Just Baking

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins and LiveSTRONG

Posted by Kristen Doyle
April 16, 2008

We lost a friend to cancer yesterday afternoon. Crissy was the wife of one of my husband’s high school best friends. She had a daughter, Gracie, six years ago and then found out just shortly after that she had cancer. Cancer has been a part of her life since then. Crissy fought a very valiant fight … always keeping things real and soldiering on.

Tonight, as I reflect on Crissy and her life, I cannot help but think what power cancer has over people. The power of cancer is a scary thing.

Cancer has the power to make a woman who is full of life – outgoing, boisterous, and funny – lose all of her external spark and vibrancy.
Cancer can make a mother, who knows that her time is short and fearing the memory of her will be lost, plead with people around her to “No matter what, please let Gracie know I was a great mom and I loved her very much.”
Cancer has the power to make a man throw out the notion that showing emotion is not acceptable. Distraught at the thought of life without his partner, cancer has the power to make a man overcome with the desire to make things better and to wish that he could do anything to turn back time. A widower at the age of 34, cancer has the power to make us all realize how truly unfair life can be.
Cancer has the power to make a husband cling to his wife. After spending time and being witness to what his friend is going through, cancer has the power to make a husband plead with his wife “no matter what happens, please don’t die before me.” Cancer makes us realize how lost we would be without one another.
Cancer has the power to force a precious six-year-old girl, who has never known her mom without cancer, to deal with the harsh reality that this time it is different. Mommy won’t be coming home with you tonight to tuck you in and dry your tears.
Cancer has the power to bring people together, to fight for the cause and to hopefully bring a cure home soon. Like the LiveSTRONG day A Taste of Yellow Event, hosted by winosandfoodies … I can guarantee the food blogging community will do their part to raise the awareness of the devastation and power of cancer.

I know that Crissy is now a spunky, beautiful angel, lighting up heaven’s gates. Crissy will be missed by all who knew her, and will be remembered for her strength, smile, character, and most of all … the impact she made on her daughter’s life in the short amount of time they had together.

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

45 min | 20 min prep | SERVES 10 - 12

1/2	cup sweet creamy butter, softened
2/3	cup sugar
2	large eggs, separated
1 1/3	cups flour
1	teaspoon baking powder
1/2	teaspoon baking soda
2	tablespoons poppyseeds
2	grated lemons, zest of
1/4	teaspoon salt
1/2	cup buttermilk or plain yogurt
2	tablespoons lemon juice
1	teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.
Add the egg yolks, one at a time.
Beat well after each.
In a separate bowl, stir together the dry ingredients, poppy seeds, and lemon zest.
With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating two times with the buttermilk, then lemon juice, and then vanilla.
Beat just until smooth.
In another bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.
Gently fold them into the muffin batter until blended.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, 3/4-full.
Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool for 5 minutes before removing to cool completely.
I sometimes sprinkle the muffin mixture with sugar prior to putting in the oven just to add a little extra sweetness.