When I was in high school, I had a close group of friends who always hung out together. As groups of friends go, we weren’t always all the best of friends — there were ebbs and flows, just like any relationship. But one thing was certain: when we got together, we all had a ton of fun.

One of those friends was Lisa. She was an honors student who loved English class just like me. We had most of our classes together, except for language — she was a French student, I was a Spanish one. So, we spent a lot of time together in and out of school. When I think of her, one thing that sticks out in my mind is her absolute love of Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins. I smile just thinking about her waxing poetic about their many virtues.

Now me? I don’t think I had eaten — let alone heard of — lemon poppy seed anything before her.  But once I tried them, I discovered that they were every bit as good as she said. However, unlike Lisa, I just couldn’t bear the idea of poppy seeds getting caught in my teeth (call me vain … ok, I probably was). So, I didn’t eat them often.

Last week though, my local supermarket’s bakery had mini muffins on sale and I picked up a package. I’d almost forgotten how much I love the sweet lemony flavor … mmm. But something struck me as I ate them: I still really don’t like the poppy seeds. I could totally do without them, in fact. That got me thinking about how I could have my lemon without the hassle of the seeds …

The answer? Blueberries. I mean, sure, you could make the muffins sans any additions. But what fun would that be?I am sure it would taste perfectly fine without them, but I don’t want fine … I want something that makes you swoon.

And really … lemon and blueberry are two flavors that really go well together. Aren’t they? Well, my kids and I thought so. I think you will too.

Lemon Blueberry Muffins
yields 12 muffins

This recipe calls for frozen blueberries. Be sure to pick up regular frozen blueberries, which are sweet. Wild blueberries are not recommended because they are too tart to create a good contrast here.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 cup nonfat milk
2/3 cup granular sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 tsp vanilla extract
zest of 1 lemon
1 cup frozen blueberries (NOT wild blueberries)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 12 muffin cups with muffin papers.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium sized bowl.

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sugar, butter, vanilla and lemon zest. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones and whisk to combine until smooth. Stir in the blueberries.

Divide the batter evenly between the muffin cups. Place in the oven and cook for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of one of the muffins comes out clean.

Let cool for 15 minutes before eating. Store leftovers in an airtight container.

When the weather gets like this, I crave warm, rich, heavier foods that keep you comfy even when the weather is not. This muffin totally fits that bill. It’s a rich combination of coconut and pumpkin, two of my very favorite flavors. The brown sugar makes it pleasantly sweet, but not so sweet that you will have a sugar rush at 8 a.m.

The recipe is pretty easy (most muffins are) and I was able to whip these up on a Friday morning, without missing any deadlines to school drop offs. No, I don’t have any magic elves to help out — just two sweet kids.

Actually, I did happen upon a new method for having the kids help me cook while testing this recipe. In the past, they’ve always pulled chairs to the counter and stood on them, as I did when I was a child. But walking space is at a premium near our counter, so I have been trying something different: mixing up recipes at our table. That allows me the freedom to get and put away ingredients as needed, and I don’t have to worry about anyone tumbling from a chair or getting too close to a hot stove. It’s working for us, and the kids really seem to enjoy it (the cooking and the new method).

Pumpkin Coconut Muffins
yields 12 muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup nonfat milk
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup canola oil
1 tsp coconut extract
2 tbsp sweetened coconut flakes

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a muffin tin with 12 spots with muffin liners.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sugar, pumpkin puree, oil and coconut extract.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated.

Divide the batter evenly between the 12 muffin liners. Don’t be afraid to fill the  cups to the top. Sprinkle the coconut flakes onto the top of all the muffins.

Place the muffins in the preheated oven and cook until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (15-20 minutes). Let cool before serving.

Store in a cool, dry place.

I’ve been going crazy with zests and fresh citrus in my cooking lately. It’s just imparts such vibrant flavor. Whatever it is that you are making becomes more alive with the simple addition of little scrapes of peels.

Really, it’s hard to believe that I was so resistant to using zest until recently. And why? Honestly, I shied away from it because it just seemed like such a tedious thing to do … since I had never tried it. But as it turns out, zesting a lime or a lemon takes but seconds and pays off major taste dividends.

These muffins are heavy on the lime taste and lighter on the coconut, but the coconut still adds a nice richness to the flavor. Make these the night before and heat one up in the morning for a quick, fresh breakfast on the go — and don’t forget to split them in half and slather on the butter. Or eat them at room temperature with a steamy cup of coffee.

Mmm.

Lime and Coconut Muffins
yields 12 muffins

This recipe is based on the basic muffin recipe from the Joy of Cooking. It’s been adapted for these not-so-traditional flavors. Be sure to clean the exterior of the lime before zesting, and use sweetened coconut.

2 cups all purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sweetened coconut
2 large eggs
1 cup nonfat milk
2/3 granulated sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
zest of 1 lime
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line 12 muffin tins with paper liners.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt and coconut in a large bowl, using a whisk to blend together.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sugar, canola oil, lime zest and vanilla. Pour into the bowl with the flour mixture and stir until just combined.

Divide the batter evenly between the 12 muffin cups.

Cook in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

The longer I cook, the more I find that I have certain go-to recipes that are as ingrained in my repertoire as number 2 pencils in a school child’s pencil bag. They are my tried and trues, my favorites, my without-thinking creations. My tried and trues can be made without fuss or muss, because they’ve become my happy cooking habits.

Among those tried and trues is my recipe for raspberry white chocolate muffins. I first had this combination in delicious, but short-lived, raspberry white chocolate scones from Dunkin Donuts about four years ago. I loved the combination and shortly after found the muffin form at Big Y. A few years back, unable to find either the scone or the muffin, I set out to develop my own version . . . this is the result of that.

These are best eaten warm, just out of the oven — but if you have leftovers, simply pop them in the toaster oven or oven for a few minutes to make them as hot and tasty as when you first made them.

When I whipped up a batch of these last Sunday, Will ate two . . . something that rarely happens — he’s not big on seconds. The next day? Shawn ate two . . . something that also rarely happens because he’s not big on muffins. These muffins provided a bonding experience for my husband and his boss a few years ago as well . . . they are that kind of good.

This time, I used used granular sugar on top, but these are fantastic with white decorative sugar too.

A note on raspberries:

Like raspberries? Good. They are excellent for you. Red raspberries are antioxidant powerhouses. They have significantly more antioxidants than strawberries, tomatoes or kiwi. They are also a good source of vitamin C. Coincidentally, they are coming into season shortly.

To see the recipe, click here.

This post is for Sweetnicks’ ARF/5-A-Day Tuesdays . . . Check out the Sweetnicks site later tonight for more antioxidant rich ideas.

Anyway, since the cookbook features dinners, I will probably focus more on breakfast, lunch and dessert here until the writing is completed. I don’t want to share all the new recipes I am developing before the book comes out! So there is a recipe here . . . it’s for Raspberry White Chocolate Muffins . . . I have revisited a recipe I first posted months ago and made a few small alterations . . . still lovin’ it! I also discovered that a sprinkling of red decorative sugar makes the tops that lovely shade of pink you see (apply it before baking).

On the meat-free front, I have come to respect and realize just how imperative it is that I take my lunch to work everyday. Our cafeteria is a vegetarian’s nightmare. Many days, the only meat-free offering is the salad bar and one soup. Meanwhile, there are at least six other offerings for the non-meat-free world. No wonder my colleague orders out so much! Seriously, I just don’t understand the logic of the whole thing. How could you not offer at least a few entrees everyday for the veg crowd? I find it hard to believe that there aren’t enough vegetarians in the park to justify that.

Anyway, the plethora of meat offerings certainly doesn’t help my resolve either. I am beginning to fiend for meat. I would love a juicy cheeseburger, maybe some baby back ribs, and a loaded hot dog. But that is the whole point of sacrificing, right? Four weeks and one day until Easter (April 8, this year). Four LONG more weeks. Already, so it’s a little pathetic that it’s only been about two and a half weeks since Lent began and I am already complaining. But when you are cooking all sorts of new and exciting meat dishes, it’s only natural . . . I think. At least there will be a good chunk of vegetarian recipes in the book as a result.

And rest assured I will retest every meaty recipe after Lent, to taste it for myself.

1 egg
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup frozen raspberries, partially melted
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.

In a large bowl, beat the egg. Beat in milk and butter until well combined. Stir in flour, sugar, baking powder and salt until just moistened. Gently fold in vanilla, raspberries and white chocolate.

Spoon evenly into the muffin cups. Bake for 22-26 minutes, until tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center pulls out clean.

Let muffins cool until they can be touched.

Topping:
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar

Place butter and sugar into separate bowls.

Dip each muffin top first in butter and then in sugar.

This post is part of Cucina Bella’s 40 meat free days for Lent. To read more, click here.

This post is also my entry for Sweetnicks’ ARF/5-A-Day Tuesdays . . . very early, but though antioxidant-rich raspberries make it a perfect entry.

I started this post more days ago then I want to admit. But believe me, it’s worth the wait.

When I made these muffins, they met with a reaction I didn’t anticipate: elation. My husband was simply elated when he told me how great my muffins were. How cool is that??? He raved and raved and shared with his boss who raved and raved some too…

What can I say? I have lofty expectations. This extends to everything in my life, from myself to my career to my family. I expect things to meet my perfect ideal and when they don’t it’s devastating. Fortunately, I rarely allow that to happen.

Back to the muffin, I’m hard pressed to locate a bakery or manufacturer who still adheres to these standards in my area. The manufacturers seem to have all bought into the idea that muffins need to be sweetened like a cupcake and dense like a scone. Bakeries around here seem to lose site of the light and fluffy texture that characterizes a good muffin. Muffins are often too large for the portion conscious eater as well.

So I did what I do best: found a recipe that meets my expectations. Hell, I would go so far as to say it exceeds my expectations. It’s from an old standard in my cucina bella, Betty Crocker’s Cookbook. Certainly, not every recipe in the book is top notch. In fact, there are times when I curse myself for still holding onto it as a staple. But for classic recipes like this, it’s golden.

Streusel
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp – 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp butter, firm

Muffin
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup fresh blueberries, rinsed and drained

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.

In a small bowl, prepare the streusel topping by combining the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Next, use two knives crisscrossing to cut the butter into the dry mixture. Continue combining until mixture is crumbly. Set bowl aside.

In a large bowl, prepare the muffin batter by whisking together the milk, oil and egg. Stir in flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Batter should be moistened and will still be lumpy, but it’s supposed to be.

Stir in blueberries.

Use a tablespoon to drop batter into the 12 lined muffin cups, dividing equally. Top with about 1 tbsp of the streusel topping each.

Place the pan into the preheated oven and cook for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack immediately.