Friday, September 3, 2010

Cherry Vanilla Muffins



Ok, I know what you are thinking - I'm posting a lot. Bear with me. The house is still in semi-shambles. Bikes still up in the kitchen. I've been sitting here with Picnik editing photos and pulling my hair out. I'm a minute away from buying a new computer. A girl can only take what a girl can take. I'm working on the wedding photos that Aaron took. Each picture is taking nearly an hour to edit, because the computer isn't responding. Deborah, I do need alcohol!

I've made a big decision today - I'd been trying to decide if I should quit blogging or not. I've decided not to. Not to quit that is - so - I'll be around here - but I am going to revamp the blog.

I think I'm just going to post recipes here for a few days until I get the re-do done. I'll start with the Cherry Muffins, then I'll give you a few of my favorites, including the mac and cheese and Lemon Butter Snaps. K? Does this sound ok? Thanks for sticking with my as I go through the change.

Speaking of the change - I haven't had but one or two more hot flashes. One felt like my scalp was being over processed by perm solution. An odd sensation indeed.

Before I share the recipe, let's talk about muffins a little. I'm assuming that you bake, and maybe know these tips. If you do, scroll on down to the recipe, if not, read this, it will really help.

Don't even think about using an electric appliance anywhere near your muffins. You really want to do it all by hand. You aren't making cake, you are making muffins. You don't want to incorporate a lot of air into the batter. I actually imagine that it is some nuclear mixture that will explode unless I treat it with the utmost care. I kid you not. I mix it so gently, barely getting it mixed at all.

You should also have an oven thermometer and make sure that your oven is correct. Disasters may ensue if you think you are baking at 350, and your oven is really at 400.

I like using an ice cream scoop to insure that my muffins are uniform. I also do not like using cupcake liners on muffins. It's just my preference, but I like having a nice browned crust on my muffins.

Without further adieu, the recipe. If you don't have access to cherries, try looking in the freezer section. I think they sell sour cherries there.
This recipe is from an old friend, Debbie C. She once gifted me a small stack of handwritten recipe cards tied with a bow. I still remember it as one of my favorite gifts.

Cherry Vanilla Muffins

Makes 12.

Preheat oven to 400.

2 1 /4 cups of flour

4 t. baking powder

1/2 t salt

3/4 cup of sugar

2 cups of sour cherries

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 c. of milk ( I prefer using 1/2 cup regular milk, and 1/2 cup buttermilk)

1 T vanilla

Sift your dry ingredients together, mix in your cherries. Set aside.

Mix your wet ingredients together.

Mix the wet and dry together GENTLY! Remember the nuclear theory!

Bake about 12 minutes (longer, if you've used frozen cherries). Again, I just look and can tell when the muffins are done. Look for a golden brown muffin, that seems a bit firm when poked.




Cool, and glaze with a mixture of powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. I don't have a recipe for that, I just plop about a cup of powdered sugar in a bowl, add about a teaspoon of vanilla, and then enough milk to make a drizzle - fo - schnizzle.

34 comments:

  1. Mmmmm if I were at home I'd be in the kitchen right now. So glad you shared the recipe - I was going to bug you about it and the mac and cheese. WeeMan - my toddler- is in love with mac and cheese lately - it's the one thing besides pancakes I know he'll eat. He's probably going to turn yellow eventually. I'm sure his cheese consumption has cut down some on the stinky diapers - so I give him juice to make sure he has one occasionally. Yuck - you probably didn't really want to read about my two year olds poopie diapers - sorry I must be more tired than I thought.

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  2. Well, wouldn't you know? I got home from work about an hour or so ago. I come here to "catch up"..and I am trying to stay away from sugar...and then YOU post this and my mouth starts watering and I am almost drooling on my keyboard. So...being the idiot that I am now I am thinking...well..I could just whip up a quick batch of these....WHAT? No! NO Sugar for me tonight! But thanks for the wonderful temptation!

    I will be anxious to see your blog makeover! AND...I'm glad you decided not to quit blogging. I'm just getting to know you! Diana

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  3. Have fun playing around with the blog redesign. The muffins look delicious! Sure wish my oven was working. I'm going to save this recipe and it will be one of the first things I make. Wonder what would happen if I poured some of this in a fry pan. Pancake muffins?

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  4. So glad you decided to keep on blogging!

    : )

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  5. HA! Thanks:) I'll make these on Monday. You better keep on blogging! You are one of my favorites:)

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  6. If I made those, I would eat them all. I've noticed several blogs that have stopped. I must admit, I have thought of it too. But, I continue on, for now anyway.

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  7. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! I'm glad you posted the recipe. I was going to ask for it. Gotta try these. woot! Glad you are still posting.. I have cut back. Used to do it every day....no more...
    Feels good. :-)

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  8. Think I'm a gonna try em Jaym. Thanks, love you. I made the pulled pork and mac n cheese from pioneer woman cb, not to impressed with the mac recipe, anxious to get yours. Smooches Baby.

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  9. mmm...I can smell these baking! Thanks for sharing this recipe. I'm happy to learn that at least for today, you have kinda, sorta, publicly decided in a totally non-committing sort of way that you are not going to quit blogging.

    Your Friend,
    Deborah

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  10. Thank you! And I am so happy you are going to continue to blog!! Have a great weekend~

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  11. You scared me there for a second when you said you considered to stop blogging. I am so happy you decided to keep the blog up, I really love reading it and seeing what you are up to. The muffins look so yummy, I'll have to try that recipe sometime.

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  12. I'm happy that you are continue to blog... I love reading your posts! :-) I understand needing small breaks, or even long ones, from it every now and then. I go through that too. Sometimes I just need to STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER, and finish some projects or do some tending to. I'm so glad that you are going to share the Lemon Butter Snap recipe... when you posted the picture of them the other day, I thought to myself that I was going to ask you for the recipe. Looking forward to it.
    Take Care
    Carissa

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  13. I am soo glad you are going to continue blogging. You are one of my few faves! You are real, wise, and funny. Your posts just make me happy! The muffins look fantastic but I don't need a trigger food in the house. I have a had a tough couple of days trying to eat healthy!! Have a great weekend... hope you get some Aaron time :)

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  14. please don't consider not blogging! I love reading your posts. I always connect in someway and usually end up laughing!

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  15. Great recipe! Looks divine, yet is simple to prepare! Looking forward to the mac & cheese recipe... geez... I could SWIM in that stuff! LOL! I only just recently found your blog about a month ago... and enjoy it very much! I was surprised to see that you were thinking of not blogging... :-( though, I can completely relate to the time involved with computer stuff... either way, enjoy life! That's what it's all about! :-)

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  16. Oh please please please please please don't stop blogging. I only found your blog a little while ago, and I love reading it. I also like the looks of those muffins. Might have to try that recipe.

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  17. Jayme-lets have a sit down and chat right now.

    MamaHen-"Dear sweet Jayme, you are not allowed to stop blogging"

    Jayme-"I know, I know, but I have so much to do"

    MamaHen-"There are four children here in this house who depend on you writing. It keeps their momma sane. You can't let them down, can you."

    PPPPPLLLLLEEEEAAAASSSSEEEE Keep Blogging!!!!!!

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  18. I am so glad you decided to continue blogging! I have just recently found you and I am learning so much! Blessings and thank you.

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  19. I keep reminding myself to wear a bib before reading your blog posts. Then I forget and have to change my shirt. Dang you, woman! LOL

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  20. Thanks for sharing the Cherry Vanilla muffin recipe!
    So happy you are going to keep blogging, because whether you know it or not, you are very inspiring to alot of us out here in blogland! You are the neighbor all of us would like to have in real life.

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  21. I'm sooo glad you're going to continue blogging, you nearly gave me a heart at. No pressure! ;)

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  22. I was gonna leave a comment, but I'm off to make these muffins!!!

    THANKS for the recipe - yee haw.

    Chris

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  23. Thanks for a yummy yummy muffin recipe.

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  24. I am so dense that I didn't realize that was my recipe until you mentioned it. Haven't made those in forever. I will have to get some cherries so that the next time I get a baking urge I can make these. And with this cooler weather, it is getting into that baking time again! Yippee!!!!! This recipe is one of the few that I can actually claim as my very own. I started with a blueberry muffin recipe and experimented with the cherries, vanilla, and glaze until it came out right. I had completely forgotten about the note cards. That was back when I had MUCH more time on my hands. :) Recipes now get written on a scrap of paper. Or printed on a computer. You know, I just realized what a sad thing it is that we don't exchange recipes on hand written cards anymore. I have a few from my grandma and it is so neat to see her handwriting when I take it out. When you make a recipe that someone has taken the time to write out on a card in their handwriting, I feel like they are giving a little piece of themselves to you. We need to do that more often instead of just shooting off an email attachment. We have GOT to get together and do the yogurt! I have much more free time now that the boys are back in school. What days work best for you? Let me know.

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  25. I saw the "Love" blog in my blogger dashboard, but can't find it here. It appears the link is broken or something. Did you take it down?

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  26. You better not quit. My Mom, my sisters and I would miss you terribly!
    kim

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  27. Now those look good, Jayme and I'm not even a huge muffin fan. Not sure why. I'm not a pancake or waffle fan either, but I do love french toast, just for the record. But if I did love muffins, I'd for sure love those because they're just about the prettiest muffins I've ever seen!

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  28. These look so good I can smell them through my computer! I love everything about farming but I am a terrible cook. I want to be a good one but it just never pans out. One of my goals is to keep trying and so I'm gonna give this recipe ago. Thanks for sharing.
    Amy at Verde Farm

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  29. Can't wait for the Mac & Cheese recipe!! HURRY!!!!!!!!!
    or just UPS me some of yours, which I prefer.

    Good Bloggers can't stop.

    Plus I need to know there is more chaos in your life than in mine! LOL.

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  30. When your readers look absolutely forward to you, your blog, their first cup of coffee, and the smile this trio brings, you just absolutely cannot consider stopping the spread of the one and only special brand of CoopKeeping Sunshine ;)

    p.s. Looking forward to that Mac and Cheez!

    Marianne

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  31. These look so daggum good. And for some reason, I like to read "sour" as "saar". It makes them seem...homier?

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  32. These look good but about the only food I do not like are cherries. Too much cherry flavored cough syrup as a child. But I will be waiting for the Mac and Cheese recipe because I want to serve it up to the hubs.

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  33. Yeah! Yum! The recipe :) I've been a bit AWOL for a couple of weeks. But I'm here now and had to stop by. Um, glad to hear you've decided to keep blogging. Are you crazy Jayme!! You are one of my absolute favorites. You're real and inspiring. I'll cry if you quit. Seriously. Pwease don't make me cwy Jayme :(

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