-
A Rainy day of Blues
Posted on June 10, 2012 by Tara in Recipes.
I L O V E rainy days. I do! They are like those wonderful winter days that are too cold to go outside and the warmth from your oven fills the house along with it’s wonderful scent of whatever you are baking. We don’t get very many of either of these living in Florida so I enjoy them while I can.
Rainy days are for walking, reflecting, brushing water logged leaves to see the drops touch the ground, forgetting your umbrella, your face raised to the sky to feel the rain drops on your skin and seeing the wonder of nature through water drenched eyes.
Counting rain drops on water is like counting the stars in the sky…. Can you ever count them all??
Rainy days are for baking something yummy, sweet and gooey. On this particular rainy day I wanted to warm my kitchen and my heart by making Blueberry muffins. Blueberry season is upon us and this is a great way to use up those frozen berries from last year before you add more to your freezer.
This recipe comes from a cookbook that I picked up for a steal in a clearance bin at one of our grocery stores a few years back. I am a sucker for those clearance bins and have found some great books that way. I like to write in my cookbooks each time I try a recipe, noting who I made it for and something about that particular day usually including the weather. When I browse through my cookbooks I’m transported back in time as I see the recipes I’ve used and the memories of that particular day.
I love the hint of citrus from the lemon zest that embellishs the tart yet sweet flavor from the Blueberries. The streusel topping is out of this world. I will come and find you if you throw away any of those crusty bits that fall off the top of the muffin. It would be sacrilege!
I put Nina Simone on the stereo, cranked up the sound and enjoyed my Bluesy Day of baking while rain pattered on the windows.
Blueberry Muffins with Streusel topping
Serves 12 Cook time 20 minutes Misc Freezable From book everyday celebrations Blueberry muffins with a hint of lemon and a crumbly streusel topping.Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted Butter (room temperature)
- 2 eggs (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup Dark Brown Sugar (packed)
- 1 1/2 cup fresh or frozen Blueberries
Streusel topping
- 1 stick unsalted Butter (cold, cut into 8 pieces)
- 1/4 cup Dark Brown Suger (packed)
- 3/4 cups all purpose Flour
Dry ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose Flour
- 4 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- pinch Sea Salt
Wet ingredients
- 1/2 cup Whole milk
- 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
Note
If using frozen berries do not thaw before adding them to the batter.
Directions
Step 1 Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Dry ingredients Step 2 Combine dry ingredients in separate bowl, set aside Wet ingredients Step 3 Combine wet ingredients in a liquid measuring cup, set aside. Step 4 Combine butter and 1/2 cup dark brown sugar in a mixing bowl with paddle attachment; blending well. Add eggs, one at a time. Next add vanillla extract. Step 5 Next, add dry and wet ingredients alternately to butter mixture starting and ending with dry ingredients. Step 6 Stir in Blueberries, gently, to batter. (if using frozen, do not thaw before adding to batter.) Step 7 Butter/spray non-stick muffin tin. Scoop 1/4 cup batter into each muffin tin. Bake for 20-25 mins. 
What do you like to do on rainy days??
Tara
Print recipe
I like rainy days like the ones you talked about here…and your cookbook comment almost brought tears to my eyes! My Mamaw (maternal grandma) didn’t write in hers, but after she passed away I inherited all of her cookbooks and as I opened them, all her favorite recipes had fingerprints, smudges of butter (I am assuming) & bits of flour where she would get so into her cooking & baking that she wouldn’t pay attention and inevitably something would end up on the cookbook. When I was younger, I thought “ugh, she is messing up that nice cookbook” but after she was gone, it just brought back all the memories of how intense her love was and how more than once, we made messes just for the sake of making memories…Thanks for sharing your rainy day with me! (er um US!)
What a wonderful thing to inherit Fantacy! I love seeing cookbook recipes like that, where all the pages are smudged and leftover cooking ingredients are left on the page. So many of mine are like that and I always smile when I see them; because I know the recipe is a keeper!
Thank you so much for sharing your Mamaw with me. 
Stunning blog! I am so glad I found you in that marvelous new group of foodie heaven.
I am right there with you in your “Bluesy Day of Baking” with raindrops pattering on the windows.
I am thinking an interview with you would be a beautiful addition to my Luscious Legacy Project. Send me a message if you are interested.
PS
Thank you so much Sue Ann! I am loving the tribe! What an awakening of senses! Nothing like a rainy day to open your eyes and taste buds so I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Headed to your page now! xoxo
Tara, your pictures are beautiful and I REALLY want one of these muffins right now!!
Just wanted to let you know that I’ve selected you for the Sunshine Award! You can find it here: http://365daysofbaking.blogspot.com/2012/06/smoothie-saturday-cantabananaberry.html
BIG, BIG hugs!!!
Thank you so much Lynne! The muffins are really delicious, and very comforting. What an honor!!! Thank you so much, headed there now! xoxo
Your blueberry muffins look wonderful! I love rainy days and boy oh boy have we had a bunch here in Maine! Best sleeping weather ever! Can’t wait to harvest our blueberries and then I am making a batch! Nettie
Thanks Nettie!! I bet you guys do have a lot of rainy days! We don’t here in Florida but I LOVE them when we do. It is blueberry time here now and I’m enjoying it!
So glad you stopped in! xoxo
I love dancing in the rain…seriously! Your pics are sooooo pretty! Rain is so refreshing, beautiful, and just all around wonderful:-) Look at that streusel top, that is a serious….delicious muffin! Hugs, Terra
Dancing in the rain sounds wonderful! I’ve not done that yet so I think I need to amend that. I agree with you completely about rain; so refreshing! The streusel is really the best part.
Thanks for taking the time to stop in Terra. xoxo
Love this post b/c rainy days are for so much more than longing for sunshine…you’re right on w/these thoughts, and there’s nothing better than having to make the skies blue w/cooking! xo Ally
I’m so glad you liked it Ally! xoxo