Today's Case:
Warmuth's Prune Muffins
Re: Warmuth's Prune Muffins
From: Mike
To: Phaedrus
Date: 1/1/2025, 2:28 PM
On 12/31/2024 9:41 PM, Mike wrote:
Hi,
My mother in-law was mentioning a restaurant in Boston called Warmuth's.
They had a prune muffin that was famous. I've searched but have not been
able to find the recipe. I'm curious if it can be found.
Thanks,
Mike
Hello Mike,
I'm afraid that the trail to finding this recipe is quite tenuous. It appears that Warmuth's closed in 1970.
I found a few mentions of Warmouth's prune(muffins, rolls) on the web, but no recipe.
There is a photo of Warmuth's Menu here: http://ciadigitalcollections.culinary.edu/digital/collection/p16940coll1/id/17137/
There is an old newspaper item about Walter Miner, who was Warmuth's Baker, here: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-about-creator-of-warmut/39840889/ However, It's quite an old item, and there's no indication that he is still living.
Finally, I found an item on the site of a United Kingdom seller of used books:
Cape Ann Cookbook, A; from the Women's Auxiliary to the Addison Gilbert Hospital
Condition: Used.
Published: ca. 1969
Quantity Available: 1
Seller:
The Personal Navigator
Rockport, Massachusetts, USA
The blurb for the book at the above url says that it contains a recipe for "Warmuth's Prune Muffins" and it indicates that the book, titled "A Cape Ann Cookbook", was published by "The Women's Auxiliary to the Addison Gilbert Hospital"
My suggestion,then, would be for you to contact: Biblio
Tell them that their "Personal Navigator" lists a book for sale titled "A Cape Ann Cookbook", that was published by "The Women's Auxiliary to the Addison Gilbert Hospital" in 1969. Ask if the book is still for sale and, if so, how can you purchase it?
Also, Addison Gilbert Hospital in Cape Ann, Massachusetts, is an existing hospital. I tried to find some contact information for their "Women's Auxiliary", but I struck a dead end with that. You could contact the hospital itself and ask the if the "Auxiliary" still exists and how you can get in touch with them. The book itself is likely out of print, but the Auxiliary or the Hospital itself might have a copy and might be willing to send you a copy of the recipe.
Let me know what, if any, success you have.
Phaed
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Re: warmuth’s prune muffins
From: Janet
To: Phaedrus
Date: 2/25/2025, 5:26 PM
On 2/25/2025 5:26 PM, JANET wrote:
warmuth’s prune muffins
(Photo sent of typed card with recipe below)
Warmouth's Prune Muffins
Remove stones from 30 stewed prunes & cut prunes in half.
Scald 2 C milk & pour over:
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C shortening
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
Dissolve 2 yeastcakes in 1/2 C warm water.
When milk mixture is lukewarm, add yeast mixture
Add to above & mix well: 2 C flour
Continue adding flour (about 4 C) to make stiff dough.
Let rise once; divide into thirds. Roll out pieces of
dough into rectangle 6" wide x 10" long. Moisten one
long edge with water & the opposite one with melted
shortening.
Blend together:
1/4 C water
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Sprinkle spiced water on surface of dough. Place halved
prunes on dough so each muffin contains 2 halves. Roll
like jelly roll & cut into 10 pieces. Allow to rise in
greased paper muffin cups until doubled.
Bake 350 degrees 25 - 30 minutes Makes 30
