Blueberry Muffins

I've been searching high and low for an AMAZING blueberry muffin recipe. I've tried lots of recipes but this is definitely the best one to date. This muffin has lots of blueberries, not overly sweet, and none of the dreaded (at least to me) the overly sweet streudal topping. I found this recipe at A Chow Life. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe!

Dutch Babies and Blueberry Compote

I read some food blogs, but have never really tried recipes from others' blogs. But I saw this recipe on Sommer's blog, a spicy perspective, and had to try it because there were so few ingredients and all were available in my fridge so it was a no brainer. Since I was hosting a special guest with a hearty appetite, I thought why not. The only thing I would change about the recipe is the amount of butter used. I used the 2T in the batter but I found that I did not need 4T to coat the cupcake bakeware, more like 2T. Also, if you do not have vanilla sugar, than add 1 tsp vanilla, keeping the sugar amount the same.

I made a very easy blueberry compote as an alternative for syrup (though they were delicious with syrup and powder sugar) that I found on the food network website, Ellie Krieger's recipe. I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty it was. Super easy with ingredients found at home. Could be used in oatmeal, pancakes, french toast etc. The compote is runny so I would add 1-2 tsp of flour to thicken it or cornstarch depending on what you have on hand.

Dutch babies are yummy and light. They aren't every day fare but make a wonderful weekend treat.

Blueberry Muffins

I use A LOT of Deborah Madison's recipe. Why not? EVERY recipe I've tried from her Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone is excellent, and turns out as she describes. Recipe after recipe, I've not had one dud. So when I need a recipe, I turn to her, confident that I'll produce a successful dish, even if it takes time.

These blueberry muffins were tasty, moist, and heart warming. And it was the first muffin recipe that was true to the amount. You really do get 12 VERY nicely rounded muffins in a standard muffin tin. These muffins also freeze very well. After defrosting over night, place in the microwave for about 30 seconds, and it's like they came out of the oven.

I used 1/2 cup sugar because I'm trying to watch my sugar and found that it was a little less sweet than I would like though if you put a dollop of nice jam, it would be perfect. Next time, I think I'll increase the sugar to 3/4 cup. Also, watch the bake time. I checked the muffins at 20 minutes (5 minutes a head of recommended bake time) and they were done. Next time, I might check in at 17-18.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour or whole-wheat pastry flour (I used all purpose)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 1/3 cup canola oil or butter, melted (I used butter)
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup blueberries (blackberries and raspberries would also work)

Preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray, oil, or butter muffin tins. Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wets in a second bowl, then combine them with a few swift strokes. Using a rubber spatula, stir the batter up from the bottom of the bowl to make sure that there aren't any pockets of flour. Don't beat the batter, and don't worry about an uneven appearance. Spoon or scoop the batter into tins, going nearly to the top for nicely rounded muffin. Bake in the upper third of the oven until browned and well risen, about 25 minutes. Turn out muffins and serve.

Blueberry Cornmeal Scones

Photos by TSW

Cooking is about creating memories which is why it is so much more fun with friends. More important than the end result, is the process of cooking, being present in the moment, and creating a collection of memories. Everything about cooking, the camaraderie, scents, ingredients, instantly makes me nostalgic, mindful of the power of the past, and hopeful about the future. It's amazing how potent memories are.

I had forgotten how much fun it is to cook with others, especially with folks that know how to cook or at the very least, enjoy the process. With a new friend, we made blueberry cornmeal scones for the aforementioned brunch. It was his vision and he had really thought about it so I went with it. I'm kind of a rigid cook partly because I want everything to be super successful so I find myself in uncharted territory when I go out on a limb. But it's 2008, and with all the changes I've made in other aspects of my life, cooking should be no exception. Plus, since as the sous-chef, it was not my role to say anything but to really just follow along. The scones were fabulous and showed me how to have fun in changing things up.

We followed the recipe I used for blueberry scones, and made the following modifications:

-2 1/4 c flour and 3/4 c polenta
-2/3 cup full fat raw milk +1 tbs
-1/2 cup blueberries (frozen are fine)
-1/2 cup corn kernels

So I used a little more liquid than what is called for and the dough was more moist than usual because I used less flour (2 1/4 vs 3 c). Polenta does not absorb liquid as much so....but it turned out fine. You may want to start with 1/3 cup and add more in as you go.

See the corn kernels? Don't these look better than the ones I previously blogged about? These were as scones should be...crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Coffee would be the perfect mate I think.

Cook and create your own memories!

Blueberry Lemon Cake

Photo by TSW

What do you when you're invited to a New Year's brunch where you know one person and no one else? You try to kick some cooking butt. It was a week in which I had too many things to do between work and social activities, three of which were on Saturday alone! Every day I was in bed no earlier than midnight and quite frankly, I wouldn't have had it any other way so I was forced to make something simple and delicious. Usually when I make things for potlucks, I really like to go over top. Thinking back to 2003 when I made baked goods for our monthly meetings I recall a blueberry lemon pound cake which everyone loved but then simultaneously complained about their diets being ruined (it was a femaled dominated work place). It's not my fault if they have no self control. I could not find that recipe but I found this slightly less heart-unfriendly recipe. You know that pound cake got it's name from the pound of butter that is required to make it.

I thought this recipe was awesome. I didn't alter it in any way and while some reviewers complained that it was too sweet I thought it was perfect. The lemon pops if you use enough and I think that's the key to reducing the sweetness. In addition to a solid recipe, I credit my new fabulous bake ware for the beautiful presentation. Williams-Sonoma Nonstick Goldtouch Loaf Pan, 1 lb. ($19) is the most highly rated loaf pan tested by America's Test Kitchen.

My only complaint, which is true of all sweet breads, is that the ends are cooked through before the center. Any solutions to this?

Since I followed this recipe to a T and it's available online, I dare not rewrite the recipe. Click on the title of this entry and you'll l have the recipe.

Simple is best!

Blueberry Scones

I just adore scones but don't love that they don't taste so good when I've purchased them in stores, restaurants, and coffee shops. They're dry, too sweet, hard as rocks, and not fluffy. Having wanted to make scones forever, I decided to forge ahead after a friend shared her recipe. Plus, Sunday mornings scream scones with a nice cup of coffee or tea. The recipe, like my friend, is kick-ass, and I think I hit a grand slam in preparing them. They were perfect -- slightly crispy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside, and just perfectly sweet. The home was filled with the smell of butter and blueberries. What a way to wake up!

I've made low-fat scones and lived to blog about them. I shouldn't have. They weren't nearly as good. Not even close. The fat is what makes a scone successful. And if you use good fats, then a scone isn't nearly as unhealthy as one would think.

Ingredients
-3 cups flour
-4 tsp baking powder
-1/2 tsp baking soda
-1/2 tsp salt
-8 T butter

Cut butter into the dry ingredients listed above (until coarse, you want little chunks of butter the size of peas). Stir in wet ingredients listed below:

-1/2 cup sugar
-1 large egg, beaten
-2/3 cup buttermilk (I used low fat only because that was the smallest container available, otherwise I would have gone full fat)
-1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Stir until just mixed. Divide dough into two parts, and pat each into a circle. Cut each circle into 6 wedges. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes until brown.

The dough is very sticky so I would flour your hands when you pat down otherwise you'll end up with a lot of dough on your hand, like I did. Don't be tempted to add any more liquid even if you think the batter is dry. It will come together, especially if you use frozen blueberries and they start to thaw a bit. Adding more liquid will just make the dough that much more sticky.

Enjoy!