Strawberries and Cream Muffins + A Little Update

Isn't it odd, don't you think, that I've chosen to breathe a little life into my blog by posting a recipe? Well, you see, I did mean to post this recipe well over a month ago but if you only knew how topsy turvey things are at the moment, you'd understand why I'm only now getting around to writing out this sweet little recipe... Thanks to all who keep checking in for any signs of life:)

We've begun more deconstruction here at the house which has included tearing out a coat closet in the living room (to make room for a future secretary or book shelf) and also taking apart our daughter's closet in order to expand it. She had two small closets but we are creating one larger closet with just one door instead of the two. This work has to be done, along with tearing down our hallway ceiling to raise it a foot, before we can put our flooring down. We are inching our way closer to real flooring at last!

And in the middle of all this, we are getting ready to have our yard sale in two weeks and there are piles of "things" everywhere! Throw in there that May has been the month for school projects galore and we also have two upcoming school musicals this week (for which I must finish two costumes in the next few days!)...and not to mention that we've all been taking turns being sick for the last several weeks. One week when hubs was away, I was so ill that I stumbled head first into the bathroom door frame and it knocked me out to the floor for a little while. My oldest daughter came in and was curious as to why I was "sleeping" on the floor:)

Sadly, we also lost our pet cockatiel Buddy this month, the one that we bought after our parakeet Skyler died last year. I've never written about Buddy because I was so afraid something would happen to him - I didn't even want to buy him to begin with to tell you the truth, for the very same reason. But it wasn't very hard to fall in love with the little guy, and did I ever! Unfortunately, hubs didn't know Buddy was
on his shoulder one day a few weeks ago when he stepped outside onto the deck. Buddy took off and went up, up, up, and away like a helium balloon. I just really don't think we are cut out for birds, as much as I love them, and I told hubs that there would be no more. We have taken all the right steps to try and find him and have spent many hours posting flyers, calling vets and animal clinics, talking to neighbors, and canvassing nearby areas, but nothing yet. I still keep my eyes upwards when I'm out and about, though. We all have been down about losing him but it's a different kind of sadness than when we lost Skyler. It's a sadness with a little bit of hope attached to it. Even if we don't get him back, we can at least hope that someone finds him and that he has a good home somewhere.

Somehow in the midst of the chaos, the baking bug bit me and I've been busy whipping up cookies, muffins, and breads. I even concocted a little recipe of my own based on a combination of other recipes. I call them Strawberries and Cream Muffins (with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting). The kids really loved them! Here is the recipe:

Strawberries and Cream Muffins with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Muffins:
1 cup fresh strawberries (frozen can be used)
1 tablespoon water
3/4 cup sugar(1/4 C for strawberries and 1/2 C for muffins)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3-5 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on lemon preference)
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk

Frosting:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Muffins:
2. Cut up strawberries into small chunks and gently stir in 1/4 cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of water. Set aside.
3. In large mixing bowl, cream 1/4 cup softened butter, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 3-5 tablespoons of lemon juice. Combine 2 1/4 cups flour, 3 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and add to creamed mixture alternately with cream and milk. Fold in strawberries.
4. Spoon batter into greased or lined muffin tins and fill 3/4 full. Bake at 375 degrees for 24 - 26 minutes. Let cool before frosting.
Frosting:
5. Combine softened 8 oz. cream cheese, 1/4 cup softened butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice. Blend with mixer until smooth and spread on cooled strawberries-n-cream muffins. Top with whole or sliced strawberries.

Where Credit is Due

Digital scrapbook elements obtained from http://www.digital-scrapbook-art.com/ and http://digitalscrapbookgrapixs.blogspot.com/ .