Wednesday, April 28, 2010

"To Die For" Blueberry Muffins?

I’m always more than just a little suspicious of anything labeled anything superlative: the world’s best, finest, greatest, even Macy’s “lowest prices of the season.” It just gets over-used, that’s all. Loses its oomph. So if you think you’ve had the “best ever” meatballs and one day somebody comes along with an even better meatball, what are you going to call it?

I have an especially hard time warming up to something described as “most unique,” as in “The sauce had the most unique flavor.” Unique means one-of-a-kind, so it’s either unique, or it’s not; there are no varying degrees of uniqueness. You could describe what makes it unique, like a woodsy flavor or a creamy texture. A little picky, I know, but I tend to get that way with words. I should lighten up. After all, it’s all in the eyes of the beholder or the tastebuds of the taster.

So, it was with a bit of skepticism that I approached this “To Die For Blueberry Muffin” recipe. I know, of course, that none of us take these “to die for” descriptions literally. Who’s really going to “die” for a muffin, after all? It’s just an expression that’s meant to convey how good it is. You’d have this for your last meal. Then again, you and I probably have very different ideas about what that last meal would be. Let’s not go there.

We’ve all read many a description of “to die for” this-or-that, or – even worse –“better-than-sex.” And while they may be good, even very good, it’s hard to attach “the very best of the best” label to much. You have to add superlatives to the superlatives.

Back to the muffins. They are good. They are very, very good. They are very, very, very good. I have never met anyone who didn’t like them. I rest my case.

I made these last week for a group of men who came to stay overnight at a little camp we have near our house. After making the beds with fresh sheets and putting clean towels in the bathroom, I left a box of these muffins as a breakfast treat. They returned the box empty.

These are big muffins, topped with a great (was that a superlative?) streusel. You’ll like them. They are the best I’ve tried yet! Really.

To Die For Blueberry Muffins
from Allrecipes.com, submitted by Colleen

1 ½ C all-purpose flour
¾ cup white sugar
½ t salt
2 t baking powder
1/3 C vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 C milk
1 C fresh blueberries (I used frozen; I have so many, I gotta use them!)

Streusel
½ c white sugar
1/3 C all-purpose flour
¼ C butter, cubed
1 ½ t ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease muffin tins or use liners.
Combine 1 ½ cups flour ¾ cups sugar, salt and baking powder. Place vegetable oil in a 1 cup measure; add egg and enough milk to make 1 cup. Mix this into the flour mixture. Gently fold in the blueberries. Fill 8 muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with streusel.
Streusel: Mix together ½ cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/3 cup cubed butter and 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork and sprinkle over muffins before baking.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in preheated oven, until done.

5 comments:

  1. I do love good blueberry muffins, always looking for a good recipe!

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  2. Thanks! These are tried and true! (Good news for a not-so-good baker!)

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  3. Yum, I love blueberry muffins. They look delicious and yet simple to make.
    I do agree with your view on the superlative descriptions. That said, I love checking them out just to satisfy my curiousty on what makes certain food/recipe "to die for" or "better than sex". :)

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  4. With the streusel, I would die for these.

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  5. This is the same recipe I use...and I love it. My husband especially gets excited when he comes home to a fresh bath of these.

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