Bearing Gifts

I have a very unfortunate tendency to let my mouth run faster than my brain. In university my friends used to call this a 'Tararism'. When I first met my husband he was very quick to recognise this as a somewhat endearing and amusing trait - if a bit embarrassing at times.

When planning for our wedding I made quite a few Tararisms including telling the florist that no one ever notices the flowers at a wedding anyway so we didn't need incredibly elaborate flowers as long as they were nice enough, and telling the cake maker that it would be easy to make the cake of which I had brought a picture. Looking back they sound so rude but I genuinely don't mean them in that light and turn bright red with embarrasment every time I remember the incidences - especially since my husband and all my good friends delight in reminding me and laughing at my embarrasment.

I made another Tararism last night to the husband of a good friend of mine. These blueberry muffins were made as a peace offering... Hopefully I have remembered correctly that blueberry muffins are his favourite baked good and all will be made right. Watch this space!

Blueberry Muffins

2 cups flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1 heaping tablespoon baking powder
Pinch salt
1 1/2 cups blueberries

2 eggs
1 cup vanilla or blueberry yogurht
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp lemon rind

Topping:
1/4 cup demerara sugar

• Mix together all the dry ingredients and blueberries.
• In a separate bowl combine all the wet ingredients and lemon rind.
• Combine stirring as little as possible.
• Spoon into muffin tins lined with muffin cups.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 200 degrees C for 20 - 25 min or until tester comes out clean.

Enjoy!

A Sunday Treat

I love this recipe as it is so very easy and so very yummy. It has been adapted from a little baking book that I received this year for my birthday from my good friend Charlotte. It doesn't take long to make and will have your kitchen smelling fabulous in no time. I like to bake these on a weekend to give us just a little treat before the week begins, and as it is quite a small recipe, it is perfect for when there is not much time and you don't want too much to tempt you as the week goes on.

Happy baking!

Chocolate Chip Shortbread Squares

1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup corn starch (or corn flour depending on where you are from!)
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup chopped chocolate (I just use the whole of a 100g chocolate bar)

1tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp white sugar

• Cut together the flours, sugar and butter until it is soft and crumbly.
• Mix in the chocolate.
• Press into a 7 inch square cake pan and prick all over with a fork.
• Mix together the cinnamon and sugar then sprinkle half over the shortbread.
• Bake in a 160 degree (C) oven for 20 - 25 min or until golden brown.
• While still hot, cut into squares in the pan. (I like to line my pan with baking paper so I can lift the whole thing out and not have to ruin my pan with cutting.)
• Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar over the shortbread and serve when cool.