Muffin Madness

Raspberry Lemon Muffins hot from the oven.

On Friday, Patty of Morning Ramble posted a recipe link on Face Book. 

I have previously enjoyed some of Patty's recipes and I was in baking mode.

I always have frozen blueberries on hand and soon the muffins were in the oven.

When they emerged, I didn't think to take a photo!  Instead I immediately enjoyed two with a 

mug of tea.

I sent half a dozen of the muffins to our neighbors--no need to be greedy.

The remaining blueberry muffins reheated nicely for weekend breakfasts.

I have included a link for the recipe.

Be advised that the cup of sugar called for is excessive.  I used 3/4 cup and will decrease it to 2/3 or 1/2 next time I make the muffins.

Blueberry Muffins

Monday morning I woke to the sound of rain pounding on the roof overhead.

Daylight was murky--a rainy/cloudy day in November is seldom inspiring.

Jim had an early errand.

The cats and I puttered about, made the bed, tidied the bathrooms, encouraged the wood fire.

I thought about the muffins which our niece, Susan, brought to the family reunion last month.

I didn't have her exact recipe [I do now!] but found several online and realized that any one of them would create a 'gourmet' muffin similar to the blueberry muffins.

Lemon Raspberry Muffins

One has to read through--or skip--the blogger's tale of muffin making before scrolling down to the actual recipe.

Again, I cut back the sugar to about 2/3 cup.

I used paper liners for the muffin pan when baking both batches.

The fruit makes a soft moist muffin and I believe they would stick to the pan badly without the liners.

Susan sent me her recipe later in the morning.

Her recipe uses lemon yogurt. 

I used sour cream as I had extra on hand.

I also added cinnamon to the topping in both recipes.

[Bakers become adept at substitutions and additions which don't detract from the intended goodness of the finished product.]

I love to bake and it is good that we have neighbors who enjoy the over production of treats.

As the days draw in and the temperatures drop outside, I enjoy the aroma of something just out of the oven, the homey odor of soup simmering, the gentle fragrant  steam from a cup of good tea.

The wood fire makes the house comfortable, but I appreciate having an electric oven for my baking.

The cats keep me company in the kitchen, taking over the rug in front of the wood stove,

hovering around the kitchen island--in case I might spill something appealing.

Edward offers to help with washing the dishes!