27 Jan 2011

Black Cherry Jam Muffins

Sometimes, I make things wrong.


And, sometimes, things explode all over the oven.

Sometimes, things go so wrong, and explode so much they frighten me out of making them again.

I thought that was the case with these babies. But I was wrong. So very wrong. There's nothing frightening about Black Cherry Muffins when they're RIGHT. Because they're so right, when they're right.


The tops are perhaps a bit too golden, but they're perfectly risen and so ridiculously lovely on the inside. I encourage you to give them a go. The crumbley top turns these amazing muffins considerably better. It's true.


Even though I made a mess, and might've made double the amount of crumble I needed. Who cares? The only thing that matters are muffins. Go on... Give 'em a go.

Black Cherry Jam Muffins.

Adapted from joythebaker.com

Makes 6 muffins

Batter:
50g butter
45ml milk
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
75g plain flour
75g sugar
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp black cherry jam

Topping:
25g cold butter
25g plain flour
2 tbsp sugar

Pre-heat oven to gas-mark 5 and place rack in the upper-third of the oven. Line a cake tray with muffin cases.

Melt butter on a low heat in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat and whisk in milk, egg, and vanilla until combined.

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add milk mixture and stir well.

Gently fold in jam.

Divide the batter between muffin cases.

Rub butter into dry topping ingredients until crumbs are formed then sprinkle evenly over batter.

Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown, or until a skewer inserted into centre comes out clean.

Leave to cool on wire rack.


Then, enjoy. Really. Enjoy them. They don't last long.

26 Jan 2011

An Adventure to a Place

Occasionally, I go to places. I'll be going to a place at the end of February for a week, and I went to a place this weekend.

I have no idea where I went. It was a pretty place, with lots of rocks and it was by the sea. Right by the sea. (Why I say that as though it's special I have no idea. I've lived right by the sea all my life.)

This place was somewhere in Dorset, past the Puddle's and past the Piddle's. I think we went through Dorchester at some point, and then we were in this place.

  

This is the place we went to. It is pretty, huh? There were a lot of flies around that seaweed, which made me want to run away and scream. A lot.


The sky did lots of pretty things like this...


...And this. It made me love the world a little bit.


There were lots of rocks. Have I said this? Here I am... With some rocks. And some noisy people who scared me and made me think rocks were going to fall down on them and I'd have to try to be brave and get past the fly infested seaweed to save them.

Luckily, that didn't happen.

I did find some rocks though. Rocks with things in. I was the champion of finding rocks with things in. My mum wasn't too great and my step dad was just terrible.

We also found a stick at one point, and I'm not sure how it happened.


But now that stick lives in our utility room, next to the drier and a pot of string.

If you have a clue where I went, that'd be helpful. I would ask the parentals, but I have a feeling I should know where I go and then that'll just make them think I'm stupid. I'm not. I'm just very unobservant at times.

Also, the place I go to in February will be very INTERESTING, with lots of lovely things. It's called Rome, and I hear it's pretty old or something. Should be quite the adventure, huh?

Lorren