Julie, Julia and Plum Muffins

I finally saw the movie Julia and Julia this past weekend. I loooved it! It was funny, clever, inspiring and an overall feel-good movie.

My friend Andrea originally lent me the book, Julie and Julia by Julie Powell, which chronicles her attempt to cook all 524 recipes from Julia Child's cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year. We were both very excited when we learned they were making a movie! The movie was very true to the book, which I always appreciate. Meryl Streep was (of course) amazing as Julia Child. The voice, posture and mannerisms were dead on. However, we couldn't figure out how they made her look so tall? (short actors perhaps?). The movie did a very good job of contrasting Julia Child's attempt to master the art of French Cooking herself in the 1940's and then her quest to publish her now-famous cookbook of the same name with Julie Powell's attempt to master Julia's cookbook while pursuing her dream to become a writer. The parallels were much more evident in the movie than the book- probably because Julie herself didn't realize just how similar their stories were. Overall, the movie was very well done.

After the movie, we left the theater hungry and inspired to cook something! In the car, Andrea immediately pulled out her phone and began searching the internet for a boef bourguignon recipe (a significant dish in the movie) while I plotted what to do with the pint of delicious plums I bought at the farmer's market earlier that morning. I dropped her off directly at the grocery store and then headed home to bake these delicious Plum Muffins:


I searched the internet for a good recipe and found this recipe for Plum Yogurt Muffins. I made a few adaptations to the recipe and the result was perfect! I made a tin of mini muffins and a tin of regular muffins. These muffins are very moist, fluffy and healthy to boot!

Plum Muffins

In a large bowl, mix:

• 3/4 cup plain yogurt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 T ground flax seeds
• 3 T orange juice
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup safflower oil
• 2 T unsweetened natural apple sauce
  

Add each of the following dry ingredients to the bowl (stir to combine after each ingredient):

• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• ¼ cup all purpose white flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt
• ½ cup granulated white sugar
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 3 T wheat bran (or wheat germ)
  

Fill muffin tins half way and then add a few pieces of diced plum to each. Top off each tin with another tablespoon or so of batter. Top with thinly sliced plums. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes if making mini-muffins or about 15 minutes if making large muffins.


While I won't be picking up a copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking anytime soon (waaay too much meat involved; I do not think I could eat, let alone de-bone, a duck). However, the movie reinforces the message of pursuing your dreams. It encouraged me to get back in the kitchen and to write more. You never know what can happen unless you start doing something, anything, even if it is just writing a blog that no one reads except your mother!