Berry Buttermilk Muffins

No big travel plans for the summer? Perfect. Start planning your staycation.

A staycation is, as defined by Merriam-Webster, "a vacation spent at home or nearby". This term was added to the Merriam-Wesbter dictionary in 2009, as staycations have become ever more popular in recent years, what with a world financial crisis, rising gas prices, and all that other annoying stuff. Well, dear readers, why not plan a weekend that involves your very own austerity measures, i.e. your summer staycation? And what better way to start your staycation than with Staycation Muffins? These Buttermilk Berry Muffins take advantage of seasonal berries, are quick to make and the perfect treat for your very own stay-at-home vacation.

Just because you don't go away doesn't mean there aren't lots of things to do. Depending on where you live, you may be able to find some local festivals or events on in your city, and these are an excellent way to spend part of your staycation. For example, it is the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, which means here in Ontario there are lots of events going on to commemorate this bicentennial (see here). In addition to any events in your city, you could also go to a local farmer's market - where you can browse seasonal produce and pick up some summer berries for your muffins! I've found that in Toronto lots of farmers markets have been popping up recently, so as long as you know the day and location, you can stock up on lots of good food for your staycation. It's also important to fit in some rest and relaxation - so get the hard part of your staycation over with first (and no, these muffins are not difficult to make) and start your vacation in the kitchen. 

The Recipe:

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup canola oil

1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp lemon zest

1 1/2 to 2 cups berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc - fresh or frozen)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line muffin tray with paper liners. 

2. In a large measuring cup or bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, oil and vanilla extract. 

3. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and lemon zest. Stir these dry ingredients together, and then gently fold in the berries. If using frozen berries, do not thaw first. 

4. Pour in the wet ingredients and then gently stir only until ingredients are combined. Do not over-mix.

5. Fill each muffin cup almost full with the batter. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of a muffin comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool 5 to 10 minutes before removing from pan to cool completely. Makes 12 muffins.

These muffins are perfect for a holiday because they are quite a treat. When baking them, I debated using some whole wheat flour instead of the entire amount of all-purpose flour, but I was happy with the result. The muffins are light and almost cake-like (thanks to the buttermilk no doubt). I used 1 cup of blueberries and 1 cup of raspberries. The raspberries weren't actually very sweet, but they go lovely in the lemony-sweet muffin.

If you do not have buttermilk on hand - don't worry, (the number one rule of staycationing should be not to worry) - you can easily make your own buttermilk. Simply add 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to a cup of milk, and allow the milk to sit for about 10 to 15 minutes before adding it into the recipe. It won't be quite as smooth as store-bought buttermilk, but provides the right taste and texture for your muffins.

While the muffins are baking, you can make a "staycation playlist" and if you're not already in the middle of reading something, pick out one of the books you've been meaning to read (I'll try not to judge anyone too much who owns up to reading Fifty Shades of Grey, but there is other summer lit out there that's a little less trashy...). I'll even help you out here by recommending a song or two to include in your playlist. I can't stop listening to Alabama Shakes. I bought their album Boys & Girls a few months ago, and I love it, especially the songs "Hold On" and "Hang Loose." They sound just like summer should, so check out "Hold On" to see for yourself. 

Now, back to your staycation. I'm crossing my fingers that you have a sunny day. Once the muffins have a cooled a bit from the oven, you can take them out to your backyard or a park with your book and your new playlist, and enjoy the fact that it's summer and you're on staycation! 

If the opportunity arises where you are invited away to a cottage for the weekend or the beach for a day, by all means go and take the Staycation Muffins with you - I can guarantee they will be just as good away from home as they will be enjoyed at home on your staycation!

Happy Eating!

Caroline