Baking in the Shadow of Vesuvius

It's windy as predicted.  Although the high is supposed to be 30 F today, winds are predicted to gust to 65 mph with 85 mph tonight.  It doesn't seem that bad to me right now.  I've got a very hot fire because I am doing some experimental baking, but every once in awhile if I don't keep the fire really blazing, a big puff of smoke belches out into the cabin so it's a bit like baking in the shadow of Vesuvius. 

I've spent way too much time trying to document the smoke, but here is a close-up of the light above the stove after one smoke emission. 

I just dusted all the ash off the cook top and the inside and top of the warming oven first thing this morning and it looks as if I hadn't done it at all.  I can just see the sightseers of the future as they view the plaster cast of my body crouched over the old Worker range and hear the guide say, "And this seems to be proof that at least some residents were still cooking with wood stoves in the 21st Century."

I had some zucchini that needed using.  I don't know if you ever stoop to investigate what I like to call the used and abused vegetable bin at your local supermarket, but I often find perfectly good veggies in this bin at the supermarket in Nederland.  I got this bag of zucchini for 99 cents. 

Now, I have to admit, I didn't use it right away and I forgot to open the bag to allow the moisture to escape, so I had some waste today when I finally decided to try to make zucchini muffins.  I didn't have any baking powder and I wasn't going to venture out in this wind to Nederland just for that, so decided to use Bisquick.  I used the pancake recipe, added a lot of cinnamon and nutmeg and some Stevia, shorted the milk and used low fat soy milk, then stirred in grated zucchini and some walnuts.

I'm mixing up my batter on top of the steamer trunk for lack of counter space.  You can see some of the "new" canisters I found at thrift shops for my pantry re-do.

I had purchased for use in this wood range oven some mini muffin tins at Goodwill because I wasn't sure I could keep a consistent oven temperature for any length of time.  Well, it all worked, although after tasting the first batch I had to add more Stevia and a little salt.  I thought Bisquick was rife with sodium, but the muffins tasted really flat, so I guess they must be trying to make their product healthier.  I undid their efforts, but  the second batch was much better.

Finished product.  Quite pretty, don't you think?

If you are reading this blog on a regular basis, I hope you'll sign up as a follower.  I noticed yesterday that I only have one follower and that's my niece's husband!  Thanks, Josh! 

Well, I have a lot of grated zucchini left.  I guess I'll scoop it into jars and set it out in the wood shed to freeze for later use as I've ruined my appetite with muffins!  Teddee