Muffins or Muffin Top

Several days ago, Liz over at Mabel's House (whose blog I've browsed and she has since added me to her sidebar so I added her to mine- Don't you just love the friendly blog world?) posted about baking Blueberry Muffins with her MeMe. Ever since I saw the blueberries on my bike ride and then her post I have been obsessing about these muffins. I've had this recipe for years and many friends and family probably remember coming to my place to spend the night and then having these muffins in the morning. They are easy and the recipe uses ingredients that I always have in the house. I freeze blueberries in one cup measurements just for this purpose. They are good for breakfast, coffee time or my guys like them with corn chowder on a cold winter's night. Enjoy!




Blueberry Muffins
2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
3 tsp. baking powder (A museum volunteer who leads second grade pioneer workshops and bakes biscuits with the kids, always shakes the can before measuring to get the baking powder active. Not sure if it helps but now I do it and you can too.)
1 tsp. salt
1 egg-beaten
1/4 cup butter melted (I do this first and set aside)
1 cup milk
1 cup blueberries
1 T. sugar
Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix the egg, melted and cooled butter and milk in a small bowl. Add to the flour mixture and mix lightly. Batter will be lumpy. Fold in the blueberries. Mine are usually still frozen, but washed. Blueberries should not be washed before you freeze them. My hubby likes to go the local U-pick field with me. Really. It's fun. Spoon into a muffin tin and sprinkle with sugar. I use a heaped levered scoop to fill the tin and it comes out just right.
Bake 375-400 degrees for 20 -25 minutes. This is pretty vague, so today I set it for 375 and 20 minutes and then kept resetting for one more minute until at 25 minutes they were perfect. Just for my readers. You're welcome.
I took a photo for the blog and two seconds later Max asked if those muffins on the plate were for him. Um, sure. I'm really on the Eat Less, Move More program, so go ahead Max. He loved them, especially the crispy sugar on top.
*Edited- I just heard Sam come in the back door and say, "Ohhhh muffins."

We Love This Movie

"Auntie Mame is a 1955 novel by Patrick Dennis that chronicles the madcap adventures of a boy, Patrick, growing up as the ward of his deceased father's eccentric sister, Mame Dennis." -Wikipedia
The hubby and I LOVE this old movie. We first saw it as newlyweds and even now when it is showing on TV, we stop and watch. Someday it would be fun to see the Broadway version. Mame is a hilarious character with lots of zip and we also enjoy the set changes. Mame redecorates her apartment constantly and it goes with her life. She has a heart of gold and has lots of fun in life. Frankly, she is an inspiration to us all...

A Sunday Ride

Sunday afternoon I went for a bike ride in the country. Almost to another country. Rode to the Aldergrove border crossing, said hello to someone I know there and then turned around. It was a nice ride, the smell of fresh mown hay, blueberry fields, beautiful mountain views. I'm venturing farther on my bike. My hubby and I like Sunday drives but with the price of gas this is a better option now.

FYI

Some of you more observant viewers may have noticed that I added a new blog to my sidebar. "Laura's Blog" Laura is my hubby's "sister". She is also Aunt Extrordinaire for my guys. Laura is a social worker at the University of Washington Hospital in Seattle and for many years she has been taking Spanish classes in the evenings. On Saturday she flew to Costa Rica to stay with a host family and take a Spanish class geared for hospital social workers. After two weeks of class Laura has family in Costa Rica and she'll be traveling and staying with them. You can read of her adventures on her blog. I am so proud of Laura, she has had a goal to go to Costa Rica on her own for a longer time and now her dream is coming true. Muy bien!

Need a Good Book or Ten?

I don't buy books very often, rarely in fact. I use the library. I request books I see on lists, i.e. Bestsellers, librarian's picks, good read's or I see books in Costco and then request them from the library. I think it is just a better use of resources. In the last two weeks I have had a few requests come in at the library. I am about half way down the stack. Some have been good, surprisingly good or a little slow.
Before you get all judgmental and I think I am just sitting around reading, please note, I speed read and I seldom watch TV. And in the summer, spending time on our patio is a priority. Coming soon---another room on the home tour, the patio!

And a Good Time Was Had By All

At least I hope so. Caleb will walk away from the computer for several things, including new Lego sets and roasted marshmallows. He had a good time on the patio last night. He roasted perfectly white, totally melted mallows. Patient.

Emilyn does not like her mallow burned. Thank you.

Caleb went to a friend's birthday party this morning. Emilyn had a manicure, pedicure, a tattoo and a custom made ankle bracelet at Tami's beauty/spa/tattoo parlor. Don't worry, we talked about NOT getting real tattoos.

Hot Tamales

Last night I had dinner started when my sis, Jodi called and said, "hey, Jose's wife made tamales, I bought them, want to come for dinner?" Um, yes! So, we packed up the homemade pizzas I had made and the banana layer cake and hot footed it right over to Bill and Jodi's place. But first Emilyn wanted to change and came down ready to go in her Snow White high heels and white princess gown. Snazzy! Nothing like a house guest that knows how to dress up for dinner.
Caleb was happy, the guys put him on his own laptop. He only came out for food. That explains why I have no photos of Caleb, those guys will BOO and hiss at a photographer/blogger like nobody's business.
Emilyn rode in the golf cart, had a photo shoot with Jodi, the Snapsister that is my sister and got over her fear of dogs. Those tamales are sooo good and the green hot sauce is something else. A fun evening.
Today, I had thought we might go to the Bay but we are busy with the park, swimming lessons and a surprise shopping trip at the museum gift shop.

They're Here!

Caleb and Emilyn are staying with us until Saturday. We are very, very BUSY.

We're Ready for Guests

I've been to the store and we are ready for our guests, who should be arriving soon! All snack options are covered, the picture is just a sample.

Guess Who's Coming for a Visit?

We are getting houseguests today. For a two night stay. We hope to take them to Birch Bay, do lots of activities, and have a really good visit. Visit my blog tonight to see who is coming to stay. Their room is ready, menus are planned and we can hardly wait!

My Work Room

I haven't taken you through a room at the stone house for a bit. After last week when I was airing my dirty laundry and showed a shot of my laundry room at its' worst I decided to show it at its' best.
Washer and dryer with tiled counter for folding. Hubby did this for me and I love it.

I found this cabinet in the alley and took it home. Really. This is where all my scrapbooking supplies are kept. I made the ribbon bar last Fall and I think it needs another row. The shelves are labeled to keep things neat. The basket lined with green fabric is for current projects. Right now everything I am gathering is for a Hawaii album.

The baker's rack is from our last house and now I use it for workroom storage-clothes pins, hangers, cleaning and sewing supplies, recycled bags and a handy wine rack. It works.

My guys artwork-pottery by Dan, Georgia O'Keefe's by Sam and Max.


My view from the ironing board. Make that our view from the ironing board, my hubby irons too.
Hope you enjoyed the tour, if you'd like to come and hang out in this room that would be great! There's always a load to flip, a load to fold or ironing to be done.

A Day at the Beach

I spent Monday at my friend Sheryl's place at Birch Bay. We sunned and talked and snacked-fun. I had put my bike in the van just in case I wanted to go for a ride after our visit. Sheryl had got a bike for Christmas, so we went riding. I love riding my bike at the Bay. We had a good time and we are going to go biking again. I should have gotten a picture of us on our bikes. Next time.

My Sweet Strawberry Apron

Last week I wrote about the quilt I sewed in high school Home Ec III class. Well, I am not the only one who sewed in high school. My sweet strawberry apron was made by my hubby in his Single's Living class in high school. I use it a lot, especially during the berry season. It gets me in the mood to make jam, pies, desserts, shortcakes and all of those yummy things. He did a nice job on the apron and it has stood the test of time. Thanks, hon.

Little Balls of Evil

I love Dutch licorice. I happened upon these Napoleons when someone my Hubby works with bought them and tried to give them away at work. No bites. So, he brought them to me. It is a love hate relationship. They are so good and yet give me the shivers because they are so...I don't know, strong. For about 6 months I couldn't find them anywhere. But they're back, baby and they're mine. No one else likes them. I gave one to Shelly once and she spewed it out of her month and then slapped at her tongue with both hands, fast and furiously. We were in a public place. I wasn't impressed. And I had warned her, but NO she had to have one.
Reading the back of the bag is pretty much futile as it is in Dutch and I may be Dutch but only know a few bad words. This is what it says, 'Zoete kogels met een pittige salmiakkick van binnen'. Oh wait! In very small print is says, 'Hard boiled candies filled with ammoniumchloride'. I kid you not! May not be so healthy. A white sticker in English is also slapped on the back, the ingredient list is sugar, glucose syrup, licorice extract, licorice powder and artificial color. Sounds good to me.
Contact me if you want to try one. It comes with one rule-you may not spit it out, you must finish the whole candy. Dare you! Double dog dare you!

The Very Best of Summer

We grow the tastiest and biggest raspberries here in the Pacific Northwest. One third of the world's supply right here on my doorstep!
Raspberry Pie

Pie Crust
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 tsp. salt
2 T. milk
3 T. sugar
1/2 cup oil
Mix with a fork and press in a pie pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Watch closely. Cool.
The crust has a salty, sweet taste, I use it for coconut cream pie too.



1 quart raspberries rinsed and set aside.
Glaze:
*Note to head football Coach K, yes, another recipe with a glaze but this one does thicken fast. Don't be intimidated, try it!

1 cup sugar
2 T. cornstarch
pinch of salt
1 cup water
1/4 tsp. red food coloring
Bring to a boil and boil until thick.
Add:
3 T. raspberry jello
1 T. butter
Cool.


Place the berries in the cooled pie crust and then pour the glaze over and place in the fridge.

This pie is topped with whipped cream. I use the heavy cream and whip with vanilla and powdered sugar or regular. Top the pie with whipped cream when ready to serve.
I got this recipe from my Mom and have made it for years. It tastes like summer to me and my family. Max didn't even mind me taking his pic, anything for raspberry pie.

We Be Jammin'

Last night I made strawberry freezer jam, at 10:00 p.m. I worked yesterday, came home and had a ton of stuff to do, needed groceries, had to run Max around, you know, Mom stuff. So, I had a late start and a late finish. Max came downstairs and wondered if I should be having snack mix and a beer that late. Um, no. Robb clearly states in the boot camp rules, no drinks during the week and no eating after 7:00 p.m. But I forgot to eat before seven and I had ten minutes to wait for the jam to set up. I had no choice, people.

The jam looks a bit blurry. I was getting tired. It will be good this winter on scones with whipped cream and butter. Oh wait, I don't eat like that anymore. Bummer.

One thing I had to do last night was dig out the laundry room. The dirty was starting to run into the clean. Ironing galore. It is all finished. Except they all came home last night and took off their clothes. Job security for me.

Hubby is swamped at work, I hope to see him sometime this weekend.

Back in My Day...

I received a glossy, pretty catalog from Target this week. Everything the college student needs to move into the dorm was in that catalog. Rooms with names such as, Dreamer, Clotheshorse, Minimalist, Morning Bird, Night Owl, Planner and Extrovert. Really pretty bedding, great storage units and doo dahs galore. Made me want to go back to college just to decorate the dorm and have everything brand spankin' new.


This quilt is what I took to Dordt College 31 years ago. I sewed it in my Home Ec III class when I was a senior in high school. I also took a hot pot (not pot, like drugs, but rather an electric pot to boil water for hot cocoa in my dorm room). I packed up my fitted sheet, quilt, hot pot, the three towels I got for graduation gifts, family photos, a few school supplies and headed out to college. When I got there I went behind the grocery store and "borrowed" milk crates for a storage system.
The glossy catalog also had every electronic gadget you could dream of owning. We had one tv in the dorm basement, no tv's were allowed in our rooms.
Good grief!
*Please note that I realize this post makes me sound old, but times have sure changed.

Happy Birthday Esther

Happy Birthday, yesterday, Esther! It was my MIL's Bday yesterday, so better late than never... I hope it was happy. Best wishes for a great year. Es is a very sweet lady, her greatest fame is of course, my hubby. Other great things about Es is that she is a good grandma, my boys love her. She is a good cook and for years when my guys were little she did all my canning, salsa, applesauce, peaches, tomatoes. Yum! She is a very gracious hostess, every year she hosts a huge family reunion. A whole weekend of generations, with lots of meals and activities for the kids. We love you, have a happy and healthy year.

Garden Party 2008 Part IV

Our place for dessert. I used silver, white and black on the table. The placecards were black mosaic frames that I added photos of other good times with our friends. We had a tent with corner shelves over the table and in the corners I made vignettes using past party pictues in silver frames, roses and anything silver I could find.



Dessert is all about the lighting because by the time we get to dessert it is dark. I had a used chandelier from the thrift store, spray painted it silver, added candles and fresh roses and ivy. I used a black and silver lamp(from our bedroom) in the center of the table for a soft light. And lots of candle light too.


I am sorry that I didn't photograph the food but I was busy at this point. I thought the cake was good, it is very light and creamy. I'll post the recipe sometime soon and for the pineapple too.

Garden Party 2008 Part III

Next stop, main course at Mark and Karen's place. They have a covered porch that everytime I set my foot on it, I covet it. Her table was so creative and pretty and detailed. Driftwood, sea grasses, beach glass, shells, so pretty.

Starfish butter pats for the cloverleaf rolls.

My spot.

The party crashers- Max and Braden- they followed us to our house next. Just couldn't lose those guys.

Have you ever had beef tenderloin stuffed with lobster? Hah hah hah, I have! With mushroom tumble...oh my! Every single bite was delicious. Grilled potatoes with the a yummy topping of creme fraise and the sea salt and fresh ground pepper at each place setting in an open shell. The details, oh my!