English Muffins!!!

On the surface I'm blaming this week's baking binge on having neglected and abused my sourdough starter this summer. In an attempt to bring it back from the brink of death I've had to use it-- a lot. Hence the blueberry muffins, English muffins and gigantic sourdough loaf. In reality, I think I'm beginning to meltdown and try to cope with the fact that Julie is going back to work next week and I'm facing another school year out of the classroom. I never, ever, EVER intended to stop working and stay home with a kid. There was no part of me that was ever even remotely tantalized by the idea of being a stay-at-home-mom (I believe that even has its own abbreviation, no? SAHM?), so finding myself at home 24/7... driving my little numlet to and from nursery school; doing laundry and dishes and housekeeping; grocery shopping; and arranging playtime with friends... was a huge shock to the system a year and a half ago. And the tingling still hasn't worn off. 

And so I've been baking. And I had NO IDEA that ordinary humans could make real English muffins. I mean... I've always assumed that they were only made by British versions of the Keebler elves in giant orange factories. After feeding my sourdough breakfast yesterday morning I couldn't bring myself to throw away the discard cup before feeding it lunch. So I put the cup in the fridge and decided that I'd find a use for it. By midmorning today I had painstakingly cut out 24 individual muffins and set to rise the dough for a large sourdough boule. 

Fun Fact: English Muffins have to be individually cooked on a griddle or in a heavy frying pan for about 15 minutes! Who knew? You can't just toss 'em all in the oven...

Happily, my muffins came out pretty damn near perfect on the first try... even though I forgot to add the 4 tablespoons of butter. 

I mean... check out those nooks and crannies! 

By noon I had finished cooking all 24 muffins (4 of which we devoured before they were even cool enough to handle) and had pulled my slightly-too-sour sourdough out of the oven. 

My starter is tucked safely back in the fridge, refreshed and bolstered by two days of love and feedings. When the school year begins it will be happy to get more regular attention as Friday night will once again be pizza night and its weekly services will be required. If you need me before then, I'll probably be in the kitchen. I think there are some chicken carcasses that could be turned into broth...