Sunday, April 21, 2013

Brunch - Berry Buttermilk Muffins

Posted by Brit

A while back (before it got cold again) you could see signs of spring everywhere.  One of my favorite places this time of year is the produce section.  There are new varieties of apples, bigger oranges, and more berries.  While the berry price doesn't drop 'til early summer it's a good thing to splurge on when I am in a warm weather mood.  Luckily the writer at EzraPoundCake feels the same way about berries as I do.  A couple of years ago I found her Berry Buttermilk Muffins recipe and fell in love.  They have come out excellent every time I've made them.  The last couple of times I've made a couple of my own tweaks to her recipe, which she actually adapted from Janie Hilber's book, The Berry Bible.  For $11 I am tempted to buy this book too.

Berry Buttermilk Muffins

Oven: 400 degrees
Yield: 12 muffins

INGREDIENTS
  • Ground cinnamon for sprinkling
  • 1/2 C. sugar, plus sugar for sprinkling
  • 3/4 C. all-purpose flour
  • 1  1/4 C. whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 C. buttermilk
  • 1  1/4 C. fresh berry mix (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, etc.)

The two main differences in my version of the recipe are that I use whole wheat flour and that I use fresh berries.  I like the heartier flavor that whole wheat flour lends and I just feel like these bake up better with fresh (vs. frozen) berries.  I also enjoy the juiciness of fresh berries.  Now, I shop at Dillons and they actually sell fresh pre-mixed berries that are perfect for this recipe.  I get mixed berries without spending a ton on four different cartons of berries.  If you shop somewhere that this is not an option I would recommend choosing two berries that you really like and buying a small carton of each.  Wash them first, and dry them on paper towels before putting into your muffin batter. 

1.  Preheat your oven and either a) grease your muffin pan or b) place paper muffin cups in your pan and spray with light cooking oil spray.  Then sprinkle your cinnamon/sugar mixture in the muffin pan/cups.


2.  Sift together 1/2 C. of all-purpose flour, all of whole wheat flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.  Cut in cold butter, if you only have salted butter don't add the coarse salt to the recipe.

3.  In a separate bowl mix your egg and buttermilk.  I have used a buttermilk substitute (1 C. whole milk and 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice; Combine and let stand for 5 minutes) but real buttermilk works best!  Combine the egg mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until moist.  Batter will be lumpy.

4.  Gently mix berries with remaining 1/4 C. of all purpose flour, then slowly combine into batter.


5.  Pour batter into muffin tin.  You can sprinkle more cinnamon sugar mix on top if you'd like.  Bake for 15 minutes and then check with a toothpick.  Bake time may be as long as 25 minutes, but if just depends on how cold your berries are when you start baking.


When you're done, serve with mimosas.



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Sunday, April 7, 2013

Recent Travels

Posted by Brit

I've been a very bad blogger lately!  I went to Vegas last month to meet up with my friend Ashley.  The week before was so busy I made a recipe and took pictures, but I failed to even post it!  Since the trip I've managed to find other things to do other that blog.  The good news is that I've got a couple of recipes saved up now that I hope to post in the next couple of weeks.

Las Vegas was an excellent time!  I had some issues getting there Friday night, but made it just in time for Ashley and I to grab breakfast and start our day.  We shopped, we drank, we ate... it was really fun and surprisingly relaxed for a Vegas vacation.  It was definitely a different experience just going with two people, as last time we went with four.  A few highlights for me were the Hoffbrau haus, a German beer garden modeled after the original Hoffbrau Haus in Munich.  I loved the tapas restaurant we went to Sunday night!  Ashley and I got a Groupon for it and stuffed ourselves on tapas and sangria.  We also checked out the old Vegas strip where we got one of those famous cheap Vegas meals and they still have some old machines that spit out quarters when you win, which we got to see in action when Ashley hit a $250 jackpot!  Although I didn't win any money it was good to see Ashley finally win in Vegas! 

HoffBrau Haus
HoffBrau drinking contest... this guy wasn't supposed to be drinking yet, and definitely was persuaded to leave after reportedly pulling his shirt up and taking his pants off!
Ashley was brave and went for the big glass!
I opted for the half size... and wish I would have gotten the big one!
Ashley sits back to relax as the quarters (1000 of them) continue to pour out of the machine!
Winning buckets!
The Old Strip
Out on The Old Strip
Our Hotel, The Monte Carlo



Hard Rock - The weather was so nice when we were there!
Sangria at Marbella Tapas
And our tapas!
The other trip I've made recently is up to Lawrence to visit my family there and Tia.  It was a great weekend, as usual, but this time I got to meet my cousin, Sarah, and her husband, Randy's, new baby boy Brogan!  He is so sweet.  Of course my boy Gavin got lots of love too!  We played hide and seek on the floor and under blankets and scarves.  We got together and ate pizza and beer and watched KU play!

Gavin, Brogan, and I
At the Gaslight
Sister Sage

I got together this week with some awesome girls that I had my capstone business course with my senior year at WSU.  We haven't seen each other in almost two years, so it was so good to reunite, and it was almost like we never left off.  We had an incredibly tough semester and really bonded during that time.  Also speaking of WSU, I cannot say enough how proud I am of the Wichita State Men's Basketball team for making it to the NCAA Final Four.  Last night was an amazing game against Louisville and we played hard the whole time.  It was such a great and unbelievable experience.  My employer let us wear shocker shirts and jeans on Friday.  The whole city (and surrounding area) was so fired up!  I am a little cheesy, but I actually got chills as we were being introduced on CBS last night!  We had a kick ass time watching at Brandon's brother's house.  SO proud to be a Shocker!

Rachel, Jessie, Tammie and I


Supporting the Shocks!
We called it the Flores Family Half Time Show
Shocker Love!
Paxton and our friend Anna playing with the Shocker balloons!  Our friend Anna is here visiting from Germany and came with us to watch the game!  She loved it!

Until next time...

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