Berry Oregon Summer. Muffins and such.

Summer starts and I am pumped. It seems people have multiplied like rabbits over the winter and once the sun is out, everyone is a runner, hiker, kayaker, gardener and/or professional BBQer. One of my favorite aspects is the produce. I try and keep a seasonal diet, and summer is the cornucopia of seasons; when I get to indulge in my favorite fruit family: berries.

Muffins with whipped cream cheese

The Pacific Northwest is known for its extensive array of berries. Once the caviar of fruits in Mexico, now I pay next to nothing (or nothing, when they grow in your own backyard) for this most exquisite candy Mother Nature makes. By the handful fresh from the vine, in a pie a la mode, over cheesecake, in baked goods, or just thrown in my morning cereal are my favorite ways to gobble up pounds upon pounds of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and marrionberries all before you can say Labor Day.

This summer, after an extensive berry picking session I created about four different desserts I would like to share with you.  The summer is almost over, so you will either have to hurry to the farmers market soon, or keep this in your mind for next year. Believe me, I will be anticipating the next berry summer berry berry much.

Blueberry Cherry Muffins 

-5 T soft butter

-1/2 cup sugar

-1 egg

- ¾ cup yogurt or sour cream ( I used half and half because that’s what I had around)

- ½ t lemon zest

- 1 ½ cup flour

- 1 ½ t baking powder

- ¼ t baking soda

- ¼ t salt

- ¾ cup blueberries (I used blueberries and cherries!)

How beautiful are these?!

1) Oven at 350 F.

2)Beat butter and sugar first. Add egg and mix. Add yogurt and lemon and mix.

3)Mix dry ingredients, sift in half, mix in. Then sift the other half and mix.

4)Fold in berries

5) Batter will be thick. Its ok!!! Scoop with an ice cream scooper or two spoons and top with brown sugar for extra tempting muffins.

6)Bake for about 30ish minutes? Just do the toothpick method, check them around 20 minutes depending on the size of your tins, but once toothpick comes out clean, you are good! 

Enjoy them fresh from the oven or warmed up later with salted butter, cream cheese or Peanut butter. Oh yeah.