Have you ever noticed that “small talk” usually refers to talking about the weather, music, books and movies?
Whenever someone asks me what kind of music I listen to I usually tense up. A typical young adult conversation goes something like this:
Person 1: What kind of music do you listen to?
Person 2: Oh a little bit of everything… (at this point the person is being polite but eagerly anticipating spouting off a list of the great)
Person 1: What are some of your favorites?
Person 2: Well, Radiohead, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd… (note: if you’re talking to a hipster you’ll probably get some obscure band in there and maybe a Le Tigre or Rilo Kiley).
Person 1: Awesome, I love Radiohead.
That’s not really how it happens for me. Usually, I avoid that question at all costs by turning it around and asking what they listen to, because let’s be realistic no one wants to hear that your favorites are Beyonce and Shakira. Should you dare to admit which ones you actually like, you are bound to be met with a confused glare and an undoubted perceptive drop in IQ in the mind of the asker (the exception to this being foreign pop… if you like that, you’re golden. Thank God for Juanes).
So while my musical taste may be abysmal, I feel that I have two redeeming qualities: movies and baking.
I like my fair share of ridiculous movies (ahem… New Moon… *cough*), but I like Wes Anderson movies as much as the next person and thought Raging Bull was great! I feel that I can adequately have a semi-productive conversation with a “movie snob.”
My other redeeming quality…
Blueberry Coconut Oat Muffins with Maple Oat Topping
1/2 cup apple sauce
1/2 a small banana mashed
2 1/2 tbsp almond butter
1 egg
1/3 cup agave nectar
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
1/2 fresh or frozen blueberries
splash of milk, water or juice if batter too firm (I added about 1/4 cup)
Preheat oven to 350degrees. Combine all the wet ingredients in a bowl. Add the dry ingredients (fold in blueberries at the end). Fill greased muffin pan with batter (about half full), top with crunchy maple oat topping (recipe below). Bake for 20-25 minutes depending on strength of your oven. (Note: you can veganify them by adding an extra 1/4 cup of applesauce or another half of banana instead of the egg)
Crunchy Maple Oat Topping
2 tbsp flour
1/4 cup oats
1/2 tbps coconut oil
1 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
Mix together with your fingers to get a crumbly topping.
I may not know everything there is to know about “good” music, but I can make a hell of a muffin from scratch!
Not to mention they’re low fat and pretty healthy as far as muffins go.
Back to school work… Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Foodologie 
Oh, yes, you CAN make muffins!! Those look fantastic. I almost bought some frozen blueberries today, why didn’t I? *sigh* I’ll just have to drool over yours for now. 😀
Jenn
Blueberries are a beautiful thing to have around all the time!
I like Beyonce and Shakira! No ONE’S music preferences are worse or more embarrassing than my husband’s. He loves Madonna and Celine Dion!!!!!!! Ahhh!
P.S. Totally making those muffins soon, they look incredible. And the pictures – STUNNING!
You’re totally right about baking- those muffins look great 😀 I could probably eat the crunchy oat topping with a spoon
Who doesn’t like Beyonce?!
floyd rules
You kill me with your beautiful creations? Blueberry and coconut AND A MAPLE TOPPING? Uhm, Yes please I’ll have three. At least. 🙂
And I hate that question too. Especially because right now, I’m caught in between genres, and honestly don’t even think I have a favorite artist. I’ve been listening to so much radio, and no one artist in particular. When I used to listen to screamo and hardcore all the time (ugh, I shudder now) I hated the question even more – what’s an adult going to think when you say “oh…mostly people screaming at me from my speakers…you know, the usual.” haha.
Hope your professors don’t work you too hard today!
I tried to be a music snob for a while in grad school (larely because of the hipster d-bag I was dating). It was exhausing. And you know what? I’m sorry, but so much of that music just DOES NOT SOUND GOOD. It felt so nice when I went back to listening to Simon and Garfunkle and James Taylor 🙂
It’s so weird! Over here most people would probably say that they love anything that’s currently high in the charts and I’m always the weirdo who likes indie music.. 😉
Your muffins look SO GOOD! and your photos are like art :).
Ps. I like New Moon and too -as you already know. Got to have some guilty pleasures after all.
My small talk ususally involves food 🙂 Those muffins look great- I love the oat topping!!
Hahahhha I lol-ed at this. See, LOL.
And I hate that question, what kind of music do you like? Everyone always gives that response you said! hahah
And don’t feel bad if you like shakira or beyonce! their music is popular for a reason! it’s perfect for shakin’ it. or letting you feel like you are shakin’ it on the inside even though you’re just walking down the street or sitting on the bus! I could listen to She-Wolf 10 times a day.
I enjoy a lot of chart-topping pop too as well as my share of indie stuff, but I agree on generic conversations. OMG, you liked New Moon?!?!? Just kidding. 🙂 I really enjoyed the book… Anyway, the muffins look amazing.
WOW girl those look soo good! I ADORE MUFFINS!! mmm!
Music can be a touchy subject. I am the one that says, I like it all, which for the most part, is true, including country. Your muffins are killer! I really like the topping. 🙂
I don’t follow music and I get nervous when people want to talk about it as well.
I hate the music topic!!! I don’t know a whole lot about it and listen to a bunch of types…. Yuck I dont even like typing about my taste in music!
Those muffins look so good!! I love muffins with a crumble 🙂
Those muffins are like wonderful music to my ears. You could listen to Raffi, and I wouldn’t care–just give me a muffin…hehehe
I think I can admit that I like Shakira. hehehe… what’s wrong with that? we don’t need to be “deep” in every aspect of our lives!!! 😀
gorgeous muffin!
MMmm blueberry muffins! And I think EVERYONE in the world loves Shakira and Beyonce (AND NEW MOON). Don’t be ashamed!
Have you seen Darjeeling Limited. I thought it was fantastic!
I. Need. A. MUFFIN!!! Whoa these pictures just blew my mind! Looks amazing!
There’s no shame in loving Beyonce or Shakira (says the girl who knows all the lyrics to all the Shakira songs)! You like what you like and you make awesome baked goods and that’s more than fine–forget the hipsters…. They secretly listen to Beyonce too, they just don’t admit it 🙂
I don’t care what kind of music you like, these are gorgeous!!!! 🙂
LOL I feel the same way but with my taste in movies. When people ask me my favorites I really don’t want to say Dumb and Dumber, Police Academy, Something About Mary and Muppets Take Manhatten b/c I think it will ruin my street cred!
Those muffins… yes. Just yes.
I have terrible taste in music too — well, I don’t think it’s terrible but others’ do — and totally pull the “oh, a little of everything” and try to change the subject. 😉