Recipe: Citrus Poppy Seed Muffins (For The Kitchn)

Every good Southerner should have a go-to muffin recipe in their arsenal, and I think this one certainly fits the bill. These melt-in-your-mouth muffins—filled with the bright flecks of orange zest and subtle crunch of poppy seeds—have a perfectly light, perfectly tender crumb thanks to cake flour and plenty of butter. (No hockey pucks here!)

Serve a plateful of these citrus poppy seed muffins to overnight guests, fill a basket as a hostess gift, or hoard them all for yourself. Either way, I promise I won't judge.

Blood Orange Ambrosia with Crème Fraiche

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching whether you like it or not. For some reason unknown to me, Walt and I have tendency to avoid this holiday altogether. In fact, I don't think we've ever spent it with each other. (Unless that one year at P.F. Chang's counts?) It's not that we are grumpy or bitter, we just have tendency to put our energy elsewhere. Like Super Bowl parties and Mardis Gras throwdowns. I guess you have to choose your poison.

But you know me, never needing an excuse to eat cook, I will be sharing a very special family recipe this week in honor of February the 14th (think breakfast-in-bed).  Until then, this Blood Orange Ambrosia with Whipped Crème Fraiche (at The Kitchn) would be a beautiful addition to a romantic dinner with your beloved.