Sometimes Simplicity is Perfection

The arrival of a new edition of Cook’s Illustrated Magazine always makes for a highlight in my day.  The second I step through the front door and find a new issue waiting for me everything else fades into the background as I sit down and flip through the pages to find what new culinary delights are waiting to be made.

The best thing about Cook’s Illustrated is that their recipes are always perfect.  They have literally been tested to the point of perfection, so anyone that follows them (exactly) will have a perfect result.  The downside to this perfection is that their recipes tend to be… complicated.  Complicated as in juicing your bananas in order to make banana bread.  Or cooking your pumpkin on the stove before pouring it into the pie crust and baking it.  In this quest for perfection you can lose sight of the notation that sometimes simple can be perfect too.

Ya Basic Blueberry Muffins taste even better when bathed in the glow of natural sunlight!

Basic is Best

What’s so great about basic?  A basic recipe puts the featured ingredient front and center, giving it the special guest star status that it deserves.  A basic recipe lends itself to a variety of mix-ins, so it’s a flexible workhorse in your kitchen.  And, importantly, it is simple and easy to follow so anyone can (and will want to) make it whenever they have 20 minutes to spare and a few add-ins laying around.

Grab a blueberry muffin before they’re all gone, because they are delicious!

Mix-in Madness

This muffin base is moist and not too sweet so really anything can be thrown in and it will taste great.  Try blueberries, chopped ripe bananas and pecans, or even throw in chocolate chips if you are feeling crazy.  The only limit is your imagination!

If you like your muffins a bit sweeter sprinkle some sugar on top.  Or if you are trying to go the “healthy” route skip it and focus on savoring the natural juicy deliciousness of the ripe blueberries.

Ya Basic Blueberry Muffins are anything but 😉

Blueberry muffins are the best!

YA BASIC BLUEBERRY MUFFINS – THE RECIPE

Ingredients

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking powder
Mix-ins (pick one or make up your own)

• • 1 1/2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 3/4 cup chopped pecans plus 3/4 cup dried cherries
  • 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 1/2 cups strawberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 3/4 cup chopped banana plus 3/4 cup chopped pecans

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
1/2 cup whole mil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons sanding sugar (optional)

Step 1

Adjust oven rack to lower third, preheat to 375 degrees. Butter and flour a standard 12-cup muffin pan, tapping out excess.  Alternatively line with parchment paper or cup liners.  Set aside.

Step 2

In a small bowl, whisk together butter, eggs, milk and vanilla; set aside.  In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients, make a well in the center.  Add egg mixture to well.  With a rubber spatula, gently stir ingredients just until batter is moistened.  Do not overmix, a few lumps are fine.  Fold in a mix-in from the options above or try one of your own.

Step 3

Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each until about two-thirds full; sprinkle with sanding sugar (if desired). Bake until toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean, about 15-20 minutes.  Loosen muffins, and tip them on their sides to cool in pan.  Serve warm or at room temperature.  Muffins are best the day they are made, but are still delicious the second day (if there are any leftover).

Please tell us what you think. We really want to know!

Tell us what you think!

Please comment below if you try our (Ya Basic) Blueberry Muffin recipe and let us know how it goes!  Find all of Brooklyn to the Catskills‘ recipes in the Food section of our website.  We’d love to hear what you think about our other recipes too!