Blueberry Coconut Muffins

Happy Valentine's Day, Everyone!

What could be better than a little sweetness on Valentine's Day? Celebrate your favorite people, friends, family, spouses, and partners this weekend with these little bites of goodness! Not sappy sweet. Just a little. Great for breakfast with a little jam.

Some simple steps involved. Just stay organized.

Make someone feel special this weekend! 

Make someone happy!

Blueberry Coconut Muffins

Equipment:

Mixing bowls

Spatula

Sifter (use a strainer if you dont have one)

Cupcake or Muffin tin

Cupcake holders

Ingredients:

2 cups plus 1 Tbls all-purpose flour

1 Tbls baking powder

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 tsp kosher salt

1/2 cup flaked coconut, toasted

1 egg, beaten

4 Tbls butter, melted and slightly cooled

1 cup whole milk

1 1/2 cups blueberries, tossed in flour 

(if using frozen, thaw and drain first)

1 tsp orange zest (optional, but worth it)

Icing:

1 cup powder sugar

3-4 tsp milk, added individually

Orange zest (optional)

Instructions:

1. Wash your hands. 

2. Preheat oven to 400F degrees. 

3. Toast your coconut to a golden brown.

4. Sift flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in sugar and toasted coconut!

5. Combine milk, egg and melted butter (slightly cooled!!!!) until just incorporated. It will cook the egg if you do not let it cool.

6. Toss blueberries in 1 Tbls of flour and fold into the batter.

7. Fill muffin cups to below the rim.

8. Bake for 17-20 min or untl toothpick comes out dry/clean--will depend on oven. 

9. If so inclined...make the icing for a little extra sweetness and drizzle over your muffins!

10. These are great and low on sappy sugary sweetness and oily residue!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Roasted Shrimp Even Better

Exactly around this time last year, I posted one of Ina Garten's previous recipes on roasting shrimp in anticipation of celebrating special occasions (like Valentine's Day).  However, this past year Ina Garten published a new cookbook 'Make It Ahead', and I consider this recipe "the Bomb" for entertaining, festive events, and absolutely, NO FUSS.

A total upgrade in my opinion if you will.

Valentine's Crocodile Be Mine

As a general rule, shrimp is not part of a college student's routine grocery budget, but , during special times of the year you may just want to have a recipe like this one on hand. If it is easy...even better! If it is cheap...well, I can't guarantee that! Sometimes you can find luxury items discounted, and that is the time to take advantage of savoring recipes like this one.

Speaking of Valetine's Day...make sure you have some cool cards for your friends, family and "special someone"! These are designs from previous years available thru the link below if you'd prefer something cool!

Valentine's Giraffe Love Is In The Air

Roasted Shrimp Even Better

Equipment:

12-inch Oven-proof iron cast skillet (or other heavy-duty skillet to withstand 400F degrees)

Wooden spoon

Ingredients:

2 lbs (26-31 shrimp / lb) shrimp

1 stick of butter
2 Tbls olive oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp fresh rosemary, minced or 1 tsp dried
1 tsp crushed red pepper
Kosher salt and fresh black pepper
2 large lemons
Zest of one lemon



2 lbs of large shrimp (I used 26-31 count / lb or use larger count / lb), thawed and peeled

Fresh baguette

Instructions:
1. Wash your hands.
2. Preheat 400F degrees.

3. Melt butter, olive oil, garlic, rosemary, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in your large oven-proof skillet for 1-2 minutes.

4. Remove the skillet from the heat and add your lemon zest to the butter mixture.

5. Toss shrimp in the skillet and butter mixture, then arrange the shrimp snugly into the skillet.
6. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
7. Slice lemons and submerge in between shrimp.

8. Roast the shrimp for 12 minutes until pink and tender.

9. Put the whole skillet on the table with torn pieces of baguette for dipping!
10. Put a large smile on your face and whoever is dining with you!