Blueberry Muffins

elderly berry version

This recipe had two aims: deal with aging, early-picked but now-bland blueberries (from Chile); use up some apple-pear (subbed in because I swiped some of the blueberries for a salad.)

UPDATE, 07apr2021: if the blueberries taste okay after their soaking, they work pretty well in the original version though mebbe help them out with the full 4T sugar, all white flour in a 2:1 ratio w oatmeal (for crust), the full 4T oil.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/4 C blueberries, washed, picked over, soaked in
• 2? T lemon juice concentrate (for at least an hour)
• 1/2 C apple pear, finely chopped
• 1 t minced ginger
• 1-1/4 t baking powder
• 1/4 t baking soda (to neutralize acid)
• 1/2 t salt
• 4 T granulated (white) sugar
• 2 T ground flaxseed
• 1/2 C white unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 C white whole wheat flour
• 1/2 C old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 C canola oil
• 1/2 C (approx) 1/2% milk

Method

1. Wash blueberries, pitching moldy ones
2. shake to remove excess water; place in flatbottomed small mixing bowl
3. add lemon juice; let sit at least an hour to absorb juice.
4. chop, or ideally grate, approx 1/3–1/2 C apple pear; add to blueberries
5. mince 1–2 t fresh ginger; add to blueberry-pear mix
6. preheat oven to 350.
7. In a separate mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients, grinding out any lumps; stir well
8. beat egg in measuring cup, using its markings to add 1/4 C oil, scant half c milk; mix & add to dry ingredients.
9. Drain lemon juice (reserving for salad dressing or other); add fruit and ginger, fold in
10. spray 12 cup muffin tin generously with pam, distribute batter, bake 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Comments: Soaking elderly, rather tasteless blueberries in lemon juice really seems to help! Spouse mistook ginger for cinnamon. It's not necessary, esp if no pear is added.

Unless otherwise noted, text, image and objects depicted therein copyright 1996--present sylvus tarn.