Early morning, coffee in hand, I stare at a to-do list that runs into a second page. The last week has been a roller coaster ride. Without a harness. Life changing decisions have been made. One of them involves moving house. Two weeks and am out of my current residence. Boxes are being packed. My home is half empty. And half full. I’ve already mentally moved on. It’s all for the better I remind myself. The joy of setting up a new house is immense but the process is unwelcome especially when I have a full time day job to contend with. And now I have to step into the kitchen and bake. The best bit about moving is that you get a chance to clear out things you don’t need. A chance to start afresh.
The kitchen, a space I claim to be my own is what I first checked when I saw the house. While I’m happy that my new kitchen is better than this one, I can’t help and reminisce about the lovely time I’ve spent here. The question is what’s the last thing I bake here, in this kitchen, one that is redolent with with memories of personal escapades, comforting aromas, and hearty meals?
Would you be able to decide what to bake/cook before you got comfortable in an alien kitchen before you get comfortable and truly call it your own?
Over to the recipe: A quick knock up of tart berries, hint of lemon cased in a vanilla muffin.
- 1 cup plain yogurt (regular or low fat)
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- ¼ cup canola or corn oil
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated white sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cups fresh or frozen blueberries
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Position rack in center of oven. Butter or line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
- In a large measuring cup or bowl whisk together the yogurt, lightly beaten egg, oil, juice and vanilla extract.
- In another large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, zest, baking soda, and salt.
- Remove 1 tablespoon of the dry ingredients and toss it with the blueberries.
- With a rubber spatula fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir only until the ingredients are combined. Gently stir in the blueberries. Do not over mix the batter or tough muffins will result.
- Evenly fill the muffin cups with the batter, using two spoons or an ice cream scoop.
- Place in the oven and bake for about 15 – 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
- Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for about 5 minutes before removing from pan. Makes 12 muffins.
Muffin Monday: Round Up
Happy Baking!
Oooh these look good! What I would give to wake up to these tomorrow morning. =)
These sound really delicious! Being a military family I move every 3 years and have to settle into a new kitchen each time. Sometimes I am happy to leave a kitchen behind and sometimes I’d rather be able to go back to one I liked. Right now I have the biggest kitchen I’ve had in 10 years. Good luck with the move!
These look delicious! I, too moved every three years as a military child, member and spouse. It’s exciting, but hectic to move. Best of luck with the move and don’t worry about us….we’ll be here when you get settled in!
it’s pretty… don’t worry about your new place, i think you will need some time to adaptation with in, but I believe in the process you will find a way to make everything OK. and continoues to creating great foods as usual. Good luck for you :)
Cheers
Lovely muffins, An! :)
Good luck on the moving out and moving in. My parents just moved in to a new house a few months before Christmas, and until now we haven’t completely fixed everything. Like you, one thing I loved about moving to a new place is that you get to have a better kitchen than the last one you’ve had. It feels so liberating.
When I moved out of my old apartment almost a year ago, the last thing I baked was devil’s food cupcakes… And I’ve had/made better cupcakes since! :)
We’ll be waiting for your first muffin in your new kitchen ;)
Awwee..brown butter in you Muffins..have to bake with it soon. And I agree with you that the best part of moving is to get a chance to clean the house :) Hope you are well settled now..hugs.
And yet, with all these changes and a crazy to do list you still find time to bake these delish muffins. How do you do it all? Good luck with the move!
Those look delicious! I hope you have a better week! Good luck with the move!
Moving…have done it a number of times and it always comes with a mixed bag of emotions…I hope your new kitchen inspires you in new delicious ways!
I really look forward to your Monday Muffin posts. :) Yes.. sometimes it’s hard to say goodbye… but just think of the new possibilities. I have a pretty big kitchen now… but I want a even bigger kitchen since I started blogging. I hope you are getting a kitchen you can really fall in love with. :) Have a great week! ~ Ramona
You are so cute. If I was moving to a better kitchen I wouldn’t care what I cooked last. I’d just pack up and think about what the first thing I was going to cook in the new digs. :)
Blueberry muffins with a lemon zest/sugar topping is my all time favorite muffin.
Best of luck with the move and let us know what you are going to cook first.
how CAN you decide what the last thing will be as you take leave, or the first one in the new space? no matter what you bake, there’s always that other recipe that… LOL seriously, our entire setup needs to be replaced, and as many great things i’ve baked/cooked in there, i would probably just be looking forward to the replacement… we’re talking ugly laminate on the counters, worn-down cupboards… oh, and YUMMY muffins… :)
Your muffin picture does look so inviting-yum! The classic flavor blend is definitely a welcome treat-anytime of the day.
Houses do hold a lot of memories, especially the kitchen because there is a lot of time generally spent there. However, I am sure you will settle in quickly to your new home. Also, moving does give you the opportunity to clear out a lot of stuff and we all need to do that periodically. Enjoy the day!
Whether it is a welcome change or not, moving is rated as one of life’s major stressors. With having to work full time while managing a move I can only imagine what you are going through. I hope you get settled in your new place easily and that you love working in your new kitchen. These muffins look so cute and delicious. Best wishes with everything An…I know that you will turn this new house into a warm and welcoming home in no time :)
You have to send me your NEW ADDRESS or India Post will be circling the wrong block, LOL! We have to do a virtual housewarming party ;-)! Well, I couldn’t wait to get up and bake another batch of these muffins today because I forgot to add STEUSEL [you know it’s my favorite part].
So happy to bake with you again!
I totally love Muffin Mondays! These look wonderful I just love blueberry muffins, they are my favorite!! I love that you added lemon to the mix. I could go for one or tow, oke three right about now!
These were terrific Blueberry Muffins! We loved them! Thanks for this recipe & for bringing the Muffin Mon.Bakers together! Happy Mon.,An!
Congratulations on the move An. It will open another happy chapter in your life. As painful as it is to move just think f your new kitchen. You are handling the task superbly. Yet again you shared one of mommy’s fave muffins girl! Love the yogurt to keep them moist!
I love the addition of lemon! I think lemons and blueberries are just such a natural compliment. Your muffins look gorgeous as always :)
blueberry muffins are such a classic – i love them!!! :D #muffinmondaylove :) btw, why did you move all of a sudden?
We are looking to move soon and I am getting antsy. I want to set up “shop” in a new kitchen- a clean fresh start. I would start over in this kitchen if I could (of course I *can* but ugh). We moved into this home before we had children and before I knew I’d be diving into my baking supplies so often. Oh I can’t wait to cook in a new-to-me kitchen! :)
Love your muffins! Lemon plus bluberry is one of my favorite all-time flavor combos!
Ooo, I love lemon and blueberry. I bet the texture of this is so dreamy!
Mmm, these look great :) Wonderful little treat, and the lemon must make them so much mroe refreshing and light tasting.
Yummy, love lemon and blueberry together. Looks super delicious. Thanks for always being so supportive. I cannot thank you enough for the retweets. You rock!
I hear you on the to-do list and the craziness of the past week. Hope this one is better. These muffins look amazing–lemon and blueberry is always a winner!
I adore blueberry muffins! Actually, I adore all muffins…
I love that we tackled such a classic muffin – LOVE blueberries! The tang from the yogurt was great, and like you I added lemon zest. Perfect combo :)
So pretty and delicious looking! Great Monday muffin!
Those muffins look amazing! Love the blueberry and lemon combo too.
I just bought a huge container of blueberries and had a request from my husband to make some blueberry muffins…Now look at all the inspiration I have here!
Good luck with your move!
These sound delicious! I love the addition of the yogurt to the batter and blueberry lemon is one of my favorite combinations :)!
These muffins are beautiful, as was this post. I love the brevity of your sentences as if to push through the moving process. <3 I'll be sure to stop by more frequently to check up on the move! Enjoy! The muffins are perfect.
p.s. I check the kitchen first and foremost as well. It's the most important space of the house, in my opinion. Good luck and I wish you a happy new homecoming!
True fact: I despise blueberries unless they come paired with lemon. Isn’t that weird? Your muffins look gorgeous, An!
I’m having troubles with foreign kitchens myself. I’m in Texas for a few months, staying at my sister’s. This kitchen is not my own, and there are a lot of things I would change about it if I could – namely the location of the stovetop! It’s driving me batty. One big indication that my sister isn’t a cook, and I am.
You’ll soon be whipping up old and new favorites in your new kitchen, An. First by necessity, and then by joy again. Good luck with the move!
They look irresistible! Good luck with the move.
Cheers,
Rosa
Good luck with your move. I understand all the anxiety when you are so busy. We moved about three years ago — two weeks after my second daughter was born. Now, I figure I can live through anything. Lemon and blueberry muffins are a favorite, so I’d like to try your recipe. Looks healthy with all that yogurt. BTW, I just love your site’s logo.
Gorgeous muffins. Congratulations on your new house and kitchen. I know the feeling of cooking in a new yet “alien” kitchen. I think, though, there’s something about baking that may speed up the process of feeling “at home.”
Cheers,
Alaiyo
This is a lovely muffin and the photo is very tempting!
Good luck with your move, I am sure you will make that kitchen your own in no time :)
I really like your Monday posts. I bake a batch of muffins and eat in breakfast as well as in snack. these blueberry ones look delicious.
Last baked recipe in your kitchen? That’s a lot of pressure to be under! These muffins sound great and look like they turned out perfectly, great job!
Blueberries and lemon sound a lovely combination. Good luck in your new home and more importantly your kitchen.
I do believe I have some frozen blueberries just waiting to be baked up into this yummy recipe!! It will certainly bring a bit of sunshine into the winter months!!
I love blueberries and I love to munch them like popcorns. I add them to my pancakes, cakes , icecream or muffins too. Yours looks so soft and moist.
Good luck with your move. I know how much of work goes into packing, moving and then rearranging.
Wow, what big blueberries! And the addition of lemon makes these muffins even better!
Lovely and so moist!Good luck with your move and don’t worry.I’m pretty sure that very soon you will be enjoying cooking in your new kitchen :)
I’d pretty much have no remorse at all in leaving my current kitchen! While it’s pretty,it is WAY too small. Good luck with your move!!
How exciting to be in a new place! I love decorating, and having fun in a new kitchen:-) Love your muffins! YUM!!!! Hugs, Terra
As much as I love chocolate, blueberry muffins are a longtime favorite.
i love the combination you’ve used here…looks interesting. never had these . muffin monday is something i look forward to every week :-)
Good luck with the move…I know there will be many delicious muffins (and more!) coming out of your new kitchen :) I love a good blueberry muffin…and I know yours are wonderful!
Oh such a bittersweet time. Moving and starting fresh is so exciting…but stressful! I’m impressed that in the midst of it all you baked such beautiful muffins. I love lemon and blueberries together….and these muffins look awesome! A fitting tribute to you old kitchen. But I can hardly wait to see what comes out of your new one! Best of luck in your move and I wish you many happy memories to come in your new home! : )
Yummy blueberry muffins!! Berries are the sweetest in Florida, this time of the year :)
And oh, best of luck with the move sweetie :) Can’t wait to see your new kitchen!
i think i need to join you on muffin monday…i need a better start to my weekday!
We’d love to have you bake with us.
Beautiful–blueberries and lemon are a match made in heaven!
Hi,
setting out to make these and wondering what the reference to adding “juice” is – I don’t see juice in the recipe anywhere…?
Please ignore my earlier post – figured it out :)
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