A BLUEBERRY & BLOG BINGE

So I thought I would start out this whole blog binge with something easy and quite tasty... if I do say so myself. B had last weekend off (YAY) and since summer is quickly coming to a close we decided to visit one of our favorite  spots. 


There were wonderful blueberries everywhere and since they were pretty budget friendly (3 for only $5) we ended up with a very blue fridge. So I decided to research some recipes and found this one here. It turned out really well and it was half gone by sundown (mind you I made it around 4 p.m.).

Ingredients

For the streusel:

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg - Newlywed kitchen, thus no nutmeg & more cinnamon
• 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

For the cake:

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature (3/4 stick)
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 2/3 cup sour cream - I used low-fat plain yogurt instead
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• Confectioners' sugar for sprinkling

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-inch round baking pan.

For the streusel:

Combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Stir in the melted butter and then the flour. Mix well and set aside.

For the cake:

Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on high speed for 4 to 5 minutes, until light. Reduce the speed to low and add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla, lemon zest, and sour cream. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the batter until just combined. Fold in the blueberries and stir with a spatula to be sure the batter is completely mixed.

Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and spread it out with a knife. With your fingers,

crumble the topping evenly over the batter. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool completely and serve sprinkled with confectioners' sugar.

Enjoy! XO M

Meet Herbie

One of the things that come with being a newlywed is a slight (sometime major) downsize in living quarters... don't get me wrong it is 'beyond words wonderful' sharing our very own space with one another... & it also leaves room for some innovation in 'landscaping'. So maybe you can't call it gardening per say, but it is green, it does grow, requires water & sunlight (thats another topic). 


So here is my own little variation on an herb garden... now lovingly referred to as "herbie".
B: "How's herbie doing today? "
M: "Wow... we really need a pet."

{Vintage pop bottle carrier found in my parent's basement when they moved in}

{Sealed with painter's plastic and duct tape}

P.S. As a newlywed all you ever really need is duct tape & a hammer.

{Herbs bought cheap at the Mpls Farmers Market & terra-cotta pots spray painted gold}

{Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary, Garlic Chives & Thyme}

{Introducing Herbie... small & contained... a perfect apartment companion}

{And his friend Rodeo}

Come on, don't laugh, you all knew it was only a matter of time

 before Rodeo made his debut on our blog. 

MINNEAPOLIS MARKET!

My new guilty (only because I have gone 4 times in the last month or so) pleasure is Saturday or Sunday mornings spent at the Minneapolis Farmers Market. There is nothing better than gradually strolling the endless rows with all senses at their peak. The smell of the freshly bundled mint, the bright toned tin-animal facade in the landscape area, the tunes of strumming street performers, the incredible tasty morsels of locally produced treats and even the seemingly indescribable feeling of energy shared amongst the diverse meandering crowds. The laid back community atmosphere is contagious.

{Quirky tin roosters that provide endless entertainment for me & the little ones nearby}

 {Fresh snap peas that were later steamed and tossed with soy sauce & garlic}

{Beautifully bright flowers to lighten up even the most shaded of apartments}

For more information on the Minneapolis Farmers Market visit: http://www.mplsfarmersmarket.com/