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 🙂
Monet
June 14 at 11:54 amOh 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 =-.
Priscilla
June 14 at 8:28 pmMonet – 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. 🙂
The Rowdy Chowgirl
June 14 at 1:25 pmYour pictures are just glowing! Such pretty muffins, I want to eat them now!
.-= The Rowdy Chowgirl´s last blog ..The Wonders of Room Service =-.
skip to malou
June 14 at 7:36 pmthank 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
Priscilla
June 14 at 8:26 pmMalou, nice meeting you too! Besides, being nutritious, applesauce also adds moistness to cakes and cookies 🙂
citronetvanille
June 14 at 10:57 pmThose muffins are really tempting, those tiny bites of strawberries inside the muffin tells me how moist the inside must be! Gorgeous!
Priscilla
June 15 at 8:51 amCitronetvanille – 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 🙂
Jean
June 15 at 9:36 amThose 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 =-.
Priscilla
June 15 at 10:01 amJean, thanks for reading! Yes, I love that Monet’s delicious blog also includes literary reviews 🙂
Anna
June 15 at 12:12 pmI love poppy seeds, and combined with strawberries must be yummo. It looks awesome.
.-= Anna´s last blog ..Heirloom Tomatoes and Blueberry Salad =-.
Heather I.
June 15 at 3:10 pmWhat a nice change up from lemon poppy seed! Strawberries are calling my name right now, I should try these!
Priscilla
June 15 at 5:11 pmHeather – my sentiments exactly (nothing against lemons – I truly love them)! Thanks for visiting.
FOODESSA
June 15 at 6:32 pmOther 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 =-.
Magic of Spice
June 15 at 8:44 pmHow 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 =-.
Polly Motzko
June 16 at 5:21 amThese 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
Priscilla
June 16 at 7:47 amPolly – Thank you! It’s always nice to meet online friends in real life! I’ll email you. 🙂
The Duo Dishes
June 17 at 12:19 pmOh, these are looking good! Really good. And a much healthier alternative!
.-= The Duo Dishes´s last blog ..Mandy’s Test Kitchen =-.
Priscilla
June 18 at 7:47 amThanks for stopping by you two! I do my best to minimize saturated fat and sugar without sacrificing deliciousness 🙂
Jacob's Kitchen
June 22 at 4:14 pmGenius! 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.
lisa mertins
June 23 at 4:54 pmwho 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! =-.
Priscilla
June 23 at 5:30 pmhaha Thanks, Lisa! I get an inferiority complex when I’m surrounded by all that equipment 😉
lisa mertins
June 23 at 4:55 pmooops, 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! =-.