Apple-Blueberry Muffins & Answered Questions

It has been almost a week since my last post! I hate when that happens... The fact that I haven't posted weighs on my mind all the time!

Apart from the recipe today, I want to take some time to answer a few questions I have been getting from readers/new friends both via email and Facebook.

But the food comes first! :)

Right now, I want to share a muffin recipe. Speaking of muffin recipes, a BIG thank you to everyone who has ever commented or emailed me thanking me for my Walnut Muffins recipe! I am so glad it turned out to be so popular, because it is hugely popular in our home! Thank you, all!

This recipe for Apple-Blueberry muffins is also adapted from the same book which served as an inspiration for the Walnut muffins. I love this recipe too, and I think it makes a great breakfast. Loaded with fresh apples, dried blueberries & oatmeal - I don't see how you could find fault with these muffins!

Apple-Blueberry Muffins
Adapted from Muffins Galore
Ingredients (makes 4-6 muffins, depending on the size)
125g plain flour
55g oatmeal flour
110g castor sugar
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 large apple, cored and coarsely chopped (you can leave the skin on)
100g dried blueberries, coarsely chopped
1 egg, beaten lightly
65g butter, melted
85ml buttermilk
1 1/2 tablespoon demerara sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

Method
1. Soak the dried blueberries in 1 cup of water for 1/2 hour. Drain well and discard the water.
2. Preheat the oven to 200C or 400F, and line a six-cup muffin tin with paper liners. If you are not using paper liners, grease and flour the tins.
3. Mix the demerara sugar and cinnamon powder in a small bowl and set aside.
4. Mix together the flours, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
5. Add the chopped apples, and well-drained dried blueberries.
6. In a small bowl, stir together the egg, melted butter and buttermilk.
7. Pour the wet ingredients into the large bowl containing the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Do not over-mix.
8. Spoon into the prepared tin, and sprinkle over the top with the demerara-cinnamon mixture.
9. Bake for about 20 minutes until well risen and golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool in the tin for about 10 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

I love the crunchy demerara topping on this muffin! Such a nice crunch against the soft, juicy muffin!

The original recipe calls for dried cherries instead of blueberries - and I am sure that would work great as well. Other options - dried cranberries, fresh blueberries, raisins? I suppose you could play around with this recipe quite a bit. You could also add about 50g of chopped pecans or walnuts to take this to another level! Mmmmmm... I wish I had done that!

This is a really good, wholesome muffin!

Okay, now I need to address a few questions I have been asked a lot lately.

1. Why do you blog?

I think everyone secretly wants to be a proficient cook/baker! Making something at home, from scratch, gives a me a wonderful sense of accomplishment. I love that rush when I see a perfectly tender, golden loaf of bread coming out of my oven, or when I stare at picture perfect cupcakes that I made! Honestly, I would love  for more people to experience that! I love blogging and sharing my recipes and  I will keep doing it till the cows come home!

I have a dream, that one day, I will write my own cookbook. Sigh. A girl can dream!

2. Do you take orders for baked goods?

The answer is - YES!

If you live in Chennai, and something on this blog (or not), strikes your fancy, or you have a craving that you need satisfied but don't feel like putting on an apron and trying out a recipe, just drop me a note on my contact page, and I will call you back. I will need 24-48 hours to fulfill an order, though!

3. Do you think sharing your recipes will affect how many orders you get?

Probably! But as I said earlier, baking brings such immense satisfaction and I LOVE sharing recipes with people. Heck, I wouldn't have recipes to share if someone didn't share them with me first! I love sharing my passion for baking so much, that I am even teaching a baking class this month! My second baking class in the last 4 months... and hopefully not the last! I love teaching - especially when it's something so fun like baking!

I believe that there will always be a need for food - whether for a recipe to cook it, or for the finished product itself. And I want to be there for my readers at both times. You feel like baking something? Browse through my recipe page, and choose something that strikes your fancy! You can email me if something about the recipe baffles you, and I will respond within 24 hours - usually!

Are you a total baking novice? Sign up for the next baking class in Chennai! I will post details both on my Facebook page, and here on my blog!

You feel like indulging yourself with some rich chocolate cupcakes but don't want to sweat it out in the kitchen. Just write to me and I will be glad to make you a batch! At the end of the day - food makes people happy, and I would like to play a small part in making someone happy!


4. What do you think of stolen recipes/ideas/photographs?

I honestly believe that when you use someone's recipe, they deserve credit for it. Most of my posts have links back to either the book or the site where I got my inspiration from. But I rarely use a recipe as it is, and add my own touches, making it my own. I think it's only fair and honest to give someone credit for what they've created. If you are using one of my recipes and selling the product - more power to you! I am flattered that you are using my recipe, and I would love to hear from you! Don't worry - I won't claim a share of your profits! :) LOL :D

In terms of food ideas - presentation, flavor combinations etc. - I don't think there's much that hasn't been done yet in terms of food! I don't think anyone's ideas a completely unique and so there isn't really much point in talking about copying. And, hey - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So if you feel ripped off because someone 'stole' your idea, just revel in the fact that someone thought your stuff worth ripping off! Besides, I am sure it's all been done!

Photographs are a completely different story! A photograph is completely the photographer's property and cannot and must not be used without the owner's permission. I hate when people do that!

If you are concerned your recipes and photographs are being used without permission, this might interest you. I am a part of Chef Dennis' Neighborhood Blog Watch because photographs & recipes are being used without proper credits all over the place, and we bloggers really need to look out for each other! If you are a food blogger and would like more information about the blog watch, you can read more about it here.

Once again, if you are in Chennai and you have a craving, just drop me a note at my contact page here and I will be glad to whip something up for you.

Or you could head here, and get baking!

Thanks for reading this post! :)