Blackberry and Vanilla Muffins

So the other night [I have a feeling most posts will start out with "the other night...". Why? Because in my family we all have this odd tendency to pull out a cookbook at 9 or 10 at night to bake something..] I decided I needed to bake something non-chocolate and possibly muffinish. My current favourite cookbook being the one my sister got me for Christmas, The Golden Book of Baking, it was the one I obviously pulled from my shelf. [yes, i already have a shelf of my own cookbooks...] However before I could settle on these muffins, I had to spend half an hour or more searching through the whole house looking for mom's madeleine pan, because I wanted to try making them more. But sadly, they will have to wait for a different day. Even though I know I saw the pan while unpacking kitchen stuff after moving in September, [moving really is one of the most annoying things ever...] it was nowhere to be found.

So without further ado, delightful and "the perfect anti-racist" [as my best friend declared them to be when she saw them] muffins. With my twist of course, because I rarely follow recipes exactly. [who does?]

Blackberry and Vanilla Muffins

The Golden Book of Baking

2 c. whole wheat flour

3/4 c. sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp. salt

1/2 c. milk

1/2 c. yogurt [I used black cherry. the recipe called for sour cream]

2 large eggs

1/4 c. butter or margarine, melted

1 tsp. vanilla extract *

1/2 c. fresh or frozen blackberries

Preheat oven to 350F and line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper baking cups. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Beat the milk, sour cream, eggs, butter, and vanilla in a large bowl until just blended. Stir the milk mixture into the dry ingredients, followed by the blackberries. Spoon the batter into the prepared cups, filling each one three-quarters full. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and firm to the touch. [Took 35 minutes for me.] Serve warm or at room temperature.

* [I think a stronger vanilla taste would have been wonderful.]

rule 32: enjoy the little things.

First off, I will tell you a little about myself. I'm 18 and working as a Superstore cashier for this year [my first out of high school] but dreaming of someday being a baker or a pastry chef or something wonderful like that. I'm hoping to go to school to take Baking and Pastry Arts this fall or next fall. Due to unexpected difficulties that delayed the sending of my school application til only last week [ugh.]....it's seeming like next fall is when it will happen.

It has occurred to me that, seeing as baking and cooking [but obviously, mainly baking] are the things I love the most and am best at, that perhaps I should start a food blog. Or a blog about my baking adventures. A place where I can exclaim about the wonderful dishes I make without boring all of my friends with descriptions and pictures on Facebook. Though honestly, I don't think I'm good enough at either food hobby to have a real food blog... certainly nothing that could compare with the likes of my favourite food blogger, Deb of Smitten Kitchen.

But actually, that's okay with me.

Also, I will probably periodically ramble [or rant?] about codes, and the dreadful things that people put us innocent cashiers through. [honestly...you're REALLY going to argue with me and the supervisor that you should get that mango for free because you think you saw a sign saying $.99 each when the signs actually say $1.27 each? we're giving it to you for the $.99 you said you saw [because heaven forbid that anyone should ever pay $1.27 for a mango!], but we can't give you it for free. and no, no one took down any signs in the middle of a thursday morning just to spite you. i promise.]

Because baking and working: this is the loveliness that is my life for the time being. :]