I made you some muffins today. I wanted them to be picture perfect for you; I wanted to entice you to make them too; and most of all, I wanted them to be perfect for me. If you were here with me right now you would see a kitchen cluttered with ingredients. With dried drips of scattered batter clinging to my kitchen countertops and a sink full of dirty dishes, I’m sitting here with my laptop staring at this beautiful mess I’ve made. Although the thought of having to clean my kitchen after I’m done writing this almost makes me wish I hadn’t started baking at all, the scene at the dining room table moments earlier reminds me that it was worth it. Baking something from a whole lot of random things and turning it into something deliciously satisfying is a small price to pay for muffins this good. I was going to wait until next week to share these with you but I couldn’t. They were so scrumptious and lovely I had to take a few moments and get this recipe to you now, as in today and certainly not next week -so you can make them tomorrow for your Sunday breakfast or brunch.
Blogging can sometimes be hard especially for someone like me. More comfortable with taking pictures and developing recipes, writing (for public consumption) does not come natural for me. It is probably the reason why I haven’t been posting very often. It is a craft that stretches me and often times discourages me. I read books and blogs with eloquent words that transport me somewhere else if only for a few minutes out of my day. But I am often so critical of what I write, that I take the easy way out by not writing at all. So instead, I write a lot offline.
I write almost daily in my journal and I can write pages and pages without worrying if I’ll have enough to say. I scribble down my thoughts as fast as I can –this is what I call (writing) deep calling out to deep. When I write in my journal, I write for an audience of one. I write down everything I’ve stuffed, buried deep inside my heart that I find freedom when writing in my journal knowing I do not have to worry about anyone else reading it – it’s a place of safety where I can find some release from what troubles me and lay it all down honestly with God. It also affords me to be honest with myself without fear of rejection. But writing on Savory Sweet Life is different. I struggle to find the words that adequately describe what is happening around me in a way that is honest and true without having to “photoshop” my perspective in order for it to seem as if I live in a beautiful bubble where unicorns and rainbows are a daily occurence.
Sometimes I feel pressure to make it seem as if I live in a world that looks like an issue of Martha Stewart Living. Perfect clothes, accessories, home furnishings, DIY crafts, and elaborate meals. Oh my word – how I love Martha Stewart Living! I buy the magazine because for one hour I can fantasize about this perfect way of living which is completely opposite of me. I buy the magazine for inspiration and because I hope that Martha Stewart’s way of doing things will rub off on me. It never does but I still love flipping through each page admiring the design, layout, photos, and content.
But if you were to visit my house you would see the only thing in my bedroom is a bed, 2 nightstands, and a tall dresser. No photos or artwork and just a few small piles of laundry on the floor. It is minimalistic – I like minimalistic.
After making muffins today I realized something. When I sometimes feel sad it is only because of my perception of how I want things to be. When I look through a beautiful magazine, I feel pressured by an unrealistic expectation that my life should look picture perfect. Sometimes this way of looking at things can rob me of the joy of discovering the beauty of all that life has to offer, even in a messy kitchen. Without messing up my kitchen this morning, how could I have ever made these wonderful muffins for you?
As you can see, I didn’t use muffin liners. Normally I would use liners but I couldn’t find any – trust me I searched everywhere! I knew I was taking a risk because blackberry muffins can be unforgiving if the fruit touches the pan or clumps together. I wanted to give myself the gift of baking therapy so much this morning that I decided to just heavily coat the muffin tin generously with non-stick spray and hope for the best. When the muffins were done I started to take the muffins out one by one. Four good ones intact and 8 not-so-pretty ones later, I stared at the muffins with a quiet joy and an appreciation for the beauty in the imperfect. They broke not only because I didn’t use a liner, but because they were bursting with yummy blackberries – only proving that insides should never be overlooked for the outsides. How they looked did not change the way they tasted… and boy, were these muffins damn good. In fact, I liked the broken ones better because they were so bold with flavor from the tender baked blackberries – the very reason why they broke when removing them from the pan in the first place.
So I hope you like the muffins – I made them for you. They are wonderful and will brighten up your day. Bake them for someone as an act of love. Or just bake them as a gift of love to yourself– just don’t forget the paper liners.
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup honey Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup whole wheat flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1½ cups frozen blackberries
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Using a hand/stand mixer, cream the butter and sugars on medium speed for 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, waiting for each egg to be mixed in before adding another. Add the yogurt, milk, and almond extract. Mix until the yogurt is combined.
- Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix the batter until smooth and there are no lumps, about 2 minutes.
- Gently fold in the blackberries.
- Spray a generous amount of non-stick spray into a crumbled paper towel and grease the top of a muffin tin. Line the tin with 12 paper baking cups. Fill each tin ⅔ full.
- Bake muffins for 12 minutes at 400 degrees. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 13 more minutes or until the center of the muffins springs back when touched.
- Allow the muffins to cook in the tin for 3-5 minutes before removing.
Serviced Apartments Guy says
Thanks for making us blueberry muffins, I certainly will try and make my own with your recipe but I highly doubt they’ll be as good as yours!
Patent Attorney says
Delicious, blueberry muffins really are one of my favourite treats!
john koppole says
Hi guys, i have tryed this recipe. Its too good. i would strongly recommend to u all.
Check this recipe too ….. Banana Bread
Sarah @ Miss CandiQuik says
Haha – the same exact thing happened to me a few weeks ago. Dang pans! I’d totally still eat them thought. Blackberries – yummmm.
Patent Attorney says
Just so you know, I like reading what you write because it feels natural and unpretentious and honest. I don’t think you need to worry about being “eloquent” in the way you’re thinking – real eloquence comes from just being you rather than forcing an act that you’re not comfortable with, right?
Also, the muffins look lovely.
sharon mcshane says
I loved this blog. It was almost like me talking. I try to remember that I’m NOT martha stewart I’m me and I’m certainly more than good enough. Now I’m going to go make muffins without paper liners!
Jennifer says
I type this with messy kitchen in background… these muffins were delish! Thank you for this post to remind me to look for the joys throughout the day.
pickyin @ LifeIsGreat says
I’ve previously wondered how Martha does it, with her calendar filled so perfectly in MSL and seemingly endless ingenious ideas in Good Things. Then my friends (in the media business) reminded me that even she is not perfect and has minions putting up a ‘perfect’ front for her business.
Imperfections in life should be beautiful as long as us being our own critics take it easy on ourselves.
SMD says
First, totally making these muffins.
Second, real life is real life, you are who you are, and your blog should reflect that. Some days the writing on my blog is lacking to say the least. Eloquence is not an every day item for me!
I appreciate blogs that are not always shiny happy people holding hands. I find great beauty in the imperfect reality of daily life. Cheers!
Mimi Deb says
Alice,
I love reading your posts and recipes but today, I think I love this post the most…..you are so giving in your words and your honesty. I know I’ll make these muffins this week – they look and sound incredible. I was laughing at the “no liners” and have certainly lived that many times myself. Who needs liners when you will love the end product either way. Thank you for sharing and I can’t wait for your cookbook! Congratulations!
Denise C says
Your blog really touched me today. Our expectations and our realities are often two different things. Maybe happiness is accepting our reality and finding the beauty in it. Congratulations on your cookbook!
Rachel S. says
I am beyond thrilled for you, Alice, and can’t wait to get a copy of the book! Pre-ordering now. If we were closer, I’d totally treat you to drinks to celebrate! And praise God for wonderful moms who walk alongside us and encourage us when we need it most.
merry jennifer says
A beautiful post, Alice. There is something beautiful — something so very organic — in the imperfections of every day life. I love that you’ve embraced it.
ps – Congrats on the book news!
alice says
Thank you all for your sweet words of encouragment!
Rachel S. says
I love this post and your honesty, Alice. Oh, how I wish my life looked like something out of a magazine! How I wish everything was in perfect order and effortlessly beautiful. But piles of clothes are strewn everywhere, papers and unfinished projects are stuffed away in the corner, pantry is a disaster. It’s a mess. But it’s okay. We have someone who loves all our mess and makes beauty out of it. It reminds me of a simple “a-ha” moment I had watching my son create with play-doh: http://www.mothersmementos.com/2010/11/beauty-out-of-chaos.html.
Sometimes the greatest forms of beauty and moments of joy come out of the mess. Just like these blackberry yogurt muffins. 🙂
Melody Rich says
Love this. I journal as often as I can and just write and write and write. I love it. This is such an EXCELLENT reminder to be a real person on my blog. I don’t want to add to the noise of that unicorn bubble, but rather show who I am. An awkward, sarcastic, red-headed newlywed!
Thank you for this. 🙂
Maureen says
I love this post and your muffins too 🙂
leslie says
I get you! I really get you! I don’t think I have written an eloquent sentence on my blog ever. It’s just not who I am. Sure, I am envious of those who write with such ease and beautiful words, but again just not me. I think we all live with such high expectations in todays society and it sucks. I really need to sit back and say, nope I will never captivate my audience like the “popular bloggers” oh well.
I bet our Mommas think we are perfect!! 😉
Stephanie says
Just so you know…this blog post transported me somewhere else for a few minutes. Thanks!