Autumn is upon us with our first real ‘cold front’ dumping rain and dropping temperatures. I am aware that it has already snowed in Denver and been cool for weeks on the East Coast but we move into fall gradually here in Texas starting with ‘cool fronts’, although we usually have an abrupt cold front sometime around Halloween. With the change of outside conditions, I feel a change inside as well. I am drawn to the kitchen to cook big pots of beans and stews. Every fall, with out exception in my adult life, this is the time of year I begin profusely baking. There are muffins, cookies, breakfast breads, focaccia, rolls, cakes,pies and brownies. I love to be surrounded with all these different baked goods!! I love having people eat them! I don’t know if this is just part of my advance planning for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, or some hardwired genetic thing connecting back to my cave women relatives. Maybe I was a baker in another life!

We have a reference to Blueberry Muffins, that is somewhat different than most families.

A number of years ago, after Erin had moved to New York City and enjoyed her fill of the frantic Manhattan lifestyle, she decided to move to Carol Gardens, in Brooklyn. This means nothing to most people, but at the time it was ‘the’ newly gentrified area and had just the perfect flavor of families, and neighborhood multicultural nuances that remind people of ‘the good old days’. In her new neighborhood there were amazing restaurants, bodega’s, and shops. People strolled down the car crammed streets and actually looked at each other and smiled (well some did).

It was October and I had flown in the night before and we had planned for me to go into the city with Erin the next day. While she worked, I would explore Union Square, we would meet for lunch, I would explore more and then we were going for drinks with some of her work friends!! It was an action packed day. We started the day with me blowing the only fuse for the entire apartment with my blow dryer. Erin trudged to the basement to flip the breaker, I went out with wet hair! We rushed to the bakery she had been telling me about for weeks, on the way to the subway.

As we race walked, she explained that I needed to decide what I wanted because they were busy and people were in a hurry. OK, I can do that! We get there and sure enough there is a line of people of all kinds standing queued up expectantly waiting for breakfast. The windows were filled with all manner of baked goods and I was captivated by the sheer magnitude of products. Bagels, croissants, donuts, strudels, and muffins of all kinds, and the waff of coffee aroma floating over us each time the door opened. Erin reminded me as we moved through the line, ‘mom, you have to be quick, o.k.?’ I was still mesmerized by the baked goods. How could you decide?? It was a cornucopia of baked goods.

As we moved to the front of the line, 4 different people behind the counter were working double time to fill coffee cups, wrap pastries and take money. They were shouting and directing patrons, but I was still checking out the eclairs, and the list of kinds of tea and the people in line! It was like sensory overload. I felt an elbow in my ribs and realized Erin was poking me.
“Mom, order, now!” she whispered urgently in my ear. I realized one of screaming staff had been directed to me.
‘What’ll it be?” she had said, and I suddenly felt like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming car!! I couldn’t begin to decide, and Erin was moving away, probably mortified, and the lady behind the counter was getting a really mean look on her face. I could sense the crowd around me getting hostile and impatient. “BLUEBERRY MUFFIN”, I shouted, perhaps a little louder than necessary, but immediately she filled a bag with my muffin, took my cash and everything seemed to settle back into the normal ebb and flow of the bakery. Stepping outside to join Erin, I told her I was sorry for being so slow, but it was kind of overwhelming!

“So what did you get”, she asked, curiously.
“A blueberry muffin”, I responded, sheepishly.
“Moooommmm”, she admonished, knowing full well that I actually hate blueberry muffins!
“I know, I know, I just couldn’t think of anything else. She was so pushy, and everyone was so impatient and kind of rude!” I whined, feeling silly but trying to justify my choice.

Being the wonderful daughter she is, she just took my muffin (she and the rest of my family love blueberry muffins) and gave me her cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese, smiling indulgently and hugging me. Then off we ran to make the subway for a day in the city.

In retelling the story, it amused the rest of the family (especially John who hadn’t ever seen me unnerved in that way) so much so that BLUEBERRY MUFFIN is now the response to all pressure questions!

This recipe is my way of finding a blueberry muffin I like. The banana texture and flavor give a lovely backdrop to the tartness of the blueberry. I like to make muffins with part of the batter and a loaf of bread with the other half so that we have a variety of baked goods. I would love to have the variety of items that I saw in that bakery!

Blueberry Banana Bread/Muffins

2/3 c. shortening (I use butter)
1 c. sugar
4 eggs
3 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
2 c. mashed ripe bananas
1- 1 1/2 c, blueberries (fold these in last so they don’t get squished!)
1-2 tsp. vanilla (I like a lot!)

Mix all ingredients, except blueberries and then fold in blueberries. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans and Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes (less if you like very moist bread, longer if you like a drier texture)
For muffins, fill muffin cups and bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.
I like to make one loaf and the rest into muffins to add versatility.
Great as a snack, for breakfast or brunch.

Only one warning, do no send these with your husband off shore fishing!!! Apparently there is some very bad mojo connected with off shore fishing and bananas!!

Another option for this basic recipe is to add ripe strawberries instead of blueberries. The loaf and muffins freeze well and are a quick way to add homemade to a day you were too busy to bake!!