For a delightful literary and culinary experience, pair the Lemon Pound Cake Muffins with "A Woman Is No Man" by Etaf Rum, along with a refreshing Lemon Lavender Gin Fizz. The muffins' delicate lemony brightness echoes the bittersweet exploration of personal identity found in Rum's novel, creating a thought-provoking and flavorful journey. The Lemon Lavender Gin Fizz enhances this reading experience by complementing the citrus notes with aromatic lavender, providing a soothing and refreshing backdrop for the engaging narrative. This pairing promises an enriching session of flavors and introspection, perfect for a contemplative afternoon.
Ingredients
For the Muffins:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Zest of 2 lemons
- Juice of 1 lemon
For the Lemon Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease it lightly with cooking spray.
Prepare the Dry Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Cream the Butter and Sugar:
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk and sour cream (or Greek yogurt). Begin and end with the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Fill the Muffin Tin:
- Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full.
Bake the Muffins:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Prepare the Lemon Glaze:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and fresh lemon juice until smooth. Adjust the consistency with more lemon juice if needed.
Glaze the Muffins:
- Drizzle the lemon glaze over the cooled muffins and let it set for a few minutes before serving.
A Woman Is No Man
In her debut novel, Etaf Rum delivers a vivid, poignant story about three generations of Palestinian-American women struggling with their place in the world. "A Woman Is No Man" explores the intricacies and hurdles of identity, dreams, and family expectations in a world that often refuses to change.
A Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist for Best Fiction and Best Debut • BookBrowse's Best Book of the Year • A Marie Claire Best Women's Fiction of the Year • A Real Simple Best Book of the Year • A PopSugar Best Book of the Year • A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice • A Washington Post 10 Books to Read in March • A Newsweek Best Book of the Summer • A USA Today Best Book of the Week • A Washington Book Review Difficult-To-Put-Down Novel • A Refinery 29 Best Books of the Month • A Buzzfeed News 4 Books We Couldn't Put Down Last Month • A New Arab Best Books by Arab Authors • An Electric Lit 20 Best Debuts of the First Half of 2019 • A The Millions Most Anticipated Books of the Year “Garnering justified comparisons to Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns… Etaf Rum’s debut novel is a must-read about women mustering up the bravery to follow their inner voice.” —Refinery 29 The New York Times bestseller and Read with Jenna TODAY SHOW Book Club pick telling the story of three generations of Palestinian-American women struggling to express their individual desires within the confines of their Arab culture in the wake of shocking intimate violence in their community. "Where I come from, we’ve learned to silence ourselves. We’ve been taught that silence will save us. Where I come from, we keep these stories to ourselves. To tell them to the outside world is unheard of—dangerous, the ultimate shame.” Palestine, 1990. Seventeen-year-old Isra prefers reading books to entertaining the suitors her father has chosen for her. Over the course of a week, the naïve and dreamy girl finds herself quickly betrothed and married, and is soon living in Brooklyn. There Isra struggles to adapt to the expectations of her oppressive mother-in-law Fareeda and strange new husband Adam, a pressure that intensifies as she begins to have children—four daughters instead of the sons Fareeda tells Isra she must bear. Brooklyn, 2008. Eighteen-year-old Deya, Isra’s oldest daughter, must meet with potential husbands at her grandmother Fareeda’s insistence, though her only desire is to go to college. Deya can’t help but wonder if her options would have been different had her parents survived the car crash that killed them when Deya was only eight. But her grandmother is firm on the matter: the only way to secure a worthy future for Deya is through marriage to the right man. But fate has a will of its own, and soon Deya will find herself on an unexpected path that leads her to shocking truths about her family—knowledge that will force her to question everything she thought she knew about her parents, the past, and her own future.
Discussion Questions
- How do the different settings (Palestine and Brooklyn) enhance the story?
- Discuss the significance of the title "A Woman Is No Man."
- In what ways do the characters' cultural heritage impact their choices?
- What does the novel say about the expectations placed on women across generations?
- How does the theme of silence play a role in the family dynamics?
- Discuss the symbolism of books and reading in the novel.
- How does Deya's journey toward self-discovery contrast with Isra's experiences?
- What role does Nasser play in Deya's story, and how does he influence her path?
- How is forgiveness portrayed in the novel, and is it necessary for healing?
- Discuss the ending and how it shapes the overall message of the book.
Authors:
Etaf Rum
ISBN: 9780062699767
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published Date: 2019-03-05
ISBN: 9780062699767
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published Date: 2019-03-05
Lemon Lavender Gin Fizz
A refreshing cocktail that blends the citrusy tang of lemon with the floral notes of lavender, creating a sophisticated and aromatic drink perfect for any book club gathering.
Ingredients
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 3/4 oz lavender simple syrup
- Club soda
- Lemon twist and lavender sprig (for garnish)
Instructions
- Fill a shaker with ice.
- Add gin, lemon juice, and lavender simple syrup to the shaker.
- Shake well and strain into a glass filled with ice.
- Top with club soda and gently stir.
- Garnish with a lemon twist and lavender sprig before serving.