Can we talk about names for a minute?
I have a pet peeve. I know, my name is somewhat unusual. Okay, in the Orthodox Jewish world, Miriam is about as common of a name as you get, but in the general world, Miriam isn’t very common. It’s okay, I run with it.
But here’s the thing. Nobody can seem to get my name right. People call me at work, and I introduce myself as Miriam. “Did you say Maya?” I used to correct them, but I learned better. Just go with it. “That’s right. Mary Anne.” “Yes, I did say Maria.” I don’t bother, people don’t get it either way.
So the first part of my pet peeve is people who get my name wrong, then proceed to use it way too many times in the course of our conversation. “So Marilyn…and now Marilyn I am going to need…thank you so much Marilyn…” And the entire time I can’t really focus on what they are telling me, because I keep thinking I AM NOT MARILYN. Why yes, I do think in caps.
But that’s the least of it. My real pet peeve is people who get my name wrong…in writing. Ok, I get it if you aren’t sure if I am a man or a woman if we’ve only communicated by email, so I can forgive the Mr. But I really can’t forgive calling my Mirium if we email back and forth multiple times per day, and my name is right there in my email signature! Also? I can’t really forgive the whole adding-an-e-to-my-last name thing. Seriously. Read my signature folks.
It’s simple: better to use no name than the wrong name. Who is with me?
Whew. Ok, there’s my rant. Now let’s talk muffins. These are delicious. And they have no sugar. Or white flour. And very little oil. And fruit. See? Healthy! And awesome.
So to recap: calling someone by the wrong name? Bad. These muffins? Good.
Healthy Blueberry Muffins
Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/4 cup agave syrup
1/4 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup milk or soymilk (I use Soy Slender brand)
2 1/3 cups white whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
6 packets of splenda (or 1/4 cup sugar or sugar substitute of your choice)
1 cup blueberries (straight from the freezer is fine; don’t let them defrost)
1 Tablespoon white whole wheat flour
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350. Line a muffin pan with paper muffin liners.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the applesauce, agave syrup and oil until smooth. Add the eggs and vanilla, one at a time, whisking to combine after each addition. Add the milk and whisk until combined.
Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder and splenda/sweetener to the bowl, and stir until combined. Do not overmix.
In a small bowl, combine the blueberries and flour. Stir gently into the muffin batter.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared muffin pans, filling the cups about 3/4’s full.
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
Enjoy!
Thanks for stopping by! Hope my healthy recipes aren’t boring you too much! Purim goodies are on the way! – Miriam PS – you do not want to miss this week’s Ami – I have the four coolest recipes ever in it this week!
Your Ami pictures are amazing
If I want to use maple syrup would it be a sub for the agave syrup or for the splenda? Thanks so much!
I would sub it for the agave, not for the splenda as that would mess with the texture.
Looks delicious!
Can’t tell you how many times people thought my name was Polly or Holly. But then I made aliyah, and I haven’t had that problem since. 🙂
Hi, I nominated you for the Day Dreamer Blogger Award!
http://thebatamonblog.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/day-dreamer-award-2/
I’m not much of a healthy water (much prefer a naughty cookie to a salad!) but these look so damn good.
Love your blog! I’m following it for a while and this is my first comment. These muffins sound amazing. About your name, why don’t you consider using a nick-name at work? ‘Tis gonna make your life easier 🙂 This is what I’ve done (also due to a hard to pronounce name.
looks great and i have most of the ingrediants! how many muffins do they make
About 14-16 regular sized muffins.
I agree with you – no name is better than wrong name.
These muffins look really yummy!
Err, that always gets me too. Simple its Cindy, not Cynthia or Sidney, etc. and no fancy spelling where you replace the i with a y or the y with an i. LOL funny to see someone else with same pet peeve 😀 Muffins sound great. I’ve got lots of blueberries so will give them a try.
Lol try the name Nechama. “Nehama?” yep, you got it. but when they go “NehaMA” with stress on ma, im like no, you can call me Ester! (my 2nd name)
My daughter’s name is Meira (pronounced Meera NOT Myra and NOT Maria). No one can pronounce it or spell it despite the fact that it is a name found in many cultures…unfortunately not in American culture and that’s where we live. Sigh. She now always spells her name as well as pronounces it for people but they still don’t get it. You and she could sit together and commiserate for hours 🙂
This looks like a great recipe MIRIAM, yes I think in CAPS too! My name is Virginia but I go by Gina, which is not the GEENA pronunciation everyone thinks, it is supposed to be pronounced GIN-A. After a frustrating childhood with that, I got married and moved to the South where I changed the spelling to Jenna and now everybody says it correctly!! However, now my last name is Meon which gets totally butchered. You can’t win, just smile and think idiot to yourself !
Jenna
Yikes! Not trying to offend but you might want to double check the “Healthy” claim! Look up the dangers of Soy, Spenda and Canola Oil before making these. Try substituting with honey or coconut sugar, coconut oil and even almond milk?
Everyone has a different definition of healthy, but to me, these are definitely better than those that are loaded with sugar, white flour and butter.
An I missing something or do the instructions leave out when to add the Splenda/ sugar?
your muffins look great-but can you post nutrition-I do Weight Watchers & need to figure the points-thanks!
can i use regular plain white flour instead of whole wheat?
Sure!
Will these freeze well?
Sure!
What can I substitute for the agave? Would love to make these and don’t have any.. would actual sugar or honey work? Thanks!
Honey!
Ran across this recipe and the only thing I have to comment is that I, too, share your pain with names – and i have written and spoken this exact same rant before! My name is MARIAM with 2 a’s (pronounced Maryum). I too get Mary Ann, Marian, Marilyn, even Miriam, etc. I would say the majority of people in my life (including my father-in-law) mispronounce my name to Miriam, and the majority of people, even relatives (such as my grandmother and aunts) misspell my name the same way — Miriam. Drives me NUTS. ESPECIALLY in emails/facebook posts/etc. My name is RIGHT THERE. It’s not like I’m misspelling MY OWN name!
Lol-l at your pet peeve intro 😂 soo good!
And gotta make these muffins pronto!