Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins 3.15 Face-Off

“Dude, is any of those lemon poppy seed?” “Well, can’t you update it a little?” “Sure, man. Just tell me what the hell it means. It’s like in Latin or something.” “I thought there was gonna be coffee, too.” “Dude, can you chill out about your freaking elevenses ‘til we get this song straightened out?” “I’m hypoglycemic. If I don’t get something in my system, I’m gonna crash.”

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk

• 2 tbsp lemon juice

• 4 eggs

• ¾ cup vegetable oil

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tbsp baking powder

• ¼ tsp salt

• Zest from 3 large lemons

• 1 tbsp poppy seeds

• 1 tbsp dried lavender

For the lavender sugar:

• ⅓ cup granulated sugar

• ½ tbsp dried lavender

• 1 tsp lemon zest

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the milk, lemon juice, eggs, oil, and vanilla until fully combined.

3. Add the sugar and mix well.

4. Sift in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until fully combined.

5. Stir in the lemon zest, poppy seeds, and dried lavender.

6. Scoop the muffin batter into 12 lined or greased wells of a muffin tray. Fill the wells almost to the top.

7. Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until lightly golden. Then remove from the oven.

8. While the muffins are baking, prepare the lavender sugar by grounding the dried lavender either with a mortar and pestle or in a food processor. You can also finely chop with a sharp knife if you have neither.

9. In a small bowl, sift together the sugar, ground lavender, and lemon zest until fully combined.

10. Once the muffins have baked, turn on the broiler of your oven.

11. Sprinkle the lavender sugar on top of the muffins. You’ll likely have some left over.

12. Place the muffins back in the oven and allow to broil for 3-5 minutes so the sugar on top caramelizes and turns golden brown.

Because I added dried lavender, I added less poppy seeds than most recipes.

I didn’t want to make regular lemon poppy seed muffins. I have been on a huge lavender kick this summer, so I had to include it somehow in these muffins. Bakery muffins always seem to have that beautiful sugary crust on top so I decided to add some lavender to make these bakery approved! I also added lavender to the batter to kick it up a notch. While I’ve liked the combination of lemon and lavender for a while, I was recently reminded how much so with an ice cream recipe I made this summer from Valerie’s Cat Eye Scream. She has a yummy lemon lavender flavored ice cream in her cookbook.

Valerie drew me in the Dragonfly Inn kitchen with Sookie, how cute!!

If you didn’t know, Valerie Campbell was one of the key set costumers for Gilmore Girls, and she wrote an ice cream cookbook! In addition to fun and unique ice cream recipes, she also includes many stories, several from her days on the set of our beloved show. While her first ice cream cookbook just sold out, she is currently working on a second one. Be sure to check it out once it goes on sale! You can also follow her on Instagram and TikTok @ValeriesCatEyeScream on both accounts. She’s super sweet and is always sharing amazing stories.

Fill the wells of your muffin tray almost all the way full.

I’m back to sharing my thoughts on the episodes this week. Let’s start by talking about Jess in this episode. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not on any of Rory’s boyfriend’s teams. I think all of them have good qualities and all of them have many faults. What annoys me, however, is when any of them (usually Jess) are not held to the same standard or critiqued in the same way as the other two. Some (not all, but some) Team Jess fans claim that Jess does no wrong, but I think this is an episode in which he does A LOT of wrong. For starters, he doesn’t call Rory at all in this episode, even when he tells her he will. As someone who has chronic anxiety, if someone doesn’t call me when they say they will, I always panic, especially if there isn’t any follow-up as to why they didn’t call (just give me an excuse, at least!).

If you don't have a mortar and pestle, you can use a food processor (or even a coffee grinder).

While Rory could have done more than sit around and wait by the phone (as Lorelai points out), I totally understand why she waits for his call, especially because he told her that he would call when he got off work. Then later in the episode, Jess gaslights Rory for thinking there is something wrong in their relationship (which there completely is). She’s embarrassed for being upset with him when he tells her that he bought them Distillers’ tickets. And I’m still curious about if they actually go to the concert or not. The timeline of the episode seems off. Tell me if you think they actually went to the concert in the comments below.

You'll have lavender sugar left over. You can save it for other baked goods or add it to your tea!

We’re introduced to a new character in this episode, Lindsay Lister. I’m not going to talk about her too much since she plays a much bigger role in season 4, but I don’t dislike Lindsay. I think she makes a great new girlfriend for Dean. I buy them as a couple and I believe their relationship. Some people may say that she’s rude to Rory in this episode, but I don’t think so. I don’t know many people that would be super nice to their new romantic partner’s ex the first time they are around said ex. I think Lindsay is nice enough to Rory in this episode considering how awkward it must have been for her. Dean has most likely told her how Rory treated him towards the end of their relationship.

You could skip the lavender sugar broil step and eat your muffins like this if you're really impatient!

I think Dave is really sweet in this episode. Yes, he’s jealous of Yung-Chu, but Dave doesn’t act maliciously towards him nor towards Lane. He runs (!!!) to the hockey game during his fifteen minute (!!!) break, checks in with Lane, and then leaves. He’s not threatening, toxic, or clingy and I wish that Dave would have been able to stay on the show because he’s such a good example of how a boyfriend should act. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again. I will never forgive the OC for taking Adam Brody.

Also, I received this adorable Dragonfly Inn plate from Fandom Fix Boxes. They sell cute Gilmore Girls subscription boxes and other fun merch for the show! I recently stocked up on ornaments for my Gilmore Girls Christmas tree. They have merch from other fandoms such as Grey's Anatomy and Schitt's Creek. You can use my code: EATINGILMORE10 at check out to save 10% on your next purchase. And be sure you're following me on Instagram for a giveaway soon!

Happy Cooking from the Hollow!

Enjoy your muffins!

If you missed what I made last episode, catch up here!