In the pre-Covid world Bill and I were planning to get on a plane for Vienna today. Yes. That's been a hard one for me.
For years I've had a dream of Bill and I going to that city together-it abounds in many of the things we love in common-classical music, art museums, history, architecture, and coffee shops. It took some work to convince Bill he could make the trip and it would, truthfully, have had its challenges. But with supplemental oxygen, a relaxed schedule and a room at the centrally located Benedictine monastery we felt we could make it work.
It's not so easy to simply say We'll just reschedule for next year. Aside from not having any idea what travel will look like in a year, we have no idea if 87 year-old Bill would be up for the trip. That's where I feel the loss.
Vienna fascinates me, especially the historical city at the turn of the 20th century. After hearing a Mahler symphony at the Kennedy Center in February I decided to do some research. The above book is what I came up with-it is not only a biography of Mahler but a cultural history of that time period in Vienna, complete with tales about Wagner, Strauss, Klimt, Schiele and so much more. Just what I wanted.
It is 700 pages long. Gulp.
But we're in a pandemic and I have time, right? Most days I reserve 30 minutes for "Tea with Mahler." I make the tea in a pot and in proper Viennese fashion have a little treat to go with it. For a couple of weeks now I've been able to sit outside and am joined by a symphony of birdsong. And I'm halfway thru!
Here's the recipe for my afternoon muffins-they are even somewhat healthy with oats and very low sugar. Try them and let me know what you think.
Mahler Muffins
Combine 1 cup milk (any kind) with 1 cup old-fashioned oats and let soak 15 minutes.
Beat 1 egg with 1/4 cup vegetable oil, then stir in oatmeal mixture.
In a separate bowl mix 1 cup flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Add the wet ingredients to this bowl and stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla.
Gently stir in 1/2 cup or more of add-ins such as raisins, chopped nuts, or chocolate chips.
Transfer to greased baking tins and bake at 400 degrees for 15-25 minutes-check early as these are not good if overcooked! Makes about a dozen.
