Berry Berry Muffins

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It's time for another muffin recipe!

Oh how I love muffins.   Mom was a frequent baker.  Always making, pies, cakes, biscuits, and muffins.  I grew up making muffins with her so much so that I had the basic recipe memorized by age 16. They are easy to put together and the result are so gratifying. To be honest, I believe that mom started my fascination with muffins.

Earlier this year we had the pleasure of traveling to Sedona, AZ.  What a wonderful vacation!  The scenery was beyond belief.  There were tons of outdoor activities such as hiking, 4-wheeling, mountain biking, and golfing to name a few.  All these activities can work up a good appetite too.  One thing I loved about the hotel we stayed in was the coffee, juice, fruit and muffins that were delivered to us daily.  Oh the muffins!  (Did I mention I love a good muffin?)

4-Wheeling in the Sedona trails

Hiking at Bell Rock

A popular place to watch the Sedona sunset.  The rocks turn all shades of red.

They included a choice of muffins, but I noticed that ever day there was a different berry muffin in the mix.  There is nothing better than to bite into a hot tender muffin and have a juicy berry burst in to your mouth.  Today's Berry Berry Muffins were inspired by those wonderful tasty, life saving morning muffins we had in Sedona. 

I choose to make them with two of my favorite berries, blueberries and strawberries.  Picking them up at my local farmer's market gives me local produce that is ripe and the very best.  The blueberries were plump and promised to be juicy and bursting with flavor.  The strawberries, also local, were a bright, deep red, and so sweet.  Both flavors go great together and give your muffins just a touch of tart and sweet.  Delicious!

Hot fresh muffins bursting with not one, but two berries should be on your weekend breakfast menu.  A perfect ode to a wonderful vacation for us.  A perfect breakfast treat for you!

Enjoy!




Berry Berry Muffins

makes 12

1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh strawberries, cored and chopped
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray.

Sprinkle 1/4 cup flour over blueberries and strawberries, and toss to coat.

In a small bowl, whisk together 2 cups flour, baking powder and salt.

In a large bowl, cream butter, and gradually mix in sugar. Beat eggs, and beat into creamed mixture along with vanilla. Add milk and combine to blend. Add flour mixture stirring just to combine. Fold in berries. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter.

Bake for 20 - 22 minutes.  Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. 

Cole's Blocks Co.

I recently came across a gold mine of a company!

I was surfing Instagram and saw a post by another blogger that had a customized cutting board with the name of her blog on it.  I immediately thought, "OMG! I LOVE THIS!  I want one NOW! Where do I get one?"

After a little researching on her blog I found a wonderful company that produces fantastic cutting boards, and does customized boards to boot!  Jackpot!  

Cole's Blocks Co. is family run company with 40 years and three generations invested in the wood industry and are located in Southern Michigan.   They use a high temperature roasting process to enhance the curly maple used in each of their cutting boards, cutting blocks, and serving boards. Their boards and serving platters are more durable, lighter-weight, and less likely to warp due to a higher resistance to moisture.

Naturally Stain and Chemical Free

Roasting darkens the wood naturally to an honey or espresso finish without the use of any harsh stains or chemicals.

The Advantage of Roasted Maple Cutting Boards over Plastic Ones

Maple cutting boards won't scar as easily as plastic since maple is a hardwood.

You won't have to replace your wooden cutting board regularly if cared for properly. 

Your knives will last longer because hardwood boards won't dull your blades as quickly as plastic will. 

Your won't want to hide your cutting boards because wooden boards, even well used ones, add warmth and beauty to your kitchen.

So I ordered my personalized cutting board.  Isn't it a beauty?  I just love, love, love this board.  Along with it I got an array of other wood items as well such as initialed coasters, and several serving platters.  I love the one in the shape of my home state "California". 

I've used several of my boards and one of the serving platter boards already (below is an example). They are beyond my expectations.  The boards keep well, they are easy to cut on, and clean up is a breeze.  The serving platters are beautiful, functional, and decorative at the same time.  I can't wait to throw a huge wine and cheese tasting party using my boards, just to show them off!  Wine anyone?

I also have to brag about their customer service.  I dealt with Betsy from the beginning and I have to say that she is exceptional.  From the start she took my order and worked with me by making fantastic suggestions until I had the board of my dreams!  This is how you want your service to be everywhere and Betsy and her family are top notch proprietors.

You can't go wrong with one (or several) of Cole's Block's Co boards.  I'm already thinking ahead to Christmas gifts.  They would also be a wonderful wedding present.  You can purchase your own here, which I highly recommend that you do.  You're gonna love them!

Cucumber, Tomato, and Avocado Salad

-This simple salad uses the freshest ingredients for a flavor mix that will pop in your mouth!-

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I do love a fancy salad, but a lot of the time I prefer simpler recipes that aren’t a lot of trouble.  A honeycrisp apple and romaine salad is awesome, but I’m happiest when you give me a simply fresh salad that I can throw together easily and still get oohs and aahs out of MGG and my friends.  (This Caribbean Chicken Salad may be an exception though...!)

Plus, if you have to travel with this salad it's guaranteed to arrive beautifully, and not look like it fell in the floorboard of the back seat of your car!  This simple and fresh salad looks beautiful no matter how it lands!

EASY CUCUMBER, TOMATO, AND AVOCADO SALAD TO THE RESCUE
If you need a versatile, yet simple salad recipe, that goes well with everything from steak to hot dogs then this Cucumber, Tomato, and Avocado Salad is the one for you.  It's a completely fresh and juicy salad with accents of rich buttery avocado for good measure.  It's satisfying and healthy, offering a multitude of vitamins, anti-inflammatory properties, and healthy fats.

This is a great fresh salad that will keep well in the refrigerator for several days.  This delightful salad easily pairs with burgers, chicken, fish, or steak.  It's versatility makes it the perfect go to salad of the summer.  Not to mention that people will just flip over this salad and quickly ask you for the recipe!

Did I mention that it's easy to put together?  Well it is.  A large serving bowl is all that's needed, so you save on dishes.  The vegetables are chopped in larger chunks making the prep work go fast.  Adding some salt & pepper and a drizzle of really good olive oil tops this easy-peasy salad off.    You can't mess up and you can't go wrong with this salad.

Enjoy!



Cucumber, Tomato, and Avocado Salad

1 English cucumber
3 Roma tomatoes
3 avocados
1/4 red onion,
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
1 lemon
salt and pepper
Olive oil

Slice the cucumber into half lengthwise, then cut each half into medium to large slices.  Place in to a large bowl.  Cut the tomatoes in half lengthwise and then cut each half lengthwise again and cut into chunks.  Add to the bowl.   

Cut open avocados and remove the pits.  Peel skin off and cut lengthwise and then into chunks.   Add to the bowl.   Peel and slice the red onion into thin strips.  Add to the bowl.  Add the chopped cilantro to the bowl. 

Slice the lemon in half and drizzle the juice over the salad in the bowl.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.   Drizzle with olive oil until moist (about 1/4 cup) and stir to combine.  Serve.

Any leftover may be placed in an air-tight container and refrigerated for several days.