Lemon Blueberry Corn Muffins

This moist, beautiful muffin is just bursting with Jersey summer blueberries.  The dusting of lemon sugar creates a crispy, craggy top, accenting the soft berries.  As you place your thumbs into the warm center of this three inch high delight, you are met with the sweet aroma of warm corn.  Your blueberry stained fingers reach for that pat of butter as the muffin slowly begins to break into pieces.  Coupled with a steaming hot cup of coffee or tea, it's a wonderful way to start one's day.

Ingredients (for ten muffins)

1 1/4 cup of all purpose flour

1 cup of fine cornmeal

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. fine salt

3/4 cup of buttermilk or substitute ( 3/4 cup of whole milk + 1 tbsp of lemon juice stirred in)

2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar + (2 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. of lemon zest)

2 tsp. of lemon zest

4 tbsp. of unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 cup of blueberries, rinsed and dried or frozen

Directions

Preheat oven to 375.

Prepare muffin tin with liners and/or non-stick spray

Melt butter and set aside too cool.

Whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Place aside.

In a large bowl mix buttermilk, eggs, melted butter, 1/2 cup of sugar, and 1 tsp. of lemon zest.

In a food processor, preferably, or a small bowl make lemon sugar.  Mix 2 tbsp. of sugar with 1 tsp. of lemon zest.  If using a food processor, process for one minute.  

Stir in dry ingredients to wet mixture in large bowl just until combined.

Gently fold in blueberries.

Using a 1/3 cup measuring scoop or ladle scoop mixture into the prepared muffin tin.

Sprinkle tops generously with lemon sugar.

Bake for 20-24 min. Toothpick inserted in center should just have a few crumbs attached.

Dry Ingredients, whisked together.

Zesting of lemon for batter and lemon sugar.

Whisking of wet ingredients.

Mixing of dry ingredients into wet ingredients.

Gently, fold in the blueberries.

Making the lemon sugar in a food processor.

All ready for the oven.

                                                       

Looking Good!

Perfect! Let cool for 5 minutes before removing.

Best served warm, with a pat of butter.

To warm in oven:  Warm oven to 325, cover loosely with foil for five minutes.  Remove foil, continue heating for another 2 minutes.

To warm in microwave:  Place a few sprinkles of water on a plate, and place muffin on top.  Cover with a damp paper towel.  Warm for 20 seconds at a 30% power.  Muffin should just feel slightly warm to touch.

Black Bean Veggie Burger

These Black Bean burgers are just the thing, to be the highlight for your summer of 2020.  Easy to make, ingredients not hard to find, and a perfect accompaniment to your favorite summer sides.  I like the combination of black beans with oats as the binder.  Robin Asbell introduced me to this idea.  My burgers are topped with a fresh cheese and mango chutney for a sweet and spicy punch.  Toasted English muffins smothered with an herby compound butter seals the deal for a fresh and summery taste.

Ingredients for the compound butter

Sliced Shallots.  You can soak the shallots in water to temper the sting for 5-10 minutes. 

Compound Butter Ingredients in the Food Processor.

Ready to form into a log.

Butter ready to be refrigerated, to ease slicing.

Veggie Burger Ingredients.

Spices, egg and seasonings all ready to process.

Adding beans into the mix.

Ready for the refrigerator.

Burgers hit the cast iron fry pan with a little neutral oil.

Toasted English muffins with compound butter.

Nice crust.

Dive in!

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp. of compound butter: recipe below

1 stick room temperature salted butter, 2 shallots (sliced thin), 1/2 cup parsley leaves, lemon zest (from one lemon), 2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce, 1 tsp. of lemon juice, 1/2 tsp. of ground black pepper, 1/4 tsp of fine salt

1 can of black beans, rinsed or equivalent of 15.5 oz, drained and well-rinsed.

1 egg

1/2 cup of whole oats

2 tbsp. of your favorite Barbecue sauce

1 tsp. of cumin, 1 tsp. of paprika, 1/2 tsp. of pure chili powder (ancho or otherwise), 1/2 tsp. granulated garlic, 1/2 tsp. of kosher salt, 3/4 tsp. of liquid smoke (optional), 1/4 tsp. Aleppo (optional).

1/3 cup of Mango Chutney

4 oz of Cheddar, Montery Jack, Swiss or Munster cheese (grated or sliced)

Ripe Summer Tomato (optional)

4 Toasted Split English Muffins or soft rolls

Serves Four

Directions:

To make compound butter:  Place all the ingredients in the food processor.  Process for 30 seconds. Lay a slice of Saran wrap on counter abut 8 inches long.  Place the mixture at the bottom of Saran wrap about 2 inches from the edge.  Now you will form a log, without actually touching the butter. Shape the mixture by using the bottom edge.  Then roll the log up by rolling butter away from you. Twist the sides, and place in refrigerator to harden.  You can freeze the remaining butter, and use when needed.  Great on chicken or vegetables.

Place a 1/2 cup of oats in the food processor.  Pulse six times.

Add half of the black beans to food processor along with one egg, 2 Tbsp. of Barbecue Sauce, 1 tsp. cumin, 1 tsp. paprika, 1/2 tsp. ancho, 1/2 tsp. granulated garlic, 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, 1/4 aleppo, 3/4 tsp. liquid smoke (optional).  Process for one minute to form a paste.

Using a rubber spatula remove the black bean mixture into a large bowl, and add the remaining beans. Mix well. Prepare a dish with wax paper to place formed burgers on.  With cold wet hands prepare four patties.  I like to form two patties, rinse hands again, and form the remaining two.  If you are having issues, place the mixture in the refrigerator for thirty minutes to firm up before making the burgers. Just have patience, cool hands and it will work.

Wrap plate up with Saran, and place in refrigerator for at least one hour.  Burgers will keep for a few days, well wrapped.

Prepare you rolls or English muffins.  Toast and coat with compound butter while burgers are cooking.

Heat your favorite burger skillet on medium high. A nice well-seasoned cast iron works wonderfully here.  When ready drizzle in a coating of oil, and add burgers.  Cook 3 minutes on first side, and flip reducing heat slightly.  After 4 minutes add your cheese, and cover for 1 min to melt.  Burgers should feel firm to touch, when done.

If using tomato, place on bottom of prepped English muffin.  Slide burgers on bottom muffin, and top  generously with mango chutney, before adding top half.

Serving Suggestions:

Summer Corn, Pickles, Sweet Potato Fries, Cole Slaw or any of your favorite summer salads.

Pasta Primavera

Primavera, is defined as the "first flowering".  When we add pasta to the front of the word it means wonderfully light spring vegetables tossed with pasta in a creamy sauce. This recipe, is just that!           Below is an easy, light recipe that can either work as a main dish or a side.



Ingredients:  (For 2, double if 4)

4-5 oz of Pasta, such as rotini, penne or linguini

Vegetables for two such as: broccoli florets, asparagus tips, carrots (sliced into thin coins), green beans (cut into thirds), peas (fresh or frozen), red pepper (sliced into thin strips), halved grape tomatoes
Herbs such as dill, tarragon, basil and/or parsley (choose at least one up to all four)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 shallot, sliced thinly

3/4 cup of low-salt chicken stock
1/4 cup of grated Parmesan, shaved Parmesan (optional) for serving
1/4 cup of evaporated milk
Juice and zest of 1/2 lemon

1 tbsp of butter
1 tbsp of olive oil
salt & black pepper to taste


Directions:


Pre-cook pasta in well-salted boiling water 3 min. shy of al-dente.  Drain, rinse and set aside.

Prepare sauce:  Heat 3/4 cup of low-salt chicken stock, 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup of evaporated milk, zest and juice of one lemon, salt and pepper to taste.  Bring to a boil, while lightly whisking.  Turn heat down to a simmer once boiling, stirring occasionally, for five minutes.  Then turn off heat, add herbs and set aside.

In a small dutch oven or medium sized skillet, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat.  Add sliced shallot and minced garlic, stir.  Add the vegetables that need the longest cooking time to the pan with 2 tbsp of water.  Cover and steam for 4-5 min.  Open lid, and add rest of vegetables with another tbsp of water to de-glaze. Stir. Keep warm.

Warm pasta bowls, while re-heating your sauce.  Next, add pasta and sauce to vegetables. Turn up heat to medium.  Bring to a gentle boil, stir.  Reduce slightly.  Taste and adjust salt and pepper.

Spoon into bowls, top with a little shaved cheese, drizzle of great olive oil, few basil leaves or extra minced parsley.

Ingredients for my Primavera.

Vegetables ready for their saute.

Making the Sauce.

Ready to plate!

Sweet Potato Tomato Clam Chowder

Presence of one sweet potato, transforms an ordinary tomato clam chowder into a quintessential soup! Herbaceous and citrus notes come from the addition of fennel and lemon.  Creamy, from a quick puree and a touch of evaporated milk, creating a perfect foundation for briny clams.

Ingredients:

2 24-28 oz. can or box tomato, crushed or strained
2 8 oz bottles of all natural clam juice
2 6 oz cans chopped or minced, drained and rinsed
6-8 oz of fresh clams, if available or substitute an additional can like above

1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch cubes
2 carrots, peeled and diced into 1/4 inch cubes
2 stalks of celery, sliced crosswise, 1/4 inch
1 large red pepper, seeded and diced, 1/4 inch
1 large onion, preferably sweet, diced, 1/4 inch
1/2 fennel bulb, cored and diced, 1/4 inch with a few fronds
2 cloves of garlic, minced

3-4 fresh Bay leaves
1/2 cup of dry white wine
2 tbsp. of butter, unsalted
2 tbsp. of good olive oil
2 tbsp. of tomato paste
1 lemon, zested and juiced
2 tsp. of kosher salt
several grinds of black pepper
1 tbsp. Worchestershire
1/2 tsp. of fennel seed
1/4 tsp. of crushed red pepper or aleppo flakes

1/3 cup of evaporated milk

serving options:  shaved or grated Parmesan cheese, drizzle of really good olive oil and/or balsamic glaze



Yield: 3-4 quarts

Directions:

*Melt 2 tbsp. of butter and 2 tbsp. of olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat, add fennel seeds to toast.

*Add onion, red pepper, celery and carrots to dutch oven, stirring frequently.  Wait a few minutes, before adding the sweet potato and fennel.  Set a cover askew on the pot, and let cook for ten minutes.

*Deglaze with 1/2 cup of white wine.  Take cover off, increase heat to medium high reducing liquid to a few tbsp.

*Add 2 tbsp of tomato paste and minced garlic.  Stir, and wait a minute before adding tomatoes, two 8 oz. bottles of clam juice, 1/4 tsp. of red pepper flakes, zest and juice of a lemon, and 1 tbsp. of Worchestershire.  Add 2 tsp. of kosher salt, and 1/2 tsp. of ground black pepper.  Bring to a boil, and turn heat down to a simmer.  Stir and cook for 30 minutes.  Let cool for 10 minutes.

* Carefully remove 3-4 cups of the soup to a blender.  While holding top of blender, puree.  Return puree back to soup with the addition of 1/3 cup of evaporated milk, and prepared (rinsed & drained) clams.  Bring to a gentle boil, and simmer for five minutes.  Taste, and adjust seasonings.

Chopped fennel, with butter, garlic and aleppo flakes.

Toasting of the fennel seeds

All finished!

Wonderful creamy chowder filled with veggies and clams.

Perfect, for easy entertaining.

Healthy Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

Healthy Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

Just in time for the fall season!  These delicious, moist, healthy muffins, will become an instant autumn hit with your friends and family.  Easy to make, with a few ingredients you probably have right at home.  If whole wheat pastry flour isn't your thing, substitute general all purpose flour.  You may also want to substitute raisins for the cranberries, or even chocolate chips. Make this recipe to accommodate for your audience.

Ingredients (For 10-12 muffins, depending on size)

1 cup of all purpose flour

1 cup of whole wheat pastry flour

2 teasp. of cinnamon

1/2 teasp. of allspice

1 1/8 teasp. of baking powder

1 1/8 teasp. of baking soda

1/2 teasp. of fine sea salt

1 15 oz can  of pumpkin puree

2 eggs, room temperature

4 tablespoons of butter, melted and cooled

6 well-rounded tablespoons of either vanilla or plain yogurt

1/2 cup of light brown sugar

1/2 cup of granulated sugar

1 teasp. of vanilla

1 cup of dried cranberries, plumped in very hot water for five minutes and strained

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl measure and sift all dry ingredients together.

In a large bowl combine all of liquid ingredients together, and whisk well.

Prepare dried cranberries, and set aside.

Slowly sprinkle dry ingredients over wet ingredients while whisking.  When almost all of dry ingredients are added, change whisk in for a rubber spatula to gently fold in all of dry ingredients.

When ingredients are combined fold in plumped cranberries.

Prepare muffin pan with paper cups, if using, and spray well with Pam.

Fill muffin cups, heartily.

Baking time will vary depending on size of muffin tin.  Approximately, 20-28 minutes for heartily filled tins.