Sunday, February 8, 2015

Blueberry Muffins from Eva Gates




Please welcome our guest today: Eva Gates, author of By Book or by Crook, the first in the Lighthouse Library cozy series, which is out this week.  Some of you may know Eva as her alter-ego, Vicki Delany.   You'll find more on Eva, Vicki and the new book below.




Vicki/Eva is a bundle of energy and some of us have been lucky enough to visit her in her cozy home in rural Prince Edward County. We've had a first hand taste of her terrific baking. Today she'll offer us one of her favorite recipes and a tour of her kitchen reno.

And now: over to Eva Gates! 

Hi everyone. Just to let you know, I’ll have a contest for a copy of By Book or By Crook, open to anyone in US or Canada.

Eva Gates' Blueberry Muffins
 
Right about now, you’ll be wishing you’d made these last summer.  I always make tons when the farm markets are overflowing with blueberries because they freeze perfectly, right up until it’s time to make another year’s batch. These muffins are traditional in my family for Christmas breakfast.  Nothing beats the taste of a fresh blueberry on a cold winter’s morning.
I made this particular batch last summer in my ‘old’ kitchen. I’ve since had the kitchen renovated. Keep on reading for some pictures. 

 

Muffins!


Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp
2 cups fresh blueberries
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup of milk
1/4 tsp nutmeg 

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Grease and flour a 12-cup muffin tin

In a medium bowl. whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.



In a large bowl, beat butter and ONE CUP sugar until light and fluffy, approximately three minutes with an electric mixer.  

Beat in eggs, one at a time and add vanilla.



Add flour mixture to sugar and butter slowly until incorporated.

Add milk slowly and mix on low speed until just combined. Do not over mix batter. 

Sprinkle the blueberries with a little bit of flour, no more than a teaspoon, just to coat them. Shake off excess flour. The step will prevent the blueberries from sinking to the bottom of the muffins. 



Fold blueberries carefully into the muffin batter. 



Pour batter into muffin tins. 

Mix remaining 1/4 cup sugar with nutmeg. Sprinkle on muffins for nice crunchy top.



Bake for about 30 minutes until toothpick comes out clean if inserted in the middle of a muffin.

Let cool and remove from pan.



Blueberry muffins are always to be found on the menu at Lucy Richardson's favorite spot, Josie's Cozy Bakery in Nag's Head, North Carolina. To enter to win a copy of By Book or By Crook, leave a comment letting me know your favorite place to vacation in North America.


Eva Gates is the author of the Lighthouse Library cozy series from Penguin Obsidian, set in a historic lighthouse on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, featuring Boston-transplant librarian, and highly reluctant sleuth, Lucy Richardson. The first in the series, By Book or By Crook, was released in February 2015.  Eva is the pen name of bestselling author Vicki Delany, one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers.  Eva can be found at www.lighthouselibrarymysteries.com and Vicki at www.vickidelany.com

And now, tiptoe through the new kitchen and see if you can score a blueberry muffin!






Thanks for coming by! Don't forget to leave your comment for Eva!

70 comments:

  1. I was thinking whole wheat blueberry pancakes for breakfast, but now you've got me thinking muffins... My usual recipe for blueberry muffins uses oil. What difference does butter make? Love the kitchen!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never tried oil, but I think butter would give a lighter texture.

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    2. Butter is healthy. Oil is not.

      Go to this link:

      http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/why-butter-is-better/

      Delete
  2. This recipe looks delicious and easy to make. My blueberry muffins typically come out like boulders . . . maybe because I never coated the blueberries in flour? Thanks for sharing this, Eva!

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    Replies
    1. The flour trick stops the berries from sinking, so it's worth the extra step.

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  3. Welcome Eva! I could really use a blueberry muffin about now! Can't wait to dip my toes in the new series--I love the Outer Banks!

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  4. I loved the book and love this recipe. Welcome to MLK, Eva! Happy release week.


    Hugs.

    MJ/VA

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  5. Mmmm, I might have to make these! We just bought blueberries yesterday. I am really looking forward to reading your new book! My favorite place to vacation in North America? I think I would have to say ocean-side, somewhere.

    ElaineE246(at)msn(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nothing better than a blueberry!

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  6. Wanted to see the new kitchen - it's gorgeous! I always have kitchen envy, although I don't cook much. But, love the kitchen, Vickie!

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  7. We love blueberry muffins, so thank you for a simple recipe. You need to add the salt to the recipe though... you only show 1/2 tspn and blank.

    Would love to have a copy of the book for my home library too.

    NoraAdrienne AT gmail DOT com

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  8. The muffins sound great and I am dying to read your book so I hope I win! I love to visit the gorgeous Pacific Coast in California. So beautiful and lots of lighthouses!

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  9. Blueberry muffins and crisp bacon on a cold winter morning----YUM! I'll have to try your recipe. Thanks for the book contest---I hope I win.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  10. This recipe sounds really good! And thanks for the giveaway. It has two of my favorite things, both libraries and lighthouses. And to have the two in one, that is so cool!

    Angie Young
    angiey1974@hotmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Don;'t forget the salt! Looks like I left it out of the recipe.

      Delete
  11. Love the kitchen, but the refrigerator made me feel right at home. I am eager to read this book. Bobbipad at gmail dot com

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  12. I love our Oregon coast. Ocean with a view of mountains. But I remember the Atlantic fondly from childhood.

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  13. What delectable muffins. Ready and with tea, ideal. Your books are always a pleasure to read. Vacation spot would be a wonderful Florida beach. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  14. Your muffins are always welcome here. Such a nice kitchen. I love to vacation at a beach on the Atlantic Coast, which is great for families. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  15. Yum, thank you for sharing! I love to vacation on the coast of Oregon, so beautiful and a great place to read. Lilflynracer(at)msn(dot)com

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  16. Blueberry muffins are my favorite! I do stay-cations in and around the Mpls-StPaul area. So much to see and do.
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

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  17. The book and the muffins sound like a perfect pair for our house in Ellsworth, Maine.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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  18. This recipe looks divine, I'll have to try it soon. My favorite place to vacation in America is the Maine Coast, especially in and around Portland.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have never been to Maine. Definitely must go there some day.

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  19. Yum, these look fabulous and the Lighthouse Library mysteries sound terrific!

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  20. These muffins look so good! Nice kitchen, too. I sure would love to visit the Lighthouse Library... :) patucker54 (at aol dot com)

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  21. The muffins look great. My favorite vacation spot is anywhere with a beach!! I can't wait to read the Lighthouse Library series...I already love the Constable Molly Smith series. cking78503@aol.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Chris. The new book is very different from Molly, but I hope you will enjoy it as well.

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  22. Welcome, Vicki aka Eva! I have to say, I think it's hilarious that you're writing about blueberry muffins, because in my town, there's a successful, multi-generation family business called Eva Gates Homemade Preserves, specializing in huckleberries, along with other berry treats!

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  23. Welcome to Mystery Lovers' Kitchen, Eva. Love blueberry muffins. And your new kitchen is gorgeous!

    I'm lucky enough to have gotten a peek at Eva's book a few months ago and it's delightful! Good luck everyone!

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  24. Can't wait to read your new book

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  25. Love blueberries. And love to vacation in the Maritimes (east coast Canada)
    lhallson@shaw.ca

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  26. Love blueberry muffins. Can't wait to read this cozy. Thanks for the giveaway chance!

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  27. I really like to visit Lake Tahoe, it is a long but doable drive from our home in Oregon and the scenery is spectacular. We also like Crater Lake if we are staying closer to home.

    llcejka at gmail dot com

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  28. Looks so good. Can not wait to try the muffins.

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  29. i'll be sharing this recipe with my sister-in-law!!
    thanx!!!!

    cyn209 at juno dot com

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  30. We usually go to Longwood Gardens in PA
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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  31. A new mystery series to read and a yummy blueberry recipe. Can't wait to read and try. dbahn@iw.net

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  32. Love the kitchen. Your refrigerator looks just like ours! Blueberry muffins, yummy. servedogmom@yahoo.com

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  33. Key West is my favorite East Coast spot and the Oregon Coast is my favorite West Coast spot.

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  34. My favorite vacation spot is the Blue Ridge Mountains. And blueberry muffins are my fav5. Luckily my sister-in-law has several large blueberry bushes.

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    Replies
    1. Nothing better than fresh picked blueberries

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  35. I love too vacation in Corpus Christi Texas on the gulf of mexico.
    PAMELA JO
    theresjustlife(at)gmail(dot)com

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  36. I enjoy going back to beaches in Delaware - brings back many childhood memories. BTW, love the blueberry muffin recipe. jody.714@hotmail.com

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  37. Two of my FAVORITE things!! Lighthouses and libraries!! Can't wait to read this!!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kelli Jo. I hope you enjoy the book.

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  38. I can't wait to read this, also I am looking forward to trying the blueberry muffins, they sound yummy!

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  39. oops, my favorite place to visit in North America is Rehoboth Beach.

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  40. Love blueberry muffins and visiting California.
    rjprazak6@gmail.com

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  41. I love going back East to vacation and visit family! We live in New Mexico so the change in scenery and weather is so nice for us. :) I'm making blueberry muffins this week because yours look delicious!

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  42. The Gulf of Mexico in Winter and the Smokies in the Summer.

    gibsonbk at hiwaay dot net

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  43. I love Alaska. However, I usually vacation closer to home at the Oregon or Washington Coast.

    kaye dot killgore at comcast dot net

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    Replies
    1. So many wonderful places to visit!

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  44. I love to visit anywhere. This summer I will be lucky enough to spend a week at the beach in San Diego in May and a week in the White Mountains of Arizona in July. Traceyr1984@msn.com

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  45. My favorite vacation spot is Cape Cod.
    dotkel50 at comcast dot net

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  46. I love blueberry muffins and want to read your book. I love cats, too.
    catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com

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    Replies
    1. Eating a muffin while snuggled up with a cat reading. Is anything any better?

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  47. For vacation, I have always wanted to visit Stoughton, Wisconsin, especially for the Syttende Mai festival.

    I love the muffins, and am making those soon. I love to have something good, delicious and buttery with coffee in the morning, instead of starving myself until lunch.

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    Replies
    1. Starving yourself is never good, Diana!

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  48. I love Death Loves a Messy Desk, by M.J. Maffini. I've read another of the series also, and I hope to read more soon.

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    Replies
    1. That's a marvellous series, you should also try the series she writes as Victoria Abbott.

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