There’s a certain quiet to weekend mornings that I absolutely relish.
It’s usually peaceful except for seagulls in the distance and the occasional car passing through.
I love waking up at this time of the day when it feels like the world is still asleep.

Sometimes I’ll steal into the kitchen to make breakfast, it’s cool and quiet, with a gentle breeze as morning streams through the windows, it’s my favourite place at that moment.

I don’t always know ahead of time what I want to make for breakfast; sometimes I let it come to me when I’m in the kitchen.

Muffins are easy when you already have the ingredients in the pantry, occasionally you’ll have to make substitutions, and that makes all the difference.

I had black sesame seeds and no poppy seeds, so these lemon black sesame seed muffins were born!
I prefer the slight sweet and nutty and crunchy texture of the black sesame seed. The seeds are larger (than poppy seeds) and I toast them lightly to increase their nutty sweetness and crunch.

I enjoy the silence and the motions; measuring, mixing and the sweet smell that fills the morning.

The muffins are ready just about when the world starts to stir, I put a kettle on for tea and slowly the sounds and movement starts.
The noise of the TV fills the air, I hear a phone conversation in the other room, and a humorous exchange from the balcony makes me smile. We gather around the table, we don’t really do the ‘sit together’ thing, we linger, prep and make selections…
And then we eat breakfast.

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Lemon Black Sesame Seed Muffins

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/4 cups white whole-wheat flour (or all purpose flour)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoon toasted black sesame seed
• 1/4 cup vegan butter, melted (I used Earth Balance Soy Free Butter)
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted (or other vegetable oil)
• 1/2 cup almond or coconut milk
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and line muffin tin with paper cups
2. In a large mixing bowl, add flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sesame seed, mix and set aside
3. In another bowl, Combine melted butter, coconut oil, lemon juice and zest, maple syrup and vanilla and whisk to mix
4. Pour the butter mixture in the flour mixture and stir until batter is smooth
5. Fill muffin liners (about 3/4 full) with the batter
6. Place in the oven and bake for 15 – 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin just comes out clean
7. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for about 10 minutes before removing from pan
8. Enjoy!

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