Morning Glory Muffins

Can I just throw my two cents out there for a moment? Be warned, baby rant coming up.

Is it just me, or is there a lot of unnecessary hostility between mothers nowadays? Call it The Mommy Turf Wars, women are choosing sides and putting on the brass knuckles, preparing for battle to defend their choices in child rearing.

The Atlantic ran this article daring to suggest that breast may not be best for baby, and as you can imagine, the gates of blogosphere hell broke loose. But this is nothing new. The New Yorker recently published this article with a history of breastfeeding, and for hundreds of years the pendulum has been swinging between breast and "other". But what does it say that such major publications are talking about breast milk right now?

As the Atlantic author suggests, we are obsessed with the optimization of every aspect of our children's lives. Think Baby Einstein videos, organic cotton onesies, ergonomically correct high chairs, not to mention the decisions made between breast and bottle, c-section and vaginal, cloth and disposible, stay-at-home and 9-to-5. We all want the best for our kids, but too often we use these things to categorize each other by "good mommy" vs. "bad mommy".

It's hard enough raising kids without every neighborhood mom pooh-poohing behind your back. What ever happened to just focusing on ensuring each child has a safe, loving home environment? In the big picture, does it really make a difference how a child was birthed or at what age he's given formula?

So let's all agree to just get along. I envision all of us moms and dads, sitting around a big kitchen table with mismatched coffee cups. The labels all fall away and we're just people having coffee, sharing stories, and supporting one another in this crazy role called parenthood, relishing each others' different perspectives rather than sneering at them.

Oh, and I'll bring the muffins. (Nice transition, eh?)

Morning Glory Muffins are a family staple, a recipe handed down from my grandma to my mom to me. How's that for mother solidarity? I love the heartiness of them, with all the carrot, fruits, and nuts stuffed into each bite. Set them out on your favorite plate, like my grandmother's china shown here. The tablecloth is a nice touch, too.

The ingredient list looks a bit long, but you already have most of these items in your pantry. Be sure to share with your neighbor...regardless of their quirky parenting style.

Morning Glory Muffins

1 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. all-purpose flour
2 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 c. (or less) white sugar
1/2 c. (or less) brown sugar
2 c. grated carrots
1/2 c. raisins
1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)
1/2 c. shredded coconut
1 small can crushed pineapple, drained
1 apple, peeled, cored, grated
3 eggs
2 t. vanilla
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. pineapple juice (what was drained off the crushed pineapple earlier)

Optional: can substitute 1/2 c. milk or orange juice for the 1/2 c. oil.

In large bowl, sift dry ingredients. Stir in carrots, raisins, nuts, coconut, pineapple, and apple. Set aside. In another bowl, combine eggs, vanilla, oil, and juice. Stir into flour mixture. Fill greased muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Makes about 2 dozen muffins.