Sunday 19 July 2009

Blueberry Muffins


I have picked lots of blueberries from my two blueberry bushes and there are lots of fruit left on the plants which are still to ripen. Some of the blueberries have been made into blueberry muffins and they are deliciously tangy against the sweetness of the muffin.


I'm happy to report that the paintbrush method of pollinating the aubergine flowers, which I blogged about in an earlier post, is working. There are now two tiny fruits on the plant, and it looks like there may be more to come. It's now a waiting game to see if the fruits grow well. We certainly need alot of patience as gardeners.


I have harvested the first two courgettes and there are more just starting to grow on the plant, as well as more flowers waiting to open. This plant has been moved out of the greenhouse as it outgrew it's space and is doing just as well outside. It looks like I may soon be picking these daily, so I'd love to hear any suggestions of different recipes in which courgettes can be used.


The pepper plant has also been moved out of the greenhouse and it looks like there are some peppers now growing without holes in them. Again, it's a waiting game to see if some holes develop, but so far so good.


I haven't done much in the garden, or at the allotment, during the last week as it's been so hectic with my daughter leaving junior school and all the activities associated with this, and also having her birthday. I'm hoping that now we have started the school holidays I will have lots more time to spend in the garden. Cue the rain clouds!

12 comments:

  1. Those blueberry muffins look scrumptious! Maybe you can share your recipe. I ran across a recipe that I want to try for a breakfast bread that combines my love of lemons with my love of blueberries called Lemon Blueberry Bread at JoyofBaking.com. I don't prepare many dishes with courgette, but I do make grilled veggies marinated first in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dried basil and salt and pepper. I also saw a cool recipe once where the skin was taken off in strips with a veggie peeler and used as a replacement for a fetuccini noodle in a meatball and tomato sauce dish... Cheers!

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  2. Those muffins do look delish, I'm well Jealous ;)

    Last year my four courgette plants sent me into panic recipe mode and I tried soups, muffins, cakes, bread, baked, grilled, raw in salads, pies, chutneys, etc.

    The net is full of recipes just search courgette glut, those two words will give you tons of recipes from all manner of sites. Its quite scary actually ;)

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  3. AnonymousJuly 21, 2009

    Hurrah for your aubergines!!! lets keep fingers crossed. I too have been baking, but am on Weight watchers - boo - so have to keep giving things away! I'm trying to make pickles and jams and things too, to try and keep them for longer! cat @ Manor stables x

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  4. Muffins look good.
    My aubergines are still in flower - I think I must dust off my paintbrush too my are outdoors in pots. I may try a couple in the open ground (if it ever stops raining) and see which do best.

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  5. Jo,
    The muffins look heavenly. From fresh blueberries too! Nums. The American name for Corgettes is Zuchini. In Northern Utah, where I grew up, they grow better than anything and thrifty housewives use every one they can get their hands on. My Mom used to peel them, then run them through the food grinder. (Hand cranked by us kids) Then she would premeasure the quantities required for her favorite recipees into freezer bags and freeze them. We quickly discovered that something about the freezing process makes the recipees even moister. I am getting hungry just thinking about it. I have even enjoyed zucchini pancakes (american style) The link I am including has loads of recipees and if that doesn't take care of it, just remember, you can quite literally substitute ground zucchini for bannanas in almost any baking recipee. The flavor is very different, but the texture is just right. Let me know what you do with them, how to use excess zucchini is almost a standing joke. Enjoy, and tell your daughter Happy Birthday from me.
    Kat (ps please excuse the spelling, it has been a long day at work.)

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  6. Oops, almost forgot the link, told you it was a long day. ;)
    http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Bread/Zucchini-Bread/Main.aspx

    Kat >^,,^<

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  7. AnonymousJuly 22, 2009

    Woo hoo...I have now found your blog...god I'm so rubbish at this internet stuff but I am following you now so it will make it so much easier...I will keep coming back for sure...the muffins look great...did you picture the ones you made???

    As for the courgettes...if you don't get to pick some it will be fine...leave them to get big and stuff them like marrows!!!

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  8. The muffins were scrumptious, Avis. Sadly, they're all gone now, but I have plenty more blueberries so I'll have to make some more. The recipe came from Reap What You Grow blog. The link is in my blog list. There was a recipe there for blackcurrant muffins, so I just substituted the blackcurrants for blueberries.

    I didn't know you could do so much with courgettes, Kella. I've had a quick surf on the net, googling courgette glut, and you're right, there are loads of recipes.

    I can't believe how many blogs are showing piccies of baking this week, Cat. It seems we're all at it. I think it's the time of year when we're getting to harvest more and looking for ways of using up everything.

    That will be a good experiment, Allot Of Veg. I will be interested to follow the progress and see which do best.

    I have passed your birthday wishes onto my daughter, Kat, thank you. The link you posted is great. I particularly like the sound of the blueberry zucchini bread, I might give that a go seeing as how I've also got blueberries ready.

    Glad you found me, Allotments4you, and thanks for visiting. Yes, the picture is of the muffins which I made. I haven't got any courgettes as big as marrows yet, I'm keeping my eye on them!

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  9. Jo,
    Thanks for the kind comments on my blog. It is good to have a hero.
    Kat

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  10. You're welcome, Kat. Your posts are always so interesting.

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  11. I would love to get enough blueberries from my plants to make muffins. No sooner do they start to ripen the birds get then....I wouldn't mind but the birds get fed very well in my garden. Oh well..

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  12. I know what you mean, Vilmab. I had a very cheeky blackbird after my blueberries.

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