PLAIN MUFFINS

Setting the Scene:

When my mother, who was stricken with Alzheimer’s disease, resided in a

nursing home, my grandchildren (her great-grandchildren) enjoyed visiting her with me,

even though she didn’t recognize us. One of the treats consisted of tea parties with Great

Grandma Dee Dee. This is a tradition I started whenever I visited, a family tradition of

sitting over tea and chatting when we visited my grandmother’s home and later my mom

in her home. Mother, while in the nursing home, seemed to find these occasions relaxing.

She particularly enjoyed muffins, whether we made them ourselves or purchased them at

a fast food restaurant. Sometimes we made my mother-in-law’s blueberry cake and took

this for our tea parties. Share another family tradition by making the plain muffins I made

as a youngster, or add extra ingredients to make them fancy enough for any tea party.

Then have a muffin as you read an excerpt from“Can Children Cope with Alzheimer’s

Disease,” from WHEN WE BECOME THE PARENT TO OUR PARENTS (ISBN:

09651675-1-8).

Excerpt from WHEN WE BECOME THE PARENT TO OUR PARENTS:

Kara looks forward to these tea parties.

“You sit near your mommy,” she says [to me] and points to the chair

nearest Mother. Then she pulls up a chair for herself and chatters while we eat.

Mother seems unaware of the relationship between Kara and herself. She

no longer recognizes me, or if she does, can’t verbalize it. But Mother does know that a

little girl visits; she comments on the “nice little girl here today.”

Mother no longer can feed herself. Kara takes it for granted that I will give Great

Grandma bites of muffin and sips of tea. These visits give the Alzheimer’s patient’s life

significance, as they help their grandchildren and great grandchildren understand the

various phases of life with love and compassion.

PLAIN MUFFINS

Ingredients:

cups sifted flour

tsp baking powder

tsp salt

T melted shortening

to 3 T sugar, depending on desired sweetness

Cooking By The Book