JUMBO BLUEBERRY MUFFINS
Ingredients
4 1⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1⁄2 cups sugar
3⁄4 cup butter, softened
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1 1⁄2 cups buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen
Crumb Topping:
¾ cup unsalted butter
1½ cups all-purpose flour
⅔ cup packed brown sugar
⅓ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Powdered Sugar Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extra
2-3 tablespoons milk
Directions
Combine the crumb topping ingredients and set aside.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Generously grease 12 jumbo muffin cups. Place cupcake liners in each cup.
In a large mixing bowl electric sn mixer beat the butter with the sugar and salt until creamy.
In a bowl mix together baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and lemon zest until combined.
In another bowl whisk together buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla to blend. Alternately add to the creamed mixture with the flour mixture and gently mix just until combined
Carefully fold in the blueberries.
Divide the mixture between the muffin tins.
Sprinkle the reserved streusel over the tops of the muffins.
Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the muffins test is done (if using frozen berries baking time will increase slightly).
Cool for about 5 minutes in tins then carefully lift out to a rack.
Combine glaze ingredients
When cool drizzle with glaze.
Ingredients
6 cups frozen blueberries
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
Lemon zest from a Meyer lemon plus ¼ cup juice from the lemon
2 store-bought rolled 8-inch pie crusts, at room temperature
2 tablespoons melted butter, plus extra for grading the pie plate
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Butter a deep dish 9-inch pie pan.
In a large bowl, combine the sugar, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon, and lemon zest. Mix very well and be sure the cornstarch is completely mixed into the sugar. Add the blueberries and lemon juice and mix well. Set aside.
Unroll one pie crust and fit it into the pie pan. Brush the pastry with some melted butter. Pour the blueberry filling into the pan and spread evenly. Place the second crust on a pastry board and cut it into strips/ Place the strips in a lattice formation over the pie filling. Flute the edges of the pie. Brush with the remaining butter.
Place the pie on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and place it in the oven. Bake for 15 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 375 d3r33w F. Bake for 50 minutes. Cool the pie on a wire rack.
In my part of the world, strawberries are ready for picking. This past weekend, a local farmer had beautiful ripe strawberries for sale. I bought a few quarts and here are two recipes I made with these beauties.
Strawberry Summer Muffins
Ingredients:
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries, plus 15 strawberry halves
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 cup room temperature butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 cups unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
⅓ cup sliced almonds
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners; set aside. For this batter, I needed 15 cups so I used three cups in a second muffin pan.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium-high speed until combined and fluffy. Reduce speed to medium-low and add the eggs, beating just until blended. Scrape the side and bottom of the bowl well halfway through.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; then add half of the flour mixture to the mixing bowl with the butter mixture, beating just until blended. Add in the milk, lemon juice, almond extract, and remaining flour mixture, beating just until blended and scraping down the sides of the bowl. With a spatula, fold in the sliced strawberries and almonds.
Add 1/4-cup of muffin batter to each prepared muffin cup.
Top with a strawberry half.
Bake until tops are just dry to the touch (about 22-25 minutes). Let cool completely in the pan before removing to a serving plate.
Strawberry Waffle And Pancake Topping
Ingredients
2 cups sliced strawberries
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Directions
Place the ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a low boil. Turn the heat to low, partially cover the pan and simmer for 30 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator until needed or freeze some for a future meal.
My blueberry bushes are producing lots of berries right now, so I am busy thinking up ways to use them
Blueberry Crisp
Ingredients
One 9-9nch prepared pie pastry
For the filling
3 cups blueberries
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
For the topping
1cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
3 ounces (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°.Coat a 9-inch pie pan with cooking spray. Place the pastry in the pan and crimp the edges.
Make the filling: Mix blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and salt in a bowl. Transfer to the prepared pie pan.
Make the topping: Stir together flour, oats, baking powder, melted butter, and salt. Using your hands, squeeze topping pieces together into clumps.
Sprinkle topping evenly overfilling. Place the pie pan on a baking sheet to catch any drips.
Bake until bubbling in center and brown on top, about 45 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool for 30 minutes before serving.
Ingredients
Pastry
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
⅔ cup shortening
4 to 6 tablespoons cold water
Filling
¾ cup of sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour or other pie thickeners
6 cups fresh blueberries
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1tablespoon butter
Granulated sugar
Directions
Put the flour, sugar, and salt in a large food processor fitted with the metal blade and pulse a few times to combine. Add the shortening and pulse 2-3 times until the shortening is broken up into smaller pieces.
Slowly begin to add the water through the top spout of the processor and then while still pouring, run the food processor until all the water has been added and the mixture begins to come together (mixer will actually begin to make a different sound), but stop before it forms a complete ball. If too dry, add the extra tablespoons of water, one at a time.
Turn dough out onto a clean surface and form into a ball. Divide the dough into 2/3 and 1/3; shape into 2 flattened rounds on a lightly floured surface. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes or until the dough is firm and cold, yet pliable. This allows the shortening to become slightly firm, which helps make a flaky pastry. If refrigerated longer, let pastry soften slightly before rolling.
Heat oven to 425°F.
With a floured rolling pin, roll the larger piece of dough into a round 2 inches larger than the upside-down 91/2 to 10-inch glass pie plate. I roll the dough between floured pieces of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Fold pastry into fourths; place in the pie plate. Unfold and ease into the plate, pressing firmly against the bottom and sides.
For the filling
In a large bowl, mix sugar and thickener. Stir in blueberries and lemon juice. Spoon into pastry-lined pie plate. Cut butter into small pieces and sprinkle over blueberries.
Roll the smaller piece of dough into a 10-inch round. Cut into 1-inch strips with a pastry cutter. Place the strips in a lattice formation over the berries. Seal the edges and crip the pastry all around the dish. Sprinkle the lattice crust with granulated sugar. Place the pie on a parchment-covered baking sheet to catch any drips during baking.
Bake the pie for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven heat to 350°F and bake for another 45 to 50 minutes, covering the edges with a piece of foil if they seem to be browning too quickly. When done, the filling will be bubbling and the crust golden brown. Remove the pan from the oven and cool the pie on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before serving.
Blueberry Loaves
Makes two loaves that are good for breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
1 cup soft unsalted butter
1 cup of sugar
3 large eggs at room temperature
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups Greek yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1 small to medium very ripe banana, mashed
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Optional Glaze
1/2 cup powdered sugar
4 teaspoons lemon juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray two 8 x 4-inch loaf pans with cooking spray and line the bottom of the pans with parchment paper cut to fit.
Combine the berries with the ¼ cup flour and set aside. In a separate bowl combine the 3 cups flour, baking soda, and salt. In a medium bowl combine the yogurt, banana, milk and lemon juice
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the yogurt mixture. Add the flour to the egg mixture mixing just until combined. Fold in the blueberries.
Pour the mixture into the prepared pans dividing the mixture in half. I weigh the baking pans as I add the batter to each pan so that they are equal.
Bake for about 1 hour, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes, then remove the loaves from pan and cool on a rack.
For the glaze:
Stir the sugar and lemon juice together until smooth. Drizzle over the Blueberry Loaves.
Ricotta Cheesecake
Makes one 8-inch square cheesecake, to serve 12
Cheesecake Ingredients
2 cups ricotta cheese
1 cup sugar substitute ( I use monk fruit)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 eggs
Zest of 1 orange
Blueberry Topping
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (10 oz)
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 tablespoons low carb sugar substitute
2 teaspoons cornstarch or arrowroot powder mixed with 2 teaspoons water
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Grease an 8-inch square baking pan with butter or cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, stir together the ricotta and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time until well incorporated. Stir in the vanilla and orange zest. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until set. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Cover. Refrigerate overnight. Serve chilled with the blueberry topping.
Directions for making the topping:
Put the blueberries, water, lemon juice, and sweetener into a small saucepan or pot and simmer over medium heat until the blueberries swell up and are cooked through. This will take a little longer for fresh blueberries. Add the cornstarch slurry and simmer until thickened. Cover and chill.
Banana Bread
Ingredients
1 banana
11/2 cups + 1 tablespoon almond flour
3 eggs
2 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup low carb sugar substitute
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts plus 15 walnut halves
.Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Mash the banana with a fork.
Process the eggs together with the mashed banana and the melted butter with a hand
blender or hand mixer to a smooth dough.
Mix the dry ingredients in another bowl. Pour into the bowl with the egg and banana
mixture and stir well.
Add the chopped walnuts and fold into the batter.
Line an 8-inch bread/loaf pan with baking paper/parchment with the paper extending over the ends of the pan. Coat lightly with cooking spray. Pour in the bread dough into the pan and place the walnut halves in five rows across the top of the dough.
Bake the bread for 45 minutes or until an inserted knife comes out clean. Check the bread after 30 minutes. If the top is brown, cover it loosely with aluminum foil to prevent the low-carb banana bread from burning.
Let the banana bread cool and then lift out with the aid of the parchment paper. Cool completely before slicing.
Jumbo Blueberry Muffins
Makes 6 muffins
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour (lightly scoop, don’t pack down)
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 and 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
Chopped walnuts and coarse sugar for sprinkling on top
Directions
Preheat oven to 425 F degrees. Spray a jumbo 6-cup muffin tin with non-stick spray. Set aside.
In a large bowl, gently toss together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until combined. Add the buttermilk, oil, and vanilla and whisk.
Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix together with a spatula. Avoid over mixing. Fold in the blueberries.
Pour batter into prepared muffin tins, filling all the way to the top. Top with a sprinkle of walnuts and coarse sugar.
Bake at 425 F degrees for 5 minutes.
Reduce the oven temperature to 375 F degrees and continue to bake for 25-30 minutes until the tops are lightly golden and a cake tester comes out clean when placed into the center of the muffins.
Allow to cool for 10 minutes and remove to a wire rack to cool.
Store muffins at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Muffins freeze well for up to 3 months.
Easy Pecan Sticky Buns
Ingredients
Sticky Syrup
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 cup large pecan halves
Dough
2 cups self-rising flour
1 cup heavy cream
Cinnamon Filling
4 tablespoons softened butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup chopped pecans
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Lightly grease a glass 9″ round cake pan or pie pan.
To make the syrup:
Melt the butter in the glass pan in the microwave. Add the brown sugar and maple syrup.
Stir well and spread evenly over the bottom of the pan. Place the pecan halves over the syrup in a single layer.
To make the dough:
Stir together the flour and cream to make a smooth dough. Turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface.
Gently roll the dough into a 12″ x 8″ rectangle.
To make the cinnamon filling:
Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon and chopped pecans in a small mixing bowl.
Spread the softened butter over the entire surface of the dough.
Roll the dough into a log. Position it so the seam is facing down.
Slice the log into 10 pieces, and place them in the prepared pan.
Bake the buns for about 20 minutes, until they’re bubbly and lightly browned on top.
Remove the buns from the oven, and immediately turn them out onto a serving plate.
Scrape any leftover syrup from the pan onto the buns.
To serve later, cool completely, then wrap well and store at room temperature for up to a couple of days.
Reheat in a 325-degree F oven. Freeze for longer storage.
Adapted from a King Arthur recipe.
Apple Flavored Baked Doughnuts With Maple Glaze
Makes 10
Doughnuts
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup apple butter
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon apple pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
Glaze
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon honey
Pinch of salt
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two standard doughnut pans.
Beat together the oil, eggs, sugars, applesauce, apple butter, orange juice, vanilla, apple pie spice, salt, and baking powder until smooth.
Add the flour, stirring just until smooth.
Fill 10 of the wells of the doughnut pans to the rim; using a scant 1/3 cup of batter in each well.
If you have a little dough left add a little to each of the doughnuts.
Bake the doughnuts for 15 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the center of one comes out clean.
After about 5 minutes, remove the donuts from the pan and transfer them to a wire rack to cool.
Allow the doughnuts to cool completely before glazing.
To make the glaze:
Mix together all of the glaze ingredients, stirring until smooth.
Place waxed paper under the racks holding the donuts.
Spread the doughnuts with glaze (or dip tops in the glaze); return to the rack until the glaze is set.
I make freezer jams because they are easy to make, don’t need packaged pectin and last a long time in the freezer. The secret ingredient is lemon. Lemon has natural pectin in it, but it needs sugar to gel. I also use a natural sugar substitute because we try not to eat sugary foods and it works just fine in the jam.
Freezer Blueberry Jam
Ingredients
4 cups fresh blueberries
1 cup sugar or sugar substitute (I use Lakanto Monk Fruit)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions
Mix blueberries, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla in a large saucepan; cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until thickened and reduced by about half, about 30 minutes. Using a potato masher crush the berries several times during the cooking process. Pour the jam into clean freezer jars. Cool to room temperature. Store the jam in the freezer. When ready to use a jar, place in the refrigerator overnight.
Strawberry Preserves
Preserves are cooked the same way jam is, however, the only difference is that the fruit in preserves is cut into chunks, whereas with jam, the fruit is crushed. The texture of preserves is not as stiff as jelly or jam. It is easy to spread and makes a great topping for ice cream or pancakes.
Ingredients
1 quart of strawberries
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar or sugar substitute (I use Lakanto Monk Fruit)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 long strip of lemon zest
Directions
Fill 4-pint jars with boiling water and place the lids in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Set aside while you make the preserves.
Wash the strawberries and remove the leaves. Cut them in half and place the berries in a large saucepan. Add the sugar, lemon juice, and zest. Stir well.
Bring the mixture to a boil and stir occasionally until mixture thickens, about 20-25 minutes or a candy thermometer registers 220 degrees F.
Remove the pan from the heat. Empty pint jars and remove the lids from the water.
Fill the jars with the preserves and place the lids on the jars. Cool for a few hours at room temperature. Store the jars in the refrigerator for a few weeks or freeze them for future use.
Fig Jam
Makes about 2 ½ cups
Ingredients
1 lemon
1 orange
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup honey
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 whole thyme sprigs
2 pounds ripe fresh figs, stemmed and quartered
Directions
Remove the strips of rind from the lemon and the orange using a vegetable peeler, avoiding the white pith. Combine the rind strips and the remaining ingredients in a large, heavy saucepan or large Dutch oven.
Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce the heat to medium; and cook 50 minutes or until the mixture thickens, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. (If testing with a candy thermometer, it should read 220°F.) Discard the thyme and citrus strips.
Pour into refrigerator or freezer storage jars. Store in the refrigerator for several months or the freezer for up to six months.
Blackberry Jam
For 2 1/2 pints
Ingredients
3 pounds ripe blackberries
2 cups sugar or sugar substitute (I use Lakanto Monk Fruit)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Directions
Using a potato masher, crush the fruit until soupy. Measure this puree and note the quantity. Put the puree in a large, wide, heavy-bottomed, non-reactive pot. The puree should be no more than 1 inch deep in the bottom of the pot. I placed half of the blackberry puree in a strainer to remove seeds before proceeding with the recipe. For every two cups of fruit puree, add to the pot one cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Bring the fruit-sugar mixture to a boil over high heat, stirring frequently. After it boils, continue to cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, for 12 to 14 minutes, or until thickened.
Check the consistency by turning off the heat and putting a spoonful of hot jam on a chilled
When the jam is set, ladle it into clean half-pint jars or other air-tight containers. Allow to cool, then store in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Easy Homemade Peach Jam
4 cups
Ingredients
4 cups (1 kg) fresh peaches, pureed
2 cups (400 grams) white sugar or sugar substitute (I use Lakanto Monk Fruit)
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Directions
Using a sharp knife, peel the peaches and remove the pits. Transfer to a food processor and process until smooth. You can do this in batches.
Pour the peach puree in a large and deep pot and add the sugar and one tablespoon of the lemon juice. Bring to a light boil and cook for about 20-25 minutes stirring very frequently. The jam will be ready when it reaches 221 °F/105 °C or when it’s thick enough when dropped onto a cold plate. Add the rest of the lemon juice, stir, and remove the pot from the heat.
Transfer the hot jam into pasteurized jars, making sure not to fill them all the way to the rim. Using thick gloves or a towel, secure the lids, invert the jars upside-down, and let them cool. Refrigerate or freeze.
