Heceta Lighthouse

 Today we drove to the coast to see whales.  (Apparently you need binoculars for this to happen.)  Gray whales were heading down to Mexico for the New Year.

Look at that blue sky!  Usually when the forecast says sunny in Oregon, it actually means not rainy.  It was a great kickoff to staycation. 

I made this awesome Lemony Olive Oil Banana Bread for the drive.  It's so lovely! I'm slightly obsessed with Heidi Swanson's recipes lately.  And Willie Nelson, but that's another story. 

The rest of our staycation agenda includes: see The Hobbit, eat the rest of Jim's split pea soup, ring in the New Year with friends, watch our our friend's doggie, host our wonderful friends from Seattle next weekend and their dog, celebrate my 32nd rotation around the sun with food and a bowling party, and start to get clean out our belongings. 

Sugar Crusted Muffins

Generally, I try to make things from scratch. I know there are a lot of quality mixes out there, but I just enjoy baking. If you keep the basics around, you can always whip up something yummy. You also know what you're putting in and can make sure your ingredients are unrefined, unbleached, etc. And then I jog to burn it off!

I found this recipe in an issue of Real Simple a few years ago. It's pretty darn easy and makes yummy muffins. Last night I made them with marion berries, but any berry is good.

Sugar Crusted Muffins

2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup whole milk
1 large egg (at room temperature)
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cup fresh berries (or frozen, defrosted and strained)

Heat oven to 400.
Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners
In a medium bowl, combine 1 3/4 cup of the flour, 1/2 cup of the sugar, the baking powder, and salt
Add the butter and combine
It's okay if it's lumpy!
In a second bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, and vanilla
Gradually add the milk mixture and stir until combined (and still lumpy)
Toss the berries with the remaining flour in a small bowl
Gently fold the berry mix into the batter
Fill each muffin cup 3/4 full
Sprinkle the batter with the remaining sugar
Bake 17 minutes or until done

Enjoy!