Oatmeal Corona Muffins

Week two of this self-imposed isolation. My dad and I miss my mom. We haven’t visited her in almost two weeks now. We call the nurses’ station to receive updates. They tell us she’s doing fine, listening to music, eating well. We managed to convince one friendly nurse to use her personal phone so we could “speak” to Mom via WhatsApp. It wasn’t so much a conversation as an opportunity for us to see her. Mom didn’t understand that we were on the phone but she was smiling and interacting with the staff. That was comforting.

The world is so out of whack. Life has come to an almost complete halt. Even our most important and precious day, Shabbat, has been taken away from us: we can no longer attend synagogue, and we’ve been advised not to host other families (or be hosted). How temporary are these measures? And how can we find balance within the chaos?

If I try and look at the positives, I can find them.

• Mom is being well cared for, and she is safe.

• I’m currently living with my dad, so, thankfully, he is not isolated in his isolation.

• My daughter is unexpectedly coming home (to two weeks of isolation, but we can get through that!).

• We have plenty to eat and drink. And enough toilet paper!

• I am learning that I can adjust to new and unfamiliar circumstances, and even thrive.

• I am using my creativity in all sorts of ways—writing, cooking, volunteering.

• I take walks and sit in the sun on the big porch.

• I am connected to friends virtually if not physically.

• Zipper the cat is doing just fine (albeit sad to be banished to the porch).

We are learning to take things one day at a time. As we near Shabbat, I will put my new positive thinking towards that day, too. Perhaps I’ll pray at my own pace and take more notice of the prayers I’m saying. Maybe I’ll get my husband to read the weekly Torah portion to me so that we can hear it and learn it together. And I’ll definitely find a way to cook or bake something new so that we can infuse all our senses with the holiness of Shabbat.

Here’s to taking pleasure in the simple things. We are healthy; we are alive.

The best part about being home is having extra time to bake. I’m trying to use what we have in the house before I buy more grains. (Passover is coming!) It was great to realize that I had everything I needed to make these tasty oatmeal raisin chocolate chip muffins.

Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Muffins

I had quite a bit of time on my hands, so batch three of these muffins turned out the best. I tinkered with the recipe until it was just the right amount of sweet. I hope you like them, too.

1 cup flour

1 cup oatmeal

½ Tbsp baking powder

1 cup almond or soy milk

¼ cup vegetable oil

¼ cup brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp salt

1 egg

½ cup raisins

½ cup chocolate chips

Topping:

2 Tbsp flour

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vegetable oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F / 180° C. In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. Pour in oil, sugar and egg, and combine. Add raisins and chips. Set up a muffin tin with paper cupcake holders. Spray the paper cupcake holders with oil. Spoon mixture into each cavity. Mix topping ingredients and carefully sprinkle on each cupcake. Bake for 20 minutes.

#dessert #oatmealmuffins #corona #videochat