Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin or individual ramekins.
Prepare Date Mixture: Place the dates in a blender or food processor and pour the boiling water over them. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to soften.
Make the Batter:
In a mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the molasses and vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet batter until combined.
Combine Date Mixture and Batter:
Blend the softened date mixture until smooth, then stir in the baking soda.
Gently fold the date mixture into the batter until evenly combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the muffins light.
Bake the Muffins:
Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups or ramekins.
Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few crumbs. For a square baking dish, bake for 22–25 minutes. Avoid overbaking to maintain moisture.
Prepare the Toffee Sauce:
In a small saucepan, combine the cream, brown sugar, butter, and salt. Heat over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is fully dissolved, and the sauce thickens slightly (about 7–10 minutes).
Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Serve:
Turn the muffins flat-side up and drizzle warm toffee sauce generously over the top. Garnish with chopped walnuts if desired.
Storage Tips: Store the muffins and toffee sauce separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Enjoy these indulgent muffin cakes warm for the ultimate treat!
In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and 1/2 tsp sugar in warm water.
Let it sit until bubbles form on the surface, about 5–10 minutes.
Mix the Dough:
In a separate bowl, whisk together the salt, 3 cups of flour, and the remaining 3 tbsp sugar.
Stir the oil into the yeast mixture, then pour it into the flour mixture. Beat until smooth, then gradually stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until a soft dough forms.
Knead the Dough:
Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning once to coat the top. Cover and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2–2 hours.
Shape the Dough:
Punch down the dough and divide it in half.
Shape each half into a loaf and place in two greased 9×5-inch loaf pans. Cover and let the dough rise again until doubled, about 1–1 1/2 hours.
Bake:
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Bake the loaves for 30–35 minutes or until golden brown. The bread should sound hollow when tapped or with an internal temp of 200°F on a thermometer.
Cool:
Remove the loaves from the pans and cool on wire racks.
Sure, we all know North Carolina is the ‘Tar Heel State’ and home to the Wright Brothers’ first flight. But did you know it was also home to Blackbear and the largest home in America? Buckle up, because we’re diving into some fascinating facts about North Carolina that you didn’t learn in school!”
North Carolina Has Its Own Lost Colony Mystery
Photo from Getty Images
The story of Roanoke is one of America’s greatest mysteries. The word “CROATOAN” carved into a tree is still baffling historians.
The Roanoke Colony was founded in 1585, but after a ship returned in 1590, the colonists had disappeared. John White led the second expedition in 1587 after Sir Walter Raleigh sent White to the Chesapeake Bay to establish the “Cittie of Raleigh.”
White went back to England, intending to return to Chesapeake Bay with supplies in 1588, but his return was delayed until 1590 due to the Anglo-Spanish War. Once he had returned, the words “CROATOAN” were found carved into the palisade (tree trunks or wooden stakes used as a defensive wall).
The fate of the 112 to 121 colonists remains unknown to this day.
In High Point, the “Furniture Capital of the World,” you’ll find a massive 38-foot-tall chest of drawers complete with dangling socks to honor the region’s hosiery industry.
Known as the Bureau of Information, the 19th-century dresser dates back to 1926. The dresser had a complete makeover and transformation in 1996 by Sid Lenger. After Sid Lenger died in 2003, a real estate developer had the socks repainted neon green and orange. The elegant wood finish was also repainted with a coat of gray. This caused a stir with locals who considered it disrespectful to Sid Lenger’s work.
The chest was eventually sold to High Point University in 2018 and Brian Davis, an artist and designer, jumped at the opportunity to restore Lenger’s original vision. The socks were repainted with purple and yellow on one and pink and blue on the other; a nod at the city’s University and minor league baseball team.
The Venus Flytrap Calls North Carolina Home
Endangered in North and South Carolina. Croatin National Forest, North Carolina coastal plain. Photo by Getty Images
This carnivorous plant is native to the wetlands around Wilmington and doesn’t grow naturally anywhere else.
Despite being known worldwide, North and South Carolina are the only natural habitats for wild Venus flytraps. These areas are all within 100 miles of Wilmington and contain the necessary needs for the Venus flytrap such as sunny, nutrient-poor, and wet habitats.
Development around these areas has led to populations of flytraps being extinguished. Wide-spread developments such as golf courses, housing, and commercial areas are responsible for the loss of flytraps.
Fayetteville is where miniature golf began in the early 20th century, paving the way for date nights and family outings everywhere.
In 1954, Don Clayton designed and built the first putt-putt course in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He wanted to create a more organized course that helped with putting skills. Clayton was frustrated with miniature golf courses that featured windmills and waterfalls. He set out to build courses using 3-by-5 cards.
He began with charging 25 cents for 18 holes and after a year, he was selling franchises.
A State Full of Superlatives
Photo by Getty Images
You may know the phrase “First in Flight,” but North Carolina is a place of many firsts. From the tallest brick lighthouse (Cape Hatteras) to the oldest state university (UNC-Chapel Hill), North Carolina is full of firsts and record-holders.
North Carolina holds the Guinness World Record for longest surviving double heart bypass patient. Bobby Brown of Gastonia North Carolina has a double heart bypass surgery in his mid 30’s. CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia performed the surgery and as of 2017, Brown was a sprightly 78-year-old.
In Cabarrus County, the nation’s first gold rush started in 1799. A 12-year-old boy, Conrad Reed, was spotted playing with a large nugget on his family farm. The 17-pound nugget was used as a doorstop for the family as the value of gold wasn’t commonly understood in their community. The nugget was purchased for $3.50 (equivalent to $74.53 as of 2023) but the true value would be around $3,600.
Blackbeard, one of history’s most infamous pirates, made his home along North Carolina’s coast. His ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, was discovered off Beaufort in 1996.
Blackbeard arrived on North Carolina’s coast in June 1718, settling in North Carolina’s first established town, historic Bath. He received the “gracious pardon” from colonial governor Charles Eden immediately upon his arrival.
It is believed that he resided on Plum’s Point. Members of the Bonner family, who resided in the house across the bay, claim that during storms, they could see a ball of fire sail back and forth from Plum Point to Archbell Point.
The Appalachian Mountains preserve a dialect with words and phrases from Elizabethan English, making it a fascinating subject for linguists.
The dialect came from settlers who settled in the Appalachians due to the abundant resources. By settling in the Appalachians, they cut themselves off from the rest of the country, creating natural isolation.
This allowed the language and dialect to remain alive without the influence of the European language. To this day, phrases are used in Appalachian Dialect that are no longer common in other areas across the country.
Created by Duke Power in the 1960s, Lake Norman is the largest man-made body of water in North Carolina, spanning over 32,000 acres.
Lake Norman was originally dry land where people lived and worked up until a little over 60 years ago. In the 1890s it was proposed that a dam be built by an engineer working on the Niagra Falls dam. Duke funded what was then the Catawba Power Company to carry out the plans for the dam.
Lake Norman spans four counties and more than 32,000 acres of surface. Underneath the man-man lake, there are many remains of the town that once inhabited the area. There are remains of a 1938 summer camp and the site of the Battle of Cowan’s Ford from 1781.
Underneath the water, old gravesites, plantations, homesites, and highways can be found. In 2013, firefighters found an airplane using sonar.
Located in Asheville, the Vanderbilt family’s Biltmore Estate has over 175,000 square feet of floor space and 250 rooms.
George Washington Vanderbilt, born in 1862, is a part of America’s wealthiest and best-known family. He visited Asheville in 1888 where he began to envision he could build his country home. He began purchasing land for what would become the Biltmore, hiring Richard Morris Hunt to design and build his new home.
Construction began in 1889 and officially opened to the Vanderbilt family in 1895. The Biltmore includes 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces. Three years after the home opened, George Vanderbilt married Edith Stuyvesant Dresser and promptly returned to live at the Biltmore.
George Vanderbilt passed away in 1914 at 51 and was buried on their family estate in Staten Island. In 1930, George Vanderbilts daughter Cornelia and her husband John Cecil opened the Biltmore House to the public. In 1963, The Biltmore was officially nominated as a National Historic Landmark under “Conservation of Natural Resources.”
Now that you’re armed with some of North Carolina’s best-kept secrets, why not impress your friends with these fun facts? Or better yet, experience some of these places yourself
5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) soft, sweet apples (see note 1) Cored and chopped into small pieces, about ¼”
1 cup (200 g) brown sugar firmly packed
¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
1 vanilla bean (may substitute 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract)
Photo by Getty Images
Directions
Prepare the Apples: Slice apples into small pieces (about ¼-inch thick), discarding the cores. There’s no need to peel the apples. Use 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) of soft, sweet apples.
Place in Slow Cooker: Transfer the apple pieces to the basin of a large slow cooker.
Mix Spices and Sugars: In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and ground cloves. Stir until the mixture is evenly blended.
Combine with Apples: Pour the sugar and spice mixture over the apple pieces and stir well to coat.
Cook Initial Batch: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low heat for 10 hours.
Blend: After 10 hours, use an immersion blender to puree the apples directly in the slow cooker until smooth and no chunks remain.
Note: If you don’t have an immersion blender, transfer the mixture in batches to a blender and puree until smooth.
Add Vanilla: Scrape the seeds from 1 vanilla bean (or use vanilla extract) into the apple puree and stir to incorporate.
Cook Uncovered: Continue cooking on low heat for 2 more hours, uncovered, stirring occasionally.
Store: Once the apple butter has cooled, transfer it to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
