We all have them.

Just like Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. Our “bosom enemies.”

Those special, little (well, some might not call them so little) faults that are uniquely our own and shape who we are. Like the tendancy to procrastinate anything with or without a deadline. Or a sense of wit that has the ability to come across as scathing sarcasm. For some of us, like Jo (but certainly not me) it’s anger. Anger used to gratify ourselves and our crap behaviour.  Anger used for denying our innermost fears. Or maybe anger used as self-justification for our actions. Left unchecked it can become one’s worst demon (again, not mine). But, like Jo’s father advises, one must empoly a self-discipline to fight those inner bosom enemies to earn a sweetness and sense of self-control.

But that’s easier said than done. Especially when it comes to self control and food.

And for me, just like Alcott’s characters, my bosom enemies are always ready to flare to up lest I continually and bravely try to conquer them.  But I don’t think I’m going to try and overcome my unconditional, and unreturned love for Bing cherries. I am going to indulge it. And revel in it. And sweetness of character be damned: I’m going to luxuriate in it with some dark chocolate.

Cherry & Chocolate Muffins

adapted from Baker’s Daughter

• 2 C flour
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 C rolled oats
• 1/2 C packed, brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 C butter, melted
• 1/4 C unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2/3 C milk
• 2 C pitted and halved, fresh cherries
• 3/4 C dark chocolate chunks

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease your muffin tin or line with paper cups.
• Sift together flour and baking powder. Stir in oats.
• Beat together eggs, brown sugar and vanilla. Mix in butter and applesauce.
• Alternately add flour mix and milk to wet ingredients starting and ending with the flour mix.
• Fold in cherries and chocolate chunks.
• Bake approximately 20 minutes.

Notes:

• Makes 14 to 15 large muffins.
• Like usual, I substituted half the butter for applesauce in attempt to make “healthier.” (read: run a little less) According to the interwebs if you make 15 muffins you’re looking at about 216 calories, 7 g fat, and 43 g carbs each. Just in case you wanted to know.
• I used super dark and sweet Bing cherries, but if you could find sour cherries those would be really good. I think you could use whatever type of fruit you had on hand. Blueberries might be good.
• I used dark chocolate (70% Valrhona) but again, use what you like.
• There are few things that inspire in me a complete and utter lack of self control. Dark chocolate. And super dark, sweet, Bing cherries. I can not be held responsible for my actions with either.