Buttermilk Banana Walnut Muffins for a Crowd!

Cooling on my King Arthur Flour
folding rack! A favorite kitchen tool!

First of all, before it's over, I'd like to wish a Happy Mother's Day to my readers. Whether or not we are moms, we all have or had a mother and this day is significant. So, I hope that you had happy times or happy memories of time with your mom (as I do). Mine was a lovely Mother's Day, spent with some of my kiddos and also with my two little grandsons as we visited their great-grandmother, Mary Lou Eddy. My own beautiful mother has been gone for 12 years this spring, and that awareness has me cherish those too-rare moments I get to spend with Mary Lou. It's wonderful that she's been able to nurture three generations of children, all of whom adore her. I am forever grateful that she's been a part of my life for over 40 years. She is a wonderful woman.

When we visited, Henry (six years old) had very exciting news to share with "Grammy" Eddy - he's lost his first tooth, just last night! He was very proud to show his great-grandma this recent development. It is a big deal in his young life!

So, beyond little lost teeth, what else is new? Well, I didn't bake today - I gave myself the day off! My daughter Katie baked enough for both of us with an incredibly delicious Cooks Country lemon pound cake (I found it posted on Chowhound.com) she served with a mixed berry compote for dessert tonight, along with a strawberry/mango shortcake. I had the lemon pound cake but had to pass on a 2nd dessert (!). Anyway, after baking a LOT for the past few days, I welcomed the day off after keeping my kitchen in over-drive! Katie's husband Bill brought in dinner, again this year from Augie's in Ballston Spa. They make a dish called "the kitchen sink" which is a penne pasta in a creamy tomato sauce with chicken, shrimp, and sliced sausage. There was a container of spaghetti with marinara, and four meatballs the size of my fist which we divided up. It was a great dinner, and the fact that we didn't have to prepare it was a bonus!

It was great that my kitchen (and I!) had the day off! But, when my kitchen is busy, it's VERY busy! I don't usually bake in small quantities. Most of the time, I make batches by the dozens. This recipe for Buttermilk Banana Walnut Muffins is one that I make in large quantities all the time. The buttermilk ensures a light, tender muffin with a high rise. Chopped walnuts inside and sprinkled on top add a nice nuttiness and as well as a healthy boost. With half the sugar compared to other muffin recipes, this muffin is sweet enough when paired with ripe, mashed bananas. It also freezes very well so go ahead and make a big batch, take some to work, give some away, and keep some out for a great start to your day or as a not-so-guilty snack during the day!

BUTTERMILK BANANA WALNUT MUFFINS
Makes 24 (half the recipe for one dozen)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Farenheit. Get two big bowls out.
Spray muffin tins with cooking spray or line with paper liners

Ingredients:
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
4 teaspoons (or 1 tablespoon plus one teaspoon) baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

4 bananas
2 cups buttermilk (or, 4 tablespoons vinegar plus enough milk to make two cups total, let sit for 5 minutes)
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup melted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup chopped walnuts plus more for sprinkling on top.

Directions:
In large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In another large mixing bowl, mash four bananas. I do this with a whisk attachment. To the mashed banana in the bowl, add and mix in buttermilk, beaten eggs, melted butter, and vanilla.

Pour liquid banana mixture into dry ingredients in the other bowl. With a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, fold wet and dry ingredients together until all dry particles have been incorporated and there are no more pockets of the flour mixture. Fold in walnuts.

With an ice cream scoop or 1/4 cup measure, drop batter into prepared muffin pans. Sprinkle top of batter in muffin tins with crushed walnuts (see photo). Bake for about 20 minutes or until tops are dry and bounce back when pressed lightly.

Cool in pans on wire rack for about 20 minutes. Remove from pan and allow to cool completely.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day evokes memories from so many different perspectives, and for many of us, primarily memories of our own mothers.  For women, whether we are or aren't mothers provides additional meaning.  How we first came to be mothers, or whether we never did adds significance.  Dreams, hopes, and choices along the way add to the weight of such significance.  My entry into motherhood was not something I had planned, and at first filled me with fear and apprehension.  Too young to handle the responsibility, I was not able to raise my first child, and for his growing-up life, another woman had that honor until Jeffrey lost her, sadly, much too soon.  For the past eight years, I have happily joined his life and am, what I lovingly refer to as, "Mom - second shift."  Every Mother's Day my thoughts turn to Rosemary and to my love and appreciation for her as Jeffrey's first Mom.  I wrote a little bit about this before, in the post linked here.

Being a mother is not a matter of biology.  It is a matter of commitment, of relationship, nurturing, providing for, and being there.  Being a mother is defined by the responsibility for another human being, making sure that child is loved and protected, and seeing that resonsibility through.  It's not easy; it is often impossibly difficult, but we take it on with faith, optimism, and high, high hopes.

For those of us who are "seasoned" mothers, today is an opportunity to reflect on the job we've done, taking note of the joys and successes, and acknowledging, but not dwelling on,  the situations we'd rather "do over."  Rather than focus on the inevitable wrong turns we may have taken along the way, let's look at the successes.  Let's focus on the incredible individuals we've mothered from point A to point Z, whether they followed our recommended path or chose their own, perhaps bumpy, route.  Let's take joy in the fact that we had a part in changing the world, even the littlest bit. 

I can not evaluate my own contribution as a mother without considering the guidance and wisdom I've gleaned from my own mother, Virginia McGeehan O'Farrell, and mother-in-law Mary Lou Cogan Eddy.  My experience of motherhood has been enhanced by memories of my grandmothers, Anna O'Farrell and Loretta McGeehan, and my Aunt Jeanne, and by witnessing my sisters, sisters-in-law, and friends as we raised our children together. 

Most personally, to me, motherhood is Jeffrey, Joe, Katie, Meghan, and Tricia.  It now means being Granny O to Henry and  soon, Henry's little brother or sister. 

Happy Mother's Day to all moms and grandmothers, and to every one who is remembering their own mother on this special day.