy of it all. And they’ll love me anyway, if I do. Though I probably ought to put Kleenex on the next grocery list!

I’m also pretty sure painting will be involved. We’ll make some dots for you and yours. They’ll look a lot like stars in the sky.

ps… I have one more space open in my new program, Soul Expression Breakthrough. If you have a vision for your future, anything from a concrete project like remodeling your kitchen to running a rhino reserve after you retire, and aren’t afraid to color, you could be a good fit! email me at suesvoice@gmail.com to schedule a call and find out.