Coconut Maple Pecan Muffins

Do you mispronounce certain words? Are people constantly correcting your strange way of saying things? If you know what I am talking about you must be part of my family. We are all well known for saying certain words in weird ways. I credit this to living in six different States while we were kids. I think all the different accents in each State really messed with our developing minds and what came out was this strange slew of words unique only to my family. Of course my Mom and Dad also say words strangely, not too sure what their excuse is. : ) Now some of these mispronounced words are just so skewed I have to share them with you.

You know what Hulu is right? Or as my Mom calls it, "You who". Or my Dad calls Donkeys, "Dunkeys"...really, really are you for real? The words that I am infamous for saying wrong, which all my friends will attest to are: "Poem", for the life of me I cannot say that darn word...instead it always comes out, "Palm". Being a Literature major in college this was a word I had to say frequently and always dreaded having to say it. The second word I say strangely is "Pillow", or as I call it "Pee-low." The word that my whole family is guilty of saying wrong is "Mrs.", or as we like to say "Miss-ers", which makes it sound like something you find inside a chicken and not a married woman. Oh boy, someone should do a study on my family, not sure what they would learn, but I guarantee it would be interesting and confusing.

Are there words that you say wrong? If so let me know, if only for the sake of knowing that my family is not alone in this convoluted affliction.

Now what may you ask does a coconut/maple/pecan muffin have to do with mispronouncing words? Nothing really, I just thought this muffin was this mash up of good things and in the end it turned out to be a really nice combination of flavors...kind of like me...boo yah. I made up this muffin because after making the coconut chicken I was left with 1/2 a can of coconut milk and decided the right thing to do was to make a muffin. I mean come on, was there really another option at that point? This muffin really is the embodiment of all things coconut...the only thing that would have sent it over the top was if I used coconut flour and then coconut sugar...which is something I just saw and the grocery store and am anxious to try. Have any of you used coconut sugar? If you have let me know, I am curious to know how it does in baked goods. This muffin has coconut oil, coconut milk, and unsweetened coconut...so if you don't like coconut you should probably just go hug a tree...but really...how can you not like coconut? Coconut is so awesome and great, and during the cold months eating it makes me feel as if the sun is shining, flip flops are flopping, and my skin isn't so pasty white after all.


Now take off your shoes, change your cardigan, and come with me as we learn a few fun facts about the coconut...brought to you from Wikipedia and me.

1) Every single part of the coconut palm tree can be used in some way. Talk about creating a efficient thing...good job God, way to be, way to be.

2) Polynesians can be credited for first bringing the coconut to the Hawaiian Islands...so let us all take this moment to thank a Polynesian...thank you, thank you.

3) Kerala, the Indian state is known as the Land of coconuts. Apparently there are coconut trees everywhere! When can I go? Sign me up!

4) Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, brought coconuts to Europe. He said the hairy and brown shell of the coconut reminded him of a ghost named "Coco." Is he sure it wasn't his girlfriend?

5) Coconuts trees require warm weather to grow, so you won't find many of them in the North Pole...thank goodness, seeing Santa shirtless and in shorts would be traumatizing.

6) There is a legend that some coconuts have pearls inside of them...this is yet to be proven as no pearls have yet been found.

7) You can buy coconut buttons...sweet...so if you were lost on an island and got hungry you could just eat your shirt.

8) The parts of the coconut that can be used are: flower, husk, shell, water, milk, nectar, sprouts, coir, leaves, copra, trunk, and roots.

Coconut Maple Pecan Muffins

Whisk together the following in a medium/large bowl:

3/4 cup finely ground pecans or walnuts (pulse in food processor)
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 TBS baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

In separate bowl mix together the following until smooth:

2 eggs
4 TBS melted coconut oil, slightly cooled
1 cup coconut milk, or buttermilk
3/4 cup maple syrup

Mix the dry with the wet just until combined. Scoop into lined muffin pans. Sprinkle a little bit of unsweetened coconut, and light sprinkle of cinnamon on top of each muffin.

Bake in 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until tops spring back when lightly touched.