Sunday, February 22, 2009

Do you know the Muffin Man...or Woman?

This morning I woke up with a strange desire to bake...so after surveying the contents of the fridge I decided on homemade blueberry muffins. Lately I've been on a berry kick so I've been heading to Costco (yea, I know you're thinking Costco and Sam's are the home of 30 gallon bottles of catsup not berries!) where I have been the lucky finder of low priced 24oz containers of berries. Right now I've got blackberries and blueberries in the fridge but last week also added raspberries (which I eat faster than I can keep on hand) to the mix. Let's put it this way, 1 small container of any of the aforementioned berries costs between $3-$5, at Costco I've gotten my 24oz boxes for less than $7 a piece...a good savings for someone who eats them as quickly as I do. So, as I said, homemade blueberry muffins were the muffin du-jour today, with an added bonus of a strusel topping!


Blueberry Muffins
1 Stick Softened Butter/Margarine
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Tsp Salt
2 Large Eggs
2 Tsp Baking Powder
2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Milk
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
2 1/2 Cups Fresh Blueberries

Strusel Topping
2/3 Stick Softened Butter
1/2 Cup All-Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Tsp Cinnamon
1/2 Cup Oats (as in Quaker Oatmeal Oats)

1. Preheat oven to 375. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar and salt.
2. Add eggs one at a time, beat well after each egg. Add baking powder.
3. Slowly add in and alternate between flour and milk, beating well in between.
4. Mash 1/2 cup blueberries, add to batter. Stir in vanilla.
5. Add remaining 2 cups blueberries.
6. Pour batter into paper-lined muffin pans filling to the top.
7. Put all dry strusel ingredients together into a bowl, cut in softened butter. Sprinkle evenly over muffins.
8. Bake muffins for 30 minutes or until a cake tester can be inserted and come out clean. Cool on a rack.

So on a separate note, yesterday I had the pleasure of going to Dallas to see the King Tut exhibition at the Museum of Art, a very cool experience. Prior to our entrance time, my boyfriend and I wandered around the remnants (I say that because it was 2pm) of the Farmers Market and found all kinds of great produce we brought home with us. I bought red plums, fresh mangos, fresh shelled peas, brussel sprouts and more jalapenos than I know what to do with. I guess I'll be making some salsa this week and stuffing jalapenos but that will still leave me with plenty (as you can see from the photo), any ideas for all these jalapenos?


10 comments:

Chef E said...

I say stuff them green monsters :), when you read some of my post lately I have been on a jalapeno stuff...

My hubby also told me last night he wanted blueberry muffins too, and was at the register with his, so I could make them and they fell through the cart space, and rolled all over the place, so he quickly ran out...I will have to try these to make up for his unhappy experience :)

Dee said...

The muffins look delicious. I do know the muffin woman:) ha!
I would suggest stuffing them, making My home made fire roasted Salsa, Jalapeno Fudge *remember my cheesy recipe for that? You could also be quite daring & take one on the chin whilst throwing back that Whole Foods Jalapeno loaded smoothie we saw....ha! (don't say no, just look up the very beneficial properties!:)

Chef E said...

I agree with Mom Muffin...do something wild, I would!

Karen said...

If you have access to a smoker, you could smoke some of the jalapenos and make your own chipotles!

Christo Gonzales said...

wow homemade chipotles sound like a great idea...I was just going to say pickle them until I read that...

Reeni said...

I wish I was the muffin woman's neighbor!! They look great especially with streusel on them! The peppers are perfect, can't wait to see what you do with them.

Tangled Noodle said...

Great muffins! As for the jalapeno debate, stuffing would be nice but I have to give my vote for chipotle-making!

Anonymous said...

Mmm... blueberry muffins look delicious. Making your own chipotle would definitely be neat.

Hornsfan said...

Chef E - I just checked out your jalapenos, very cool! I feel so bad for your hubby - I read your post about his blueberry disaster!
Mom - these were tasty, wish you were here, I know you would love them! I have plans to make your salsa ASAP! Not so sure if I'm up for the smoothie but hey, won't rule it out completely!
Karen & doggyblogy - sounds cool, not sure if I'm capable, no smoker to use!
Reeni - I wish I was your neighbor, you make the greatest stuff on your blog I'm consistently wishing I was there :)
Tangled Noodle - I did my first round of stuffed peppers last night, a tried and true thing for us, cheese stuffed jalapenos, wrapped in bacon and grilled...they were delish! I stuffed them with manchego and a Dubliner Irish Cheddar (what I had on hand) and then wrapped them in maple bacon (again, what I had on hand), they were superb!
5 Star - thanks! The muffins were tasty and I totally wish I had a smoker to smoke up some peppers!

Hornsfan said...

Thanks Sophie!