Monday, February 14, 2011

Raspberry Orange Muffins

I have seriously neglected this blog, and I miss it a lot. I can't believe that I missed the January daring bakers' challenge despite the fact that I had it all planned out a week in advance. I decided to spend the day on a family outing instead of making the cake, I don't really regret it though.

I am baking less since I stopped eating gluten and for now I don't have the time to experiment with all the wheat flour alternatives. Work keeps me busy, I have had few house guests, and I am slowly turning my house inside out to get rid of clutter and unnecessary items, in an effort to reorganizing it. A good friend of mine entered me in a kitchen makeover contest so we spent a weekend taping and editing to show my very old kitchen space in the hope that they will select me. Wouldn't be awesome? I so need a more functional space. Wish me luck.

I picked and cured few olives from our trees that this year have a monster crop. There are still many on the branches and I wish I had the time to pick more, they are delicious! I will have to write a post on this, it is so easy, but definitively time consuming. I wish it weren't so expensive to press them because they are a Tuscan variety and I bet they would make great oil.

I don't remember where I originally found this muffin recipe, but since I modified it a lot it now qualifies as mine I guess. This is one of those recipes I made so many times I have it stuck in my head and I can make it in few minutes, very convenient. I made these lovely mini muffins this morning for a Valentine's party and they were well received and devoured.



Orange Raspberry Muffins
makes 24 mini muffins

2 cups of all purpose flour
1 cup of granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup orange juice
zest of one orange
2 ounces of butter, melted
2/3 cup fresh or frozen raspberries

Method: Sift together all the dry ingredients. Whisk all the wet ingredients, and the orange zest, then combine them with the flour mixture. Mix briefly, add the raspberries , some milk if too dry, and mix just until incorporated. The secret to a light muffins is to barely mix the batter, it is okay if it looks a little lumpy. Pour into paper lined muffin pans and bake at 350F until the muffins spring back and they are lightly colored.

9 comments:

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

A wonderful flavor combination! Those look so delicious.

Cheers,

Rosa

Gaia said...

In bocca al lupo per il contest!!
MA non ho capitro bene di che si tratta.. ti riorganizzano la cucina?

Per il blog, come mi hanno detto una volta, lui sta li' buono buono.
Il tempo speso in famiglia è tempo prezioso!
un bacio

ps. non ricordo perche' hai tolto il glutine dalla tua alimentazione..per intolleranze?

Simona said...

Good luck on the contest Don't worry, there are times when life takes over and that is ok. When you have time, you can check my recent post on mochi: since it is made with sweet rice flour, it is gluten free :)

VenetiaMicio said...

Cette recette a l'air délicieuse et les muffins devaient être bienvenus à l'occasion de la S'Valentino.
Vous parlez de vos olives, vous les récoltez seulement maintenant ? Ici en Provence la cueillette se fait en novembre.
a prsto
Danielle

Laura said...

Rosa,
despite the fact that I have made them for years I will never tire of them, they are so good.

Gaia, e' un programma televisivo, se mi selezionano mi rifanno completamente la cucina, chiaramente filmando il tutto. L'idea e' un po' stressante, apparire in televisione! Chissa'...Il glutine e i latticini non li mangio perche' mi danno problemi digestivi, venerdi' vado da un'agopunturista per farmi diagnosticare e possibilmente curare. E' molto difficile fare dolci senza glutine e burro, mannaggia!

Simona, I love mochi! I will have to try it.

Danielle, you are asking me why we harvest the olives now, right? It is because where I live it is really cold in the summer, and the olives don't mature until now, plus last summer was the coldest ever due to the San Francisco fog. Weird but true. Thanks for the visit.

marianna franchi said...

Sono bellissimi! Un abbraccio e buon fine settimana

Y said...

Oh didn't realise you had stopped eating gluten. Are you allergic? Would be interested in seeing some gluten free recipes posted here if you have time. Good luck with the kitchen makeover contest!!

Laura said...

Marianna, grazie! Che piacere scoprire il tuo bellissimo blog.

Y, I am collecting gluten free recipes, I have tested a few but don't have enough time right now. If we are able to open my dream bakery then I will have a big slice of products that are gluten free. I am not totally allergic, but mildly intolerant, to milk as well, difficult to bake traditional recipes...

Sasa said...

I came over from Lemonpi when I saw you too changed course after your studies - a kindred spirit ^_^ Congratulations on your new cmera - I got mine just a few months ago and am still getting the hang of it.

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