Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins, Gratitude and a Giveaway!

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, 

and that gratitude is happiness doubled in wonder."  ~ G.K. Chesterton

It's April 25th, which if you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you know that it is the official publication date of All the Sweet Things.  This means my book baby is out in the world, for all to read and enjoy.  It's an overwhelming feeling, frankly, to see all of your hard work and dedication for the past two years, being held by other people in their hands.  To think that two years ago I was just thinking about what my cookbook proposal should be.  And now, the book is real and being purchased by friends, family and strangers.  I love the strangers!

Last night was the official launch party for the cookbook, and it was a glorious, memorable evening from start to finish.  My mom and I arrived early, so we could set the table with pretty table cloths and cake stands and fill them with sweet treats she and I have been baking just for the event.  There was no shortage of Butterhorns, Cinnamon Twists, Chocolate-Swirled Molasses Meringues, and Petit Pains au Chocolat.  I bought flowers and tucked them into jam jars.  I printed the menu and put it in a blue vintage-looking frame, but really I got it at Winners for $10.  Just as we finished making the table pretty, early birds started coming up to me, wanting a hug and an autograph, which I was happy to oblige.  I'll never forget sweet Verna, who reads my columns in the paper regularly, and even sent me the sweetest handwritten note over a year ago.  I still have her letter, written in the cursive of yesteryear.  She was full of high praise, which made me blush with pride, and I thought to myself,   yes, she gets what the book is all about.  And then, she wanted to meet my mom.  If you read my book, you'll know why she wants to meet my mom.  

Festivities got underway with my sweet friend Jenni (she also made delicious food for the event) introducing me (again, more blushing!) and then it was me. Up there by myself, looking out at so many familiar faces, and faces unknown to me, but yet they wanted to be there and be with me.  It was awesome.  And then I started talking about the process and the hard work involved, and what it was like to finally hold your dream in your hands.  The tears came before I could stop them. But, like Charles Dickens wrote, "Give me a moment, because I like to cry for joy."  And that's what it was.  Pure joy.  Then I launched into my introduction, which if you've read, you know it's a bit of tearjerker on its own.  I think half of McNally Robinson was sniffling along with me, but composure was soon gathered and all was well.  More than well!  There were plenty of fantastic questions and banter between Jenni and I, the standing-room only crowd chiming in, too.  After the applause, and more blushing, I took up residence at a small table and signed books, gave hugs, took selfies, with people I knew and didn't know.  Some came out because they saw me on TV that morning; others because they follow my columns in the paper.  It seems that I have fans, which still blows my mind.  In my own mind, I'm just a lady who loves food and cats and my handsome farmer.  Now, I can add cookbook author to the mix.  

I signed so many books last night my Sharpie went dry.  This must be a good sign.  I loved how the ink soaked into the page as I scrawled my name and a short note.  It was me passing on my labour of love, my heart, to other people so they can find a place for in their kitchens and their hearts.  I said a little goodbye to each book as I passed it back to the owner, like you would a child moving away from home for the first time.  I know that sounds bonkers, but in a way, this book isn't mine anymore.  It's all of ours.  

To celebrate the launch of my cookbook, and to say thank you for following me along on this blog for so many years, I'm giving away a signed copy of my cookbook to one lucky reader.  In the comments below, please share with me a kitchen triumph or disaster.  Because, we've all had both.  The winner will be picked at random on Sunday April 30th.  Best of luck!  Sorry, contest only open to Canadian residents.  

And, because I'm feeling super generous, here is the recipe for my Lemon and Cream Cheese Muffins - one of my favourite recipes in the book.  

Lemon and Cream Cheese Muffins

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup + 2 Tbsp granulated sugar, divided
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
1 large egg, at room temperature
1/3 cup canola or other cooking oil
1/2 cup whole milk
4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, divided
1 Tbsp grated lemon zest

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Place the rack in the centre of the oven. Line a muffin pan with 10 papers
or grease well with your preferred cooking oil. Pour some water into the empty muffin cups to stop
them from burning.

Combine the flour, 2/3 cup of sugar, the baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Cut the cream
cheese into 1/4-inch cubes and work it into the dry ingredients, using a pastry blender or your hands,
until small and large chunks of cream cheese remain. Beat together the egg, oil, milk, 2 Tbsp of the
lemon juice and the lemon zest. Stir this gently into the dry ingredients until just combined.

Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin pan so the cups are about three-quarters full, and bake
for 20–25 minutes, until the tops are golden, the tops spring back when lightly touched and a
toothpick inserted in the centre of a muffin comes out clean. Stir together the remaining 2 Tbsp of
sugar and remaining 2 Tbsp of lemon juice in a small bowl. Use a pastry brush to brush this mixture
on top of the hot muffins. Let them cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then remove them
from the pan and let cool completely on the rack.

Store the muffins in an airtight container for 1 day, or freeze for up to 1 month.