T.

When did a muffin become a cupcake sans icing?

In 6th grade home-ec, Mrs. Lenci taught us the strict rules

of muffin-mixing: use a fork (and only a fork)

and stir exactly 46 times. (Or was it 43?!)

OMG, I can't remember! Anyway, a muffin is considered

a quick bread, while a cupcake is to be taken

much more seriously. A cupcake is cake.

And a cake is a serious thing. For example, a cake

by nature contains at least twice as much butter and sugar

as a muffin. It's dessert. It comes after the meal,

after the muffin, if you will. A muffin is an accompaniment.

I mean, I'm all for eating cake at and with every meal, but

let's be sensible. Coffee shops and delis these days are virtually 

overflowing with both uniced cupcakes (muffins) and those

with a week's-load of fat calories heaped on top. Adding the

word "carrot" to the muffin name seemingly adds to its

health value. Come on! It's just carrot cake that someone

forgot to frost! I propose a return to the Mrs. Lenci-type-

43 (or is it 46?) stroke muffin. Less sugar,

less fat. And please, please, use a fork.