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2009-12-01 09:22:42.000 – Rob Jones,  Summit Volunteer

Me on Deck!

It is my observation that MWO operates on the maxim ‘Waste not, want not’. Someone is always in the process of figuring out how to do something with what is on hand. This is also the guiding principle in the observatory kitchen. Volunteers are encouraged to use up ingredients that are about to expire, the crew and volunteer make every effort to eat any leftovers, and recycling is the order of the day. Early in this volunteer week I was asked to do something with some bananas that were rapidly ageing. I like my bananas ripe, well freckled, but these were beyond that. What to do? Banana bread is an option, but I think an overly used one. So, off to the internet for some recipe research. I found one that looked promising, Banana/Blueberry Muffins. But the recipe called for some ingredients that weren’t on the summit. After checking the inventory for what was available, adjusting for cooking at 6,288 feet, and applying some insight based on fif-many years of cooking experience, I came up with the following recipe:

100 MPH Banana/Blueberry Muffins

Makes 12 muffinsA great way to use up very ripe bananasSet oven to 400 F

3/4 cup white flour3/4 cup whole wheat flour1/4 cup rolled oats1/4 cup brown sugar2 teaspoons baking power1/2 teaspoon salt

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl

2 mashed bananas1/2 cup milk1 egg2 tablespoons canola or other cooking oil2 teaspoons lemon juice3/4 cup blueberries – fresh or frozen (if frozen,kept frozen until added)

Combine all wet ingredients except blueberries in a bowl and mix well

Add dry ingredients to the wet, mix until just combinedAdd blueberries and fold into batter

Spray muffin tin with cooking spray – don’t use the paper muffin cups

Bake 18-20 minutes until toothpick test comes out clean.

The name of the recipe was also adjusted since, while baking the second batch, by popular demand, the wind was continually gusting to over 100 mph. The vent hood over the range was sure loud. Thanks to the wonderful new range, the guesswork has gone from baking on the summit. The muffins came out very nicely here. I think the recipe will work well at lower altitudes as well. You might want to add a couple of tablespoons more of the sugar,. Others comments have documented the exciting storm we had this week. I would just add that words can not fully describe the experience of being outside in 100+ mph winds. It was certainly worth giving a week of work to have the opportunity to be here for the storm.

 

Rob Jones,  Summit Volunteer