As far as baking is concerned, muffins are one of the easiest delicacies to make.  At least, that’s what I’m told… I still get nervous when following the only golden rule of muffins – minimize mixing, because I once wound up with some powdery flour dispersed in the crumb.   It was a disturbing experience.    But, in the name of bringing  sweetness to our lab meeting, I sucked it up and baked a batch.

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS
(from Pam Anderson’s The Perfect Recipe)

3 cups flour
1 Tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
10 Tbs butter, at room temperature
1 cup minus 1 Tbs sugar
2 large eggs
1 + 1/2 cup yogurt
1 tsp lemon zest
1 + 1/2 cups fresh blueberries + 1 Tbs flour

Heat oven to 375 F.   Coat a 12-cup muffin tin (each muffin about 1/2 cup) with oil, or line it with paper cups.

In one bowl, mix all dried ingredients:  flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Stir to combine.

Beat the butter with the sugar and the lemon zest in an electric mixer in medium-high speed until light and fluffy – about 2 minutes.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat in half of the dry ingredients, then one third of the yogurt.  Beat half of the dried ingredients, alternating with the yogurt, until every thing is incorporated.  Do not overmix.  Add the tablespoon of flour to the blueberries, and fold them in the muffin batter.   Divide the batter among the muffin cups, bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown.

Set on a wire rack to cool, un-mold, and serve.

ENJOY!

to print the recipe, click here

Comments: For reasons that escape me, I didn’t care for blueberries until a few years ago.  At home, the official pancake maker always had a  few blueberry-free flapjacks ready for me.  Suddenly, after a blueberry pie or other blueberry treat (I don’t exactly recall), I fell madly in love with them, and now indulge in every opportunity.  A  small bowl of blueberries topped with Greek-yogurt and a swirl of agave nectar is just dreamy, and perfect late in the evening while watching Law and Order (why, oh why did they can that show?).

Back to blueberries: these muffins are delicious indeed.   I still need to perfect the mixing, to make  them “light-as-a-feather,” but  I’m getting there.   The next batch might  be it!

ONE YEAR AGO: A PIE FOR YOUR 4th OF JULY