Strawberry & Cream Muffins

I know I told you I LOVE muffins...

Since it is berry season, I'm taking advantage....full advantage...of their abundance in my refrigerator.

I went to our local farmer's market last weekend and bought a ton of berries. 

One being strawberries.......yummy...ripe...red...juicy...strawberries!

So everyone loves strawberries and cream...so why not in a muffin?


Let's do it!


Chop fresh (or frozen) strawberries to equal 1 heaping cup full. 

Add flour, baking powder, salt, and Splenda (or sugar) to a large bowl.  Stir to combine.

Add strawberries and mix to coat with the flour mixture.

In a small bowl, beat eggs until light.  Add cream, oil, and vanilla paste.  Whisk until incorporated. Look at the wonderful flecks from the vanilla paste....!

Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture and add the egg mixture.

Mix together until just combined.  Do not over mix or you will have tough muffins!

Place in prepared muffin tins.  Look at the wonderful flecks from the vanilla paste....!

 

Bake for about 20 min and pooof!  Wonderful, juicy, strawberry & cream muffins!  YES!

See how pretty!  Taste darn good too!   ....!

Let me know what your favorite muffin is???

Strawberry & Cream Muffins

Yield: 12 muffins

Ingredients:

 

1 cup chopped strawberries (fresh or frozen)

2 cups flour

1 T baking powder

¼ t salt

½ cup Splenda (or equal parts sugar)

2 eggs

1 cup light cream

6 T. canola oil

1 t. vanilla paste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.

Chop fresh strawberries (or frozen) to equal 1 heaping cup full.  In a large bowl add flour, baking powder, salt, and Splenda (or sugar).  Stir to combine.  Add strawberries, and mix to coat with flour mixture.

In a small bowl, beat eggs until light.  Add cream, oil, and vanilla paste.  Whisk until incorporated.

Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture and add the egg mixture.  Mix together until just combined.  Do not over mix or you will have tough muffins!

Place in prepared muffin tins.  Bake for 20 min until golden brown.

Avila Orange Smoothie

How about a glass of sunshine to start the week? 

Do you love farms?  I do, I do!  On a weekend getaway MGG and I were relaxing in San Luis Obispo and stopped by the Avila Valley Barn on our way home.  What a gem!!!  I LOVE THIS PLACE!!

They have a wonderful farm stand that sells their produce.  You can take a hay ride and pick your own in season produce and they had the BEST fresh pressed apple cider I've ever had....!

One great item I'm featuring here is their honey...fresh from their honey bees.  It's sweet and delectable!


Let's make some sunshine in a glass!

Take your banana and break it in to chunks and place in the blender.

Add you yogurt.  I used a vanilla chai lite yogurt...yum!  You can use regular or vanilla yogurt if you wish. 

Now for the honey. ummmm...honey.....add that.

Add some orange juice.

Blend it up good, and voila!!!  Sunshine in a glass!!!  It's good too!

Avila Orange Smoothie

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 6 oz container vanilla chai flavored lite yogurt
1 medium banana
¼ cup orange juice
2 t Avila Valley Barn honey

Directions:

Combine ingredients in a blender and mix until combined.  Serve in a tall glass with a straw.

Happy 4th of July!!! Tablescape

Happy 4th of July!

A friend sent me this comment on Facebook and I thought it was so appropriate that I had to share:

"Remember this as you celebrate this weekend! The American flag does not fly because the wind moves past it. The American flag flies from the last breath of each military member who has died protecting it. American Soldiers don't fight because they hate what's in front of them...they fight because they love what's behind them. "

Here's some great ideas for a pretty 4th of July tablescape.

We're having an outdoor party.

The table is set with a red, white, and blue theme.

A sweet red basket holds patriotic napkins, flatware, drinks, glasses. and patriotic flags.  The white flatware tied in bundles with a deep navy colored napkin are a great touch! 

A white colander is all set to hold slice of watermelon and other fruit.

The place settings consist of a red wicker charger, a navy blue plate peppered with white dots in a floral fireworks pattern.  A salad plate in a lighter blue version also in a white dot floral pattern.  A white bowl tops the set.  So pretty!

Some great ramekins used for condiments will keep in the theme...

Simple and easy...that's always best...oh and to have fun!  Happy 4th of July!