Blueberry Muffin recipe

The weekend is here, and with that comes baking. Kaitlyn is here from New Hampshire to spend a week with Mandy, so last night I made Sticky Buns and Blueberry Muffins to have on hand for a quick snack or breakfast. I made a pot of Vegetable Bean Soup this morning and headed outdoors to shovel a bit around the barn and greenhouse, as we are supposed to get another snowstorm tonight and tomorrow, and I did not want the weight of the snow from the other day plus an additional 6 to 8 inches that is expected with this storm to wreak havoc on either structure.

I just finished putting together an Ice-Cream cake, as I am having Sunday dinner tomorrow night, and need to make a batch of coleslaw to go with the Pulled Pork I will slow-cook tomorrow. I am the only vegetarian in my family... my three sons, daughter and their significant others will tolerate meatless dishes, but when all get together, they prefer something more substantial!

So I am off to make coleslaw, but thought I'd give you my recipe for the muffins. Hope you enjoy this recipe!

Blueberry Muffins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In one bowl, sift together

2 cups of Flour

1 cup Sugar

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1 Tablespoon Baking Powder

1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon

2 Tablespoons Poppy Seeds

In a second bowl, combine the following wet ingredients

1 cup Milk

1 Egg

1 Tablespoon Vanilla

1 Tablespoon Lemon (or Orange) Juice

6 Tablespoons melted Butter

2 cups fresh or frozen Blueberries

Beat wet ingredients well, then add the dry ingredients, stirring only til just incorporated. Put into paper liners in your muffin pan and sprinkle heavily with Cinnamon-and-Sugar. Bake for about 20 minutes

It's snowing again!

As I headed out for a walk early this sunny morning, my ears tuned in to a chorus of birds that I was only vaguely familiar with. As I passed by the crabapple tree nearest the barn, I saw it was filled with a flock of Cedar or Bohemian Waxwings. They were busily dining on all the crabapples that I never got around to stringing and drying this past fall. I only wish I had turned around and gone back for my camera, as it is rare to see these lovely birds, for they only pass through on their homeward migration, where-ever that may be. Their visit is brief... perhaps an hour or two, as they stop to rest and eat... and then they are on their way again. I have missed them the past two years, so this was a lovely sight.

Now it is evening, and snow has been falling softly for several hours. We are expected to get 4 to 6 inches by tomorrow, which will cover all the bare spots and give the remaining dirt-spattered snow a fresh, clean covering of white! The temperature has been in the upper thirties and low forties for many days, which has compacted the snow and topped it all with a slick, hard crust. I shoveled out a pathway to the greenhouse in anticipation of seed-starting, and I am pleased to say that it has withstood the heavy snows and icings of this winter without collapsing! Now I need to call my neighbor and have a chat with him about rigging up some type of heater to maintain the temperature during the night...

Well, til next time, and I'll leave you with a snippet of verse from the tome "Rhymes of Vermont Rural Life" written by one of my favorite poets, Daniel L. Cady

How pleasant winter used to be, when snow was cheap and ice was free!

No cold, no frost, could then subdue our hearts or make our boozums stew;

The drifts shut out the evidence, tis very true, of wall and fence,

But that was satisfactory, too, for snow was made to waddle through.

Valentine's Day Wishes to You!

I had to stop in to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day! Hope yours was filled with love, happiness, and chocolate! (Or at least something sweet!) Thanks to my brother, I spent the last two days delivering Valentine's Day arrangements for a local florist, with Mom's help! I have never seen so many roses in my life!

Our snow level has drastically been reduced due to very warm temperatures in the 40's over the past several days. I've seen a half-dozen robins and at least as many bluebirds this past week... spring will be here eventually. But I've lived in the North Country long enough to know that a sizeable snowstorm often occurs in February or March, so spring is a ways off yet! Still, I have been thinking about what I want to plant in the gardens this year, and am itching to use the greenhouse we built in the fall.

Well, I apologize for such a short post, but I am headed to sleep! I'll be in touch soon! Til next time ~Laura of Wildenblue Farm

For The Birds

Sigh... February 1st!

We had another snowstorm just the other day which brought with it another foot of fresh powder. Alas, still no packable snow for snow-sculpting! But we may have a storm heading our way in two days, so I'll hold my breath and cross my fingers just in case!

I've been trying to get in an hour's worth of snowshoeing most days. It is so beautiful in the woods, and the snow is quite deep; so the first paths take a while to stomp down, and during the night, the deer secretly make their own improvements to my trail. Last week I bundled up 2-year-old Anthony, (my middle son's girlfriend's little man!) wrapped him in a blanket, plunked him on a sled, harnessed myself to the front, and headed to the woods. We spent over two hours studying deer and coyote tracks, checking out holey tree stumps and trunks, peering down miniature snow tunnels to see if we could get a glimpse of the little mice who had tip-toed into them, and listening quietly to an unseen pilated woodpecker working high amongst some buggy branches. We had a lovely time, and Anthony did not wish to head "home"!

It is part of my daily routine to keep the birdfeeders full, and because of the cold temperatures and all the snow, before I head to the barn to take care of all those birds, I first restock what the wild ones have depleted. There are over 75 bluejays, at least as many finches, 6 crows, a pair of cardinals, several red and grey squirrels, and a large assortment of snowbirds (juncos), woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, tufted titmice and sparrows that visit daily. The crows arrive almost precisely at 8 am, though the bluejays seem to be the first to feast. The others come and go as the day presses on, along with the two deer who often visit in the late afternoon to tidy up what's left under the feeders. I offer no fancy mixes to the wild ones... seperate sacks of black-oil sunflower seeds and cracked corn are the main-stays, supplemented with smaller amounts of safflower (for the cardinals), peanuts (for the squirrels), suet cakes (for the downy woodpeckers), thistle seed (for the finches), and occasionally (when my co-op has a sale!) sunflower hearts to mix in with the black-oil. I'm not sure if I or the 7 cats enjoy watching the antics at the feeders the most! I've included a photograph snapped from the side porch of some of the finches on a recent visit. Til next time....

January 9th, 2009; Banana Bread Recipe

I took a much-needed walk late this afternoon, and I couldn't have picked a prettier time of day to go! A full moon followed me as I went along, even though darkness was over an hour away. Every branch and pine needle on every tree and shrub was encased in ice; remnants from another storm earlier this week. The wind was howling through the woods, which made all the branches tinkle like fairybells. The road was covered in the fallen and broken bits of ice that looked like a million shards of shattered glass, and the fading sun shimmered off every piece along the way. I was about part-way around the lake, and was approaching the spot where I most often see a pure-black squirrel... and was just thinking how I hadn't seen him in a few months... when suddenly I spied a black critter slinking over the ice-crusted snow. It wasn't the squirrel, but looked like a mink, yet it was ebony black. It was too small and slender to be a fisher, and not two-toned in color as a weasel. When it caught sight of me, it bolted across the field and into a small culvert. That was that! I couldn't help but make a mental note to secure the barn doors especially well when I closed the chickens in for the night. It was nearly dark when I came home, so I headed to the barn to do just that! I collected nine eggs tonight, including two goose eggs. I have never known the geese to lay this early, as they usually only lay in spring when the weather is warmer. I am rather puzzled by this, and also find it curious that the chickens are still laying even a few eggs with such frigid temperatures. Is anyone else experiencing any peculiarities in their neck of the woods?

I made a batch of Banana Bread yesterday, and though I'm sure you have a million recipes for it, I'll include mine, which was given to me a few years back by my friend, Stacey. I hope you don't mind the additions I made! I can never leave a recipe alone...

Laura's Banana Walnut Bread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a loaf pan. In a large bowl, combine 4 or 5 mashed Bananas, 1/2 cup Vanilla yogurt, 1/4 cup Canola Oil, 1 & 1/4 cups Sugar, 2 Eggs and 1 teaspoon of Almond (or Vanilla)Extract. Beat til well-incorporated, then add 2 & 1/4 cups Flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon Baking Soda and 1 cup broken Walnuts. Stir gently til dry ingredients are just incorporated with the wet, and pour batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake for about 1 hour.

New Year's Day... 2009

I opened the kitchen door this morning to toss out a handful of kitchen scraps to the half-dozen crows huddled underneath the bird-feeders, and I startled (and was startled by!) two yearling deer who have discovered the cracked corn that the bluejays scratch out of the feeders. The older doe who accompanied them over the summer is nowhere to be seen, so they are on their own now. They visit throughout the day, and are becoming accustomed to the crows, dozens of jays and even the Sumatra hens that fly over from the barn to glean what they can from under the maple tree.

We had dinner at mom's tonight... a wonderful way to usher in the New Year with lots of family feasting on ham, turkey and all the fixings! Blessings for a wonderful New Year. xox ~Laura

Ryan at 5 months

I thought I'd include a photograph of my grandson from this Christmas, as I've had a few folks ask me to update since I only have included his birth-day picture! Isn't he the sweetest ?! You better believe I'm partial!

I just took down our Christmas Tree and spent the morning tidying up the house from the holidays. I really don't think the tree would have lasted til New Year's... as I only watered it once or twice. I am SO forgetful about those things. Usually I put it up next to the fireplace, and when it's time to come down, I prune it all up and toss it in to burn as I go along. But this year I put it up near the hallway, so I only had to undecorate it and haul it out the front door! A piece of cake, yet still messy! Amanda put the lights on this year for me, and what a time I had taking them off! I really detest putting the lights on the tree... it's such bore, so I will not complain about Amanda's help!

I cannot believe the New Year is but a day away. May yours be safe and happy! Til next year... Laura of Wildenblue Farm

Christmas Blessings to You & Yours!

I wanted to find a minute this morning to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I hope your holiday is peaceful, calm and filled with joy and the beginnings of treasured happy memories! I am thrilled to report we will definitiely have a white Christmas, as we have had one snowstorm after the other over the past few weeks! (Although it is predicted to switch over to rain this evening...sigh.) But it has not been snow-sculpting snow... just piles of lovely fresh powder! I got in a tiny bit of snowshoeing the other day, but mostly only to pack down the pathways at the barn so the geese and ducks can meander about without disappearing into a drift. The geese will go outside no matter the weather, but the chickens are very cautious when in comes to deep snow, and will only scoot out for a few pecks before they head back into the barn. The Guineas will come out, then fly up onto the roof, where they will stay until you wade through the snow trying to capture them one-by-one (with a lot of fussing and scratching) and put them back in the barn.

I was hoping for a bit of warmer weather, as the entire barn desperately needs hoeing out and cleaning, and perhaps this weekend will allow me that chore, as temperatures could reach into the high thirties. I still think of the story from long ago of who visits the barn animals on Christmas Eve, and I really do try to have a clean barn for that reason, but it will not happen this year. I have so much to do today, as does everyone, and cleaning out the barn for many hours today does not fit into my list of necessities!

I have a simple project to share which may keep little and not-so-little hands busy. I'm sure you've made these Spiced Pomanders before. You'll need a few Oranges or Lemons, whole Cloves, and perhaps some dried ground Cinnamon and Cloves, and an Essential or Fragrance Oil such as Cinnamon or Sweet Orange. (A dollar store may prove to be an inexpensive place to purchase the dried whole Cloves and ground spices if you cannot find them in bulk.) Take a fresh orange or lemon, and pierce the cloves into the skin. You may either insert them tightly together to completely cover the whole fruit, or space them apart in a desired pattern from one end to the other a few times around. When you have completed clove-covered orange or lemon, sprinkle with a few drops of Essential Oil and roll into the ground Cloves and/ or Cinnamon. Do what is pleasing to you, and when complete, place them in a bowl where it is dry and warm so the citrus shrivels and cures... which will take several weeks. Affix a loop of ribbon to the top and hang from a peg, or leave in a crock or bowl to display.

Well, there is much to be done today, from wrapping gifts to cleaning house to feeding the wild birds and barn critters to baking, so I must get busy! Please remember to take a few minutes to yourself if you're feeling overwhelmed to sit with a cup of tea and remember what this holiday is truely about! I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and may blessings abound this coming New Year! fondly, Laura of Wildenblue Farm

Tis the Season...

Hello friends! Yesterday's high was 11 degrees. We've had a bout of very cold weather this past week, and a few inches of very heavy wet snow and ice. The trees look lovely and fragile encased in their crystal armor. It is very difficult to get up the driveway, even with four-wheel drive, and getting down is equally challenging! Walking is out of the question! And yet tomorrow, they are predicting rain and temperatures in the forties! Go figure! I would appreciate a goodly dumping of real, old fashioned snow! Ah well! We have had a lovely little pheasant visiting the birdfeeders this past week. She arrives early in the morning and stays most of the day. She is often joined by a large grey squirrel (no doubt the bandit who has been making off with all the peanuts lately!), at least half-a-dozen plump black crows, and two yearling fawns who also seem to take great pleasure in pruning the yew bushes just off the back porch... as well as the more usual birdly visitors. I finally managed to finish my Christmas Cards this evening; I don't know why I always put it off til the last minute. I'm the same way with Christmas shopping. I dislike shopping of any sort, and I find this frenzied time of year especially distasteful... much too crowded and hectic for me! I am not really a Scrooge... just not a shopper! So I still have much to do at this late date. I hope all is well with you and yours, and that your holiday plans are coming along well too! I wish you a very peaceful and pleasant holiday season, and that you find many blessings and joys come the New Year! Til next time.....