Blueberry Muffins with Cinnamon Sugar Topping

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar 

2 eggs 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

grated rind of one lemon

2 cups flour  

1/4 tsp salt 

1 tsp baking powder 

1/2 cup milk (or 1/4 yogurt & 1/4 milk combination) 

2 cups of fresh blueberries, washed, drained and picked over 

3 tsp sugar & 1/4 tsp cinnamon (mixed) 

Directions: 

1.  Preheat oven to 375F. 

2.  Cream the butter and 1 cup of sugar (or less) until light. 

3. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add vanilla and lemon rind. 

4.  Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder. Add to the creamed mixture alternately with the milk/yogurt starting and ending with the flour. Mix just until incorporated. 

5.  Wash the blueberries and lightly dry. Crush 1/2 cup blueberries with a fork, and mix into the batter.  Toss the remaining 1 1/2 cups of berries in flour, shake off the excess flour and fold the berries into the batter. This will keep them distributed in the batter and not at the bottom of each muffin. 

6.  Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners and fill using an ice-cream scoop or spoon. Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon mix on the tops. Bake at 375F for about 20-25 minutes till lightly browned. 

7.  Remove from tin and cool 30 minutes. Store uncovered. 

Spice Cake with Apples, Cinnamon and Nutmeg

This is another delicious recipe from "Recipe Tin Eats". I cut the sugar and salt down a bit. 

Serves 8-10

Ingredients: 

2 Cups of Flour 

3/4 tsp baking soda 

1/2 tsp salt 

3/4 each of cinnamon and ground cloves 

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg or 1/4 tsp if freshly ground

1 1/8 cup of white sugar, or organic cane sugar

1 cup vegetable oil 

2 large eggs, room temperature 

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 

2 cups of apple, peeled, cored and cut into 1/3"/8mm cubes 

approx 2 apples - Granny Smith or any other tart apple 

1/2 cup sliced almonds (optional) 

Icing sugar for dusting 

Intructions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350F. 

2. Grease and line a 9"/21cm spring form pan. 

3. Place flour, baking soda, salt and spices in a large bowl and whisk to combine. 

4. In another bowl, whisk the oil and sugar, then whisk in the eggs and vanilla. 

5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon or danish whisk until just combined, and flour is incorporated. Stir in the apples.  (Optional - add in 3/4 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans). 

6. Batter will be stiff. Spoon into the cake pan. Sprinkle with the sliced almonds. 

7. Bake for 40-50 minutes.  It will be done when it is lightly brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. 

8. Cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack to cool.  Dust with icing sugar and serve. Goes will with Vanilla ice-cream.