Strawberry Muffins

I saw this recipe on Facebook, and I just had to try it. I don't think I've ever had strawberries in muffins before, but they just looked so good.  And I happened to have some strawberries in the fridge...

Fresh Strawberry Muffins
from Home of My Heart

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 cup white whole wheat flour
• 1 cup unbleached flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup coconut (optional)
• 1-1/2 cups chopped strawberries
• 1 T sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

1. Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and mix well.  Add vanilla and milk.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together.  Stir into butter/sugar mixture, just until mixed. Gently stir in strawberries and coconut.
3. Spoon batter into greased muffin pan.
4. Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over muffins.
5. Bake at 400º for 30-35 minutes, or until browned.  Cool 5 minutes in pan, then remove to wire rack to cool.

Makes one dozen muffins.

I cut the sugar down just a bit, because I don't like my muffins too sweet, and strawberries are plenty sweet by themselves.  I also added the coconut, which is sweetened. 

I also increased the bake time. I baked the muffins for 25 minutes, like the original recipe said, but even though they were technically done, they just weren't browned as well as I would have liked.  Baking them the extra 5 to 10 minutes gives them a nice crunch around the edges and enhances the flavor nicely.

I'm thinking of adding rhubarb next time - or adding strawberries to my Rhubarb Muffins.  Some kind of combination of the two.  I bet that would be really good.

Mountain Cake

My cousin just posted pictures of some old family recipe cards, and this cake was one of them.

Like my mom said, it's a super familiar recipe...very much a part of her childhood - and mine.

Strawberries and Mountain Cake
Originally uploaded by bcmom.

I've heard of strawberries and shortcake, but I don't think I've ever had that. In our house it was always strawberries and mountain cake. We always had a large strawberry patch so we had plenty of strawberries, both to eat and to freeze for later use. I remember plenty of times we had strawberries and mountain cake for dinner! I always made this in a 13x9 pan, so the first time I made this after I got married, I didn't realize this recipe is only for a square cake pan. Of course, since we don't have our own strawberry patch, a square cake is plenty.

Mountain Cake

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1-1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt

With electric mixer, cream butter and sugar; add eggs and vanilla and beat well. Mix in milk. Combine dry ingredients, add to previous ingredients and mix well. Pour into greased square cake pan and bake 35-40 minutes at 350° or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve with strawberries and whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

Now I'm wishing it was strawberry season.

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