Sunday, May 24, 2020

Inundated with recipes. . . using eggs & blueberries.


Are you, like me, amazed at the enormous number of recipes now available to the home cook? It appears that no matter what you read - magazines, newspapers, supplements, advertising, even real estate listing publications - they all now include something to cook. Online recipes - dare I even go there - from thousands of food/cooking blogs which offer recipes from every part of the world. I do love looking when the photos often include scenery away from the kitchen stove or counters - they often bring more interest for me aside from the actual recipe. Last, but definitely not least, there are of course several new, usually expensive 'you have to buy me' cook books published every day of the week it seems.

I love to cook, and bake, and, on flipping through the latest copy of a local magazine which had a lovely article on blueberries - the season here for local picking of 'blues' is coming up now as the strawberry season ends - there was the recipe!  With an abundance of fresh farm eggs and and blueberries on hand I couldn't resist trying the Blueberry Streusel Muffins. . . . . . . . . 


. . . . . . . . . . even though I was not planning to bake a thing this past week!  

We've really been overdoing the sweet things in life, using lockdown as the
 excuse for putting on a few pounds, whereas perhaps it's really only from
 eating more of the wrong things and moving less!


Antique Wedgwood Etruria "LACE" pattern soup bowl. Markings date it 
prior 1860 - so one of my oldest pieces of china. Has a major crack so I 
only use for display.

These muffins were more involved in the making than my easy
 Old Fashioned Bluberry Muffin recipe used for at least 40 years, enjoyed
 and used by all who try them. 
The topping with extra butter, sugar and flour is just not needed, made the
 muffin heavier, more greasy, and of course much higher in calories! 
 Tasty, but I will definitely go back to my original recipe. . . . . . . . . . proof
 that the old fashioned things in life are often still the best!


Yesterday, farmer friend Linda, now getting plenty of eggs again from her chickens
 after a couple of weeks of them going broody and not laying, drove into town. 
We met in a parking lot wearing masks and gloves - along with other customers
 doing the same - and I came home with two dozen beautiful eggs.  
Cooking and baking is on the horizon again, along with more walking perhaps!!!!!

Tomorrow is Memorial Day, usually a family/friends get together cheerful holiday. 
This year is a lot different for many of us still choosing not to rush out and gather
in a group as many have started to do.  
Our day will be just another day here at home, but we will fire up the grill, fly the flag
on the front porch, enjoy a hot, sunny day. . . . . . . and again be so very thankful
 for our garden refuge.

We will also remember the true reason for the day and hope you and your
 loved ones, even if apart, do the same.

9 comments:

  1. I don't know, Mary. That topping sure looks good!

    It is amazing how beautiful those eggs are...such beautiful colors. My favorites are the pale blue.

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  2. As we end our quarantine here in Houston, it is lovely to go out to dinner, albeit at half capacity, none of the diners are wearing masks, only the staff, people at the grocer acting just like we used to. Maybe, maybe, maybe, we can return to the GOOD OLE DAYS ? I'm super impressed with those beautiful eggs! I wish I knew where to find some in urban Houston. It's beginning to be HOT, so even walking the doggie is a chore now. Unless we get up at daybreak!! Which is not my best moment, BTW. My saying is, "Waking Up is the Hardest Part of the Day." Hope all is well with you guys. I just posted about The Cloister in Georgia, where I'm headed all by myself, as soon as I clean out my storage unit, which I've been paying almost $300/month for over 10 years. No more. Vacatioon MONEY now. Sending love, Mary...

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  3. Those eggs look like works of art (which they are in a way, aren't they), just beautiful!
    You are right; sometimes sticking to a tried and tested old recipe is better than a new one, but every now and then, we come across a new recipe that over time turns into a firm favourite.

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  4. the streusel topping looks delicious but I agree those extra calories are just not worth it! I too have been baking recently and because we now have neighbours who I can share my cakes with (I leave slices on a pretty plate on their garden walls for them to pick up after I've left) we're not over indulging just because there is cake sitting on the table tempting us to "eat me".
    Happy Memorial Day your private celebration sounds perfect to me. Stay safe.

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  5. I was sitting up in bed first thing..when on the
    news..it was mentioned that Tesco supermarket were
    once again selling 'white' egg shelled eggs..
    And l've just seen this headline on line in the
    Guardian newspaper...
    'White shelled eggs are selling in Tesco for the
    first time in 40 years'...

    Remember the colour of an egg is not an indicator of quality..
    When it comes to taste and nutrition, there is 'NO' difference
    between white and brown eggs..
    Despite the fact that they're often more expensive, brown eggs
    aren't any better for you than white eggs, and vice versa..! :).
    Hope this has'nt given anyone 'shell~shock'...! :).
    ☕ 🍰 ☕ 🍰 ☕ 🍰 ☕ 🍰 ☕ 🍰 ☕ 🍰 ☕🍰☕

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  6. Dear Mary,
    Those muffins look scrumptious. For the first time in many days we will have warmer temperatures.
    And yes, my garden and my Sadie will be my refuge.

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  7. Those eggs look beautiful! We are fogged in here in Saluda! Enjoy you day!

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  8. Happy Memorial Day! It is drizzly, but will soon go for a walk. I must keep moving with all the baking I was doing. I love, love your blueberry muffin recipe and think I need to make it soon as I still have blueberries in the freezer from last year. What a gorgeous bowl too. And those eggs are so lovely in all their shades of natural colors, almost like Easter eggs only better.

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  9. Your muffins look delicious! I have two dozen farm fresh eggs in my fridge that have been sitting there for 1-1/2 weeks and I haven't used them at all. I'm rarely in the mood for eggs for breakfast and I haven't been doing any baking! I think I'd at least better make a quiche one night for dinner.

    Brian's working today and I have no plans, so just another quiet day at home for me.

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