The food blogging world has revealed to me a world of amazing culinary enthusiasts, writers, photographers, and just plain good people. I’m able to savor homespun regional cooking, artful desserts, and exotic foods from around the world through the lens of the cameras that reflect their unique perspective and from the keystrokes which are the conduit of expression of some truly talented writers.
One sweet, sincere and beautifully written blog that I’ve come across is that of the aptly named, Apples and Anecdotes, where Monet bakes her way through graduate school and we readers would gratefully lick the crumbs from her counter top 🙂 Her rustic breads, homey muffins, and divine desserts have inspired me to stock up on flour and try my hand at baking – that and the fact that the chief baker in my house is soon off to college!
Strawberry Poppy Seed Muffins
adapted from Apples and Anecdotes
3 cups white whole wheat flour*
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Tbsp poppy seeds
8 Tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce*
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 Tbsp lemon zest
1 cup chopped strawberries (fresh)
Notes: * I used white whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose to add a little more fiber and substituted applesauce for some of the butter and sugar in the original recipe.
1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and grease or line a 12 tin muffin pan.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, poppy seeds, and salt and set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar together, beating until fluffy Add eggs one at a time, beating until incorporated after each one. Beat in the lemon zest.
4. Beat in one third of the dry ingredients until just mixed. Beat in one third of the yogurt. Beat in a third more of the dry ingredients. Beat in a second third of the yogurt. Beat in the remaining dry ingredients and then the remaining yogurt. Do not over beat. Gently fold in chopped berries.
5. Distribute the muffin dough equally among the tins. Bake until muffins are golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and after 5 minutes, remove from pan.
Makes 15-18 muffins
With strawberries, applesauce, yogurt, and the white whole wheat flour these light and tasty muffins are much healthier than a store bought muffins (which are super high in saturated fat, partially hydrogenated oils, sugar, and high fructose corn syrup) and are munchable for breakfast on the go, after school snack, or a bit of sweet following supper.
Enjoy 🙂
Oh how beautiful! Thank you for your sweet words. I will share this post with my friends…and I’m sure they will fall in love with your blog! Thanks my dear!
.-= Monet´s last blog ..Sweet Potato Cupcakes =-.
Monet – you are so welcome. Next up are the chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting!
Rowdy Chowgirl – Are you still enjoying room service? Don’t blame you at all – its good to indulge yourself now and then. 🙂
Your pictures are just glowing! Such pretty muffins, I want to eat them now!
.-= The Rowdy Chowgirl´s last blog ..The Wonders of Room Service =-.
thank you for visitng my blog… and yeah food blogging is a great way to meet people and I’m glad to have bumped into you in the blogosphere.
irecently I have tasted muffins with applesauce and you’re right it’s a healthy alternative.
here’s to oknowing you more… cheers!
malou
Malou, nice meeting you too! Besides, being nutritious, applesauce also adds moistness to cakes and cookies 🙂
Those muffins are really tempting, those tiny bites of strawberries inside the muffin tells me how moist the inside must be! Gorgeous!
Citronetvanille – Thank you for stopping by – we really enjoyed the bits of strawberries! Now, fresh cherries are available and I’m thinking a cherry chutney with cheese – sound familiar 🙂
Those muffins look great and I agree, I enjoy Monet’s blog, too. So much inspiration. The strawberry and poppyseed combination sounds great!
.-= Jean´s last blog ..Pork Ribs with Orange Glaze =-.
Jean, thanks for reading! Yes, I love that Monet’s delicious blog also includes literary reviews 🙂
I love poppy seeds, and combined with strawberries must be yummo. It looks awesome.
.-= Anna´s last blog ..Heirloom Tomatoes and Blueberry Salad =-.
What a nice change up from lemon poppy seed! Strawberries are calling my name right now, I should try these!
Heather – my sentiments exactly (nothing against lemons – I truly love them)! Thanks for visiting.
Other than the little pesky poppy seeds that always get stuck in my teeth…the muffins look wonderful. The ingredients lend themselves well to also be baked in my kitchen too one day.
Thank you for having discovered such a nice treat ;o)
Flavourful wishes, Claudia
.-= FOODESSA´s last blog ..Free Style Friday_Flowers and Food =-.
How perfectly scrumptious… Would need to replace strawberries:( (allergic), but the muffin recipe is wonderful:)
.-= Magic of Spice´s last blog ..What’s for Dinner? – Salmon Burgers with Rum Spiced Salsa =-.
These look absolutely wonderful Priscilla!
Remind me, what part of Southern CA are you in again?
We should “do lunch” some time or meet for coffee or tea and talk. It would be nice to meet you.
Sincerely,
Polly Motzko
Polly – Thank you! It’s always nice to meet online friends in real life! I’ll email you. 🙂
Oh, these are looking good! Really good. And a much healthier alternative!
.-= The Duo Dishes´s last blog ..Mandy’s Test Kitchen =-.
Thanks for stopping by you two! I do my best to minimize saturated fat and sugar without sacrificing deliciousness 🙂
Genius! What an inspired idea. Poppy seeds are so delicious, but I have never thought of venturing away from the classic lemon. Thanks for sharing! I’ll definitely add these to the “make soon” list.
who needs a fancy camera indeed! these look yummmmy.
it was good seeing you last night priscilla and i’m looking forward to your kentucky posts 🙂
.-= lisa mertins´s last blog ..that face, those eyes! =-.
haha Thanks, Lisa! I get an inferiority complex when I’m surrounded by all that equipment 😉
ooops, i see your comments note my last post. i’m mortified it’s so OLD! yikes, i need to stop reading and hurry up a-bloggin’!
.-= lisa mertins´s last blog ..that face, those eyes! =-.