You know how people like to name what books they'd want to take with them if stranded on a desert island? (I actually typed "dessert" island at first. Wouldn't THAT be fun!) Well, after my Bible the next "book" I'd want to take would be my complete set of Victoria magazines. My DH would tell you I am quite fanatical with my devotion to the old Victoria, primarily the ones published from 1987-2000 when the incomparable Nancy Lindemeyer was editor. And so I read and re-read these classic issues, including February 1992, which had a yummy sounding recipe for White Chocolate Muffins.
I had planned to make these in February but kept forgetting to buy two of the ingredients (orange juice concentrate and almonds) at the grocery store. Last night, I whipped these up beginning to end in under 30 minutes, with wonderful results! And since I tweaked a couple of the amounts (and substituted chocolate chips for shaved chocolate), here's the recipe. They called them "White Chocolate Muffins," but in my mind, these shall henceforth be known as ...Victoria Muffins
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/2 cup milk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
2/3 cup white chocolate chips
1/3 cup sliced almonds
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and prepare cupcake pans by inserting 15 paper baking cups. In medium bowl, combine egg, oil, OJ and milk until blended well. In another bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, chocolate chips and almonds. Mix well. Make a well in the center, add wet ingredients, and combine just until moistened. Fill paper cups 3/4 full and bake for about 15 minutes, just until golden brown on top. (I recommend having these with a nice cup of tea, of course, but they're also good with the orange juice you'll prepare from any leftover concentrate!)
Oh my friend, these look delicious! Victorian delicious~ :) And what really caught my attention is that there is no butter in the recipe, just the oil. Hmmm Thanks for sharing the recipe!
ReplyDeleteNow, this is strange. Sadly, I gave many of my old Victoria issues away. The only one I have left before August 2001 is - you guessed it - February 1992. I bet this is one of your favorites, since it is jam packed with so many roses. I love the "Garden of Roses for Her Face" and "From a Rose Lover's Bookshelf" pages.
ReplyDeleteYour "Victoria Muffins" look delicious. I'll have to try making some. Thanks so much.
ParTea Lady: What are the chances???? Wow! And yes, this issue is one of my all-time favorites!
ReplyDeleteAngela: You are a woman after my own heart! I can't believe I have just read these words. I have all the old ones except the first one that came out. I have them stacked by month and reread them by month. It was never the same after Nancy stepped down although I am glad to see it up and running (we sell them at the store) Thanks for this interesting post!
ReplyDeleteThose magazines are works of art, I agree!
ReplyDeleteOh, I LOVE it when you give us wonderful recipes to make and serve with our tea. This one sounds especially delicious. I still am mourning the demise of the old Victoria magazine. I have never seen any issues of the new revival of the magazine on my newstand. Is it similar to the old magazine? As good?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like the recipes, Carol! And RE the new Victoria, well, bless their hearts I suppose they tried, but the new magazine has very little in common with the old one except for the logo. Have you ever read Southern Lady? The new Vic is really much more like that magazine (it often has food on the cover, for instance). The old one had much more style and substance. But I do subscribe to the new version, out of some sense of loyalty, I guess ... but I am so, so grateful to have kept all those old issues!
ReplyDeleteI also love the old Victoria magazine's from Nancy's era. The photography was incredible too during that time. Even the quality of the paper was better than what they are running now. There was something special about it then. I use to call it my "mini vacation" whenever one arrived in my home.
ReplyDeleteHow funny, Angela, typing "dessert" island, rather than "desert" island! My fingers are seemingly always playing tricks on me that way. One of the early complaints about the copmuter (see, computer is what I MEANT to type) was the loss of serendipity or poof! eureka! discovery. Now here you are, talking about books, and probably finding "floating island" (a dessert) instead. Floating island being a chocolate pudding with poached meringues laying on top. As far as the books go, the bible would have to be there, the problem is just which version and translation, and as far as the other two, gosh, I'd have to bring my Second Edition Websters Unabridged Dictionary, and most likely a full set of the World Book encyclopedia (with yearly year books)...I sure hope there is not weight limit on your desert island!
ReplyDeleteOh, Victoria in the winter. Or spring, or summer or fall. Don't we just love reading and re-reading!! The muffins look divine! Must try.
ReplyDelete