Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: July 11th, 2021. Take a look at the Holidays being celebrated today and let me know which Holiday you would most like to celebrate and why.
if you’ve ever been buried deep in the depths of despair, you know there’s nothing that can lift you out of it quite like the smell of freshly baked Blueberry Muffins.
Ever since the concept of Muffins met the Blueberry, none have been able to topple the Blueberry Muffin from its place as the best and most delicious Muffin in existence. Blueberry Muffin Day was set up in honor of that fact so that we can all recall and celebrate the king of the Muffins.
Learn about Blueberry Muffin Day
Blueberry Muffin Day has been designed in order to celebrate the culinary delight that is the Blueberry Muffin! If you have never had a Blueberry Muffin before, you are seriously missing out.
A lot of people never try Blueberry Muffins because they’re not a massive fan of Blueberries. However, we don’t think you need to be! There’s just something different about Blueberries when they’re baked and served in this way. Blueberries are so, so much better! Give them a try; you won’t regret it.
While Muffins may not be the healthiest treat in the world, there are health benefits that are associated with Blueberries, which can make you feel a bit better for indulging on Blueberry Muffin Day.
In fact, a lot of people consider Blueberries to be a Superfood. This is because they can help with Weight Loss and Healthy Digestion, promoting the feeling of being full. I need to let my sister know this and we need to eat lots more Blueberries.
Blueberries can also improve your Mental Health, protect against Heart Disease, assist with dDabetes management, Lower Blood pressure, another reason for me to eat Blueberries.
Blueberries also improve Skin Health, and help with maintaining healthy bones. Pretty impressive, right? Who thought that something so small would be able to pack such a powerful punch of Nutrients?
History of Blueberry Muffin Day
The origin of the Blueberry Muffin is a tale of adaptation and culinary fortune. Once long ago there was a commonly used Berry known as the Bilberry, which was commonly used in all forms of baked goods throughout Europe.
When first arriving in the Americas, the Pilgrims realized that Bilberries were not Native to this new land, and so it was that the Blueberry was discovered and found its way into baking. What a fortunate day it was for the Muffin when this occurred, for without question the Blueberry Muffin knows no equal.
But in order to make a Blueberry Muffin, one must know how to properly use the Blueberry. You see, you can’t simply use any old Blueberry. Fresh Blueberries are delightful on Ice-cream and sprinkled on Pancakes, but have no place in Muffins.
Frozen blueberries are convenient and can be used to make an incredible Smoothie but alas they, like the fresh Blueberries, turn to mush when processed in a batter. For Blueberry Muffins, only dried Blueberries will do!
How to celebrate Blueberry Muffin Day
The best way to celebrate Blueberry Muffin Day is by enjoying a rich flavorful Blueberry Muffin! Once you’ve gobbled down one (or several, it’s OK, we won’t tell) you can share the wealth with your friends and co-workers.
Blueberry Muffin Day is a day for sharing, and also for learning the most important recipe you’ll ever learn, that of the delicious Blueberry Muffin. Look up recipes on the internet, and find the recipe that speaks to your Blueberry loving soul, and then prepare batch after batch until your craving for Blueberry Muffins is sated!
Another fun way for you to celebrate Blueberry Muffin Day is by having a bite of a bake-off with your friends. Why not invite your loved ones over and see who can make the greatest Blueberry Muffin?
Its always fun to do something a bit different with the ones you love, and having a Cook-Off is a great way to spend a bit of time together and enjoy delicious food in the process.
You could also do different Blueberry inspired desserts. Maybe you could take the Muffins and get everyone else to do a different recipe each? The choice is yours!
Why not also make yourself a Blueberry-inspired Cocktail to enjoy with the Muffin? The Farmhouse Jam Cocktail is a mix of Vodka, Blueberry and Thyme Jam, and Prosecco.
Now, if you love Fruity Cocktails, you will definitely be a fan of this one, whilst the Prosecco adds a slight fizz and an added bit of luxury. SOunds yummy doesn’t it?
Nevertheless, the star of the show is undoubtedly the Blueberry and Thyme Jam, which you can make at home. We recommend using quality ingredients. How is the Farmhouse Jam Cocktail made? A large spoonful of Blueberry and Thyme Jam is added to a glass.
Then add a shot and a half of Vodka. Ice is added to the drink and the ingredients are blended together. Finally, the glass is topped with Prosecco and you should add a spoon of Jam and Thyme for Garnish to make your drink Instagram-worthy.
If you don’t drink Alcohol, or you are the designated driver for the evening, a Mocktail version of this Cocktail can be made. Instead of Vodka and Prosecco, use Soda Water and fresh Lemon Juice.
Five Facts about Blueberries:
- The Blueberry Muffin is the official Muffin of Minnesota.
- If all the Blueberries grown in North America in one year were spread out in a single layer, they would cover a four-lane highway that stretched from New York to Chicago. Can you imagine that?
- The Blueberry is the second most popular Berry in the US (the Strawberry is number one).
- Blueberries contain Anthocyanin, which is good for eyesight. Charlie and I need to eat more Blueberries then. How about you?
- Blueberries contain significant quantities of both Antibacterial and Antiviral Compounds, and have a reputation in Northern Europe of fighting infections. Blueberries may also help protect against Heart Disease. So David also needs to eat more Blueberries.
Blueberry Muffin Recipe:
1 ½ cups all-purpose Flour ¾ cup White Sugar ½ teaspoon Salt 2 teaspoons Baking Powder ⅓ cup Vegetable Oil 1 Egg ⅓ cup milk, or more as needed 1 cup fresh Blueberries ½ cup White Sugar ⅓ cup all-purpose Flour ¼ cup Butter, cubed 1 ½ teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
- Step 1 Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
- Step 2 Combine 1 1/2 cups Flour, 3/4 cup Sugar, Salt and Baking Powder. Place Vegetable Oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the Egg and add enough Milk to reach the 1-cup mark. Mix this with Flour mixture. Fold in Blueberries. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.
- Step 3 To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/2 cup Sugar, 1/3 cup Flour, 1/4 cup Butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons Cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over Muffins before baking.
- Step 4 Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done
National Mojito Day on July 11 deserves a drink. Would you like to join me in a toast? What more do you need on a hot Summer’s day than to cool off with this classic Minty Cocktail?
Did you know the Mojito ranks among the Nation’s favorite Cocktails? The Mojito is made traditionally with White Rum, Lime Juice, Sugar, Mint, and Sparkling Water.
Mojito is a Cocktail that is enjoyed for its fresh and unique taste and although the recipe has been revamped many times over with Herbs and Fruits the classic Mojito is still the most adored. There’s only one thing left to do. Fill up your glass, put your feet up, and enjoy a Mojito or two (we won’t judge) in the Sun.
History of National Mojito Day
The Mojito is a Cuban creation dating back to 1586. An old tale claims that Sir Francs Drake was seeking out a cure for Scurvy and Dysentery after his invasion of Cartagena de Indias on his way to Cuba.
He returned with a solution – the Mojito which included Aguardiente (a distilled South American liquor), Mint, and Sugarcane. The unusual concoction went down a treat with his crew and many reported reduced symptoms.
That Mojito was said to be created on La Bodeguita del Medio, an Island in Cuba with a bar that the owners still to this day claim was the birthplace of the Mojito.
In 1931, a ‘‘Sloppy Joes Havana Bar’’ gave away a Cocktail menu and listed on it was a pair of Mojito – one with Gin, one with Rum. The recipe was then published in the ‘‘El Floridita Cocktail Book’’ in 1939. Since then, the drink has grown in popularity.
The drink’s rise in popularity in the early 20th century is partly attributed to the author Ernest Hemmingway. Mojito was rumored to be his favorite drink.
Mojito is a drink that has become synonymous with Summer. It’s fresh taste and cool temperature mixes perfectly with a hot Summer’s day. A survey in 2016 found that theMojito was the most popular Cocktail in both France and Britain.
Mojito Recipe
10 fresh Mint Leaves ½ Lime, cut into 4 wedges 2 tablespoons White Sugar, or to taste 1 cup Ice Cubes 1 ½ fluid ounces White Rum ½ cup Club Soda
Step 1
Place Mint leaves and 1 Lime Wedge into a sturdy glass. Use a Muddler to crush the Mint and lLme to release the Mint Oils and Lime Juice. Add 2 more Lime Wedges and the Sugar, and Muddle again to release the Lime Juice. Do not strain the mixture. Fill the glass almost to the top with Ice. Pour the Rum over the Ice, and fill the glass with Carbonated Water. Stir, taste, and add more Sugar if desired. Garnish with the remaining Lime wedge.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
