Food,  Fruit,  Healthy,  Muffins

Apple Muffins

November 11, 2011 /

This has been a sad week for me. I am sure that you all have heard about the things that have been happening at Penn State. It is almost impossible to turn on your computer or TV without seeing 10 stories about JoePa and his Nittany Lions.

I am heartbroken. That is the easiest way to explain it. I am absolutely mortified and disgusted that a man like Sandusky was associated with Penn State. The crimes that he committed are completely unforgivable and I pray for the families and the boys affected; that they may someday be able to heal from this tragedy.

My heart is also very heavy with the way that the Board of Trustees at Penn State is handling this situation. JoePa was fired on Wednesday, as well as Graham Spanier the President of PSU. After 62 years at Penn State, 40+ of them being head coach for the football team. Joepa was fired on the grounds that he “could have done more” to help the victims of this case…and while I agree that he could have done more, I feel that there are others that could have done more as well. The fact that other coaches and administrators are still allowed to walk on that campus brings me to tears. Other men that actually WITNESSED the acts and did nothing are able to stay and coach the remainder of the season. However, JoePa who didn’t see the acts and was told by others and then reported it to the Athletic Director and the Vice President, which according to the grand jury report (yes, I read it word for word as most of my fellow Penn Staters and Alums have done as well) was exactly the actions Paterno should have taken.

Now, that does not excuse the fact that he could or maybe even should have done more. How do we know that he didn’t? In the report, it doesn’t say that he followed up on the matter, but it also doesn’t say that he didn’t. I feel that there are SO many unanswered questions and the media is reporting things that they simply just should not.

Why are we not focusing on the victims here? Why are we not focusing on Jerry Sandusky and the hateful acts that he committed? Why is it that Sandusky’s name has not been mentioned in a headline on this matter in over a week? All I see is JoePa’s face with headlines like “Shame”, “Fired”, “Child abuse”. I think that the actions of the media are exacerbating this issue. We are not focusing on the main issue here, which is child abuse, and I feel that JoePa was a way for the media to put a face to this scandal and have used him as the scapegoat in this media witch hunt. Again, please do not think that I am saying that JoePa did the right thing by not doing more, I am saying that more should be done and more people should be held accountable than just the head coach and the president of the University.

I have actually had people voice hateful and hurtful things to me about this issue knowing that I am a Penn Stater and I am saddened by this. I was told yesterday that I was a “supporter of a child molester”. I cannot even begin to tell you how hurt and absolutely disgusted I am with the situation AND people who are uneducated about this issue who say and do acts like this.

I am a Penn Stater. I will always be a Penn Stater. Yes, this is a tragedy. An absolute tragedy. That does not in any way change my love for the school that I went to. Penn State shaped me as a person. Helped me become my own person and the adult that I can say I am proud to be today. I am deeply saddened by the developments in this case, but just because the media wants to make use bleed…it will only make us bleed Blue & White more than ever. For those of you saying we shouldn’t be saying “WE ARE PENN STATE” anymore…that will never happen. While this issue continues to unfold we as Penn Staters will stand together to show everyone that we are more than this. We can and will rebuild this grand University. We are not Jerry Sandusky. We are not Joe Paterno. We are not College Football. We are…Penn State. Plain and simple.

The students. The alumni. The pride. The honor. The education. The family. The blue. The white. The Lion. THAT is Penn State. I am Penn State. No one, not a criminal, not the media, no one can take that from us.

(the posters I have in this post were made by Penn Staters to show our support for child abuse victims and Penn State)

I apologize for my rant about my school, but I am just overwhelmed this week with emotions. Sometimes you just need to get things off of your chest. I thank you all for listening to a silly girl talk about her Alma Mater and please enjoy the recipe that I have prepared for you today.

Ingredients:

  • 5 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/4 cup Kellogg’s All Bran
  • 1 cup skim milk
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 cup toasted wheat germ
  • 2 teaspoon baking powered
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon slat
  • 1 large apple, or 2 small, peeled, cored and shredded

Preheat oven to 375º

Make sure and coat your muffin tray with cooking spray or your preferred greasing method.

Mix 1 tablespoon and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside for the topping.

Lightly beat the eggs in a large bowl. Add remaining 4 tablespoons brown sugar, the bran cereal , milk, oil, and honey. Let this soak for about 5 minutes.

In another bowl combine flour, wheat germ, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir the flour mixture into the cereal mixture just until blended. Stir in the apple.

Spoon the batter into the muffin pan. Sprinkle with the brown sugar and cinnamon. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the muffin comes out clean. Somewhere between 18-21 minutes. Cool in the pan for about 5 minutes and then remove to place on a wire rack to cool the remainder of the way.

Makes 12 muffins.

These had a lot of cinnamon flavor which I really like. I had so many apples left over from apple season just sitting in the fridge (and still do) I needed to make something with the apples. Muffins are always a great go to breakfast item for me. Although I do tend to enjoy them for a sweet treat after dinner if I am not looking for a full on dessert.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! Thanks again for listening…and thanks Patrick to you too for listening to me all week with my anger and tears over this situation. XO

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33 Comments

  • Patrick

    November 11, 2011 at 11:17 am

    These muffins are delicious as I can attest since I am eating one right meow. Also, you know I am always there for you <3.

  • Tina@flourtrader

    November 11, 2011 at 12:34 pm

    I just watched something on the scandal on Free Speech TV. They did focus on the people involved in the cover up as well as the actual offender. Your are right that this should be a focus on the wrong doing of certain people at Penn State and not be reflected on Penn State in general.
    Your muffins do look delicious-best part “they had a lot of cinnamon flavor”-I am all for that. Have a great weekend!

  • Donald

    November 11, 2011 at 1:05 pm

    we all know that what Sandusky did was horrific. Joe Paterno is a man whose integrity is beyond reproach. we don’t *really* know all that he knew or could have known. i agree that he needed to go tho – too much of a distraction. the media doesn’t always handle things objectively. it is just sad no matter the perspective.

    WE ARE!

  • Ramona

    November 12, 2011 at 6:55 am

    Ravie, I’m so sorry that this is happening to your beloved Penn State. : ( I was totally in the dark when you posted the other day what was happening and now I’ve seen it all over the news and understand how upset you must be.

    I totally agree with you and I said as much to my husband while watching the news. Why is everyone focusing on Paterno and not the actual villain here? I used the word scapegoat too. It’s better media $$ to talk about Paterno because he is a figure in the world. They don’t want to talk about the “unknown” Sandusky. I didn’t go to Penn State so I have no loyalties or ties to this case, but I was very saddened to see the Media only focus on one man most of the time… not the many.

    My heart breaks for the victims and it just teaches us a very sad lesson that no one can turn a blind eye to this kind of thing. My husband says everyone holds Paterno to a higher standard. But I hold every person with a conscience to the same standard. Everyone knows right from wrong and anyone can make a difference. The other witnesses to the incidents certainly could have gone to the police themselves. But they didn’t. I am more disgusted by that (after witnessing it) than by Paterno not following up.

    At the end of the day, EVERYONE could have done more here and it sickens me that this man was allowed around children. The fallout of this tragedy is huge.

    PS… your muffins are lovely. : ) Sending you big hug. ~ Ramona

  • Liz

    November 12, 2011 at 3:45 pm

    Oh, I love your addition of apples to bran muffins, yum! I went to a big 10 school, too, and I’m sorry this horrific situation has put a cloud of darkness over Penn State’s reputation. xoxo

  • Chef Dennis

    November 12, 2011 at 8:38 pm

    The whole Penn State story has saddened many of us in the area, we all loved Jopa and everything he has done….Penn State will always be Penn State, it’s just a shame that this had to sully its reputation, but the Lions are strong and they will be back stronger than ever.

    An apple muffin would be a welcome treat right now, thanks for posting such a tasty healthy muffin!

  • Dionne Baldwin

    November 13, 2011 at 3:54 am

    While I do not feel like it is my place to form an opinion, I do have to agree that focus should be on the victims. Would I ever condone someone for KNOWING what is happening and not TAKING ACTION on behalf of the victim(s)? Never. And I say that seething with bared teeth.

    Vent anytime, lovely. You should be proud to be Penn State. I don’t think anyone should be ashamed of it just because of some bozo’s actions. There are human beings that commit unspeakable acts but I will never ignore the fact that I am human. The same applies, in my humble opinion so I am backing you up! 🙂

    I love using bran cereal in baking! I’m glad to see it in these muffins! Woohoo! Another Raven recipe to bake for my family! Maybe one day my other half will remember your name and you will no longer endearingly be known as the-girl-who-made-the-green-bean-salad! 😀

    Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

    • RavieNomNoms

      November 13, 2011 at 11:43 am

      Thank you for the support Dionne! You are the sweetest!

      And the green bean salad!!! Holy cow that seems like ages ago now. So glad we have kept being foodie friends ever since. Couldn’t imagine my blog experience without my sweet Dionne! <3

  • Lilly

    November 13, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    I must been living under a rock or something cuz I had no clue what this post is about. I have to admit that I haven’t been looking at the news lately and after reading the comments things were getting clear. Now I know what you are talking about and it is very sad that this has happened. And it is very sad no matter where and when it happens.

    I’m glad you include this muffin recipe. It doesn’t make it all better, but it helps…in some way.

  • Karen

    November 13, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    It is just such an awful situation. And I can’t believe someone would say such a horrible thing to you, as if you’re in any way involved or condoning it. Makes me shake my head at people’s actions.
    Onto the food…the apple muffins sound perfect. Been craving these kinds of treats this fall.

    • RavieNomNoms

      November 14, 2011 at 2:12 pm

      I know Karen, it makes me feel horrible. But I just have to remember that I am just supporting the school I love and not support or condoning, like you said, the actions of a very sick individual. Thank you for the support!!

  • Baker Street

    November 14, 2011 at 6:20 am

    What a well written post. I know its a horrible time but the Lions are strong and am sure they will be back. stronger than ever.

    the muffins look lovely. Anything with streusel is my kind of treat.