Blackberry Muffins

Dry ingredients 

2 cups whole wheat flour 
2/3s cup sugar
2 tsp of baking soda
2 tsp of baking powder
1 tsp of cinnamon
1 1/4 tsp salt

Wet ingredients 
1 cup milk
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tsp of vanilla 
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg  
3 cups blackberries

Oat topping
3 tbsp of melted butter
1/4 cup of oats
1 tsp of cinnamon
blend together  
 
In a bowl measure out your dry ingredients. In another bowl measure out wet ingredients. Add both together and stir until well blended, pour batter into muffin cups. Top muffins with oat topping, bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. 

Health benefits of bllackberries

• As in other bush berries, blackberries too are packed with numerous plant nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, and dietary fibers that are essential for optimum health.
  
• They are very low in calories. 100 g berries provide just 43 calories. Nonetheless, rich in soluble and insoluble fiber (100 g whole berries consist of 5.3 g or 14% RDA of fiber). Xylitol, a low-calorie sugar substitute presents in the fruit fibers, absorbs more slowly than sugar, and does not contribute to high blood sugar levels.
  
• Blackberries have significantly high amounts of phenolic flavonoid phytochemicals such as anthocyanins, ellagic acid tannin), quercetin, gallic acid, cyanidins, pelargonidins, catechins, kaempferol and salicylic acid. Scientific studies show that these antioxidant compounds may have potential health benefits against cancer, aging, inflammation, and neurological diseases.
  
• Fresh berries are an excellent source of vitamin C (35% of RDA/100 g), which is a powerful natural antioxidant. Consumption of fruits rich in vitamin C helps develop resistance against infectious agents, counter inflammation, and scavenge harmful free radicals from the body.
  
• They contain adequate levels of vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin K (16% of RDA/100 g) and in addition, they are rich in many other health promoting flavonoid poly-phenolic antioxidants such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and ß-carotene in small amounts. Altogether, these compounds help act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a role in aging and various disease process.
  
• Blackberries have an ORAC value (oxygen radical absorbance capacity, a measure of anti-oxidant strength) of about 5347µmol TE per 100 grams.
  
• Further, blackberries contain good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, copper, and magnesium. Copper is required in the bone metabolism as well as in production of white and red blood cells.
  
• They contain moderate levels of B-complex group of vitamins. It contains very good amounts of pyridoxine, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and folic acid. These vitamins are acting as cofactors help body metabolize carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
  
   Blackberry healthy facts copied form link below. The muffin recipe is one of my own hope you enjoy!
  http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/index.html
  
  

Blackberry Pie

  Recipe
  5 cups blackberries
  1 cup sugar
  1 1/4 cups brown sugar
  1/4 flour
  2 tsp lemo juice
  1/2 tsp innamon

  2 tbsp of butter cut into small pieces

 Tender flake pie crust instructions: Recipe yields 6 pie crusts

 5 1/2 cups all purpose flour or              
 1 lb Tenderfkake lard
 6 cups cake or pastry flour                     
 1 Tbsp vinegar
 1 tsp salt                                                   
 1 egg lightly beaten
  cold water

Mix together flour and salt.
Cut in Tenderflake lard with pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles course oatmeal.
In a 1 cup measure, combine egg and vinegar. Add water to make 1 cup.  Gradually stir liquid into
Tenderflake mixture. Add only enough water to make dough cling together.
Gather into a ball and divide into 6 portions. If desired, wrap unused portions and refrigerate or freeze.
Roll out each portion on lightly floured surface. If dough is sticking chill 1 hour.
transfer dough to pie plate.
Fill, the bottom pie crust with blackberry mixture, top with butter. Top with remaining pie crust and
bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hr.



My, mom and I picked some blackberries so they could be turned into some tasty pies. I made a baby one just for fun!

Food for thougth

Those who mind don't matter. And those who matter don't mind.

Bernard Baruch

To love a person is to learn the song that is in their heart and sing it to them when they have forgotten.

Thomas Chandler

Encourage one another, day after day, as long as it is still called today.

Hebrews 3:13

There are two dogs inside me. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time. . . which dog usually wins . . . the one I feed the most.

words of a Native American Tribal Leader, retold by Harold Kushner

I came to feel that the most loving thing I could do for anyone was to tell them how it was with me and share my imperfections with them. When I did this, most people came back at me with what was deep within them.  

Jess Lair

Journey quietly on your pathway to forever with charity & a smile. When you depart it will be said by all that your legacy was a better world than the one you found.

Og Mandino in "The Gift of Acabar"

All of us have been dying, hour by hour, since the moment we were born. Realizing this, let all things be placed in their proper perspective. . . . Remember, it is always later than you think.

Og Mandino in "The Greatest Success in the World"

We're all here to do what we're all here to do.

The Matrix Reloaded 2003

I  believe everyone is born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive.

Benjamin E. Mays

Each day, silently affirm that you are the type of person with whom you would want to spend the rest of your life.

Bob Moawad

Don’t get hung up on a snag in the stream, my dear. Snags alone are not so dangerous—it’s the debris that clings to them that makes the trouble. Pull yourself loose and go on.

Anne Shannon Monroe

We can't move ahead if we're trying to get even.

Frank Tyger

When we keep looking on the other side of the fence, we step on the flowers on our side.

Unknown

Never forget what is worth remembering or remember what is best forgotten.

Unknown

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

When Harry Met Sallyhttp://likemylife.homestead.com

Love this site

http://weelicious.com/

Baby Biscotti Biters

 

Biscotti, meaning “twice-baked” in Italian, is a perfect teething cookie for babies. This cookie is hard and long-lasting, but dissolves easily in the mouth.  And the best part about this recipe is that moms and dads can dip the extra biscotti in their coffee for a delightful gourmet treat.

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup brown sugar
½ cup (one stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment  paper.

Mix first three (dry) ingredients together and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla together; mix until well combined. Slowly add flour mixture to wet mixture, but do not over mix.

Form the dough into a large loaf, about 12 inches long. Bake for 40 minutes, until lightly golden brown. Cool on wire rack for about 30 minutes.

Once completely cooled, place the loaf on a cutting board. With a sharp, serrated knife, cut the log cross-ways into ½ inch pieces. Arrange the cookie slices on the baking sheet and put back into the over for about 15-20 minutes.

Kind words for the soul

 
Don't ever hold back a nice compliment to someone, you may never know how much that person might need it. Somtimes we all have those days when we feel overwhelmed and stressed out with life, but just don't forget you are never alone. If you stay positive and look at the good for the good things in your life to be thankful for you will feel better, I promise. Life isn't easy but when you have people to love and love you back you have everything you really need. One thing I try to remember when life doesn't make sense is to realize it doesn't have to make sense to be happy, it's about  being happy even when it doesn't make any sense at all.

A great site for healthy living tips for girls

 


http://www.girlshealth.gov/index.cfm

Blueberry Graham Cracker Cake

                                                              

      Recipe makes 9 pieces of cake

    

     Ingredents

     15 graham crackers crubled

      1 cup

      1 cup brown  sugar

      1 tbsp of baking powder

      1 tsp of cinnamon

      ¾ cup milk

      ½ cup of vegetable oil

      2 eggs

      ¾ cup blueberries

     

      Preperation

      Preheat oven to 375 degrese. In a bowl combine

      dry ingredients. In another bowl combine wet

      ingredients. Now combine both dry and wet and

      blend with mixer for about 3 minutes. In a gresed 9*9”

      dish, pour ½ of your batter. Sprinkle ½ of your blueberries over

      top. Pour the rest of your batter in dish and top with the rest

      of your blueberries. Bake for about 30-40 minutes until tooth

      pick comes out clean and the top is nice and golden.

 

      Chef’s Tips

      Use blackberries for something different. Try using blueberry yogurt instead

      of milk. If lactose intolerent use rice milk or almond milk. This cake is so good

      no matter how you make it!

Chef Andrea’s Pantry Essentials

                                

Baking all-purpose flour unbleached flour or bread flour (for bread making) granulated sugar powdered sugar brown sugar cornstarch baking powder baking soda yeast (regular or instant) vegetable shortening chocolate (semi-sweet, bitter-sweet, & Dutch process cocoa) Dried Goods dried beans (various types) dried fruits currants raisins dates Rice Arborio rice brown rice white rice wild rice Tomatoes (canned) chopped tomatoes sundried tomatoes tomato sauce tomato paste whole tomatoes Vinegars apple cider vinegar balsamic vinegar red wine vinegar raspberry vinegar rice vinegar white wine vinegar Dried Pasta angel hair egg noodles fettuccine fusille lasagna linguine penna spaghetti Dried Herbs anise seeds basil leaves bay leaves steak seasoning spice cayenne pepper chili powder cilantro coriander cumin (ground & seeds) curry powder dill weed fennel seeds Herbes de Provence marjoram dried mustard oregano paprika red peppers rosemary peppercorns (black & white) poppy seeds sage salt (regular & coarse) saffron sesame seeds Tabasco or hot sauce tarragon thyme turmeric Spices cinnamon (ground & whole sticks) cloves (ground & whole) ground allspice ground cardamon ground ginger ground nutmeg   Condiments chicken broth beef broth chutney hoisin sauce honey horseradish gelatin ketchup maple syrup mayonnaise molasses mustard (regular & Dijon) peanut butter pickles (sweet, dill & relish) salsa sliced pimientos soy sauce Terikiyi sauce Worcestershire sauce Oils extra-virgin olive oil vegetable oil walnut oil Milks Rice milk powdered buttermilk powdered milk sweetened condensed milk Canned Goods black beans canned fruits canned vegetables clams cherries (for cherry jubilee) cream of mushroom soup kidney beans mushrooms olives (green & black) pork & beans salmon tuna fish Misc. coffee (regular & decaf) tea (various types) Extracts almond extract pure vanilla extract vanilla beans Liquors marsala wine port wine red wine white wine Gourmet Items anchovies artichoke hearts capers sun dried tomatoes curry paste dried mushrooms olive paste pesto roasted peppers teriyaki smoked oysters Italian dressing Fresh Produce fresh herbs (various) lemons & limes (a must for juice) garlic bulbs onions (red & white) potatoes peppers carrots celery zucchini tomatoes fresh lettuce apples oranges Refrigerator or Freezer Staples butter, various cheeses                    eggs, frozen chicken, whole wheat bread, frozen berries pre maid pie shells, ground beef, frozen vegetables            Kitchen Essentials   Utensils 2 sets of measuring spoons 2 sets of dry measuring cups 2 glass liquid measuring cups 1-quart liquid measuring cup baster biscuit cutter can opener citrus juicer coffee scoop colander corkscrew cutting board funnel garlic press ginger grater grater (large & hand-held) ice cream scoop kitchen tongs (long & short) long-handled fork meat pounder melon baller mortar and pestle nutcracker pepper grinder potato ricer or masher salad spinner skewers (metal or wood) slotted spoons soup ladle spatulas, rubber (3 or 4 of various sizes and 1 high-heat) strainers strawberry huller tea kettle thermometers (candy, meat & oven) timers (2) turner vegetable peeler vegetable brush vegetable steamer (collapsible) wire whisk or hard rubber whisk wooden spoons (4 or 5) zester   Baking Dishes baking dishes (multiple sizes) microwave-safe casserole with lid mixing bowls (4 or more sizes) pasta bowl (serving) plastic containers (for storage) salad bowl (serving) small ingredient dishes (various sizes)   Pots & Pans broiler pan cast-iron frying pan double boiler Dutch oven frying pans (8" & 10") I have more than one of each large saute pan roasting pan saucepans (1-qt., 2-qt. & 3 qt.) stockpot (8 quart)   Cutlery carving knife chef's knife kitchen shears paring knife (2) serrated bread knife serrated tomato knife sharpening steel steak knives   Baking Equipment angel food cake pan baking sheet with rim cooling racks (2) flat baking sheets (2) flour sifter glass pie plates (2) loaf pan (2) muffin tins (2) oven baking stone (pizzas and bread) pastry blender pastry brush pastry scraper rolling pin round cake pans (2) springform pan (9") I have more than one size square baking pan (9"x9") Silpads (rubber baking mats)   Electronics coffee maker coffee grinder food processor hand mixer heavy-duty blender kitchen scale microwave oven standing mixer waffle iron (optional) crock pot (optional)

Blueberry Peach Cinnamon Muffins

 

Dry ingredients
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tbsp of baking powder
1/2 tsp of salt
1 tsp of cinnamon
1/2 brown sugar
stir until well incorporated 

Wet ingredients
1/4 cup butter softened
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup of milk
1 tsp of vanilla

blend butter, with sugar and eggs until fluffy. Add dry slowly to wet, while blending on low speed.
Add milk and oil last. Blend all together for about 2 minutes.

Fold in 1 cup of blueberries and 2 cups of chopped ripe peaches 

Topping
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup oats
1 tsp of cinnamon
stir in a bowl and top muffins 


Pour batter into paper muffin cups  and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.

Serve muffins with a nice cup of peach tea! It doesn't get much better than that now does it!