COOKBOOK CONFIDENTIAL COOKBOOK CLUB – Darlene Foster reviews Pineapple-Cornmeal Muffins

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Hi there,

I have been following the very talented Darlene Foster, https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com, for many years and somehow missed that she doesn’t eat meat. I am so grateful she brought her talents to this club because she has to go an extra step when finding a recipe to cook and share with us.

Moosewood Cookbook Challenge #2

I was delighted that the group agreed to use The Moosewood Cookbook (any version) for our cookbook challenge this time around as I’ve been using my copy for years. Although I had never enjoyed eating meat, I didn’t make the decision to eliminate meat from my diet until 1988. Looking for interesting ways to prepare vegetables, I came across New Recipes From Moosewood Restaurant, published in 1987. My copy is worn and stained but it makes me happy every time I open it. Not only is every recipe I have made from it delicious, the recipes are interspersed with delightful photos of people enjoying a meal. Honesty, I could look at these pictures from the ‘80s all day. 

For the challenge, I decided to bake Pineapple-Cornmeal Muffins as they are very popular in our house and always a hit with guests. A quick and easy recipe if you find out someone is popping over for tea at the last minute. And not overly sweet!

Pineapple-Cornmeal Muffins

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

¾ teaspoon salt

¾ cup yellow cornmeal

2 eggs

¼ cup vegetable oil or melted butter

½ cup drained, crushed pineapple

1 cup pineapple juice and/or milk

2 tablespoons raspberry jam or raspberry butter

Preheat oven to 425 F

Generously butter a 12 cup muffin tin

In a medium bowl, thoroughly mix the dry ingredients. In a smaller bowl lightly beat the eggs. Stir in the oil or butter, crushed pineapple, and pineapple juice and/or milk, and add to the dry ingredients all at once, stirring until just barely mixed. Spoon the batter into the muffin tin. Put about ½ teaspoon of jam on top of each muffin. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the muffin comes out clean.

Note: I often use mini muffin tins which make 24, and reduce the baking time by a few minutes. 

My 5-star review of this cookbook

I love, love this cookbook. There is not a boring recipe in it. Even my non-vegetarian guests enjoy the dishes I make from this cookbook. Recipes like Hungarian Stuffed Peppers, Buddha’s Jewels, Zucchini Feta Casserole, and West African Groundnut Stew. There is a great collection of pasta dishes, delightful salads and sauces as well as breads and desserts to die for. There is really something for everyone. To add to the enjoyment the cookbook has charming pictures of people enjoying a meal interspersed among the recipes. A cookbook to savour and a perfect gift for a bride or anyone who likes to cook and needs new ideas. 

Does this cookbook deserve space on my shelf?

You bet! When I moved from Canada to Spain I could only bring a fraction of my cookbooks. This one was at the top of my list to bring along. I have also bought numerous versions of the Moosewood Cookbook to give as gifts. They make great bridal shower gifts especially. 

Thanks, Bernadette for organizing this fun challenge. I look forward to the next cookbook we all try out.

About Darlene Foster

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

I created this blog for writers, readers, travelers, dreamers, friends and friends I haven’t met yet.  I believe everyone has a right to dream and everyone has the capability to make their dreams come true.  I wish to share some of my dreams and would love to hear about yours. I welcome any comments, suggestions, words of wisdom and interesting stories.

A bit about me. I am a writer of children’s stories, a retired employment counsellor, and ESL tutor, a wife, mother and grandmother. I love travelling, reading, shoes, cooking, sewing, music, chocolate, walking on the beach and making new friends. My grandson once called me “super-mega-woman-supreme”. I was brought up on a ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta, where I dreamt of travelling the world and meeting interesting people. I currently divide my time between Orihuela Costa in Spain and the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. My husband, Paul, and I enjoy spending time with our adorable rescue dogs, Dot and Lia.

I can be contacted at darlene.foster@telus.net

My short stories have won prizes and have appeared in a number of anthologies. I have eight published books in a series about a spunky young girl who loves to travel, Amanda in Arabia – The Perfume Flask, Amanda in Spain-The Girl in the Painting,  Amanda in England-the Missing Novel Amanda in Alberta – The Writing on the Stone, Amanda on the Danube-The Sounds of Music, Amanda in New Mexico – Ghosts in the Wind, Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action and Amanda in Malta:The Sleeping Lady. Readers from seven to seventy plus enjoy following Amanda and her adventures.  My bilingual book, Pig on Trial/Cerito a juicio  is in English and Spanish.

Thank you, Darlene, for your excellent review and for sharing this recipe. I know I will make these muffins soon because they combine two of my favorite ingredients: cornmeal and pineapple.

17 responses to “COOKBOOK CONFIDENTIAL COOKBOOK CLUB – Darlene Foster reviews Pineapple-Cornmeal Muffins”

  1. Hi Darlene, this is a fabulous recipe from a lovely book. I am also enjoying it. Thanks for hosting, Bernadette.

  2. Darlene – British Columbia, Canada – Writer of children's stories, short stories and travel articles. https://twitter.com/#!/supermegawoman http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=201634059868404&id=631897250&ref=notif&notif_t=like#!/pages/Darlene-Foster-Writer/362236842733
    Darlene says:

    Thanks for the opportunity to share this recipe from a favourite cookbook. The combo of pineapple and cornmeal with a hint of raspberry is unbelievably good. Enjoy! This cookbook challenge is so much fun. xo

  3. Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen – I'm a writer, cook, gardener, photographer, poet, quilter, and accomplished daydreamer. I'm also a wife, mother, grandmother, sister. cousin, aunt, and friend, no particular order on any given day. I've been a writer all my life, newspaper reporter and columnist, radio news writer, and magazine contributor, and poet and short-story writer as the spirit moves. Now, I turn my attention to my cookbook, the blog, and a cooking column "Memorable Meals," which runs in our county newspaper. Besides my family, I love dogs, cats, good coffee, chocolate, and my never-dwindling pile of books I intend to read. Our family ran a small Vermont Inn for 18 years, with our focus on local, organic ingredients. I cook from scratch, and try not to use anything that has ingredients I cannot pronounce! After many years of daily serving up local delicacies, cooking classes, and catering, we are now only open for special events, and the odd cooking class. We also host musicians and artists, having helped produce a musical festival and other musical events for nearly 20 years. Many incredible artists have found a place at our table. Wonderful experiences, we will treasure always. My family and friends are my practice subjects. With a family that includes nut, peanut, tree fruit, and vegetable allergies, gluten intolerance, dairy intolerance, vegetarians, vegans, heart conscious, and a couple of picky eaters, there has to be a few quick tricks in the book to keep everyone fed and happy! Personally, I do not eat red meat or most full-fat dairy (usually) for health reasons, making the occasional exception at Thanksgiving and Christmas or our anniversary if the duck is locally raised. I do eat fish and seafood, so I try to come up with alternatives and substitutions when available. I serve local organic eggs and cheeses to my family who can tolerate dairy (My husband recently had a heart attack, and I need to watch my own cholesterol so I am careful, but have been known to let a little piece of really good cheese accidentally fall on my plate!). I believe strongly that eating in a way that is good for our planet is also good for our bodies, and I try to educated myself about our food sources! I cook by the seasons and draw on inspiration from the strong and talented women in my family who came before me, as well as the youth in the family who look at the world with fresh eyes. Food links us all, whether sharing a meal, cooking it together, or writing about it for others to enjoy. I love taking an old recipe and giving it a modern spin, especially if I can make it a littler healthier and use foods that are kinder to the Earth and to our bodies. I believe strongly in sustainable, delicious eating of whole foods, and the wonderful flavors we have at our fingertips! And finally, I love conversing with all the talented cooks and chefs out there who dot the globe! It's a wonderful, world full of culinary pen pals, and I cherish them all! XXXOOO Dorothy
    Dorothy’s New Vintage Kitchen says:

    A great choice Darlene, but it isn’t hard to find something good to eat in those pages!

  4. Excellent job, Darlene. These muffins look droolworthy.

  5. johnrieber – I love great food, interesting books, fascinating travel, outrageous movies, and bacon, especially when it sits on top of a great cheeseburger! I work in entertainment – and I have been lucky enough to interview some really talented Artists – that guides my posts: interesting and provocative movies, music, social media and of course, food, since I believe strongly in the maxim, "everyone eats!"
    johnrieber says:

    Love the review, especially when you say even your non-vegetarian friends love the recipes….I’m NOT a vegetarian but eating great food doesn’t have to mean always eating animal protein – so when a cookbook can offer great options without alienating anyone, I’m all in!

  6. Hi Bernadette – it’s great to see Darlene here. The Moosewood Cookbook looks like a great source of recipes and I’ll take one of those muffins please! 😊

  7. debrapurdykong – British Columbia, Canada – I'm a British Columbia author who's been writing for over 30 years. My volunteer experiences, criminology diploma, and security work inspired me to write the Casey Holland transit security novels set in Metro Vancouver. I'm also a part-time facilitator in Creative Writing Workshops through Port Moody's Recreation program. Feel free to contact me at dpurdykong@gmail.com
    debrapurdykong says:

    The muffins sound absolutely scrumptious. Thanks for sharing, Darlene!

  8. I didn’t expect to enjoy this book, but I’m an absolute convert. I can see why you love it so much.

  9. Awakening Wonders – Everyday life is filled with wondrous things and embraceable moments, but only if we allow ourselves to be fully awakened. I invite you to join me as I share passionate life adventures and ramblings that awaken my spirit. I look forward to awakening your senses to the simple, joyous wonders that are all around us. I feel that we are destined to become soulful adventurers!
    Awakening Wonders says:

    Pineapple muffins – intriguing!

  10. the Painted Apron – Life is all about creativity for me, as long as I'm creating something I am happy! I hope I will inspire your daily life and give you ideas for your own wonderful creations!
    Jenna says:

    These muffins sound so good and different! She certainly loves this cookbook, a great review!

  11. CarolCooks2 – Udon Thani – Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them. I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling. Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing. This is now taking me into other areas like deforestation, chemicals and preservatives in the food chain. Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!
    CarolCooks2 says:

    These muffins sound most delicious it also seems this book is very popular with many of you ladies 🙂

      • CarolCooks2 – Udon Thani – Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them. I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling. Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing. This is now taking me into other areas like deforestation, chemicals and preservatives in the food chain. Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!
        CarolCooks2 says:

        I have emailed you Bernadette x

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