The Muffin Lady: Muffins, Cupcakes, and Quickbreads for the Happy Soul [Hardcover]

Linda Fisher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 25, 1997

When we think of an inheritance, thoughts of money or some jewel-encrusted heirloom usually spring to mind. Well, Linda Fisher's inheritance did get her out of financial trouble, but it was nothing more than one of her mother's recipes and the values with which she was raised.

Suddenly finding herself divorced and struggling to support her son and make ends meet, Linda, rather than ask for public assistance, vowed to take care of her own. She dug up her mother's pancake recipe and modified it into a muffin batter.Then she loaded up her red Radio Flyer wagon and hit the pavements of Westminster, Maryland, selling mouthwateringly delicious muffins -- blueberry, peach cobbler, black bottom, burnt sugar, apple dumpling, to name just a few -- and soon became a local favorite, known around town as "the Muffin Lady."

Just when business started booming, however, the Carroll County Health Department told her to pack up her wagon because she didn't have a "department-approved commercial kitchen." Well, Linda wasn't going to take that lying down! She fought back, and the whole community came out to support her. Finally the Westminster Volunteer Fire Department offered her the use of their state-approved kitchen, where she still bakes muffins today.

In The Muffin Lady,  Linda shares the legacy of riches that was handed down by her mother. These gifts are useful both inside and outside the kitchen -- recipes whose ingredients include sugar, flour, perseverance and pride.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Do you know the Muffin Lady? If you don't, you're in for a treat. The Muffin Lady is part cookbook, part inspiration; it simultaneously tells the story of "Muffin Lady" Linda Fisher and offers up her mouth-watering recipes for muffins, cakes, breads, and cookies. The food is great, but the story is spectacular. In 1995, Fisher--recently divorced and the custodial parent of a young child--found herself looking poverty in the eye. She responded by borrowing from the "inheritance" her mother had left her: a very versatile pancake recipe that she used to bake cakes, muffins, cupcakes, and quick breads. She loaded these delicacies into a Radio Flyer wagon and sold them door to door, eventually making enough money to stay off of welfare. When the local health department tried to shut her down, it precipitated a community uprising: dozens and dozens of letters began pouring into newspaper editorial pages, an anonymous donor gave her the money necessary for a license, and the volunteer fire department offered her free use of their health department-approved kitchen to prepare her goods. Along with recipes for tasty treats such as Pecan Loaf, Marble Walnut Brownies, Blueberry Upside Down Squares, and the baked good that started it all--the World Famous Pancake Batter Muffin--readers can share Linda Fisher's legacy of riches handed down by her mother.

About the Author

Meet Linda Fisher, the Muffin Lady of Westminster, Maryland. She's a single mother whose delicious recipes for muffins -- and for a life lived with pride, dignity and values -- make The Muffin Ladyÿ so much more than just a cookbook.

Linda has been up and down and up again, but her mother's teachings (as well as her simple pancake recipe, which Linda adapted into the secret behind her mouthwatering muffins), provided her with everything she needed.

Replete with fabulous recipes as well as anecdotes, reminiscences and the wit and wisdom of Linda's inimitable personality, The Muffin Lady is a book for all of us who have ever licked a batter-covered spoon, waited impatiently for the oven timer to ring or carried with us throughout our lives the lessons and wisdom of our mothers.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Cookbooks; 1st edition (November 25, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060392460
• ISBN-13: 978-0060392468
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #721,993 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Baking > Muffins

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best muffins, ever, October 22, 2001

By 

J. Tinklenberg "jantink" (Redford, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Muffin Lady: Muffins, Cupcakes, and Quickbreads for the Happy Soul (Hardcover)

I have made many of the muffins out this book and you can believe me that they come out of the oven and poeple fall on them and devour them. I have made muffins before that have been pale, small and tasteless, but once I started making Linda Fisher's muffins, I have had wonderful results. My favorites are the orange-cranberry muffins and the chocolate chip muffins, although much can be said for the banana-nut ones too. I like it that once you know the basic recipe, setting up the muffins is very easy. You could make a basic mix from the dry ingredients and just add the spices, fats, eggs, and other additions to make the ones you like. BUY THIS BOOK!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book!, July 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Muffin Lady: Muffins, Cupcakes, and Quickbreads for the Happy Soul (Hardcover)

This book is as informative as it is entertaining. Intermingled with the fabulous recipes are antecdotes about the author's life and stories of how each recipe came to be. I have used nearly all the recipes and love them! The finished products are moist, tender and absolutely delicious. (One note: use the author's suggestion of using squares of wax paper to line muffin tins instead of paper liners - something I'd never tried before but the results are great!) Another bonus - the recipes are all easy to follow. Favorites include: Strawberries & Cream Muffins, Peach Cobbler Muffins, Streusel-Filled Coffee Cake, Apple Bars, Marble-Walnut Brownies and Blueberry Upside-Down Squares. Happy baking!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chocolate chip muffins and my dentist, March 28, 2005

By 

L. Hardwick "Mom2three" (Arkansas, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Muffin Lady: Muffins, Cupcakes, and Quickbreads for the Happy Soul (Hardcover)

Though I have a good collection of cookbooks, this is one that I use on a regular basis. I have searched for years for great baking recipes, and have found them in this book. I enjoy the background she gives on why she uses certain ingredients, what worked and what didn't. The hint about using wax paper for liners was the best tip! The blueberry and banana nut muffin recipes are superb and most requested in my house. Our family dentist requested Chocolate Chip muffins, and I was able to make him some that he raves about. I dare not go now without taking the office some. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves to bake!