Fruit Muffins and The Specialty Generation

When I was growing up there was only one professional we were taken to and that was the local doctor.  He covered every complaint and condition and if it was beyond or outside his realm of expertise, you clearly had something that wasn’t worth mentioning.

We didn’t have appointments with anyone else and we grew up not knowing all these other professions and services, existed.  I didn’t even see a dentist until I was 12.

And we survived and we were happy and we grew up without being chauffeured around to a long list of people with a bunch of letters are their name.


Muffin Selection

At home I have a bulging filing cabinet and it’s mostly bulging because it contains all the receipts of all the specialists my children have seen.  When I compare it to my own less complicated childhood I worry the new generation is genetically inferior.  How is it possible to have so many issues!

Archie’s list is extensive or is it perhaps today’s normal?  Normal for those growing up in the nought-ees.  He’s been to a dentist, a paediatric trauma dentist, an orthodontist and an oral surgeon; a counselor, youth worker, a social worker and a psychologist; a physio, a sport’s physio, a chiropractor, an osteopath and a podiatrist; a dietician and a naturopath; an optometrist, a colour optometrist and an audiologist; and a paediatrician, an ICU specialist, a cardiologist, a cardio-thoracic surgeon, an orthopaedic surgeon and a GIT surgeon.

Have I left anyone out?

I don’t know how I survived my childhood without the same level of over-servicing.

Arabella has a few less on her list but Alfie’s starting to clock them up.  We’ve been to the dentist who’s recommended we start seeing an orthodontist (I’ve never had any orthodontic work and I’m able to smile and chew my food), it’s been observed he has ‘dropped arches’ so a podiatrist has been recommended; he has food sensitivities so a naturopath has been recommended,  and he has asthma so he sees a paediatrician and he broke a toe so we can add orthopaedic surgeon to his list too.

I’ve just had to take him to the optometrist because someone in his class arrived one morning sporting a pair of new glasses and everyone was jealous of her latest accessory so all the kids came home telling their parents they too were blind and couldn’t read the smart-board and needed glasses.  Alfie had his turn at the optometrist and was so disappointed to learn he has perfect vision.

Was my generation neglected or is this generation over-serviced?

While Arabella celebrated her 18th I quietly celebrated too because it means she’s probably seen the bulk of the long list of available specialists and has outgrown or had repaired all genetic flaws.

Here are the muffins I made for her party…

Apple and Cinnamon, Blueberry and Raspberry

Makes:  12

Degree of Difficulty:  2/5

Cost:  These muffins use everyday ingredients that you should have on-hand saving a trip to the shops.

Apple and Cinnamon Muffins

  • 2 cups grated raw apples
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tspn vanilla extract
  • 1 cup wholemeal self-raising flour
  • 1 cup self-raising flour
  • 1/4 tspn baking soda
  • 2 tspns cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 200C (400F).

Grease a muffin pan or use patty cases.

Thoroughly combine the wet ingredients.  Combine the dry mix ingredients and mix thoroughly into the wet mix.  Place the mixture in the prepared pans and bake for 20-25 mins.

This recipe has been adapted from Muffin Magic by Diana Linfoot.

Blueberry Muffins

  • 1/2 cup butter (125g)
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 2 1/2 cups self-raising flour
  • 400g frozen blueberries (or 1 x 450g tin blueberries, drained0

Preheat the oven to 200C (400F).

Thoroughly blend the butter and sugar.  Beat in the eggs an then the milk.  Stir in the flour.  Gently fold through the frozen blueberries or drained blueberries.  Place the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.

This recipe has been adapted from Muffin Magic by Diana Linfoot.

Raspberry and Sour Cream Muffins

  • 2 cups self-raising flour
  • 2/3 cup caster sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 300g frozen raspberries

Preheat oven to 180C (375F).

In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, eggs, oil and sour cream.  Gently stir through frozen raspberries.  Place in prepared pans.  Cook for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through.

This recipe has been adapted from Donna Hay, Off the Shelf, No-fuss Blueberry Muffins.

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Comments

  1. Good Lord – poor Archie. That is a hell of a lot of waiting rooms and $$$$$ for you too. I hope you have a smooth run for a while now hun and the filing cabinet doesnt expand anymore! Sorry I havent been commenting for a while. I have been reading but in bed at night and I cant comment on my iphone for some reason xx

  2. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says:

    It’s crazy isn’t it? Next thing you know, a hypnotherapist will be added to the “must see” list! 😮

  3. I have all these ingredients and also a box of frozen raspberries in the freezer – I am good to go!

  4. I didn’t get all the specialists either but I did see a dentist and a heart specialist along with the family doctor. The list expanded when I had my own children. Alan played gridiron football so something was always getting smashed up. My daughter did the shrink visits but I don’t think they helped one bit. She finally grew up one day and was perfectly fine.

    She’d have been better sooner if she’d had a mother who cooked muffins like this for her.

  5. Minnesota Prairie Roots says:

    The doctor in my small hometown, when the town still had a doctor, covered everything with penicillin. He was known as “Penicillin Pete.”

  6. Half the doctors you mentioned are unknown to me. hm, sometimes I am not sure if we are really all that sick or if they make those illnesses up. Our family doctor here is crazy, I mean the antibiotics he prescribes are heavy.

    I wouldn’t mind your muffins the next time I am ill ^.^

  7. Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says:

    I love recipes with ingredients I already have on hand…they are the best!

  8. I wonder about the increase in syndromes, allergies etc of the current generations as well. Not much we can do about it though other than grab one of those yummy muffins, a cup of coffee and deal as best we can.

    http://a-boleyn.livejournal.com/

  9. I feel your pain! Not only do they need specialists to handle every medical “need” but for some reason they need their mother’s glued to their side every time they need something. Sigh. Unless of course YOU think they need something and need your help…then, it’s a whole different story! Ha! 😉

  10. Victoria at Flavors of the Sun says:

    I had the opposite experience with Zack, who, aside from regular dental cleanings, has only been to the doctor a handful of times in 22 years. I think i9t is because he was raised in Mexico 😉 Each muffin looks so yummy–and those papers around them. Devine!

  11. Victoria at Flavors of the Sun says:

    Typing and spelling–just taught a class and am brain dead. I need one of those muffins!

  12. yummychunklet says:

    How interesting. Seeing as my mother was a nurse, I rarely saw the doctor unless absolutely necessary. My mother took care of everything!

  13. Wow it seems so different to imagine only going to one person for medical advice!!! But a lot easier no doubt 😀
    Loving the muffins today!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru
    http://gobakeyourself.wordpress.com/

  14. Sweet Posy Dreams says:

    I still try to avoid doctors as much as possible. My kids have been pretty lucky — no broken bones at all and only one set of stitches. Still, the boy had tubes in his ears twice, then the tonsils removed. We’ve also had some pneumonia and flu, but usually handled by the pediatrician. Orthodontia, however, was a must — especially for our son. Can’t imagine how ridiculous he would look if we hadn’t fixed the kid’s teeth. An image of a rabbit comes to mind.

  15. When BigJ fell off his bike recently and broke his collar bone and a bone in his hand, it involved ER doctors, orthopedic surgeons, xrays, catscans, plastic surgeons, physio therapists, mobility theraputic aids, at TWO hospitals! And they didn’t even do any surgery!
    Maybe it’s like school sports days where everyone who competes gets a ribbon- all medical professionals are now Specialists?

  16. Claire @ Claire K Creations says:

    I’m a little embarrassed to say that my list is pretty similar to Archie’s!
    Such pretty little muffins! I think the raspberry and sour cream would be my pick of the lot but I’d quite happily nibble on all three.

  17. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says:

    That’s a long list of “specialists”!

    Delicious muffins, no doubt 🙂

  18. Cecilia Mary says:

    Good God! I can see how that would be a bit mind boggling!

  19. tania@mykitchenstories.com.au says:

    I have had a similar list for my son. I dont know what happened Charlie , I think we just put up with our genetic flaws. I believe a muffins can sure a few hunger pangs though……..

  20. You made three different muffins? Wow!

    I don’t know. I didn’t start getting into the specialists until high school. Then it was dermatologist for my acne, orthodontist, dentist, obgyn for my lady issues…now I can’t go to the doctor for a cold without them sending me to a allergy specialist!

  21. What’s worse, Charlie, is that each specialist has his own set of machines and tests to put your through. My childhood doctor had a thermometer, stethoscope, a little hammer to test reflexes, and a lollipop after vaccinations.
    No wonder Arabella and her friends kept enlisting you. You really do know how to bake! These muffins look delicious, especially with those 3 flavors.

  22. I hear you, sister! A similar list for our kids which also includes most of the above plus gastroenterologists, gastric surgeons, ENT surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, sports medicine specialists, hand therapists (who knew they even existed?!) and nuclear medicine specialists. For some years my voice was so familiar to the receptionists at the local GP surgery that I didn’t need to say my name when I rang them.

  23. That’s a crazy number of specialists; we’re fortunate in Canada our body health is generally covered by OHIP (Government health care) but dental and eyes are not. Nor are chiropractic or naturopaths.
    These muffins look adorable Charlie. I’m sitting in Charles De Gaulle airport waiting for my flight home..thank goodness for free wifi so I’m off to catch up on your other posts.

  24. Haha I’ve created a classroom of myopic misfits because I’ve overcompensated when telling the child that needs glasses that she looks particularly intelligent and attractive!!

  25. Jed Gray (sportsglutton) says:

    The current generation is just over serviced. I know that my early dental work that was with mental has lasted to this day and probably will continue to last for ever. Nowdays, they’ll use stuff that has to be replaced. More work, more care, more money.

  26. mjskit @ mjskitchen.com says:

    I really think that here in the states that the doctors and insurance companies have a partnership to see how much money they can get out of us. I’m like you, we had a family doctor for broken bones and then in middle school, I saw a dentist. Today our kids and ourselves, if we allow it, are overdiagnosed, over medicated, and made to believe that what use to be considered “normal” is now a medical problem. I mean really – do our teeth have to be perfectly straight? There’s my two cents worth. 🙂 Now to those delicious muffins! What a basket full of delightful muffins. Love all the choices of fruits! YUM!

  27. Nothing in medical care feels like it used to! We had doctors who spent time with us, too, and now you’d better hope they even have a minute to really listen to whatever the complaint is that necessitated the visit in the first place. It’s probably best we take excellent care of ourselves and avoid doctors as much as possible. The muffin recipes sound delicious, Charlie, and it looks like you’ve wrapped them in some really nice little papers. I like the look! 🙂

  28. justonecookbook says:

    Haha, I agree with MJ… 🙂 I thought specialists are American thing. I didn’t have to see so many different doctors while growing up. I feel like I’m always being transferred here.

  29. Ohhh i love the look of these muffins 🙂 where did you get the muffin cases so pretty! LOL i totally agree that kids these days are simply over protected and doctors just freak out over everything! I mean i know i’ve had my fair share of specialists but lol half of the time I don’t think I need to see them 😛

  30. coor what a list! my Mom would only take us to the doctor if we were on our death beds! I must have only gone twice in my teen years! what amazing muffins! they must have been gobbled up!

  31. thelifeofclare says:

    It’s a tough question isn’t it!? I wonder it in schools every day, I think it’s a bit of both. There are all those things pro minutely out there and now it’s just common practice to use them! Those muffins look divine!

  32. These look like wonderful muffins and I enjoyed your list of specialists – although I have sympathy for your bank balance and also for Archie with seeing so very many people! We managed to clock up a long list as children too and I suspect some of mine will continue forever, thanks to poor eyesight and a back prone to difficulties. Still, there are worse things, and I’ll try to keep my list to a short one!

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