This Muffin Monday is brought to you by my new kitchen, where I am beginning to work my way around it and learning to love it. Plus it’s really nice to have my work space be in the same room as my oven and refrigerator.
We’re still settling in here–heck, we still have a whole basement and garage to move, plus some furniture and miscellaneous junk–but it’s starting to feel like home. Our home. I get a flutter of excitement and panic at the same time just thinking about it. It’s so nice to not have the thumping and bumping upstairs anymore or the smoky waves wafting in our windows. No more cigarette ashes and butts in my potted plants or other kids’ toys strewn across the parking area. If there’s a problem, it’s ours, for better or worse, and we will deal with it. I love it!
Dragging out a move can be exhausting though. Between my back and foot drop in my left foot, plus my newly-developed plantar fasciitis in my right foot, I feel like I haven’t been much help at all. I packed quite a bit initially and have done much of the cleaning, unpacking, and organizing at the new house, but it doesn’t seem like enough. I should be doing the heavy lifting, too. And I can’t.
What I can do is turn our house into a home with the little touches. Where to put the decorative stuff so it’s not so stark white and bland. How to arrange the silverware and dishes so they’re easy to find by the other occupants of my home. And baking. Because baking always makes a house a home. There’s no substitute for it.
This week, An sent around a recipe for Strawberry Shortcake Muffins from Seasons & Suppers. Strawberry shortcake is one of my favorite desserts–simply classic. While this would have been wonderful with the originally called-for strawberries, I found some gorgeous cherries at the store and was compelled to use them in this recipe. I needed a baked cherry treat in my life. The cherry on the top of the sundae that is our home. Just a little something extra special.
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ cup turbinado sugar
- 8 Tablespoons (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups sweet cherries, pitted and chopped
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line 2 muffin tins with paper liners and set aside.
- In a large bowl, cut together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and butter with a pastry blender until you get pea-sized crumbs.
- Add the egg, cream, and vanilla extract, stirring with a silicone spatula until just blended.
- Stir in the cherries.
- Using a large cookie scoop, portion out the batter between the muffin cups, filling ¾ of the way.
- Bake for 25 minutes, rearranging the pans halfway through baking.
- Cool in muffin tins before serving.
Muffin Monday is an initiative by Baker Street; a culinary journey of sharing a wickedly delicious muffin recipe every week. Drop in a quick line to join her on her journey to make the world smile and beat glum Monday mornings, week after week.
11 comments
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Stacy
9 July, 2012 at 11:09 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Baking is the one thing that automatically makes a house a home! Never mind the decorator touches or the unpacked boxes. There is time for those. Those cherries are gorgeously red and the muffins look divine.
The Poet Herself
9 July, 2012 at 10:48 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Now if only I didn’t have a whole bunch of stuff that still isn’t even packed back at the apartment…
Stay-At-Home-Chef
9 July, 2012 at 2:02 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I agree that baking makes a house a home for sure! The smells, the comfort…it’s magic. And your muffins look beautiful – must have been delicious with cherries
Stay-At-Home-Chef recently posted..Muffin Monday: Strawberry Shortcake Muffins
The Poet Herself
9 July, 2012 at 10:47 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you! They are delicious! I need to do a lot more baking though… still doesn’t smell like home here yet!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
9 July, 2012 at 3:26 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I know what you mean about annoying neighbors and apartment living! Congrats on your own place
These muffins look amazing…
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes recently posted..Golden Grahams S’mores Bars
The Poet Herself
9 July, 2012 at 10:46 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks! I still have neighbors, but at least they’re not right above me.
Kate | Food Babbles
9 July, 2012 at 8:20 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Wow! Love the picture of your son in your new house… So bright, sunny and cheerful! And I just ADORE the brick wall!! Second, I am so sorry to hear your back is still bothering you and now your feet too. Ugh! Last but certainly not least, these muffins sound like perfection. I love the change up of strawberries to cherries. Yum! Happy Monday!
Kate | Food Babbles recently posted..Balsamic Fruit Salad & A Giveaway!
The Poet Herself
9 July, 2012 at 10:46 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
He would not stay still long enough for me to catch him! I had another one of him and the dog running down the hallway that was adorable but completely out of focus. The white kitchen makes me…nervous…with the kids, but it really is so wonderfully bright. And the brick wall is one of my favorite parts.
Anna @ hiddenponies
10 July, 2012 at 12:56 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Delicious!! So happy to hear you’re getting settled into the new house – settled enough to bake, that’s a great step
Anna @ hiddenponies recently posted..Cranberry Flax Muffins
Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine)
12 July, 2012 at 1:47 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’m seeing cherries everywhere and loving them–I just wish they were easier to pit!
Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine) recently posted..Summer Time is Risotto Time
The Poet Herself
14 July, 2012 at 5:31 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I used to think it was a bit of a frivolous purchase, but my OXO cherry pitter is indispensable for baking with cherries!