i mean.. seriously?!
oh, hi! bet you didn’t think you would see me so soon again! i know!! check me out, ma! i’m doin it!!!
so on this one day.. i made blueberry muffins. exhibit:
yeah, alright, so i could have pushed those berry-toppers down a little more.. but you know what? they will still taste good!!!
as usual, i ‘adapted’ the recipe from smitten kitchen. (see: straight up copied). but what can i say?? the woman writes an immaculate recipe! welllll okay- i did add some extra blueberries.. but how could i not?!
smitten kitchen’s perfect blueberry muffins
ingredients
5 tbsp unsalted butter , softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
8 oz sour cream or plain yogurt
1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 6oz container fresh blueberries
go get it!
preheat oven to 375. line muffin tins.. or don’t! i won’t tell! i was able to create a pocket in the batter for my blueberries.. i didn’t have a single problem lifting them from their craters!
beat butter & sugar until light and fluffy. add the egg & beat well, then add lemon zest and sour cream/yogurt.
sift baking powder, baking soda, salt, and .75 cups of flour over batter. mix until incorporated, then sift in remaining .75 cups of flour. fold in blueberries.
pour into muffin tins- about 3/4 full. bake 25-30 minutes.
notes
HA! do you want to know the most hilarious thing?! -and a testament to how silly of a baker i am?!
i just realized i used 2.5 cups of flour instead of 1.5, and 2.5 tsp of baking powder instead of 1.5!!! and you know- when i got to the mixing in the berries.. i looked at the batter, and at the berries, and at my spatula… and i JUST SAID NO! but hey! this should mean something- i did not notice my error until i was typing the recipe! well, if you would like to go with my, err, uhhmm, ‘modification’..
drop a few berries in each hole, then top with some batter.. which, can i say.. is just pretty much cookie dough. and i say that with love! if you are not using cups, put some dough down first, then some berries, then more dough..
..then more berries! oh the joy. these little cakes are very light of the sweetness.. which i don’t mind much! of course, it may or may not have something to do with my little.. modification.. with the flour.. and the doubling.. and the oops?? so as far as solutions.. you are on your own there, pal. you could always, of course, read through the 391 comments on sk’s post to see what other’s thought.. but frankly, i think that takes all the fun out of it.
hey, check out this naked lemon:
live yo life, okay?
hi!
oh, hey there! hi! hello! yoohoo!
if i may have your attention, please!
could this be? does this mean? i am back?!
let me just tell you what i have been up to lately…
i have packed exactly twenty one boxes! we are moving in about four weeks.. and i am realizing that i may have jumped the gun a little bit?? because really.. i think we will need to pack about five more boxes to be finished! OOPZ. i am seeing boxes. boxes. boxes. just piled around the sofa. it is a little depressing, and mj/23$ is not even taking advantage of this playground.
oh, the biggest news of all, though.. the other day, i saw titanic in three dimensions! it was the best me-date ever.. just me, a free movie pass (THX BEST SISSY EVER), a soft pretzel, large dr pepper (cuz u know its worth dat extra fifty cents!), and miniature butterfingers. uhh. yeah- i mean business on my me-dates! OH and i was also sure to wear the nicest outfit.. only the best for my girl, me!
anyways, if you have not already.. i would like to take this opportunity to encourage you, nay, beg you to go! go now! before it’s too late! you do not want to miss this chance to see titanic on the biggest screen! oh how i dream of seeing the titanic at a drive in.. could you even imagine?! do you know that i now dream of seeing every great movie in a huge theater?? whoa. i have always thought it was a little silly when people say the movie’s are “magical”.. but there really, really, really! is this incredible, magical, amazing feeling when you are watching something familiar, something you know so well, up on that megaplex screen. i just.. i really can’t even.. uhhh. it is so good! and titanic of all !!!!! i just want to let you know that i marked, with a strong exclamation point in my head, the moment of escalation- when the viewer is required to switch from VHS I to VHS II. oh, i think you know it, dear friends..
right… about… HERE!
AHH i get so anxious even now!
please promise you will see an old favorite in a big theater every chance you get! and invite me, too!!
i am sorry this is all i have for you!
dearest friends,
i have a very important question & opportunity for you!
have you. ever. wanted to make your own riccota cheese?!
DING DING DING WELL TODAY IS YOUR LUCKY DAY DUDE!
truths- this is one of my favorite things to make. you really only have to wash, like, three dishes.. the active time is maybe five minutes.. and it makes you feel like a badass because you are all “sup grocery store, gimme that milk & cream and I’LL JUST MAKE MY OWN.” okay, so i don’t know if it is actually cheaper.. news flash- cream is kind of expensive. but sometimes a girl’s just gotta put her hands in the dirt or something. did this just get weird?
RECIPE
(most bloggers would probably insert a note right here that says “adapted from..” but truths again- this is straight up copied from smitten kitchen.. with tons of love, of course! read about her ricotta dreams here)
/3 cups whole (or whatever you have) milk
/1 cup heavy cream (i used whipping cream.. is there a difference??)
/.5 teaspoon salt
/the juice of one lemon – 3 tablespoons – about .25 cup
step 1! pour milk, cream, & salt in a med-large stainless pot. Heat over medium-ish heat, stirring as much as you want, until a thermometer reads 190 degrees.
step 2! remove from heat. pour in lemon juice & give it a few quick stirs. now leave it alone for five minutes while it gets all gross!
step 3! line your biggest sieve, or colander with the most & smallest holes (salad spinner inserts are perfect) with cheese cloth (i buy the expensive kleenex-brand paper towels– which, when doubled, work better than cheese cloth in my opinion.) place the colander/strainer/whateva over a bowl that is bigger & deeper.
step 4! slowly pour the chunky lemon-milk into the strainer & let that baby drain. after an hour, you can scoop it into an adorable container & store it in the refrigerator for about a week or so. If you wait two hours, it will continue to thicken & have the consistency of cream cheese- which i have not yet been disciplined enough to experience.. but i am not complaining!
this stuff is pretty much mind blowing when served simple- on toasted bread.. either savory (these are quick-pickled onions) or sweet with honey & fruit.. OMG. this fluffy white stuff is also amazing with warm orzo pasta or rice.. and in yotam ottolenghi’s stuffed cabbage recipe from plenty.
I LOVE CHEESE YALL.
i just want you to know that i love you. sorry i have been falling down lately… there is just so much happening in real, non-internet life! we are moving to austin, tx in june.. and although i will not start packing until after june 6, it is still keeping my mind REALLY occupied.
love you, though!!!
you guys!!! the amazing kasumi has so graciously contributed a post this week!! i am beyond grateful and this super sweet gesture could not have come at a better time– my motivation & posting habits are at an all-time low.. i know.. i’m sorry! i have no doubt that this will be the swift kick in the bum i need to get back in the swing of things!!
ingredients
3 large potatoes [peeled and cut]
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1 cup heavy cream
6 tablespoons butter
2 large onions, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups of sliced mixed winter vegetables [celery, turnips, brussel sprouts, parsnips, fennel cabbage, or celery root]
2 carrots, sliced
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme and or tarragon
3 cups canned beef broth, chicken broth, or vegetable stock
my current motto:
i dont wanna
but i am working on it, alright??
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