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Muffins: A Ravenclaw Tradition
Raven Malette, Phedre Montreve, Lydia Ellis, Deddy Perdana, Hazreal Heanns, Rowan Nazz

Muffins. Just what are they? Are they Muffled fins? Or is it the new term for Muffs that have become the "IN" thing these days?

Hmm...Muffins are a form of edible food, that derive their name from the French word "Mouffiet." Born in the 11th century in Britain, they started out with simple recipes, limited to different grains (e.g. corn, wheat bran, oatmeal), whipped up together with a few additives (e.g. raisins, apples, nuts) in muffin rings/pans on a grill/broil forming GRILLED MUFFINS! Fortunately for our not-so-hardworking (also known as lazy) senses, muffins are now more practically cooked by our dedicated ovens, added with preservatives such as sugar and fat (-gasps-) to extend their shelf-life from the few hours they lasted previously. As such, muffins have evolved into contemporary franchise foods like doughnuts and pastries, but have surpassed the latter(s) as accepted homemade-food alternatives. This is why today, we can see muffins ranging from the size of giant mushrooms to only one or two inches in diameter (mini-muffins) of all flavours and concoctions, held in muffin pans and cups of all shapes and sizes all around the world, and especially so here in Ravenclaw.

According to dictionary.com, the definition of a tradition is a continuing practice, a long standing custom that has been handed down generation after generation. Indeed, Ravenclaw's muffin tradition has come a long way. It all started out with our honored former Head Girl, Leah Samson, with her renditions of "Oh muffin!" in place of less family-friendly interjections. With such, she started handing out muffins, and the rest of us caught on and started doing likewise. Interesting start?

Well, of course, it is also interesting to note where muffins have ventured into and held their well respected positions today. Based on our investigations and research, there is no place, be it our forums or chatrooms, that muffins have not "infiltrated," and no occasion whereby muffins have been placed out of the door!

ATTENTION all potential NEWBIE-EATERS.
The way to go to minion-ing and instigating your newbie to follow what you say, well um...we mean caring for your newbie, is found under here: Adopt-An-Eaglet: Proper Handling and Training Guide, Step Three: Rewarding Your Newbie.
"...Another possible reward for your newbie is extra muffins. Although newbies are Ravenclaws and also scurrying for knowledge, muffins remain an essential part of the Ravenclaw diet...But muffins have become the tradition of Ravenclaw, and must be eaten to ensure physical health - and scientifically proven, the extra muffins will give your newbie a positive boost to do MORE good deeds."

It is advisable that potential and current adopters under the "Adopt-an-eaglet" programme take note when feeding their newbie(s) with muffins though. According to research and experience, newbies require variety in the type of muffins eaten, and a little bit of everything will do them good. It is no doubt however, that as most newbies love muffins, their reactions towards being offered muffins will be pleasant.

What flavours then do we have to offer in Ravenclaw? Oh, the possibilities are endless, but based on a poll on the Ravenclaw common room since July 25, 2005, the current standings for the best muffin flavour is...Double chocolate!! (Or choclate muffin with chocolate chips). Coming in close second, we have the Blueberry muffin! We do stand by the belief that one does not always have to follow the crowd, and everyone is entitled to their own preferences. Should you not find double chocolate or blueberry muffins to your liking, there are always other equally tasty muffins such as cappuccino, cherry, cheese, banana, apple cinnamon and many more. In truth, there is a whole long list of different muffin recipes you might want to consider, all contributed by our passionate muffin-loving eagles and collated by the Ravenclaw library.

The scientific process, or non-magical process of muffin cooking is one long and tedious explanation, but if you would like to know more about how the muffins are "transfigured" from flour and raised by cardon dioxile, or whatever that is, there is always the Muggle’s search engine to turn to. Or perhaps a request for its addition in Muggle Studies will delight your professor very much!

Muffins can take on positive roles, commonly seen in the Roost's Aviary, where students and professors of all houses offer muffins as "gift exchanges," proving the wide-spread love for muffins throughout HOL. Also, muffins are given as rewards, such as in the not-so-recent May Muffin Madness held in Ravenclaw. However, muffins can also take on the villain role -evil grins-. Cases of killer muffins jumping about below dormitory beds causing destruction have been reported, and have constantly worried the heads of our house. Just be warned.

To sum it all up, muffins have held an irreplaceable spot in the hearts of Ravenclaw students, and we believe this tradition will always continue to hold that place.