Most of the time I know just what I need. If I’m feeling sluggish I know to drink more water because I’m likely dehydrated. If I’m feeling lonely I know I need a hug because human touch is always so transformative for me. If I’m feeling scared I know I just need to take a step forward finding bravery in action because once I’m on the other side of whatever I’m scared of I will feel so amazing. If I’m feeling uninspired I look at my Flickr favorites because they always get my blood flowing once again.
I know these things, and more, because at 35 years-old I have been able to figure out at least a few things about myself that are sure proof. It’s such a relief to have a bag of tricks that works every single time. In my opinion, the sure thing, different for each of us, is one of the best things about getting older. As time passes you just naturally learn so much about yourself. It’s comforting and practically speaking it’s so helpful when you’re stuck!
So, you can imagine my distress when all of the sudden these days I find that even with my regular bag of tricks randomly implemented into my world, I don’t know what I need. A strange and lingering funk has me completely baffled! I’m flighty, dissatisfied, sleeping poorly, restless, testy. Jeez! Even just listing this out is very hard for me to stomach given the fact that I truly am generally a sunny and light sort of person (of course I still have the Italian temper I was born with but let’s talk about that in another dispatch).
Well, I’m not writing my dispatch today with any solutions to my gloom, although I certainly wish I was. I am writing instead about something that for me is usually, always, most certainly sure proof—blueberries.
I still have 3 precious bags of blueberries in my freezer from last summer and I have been saving them for just the right moments. Perhaps a Sunday batch of my pancakes, perhaps one of Stephanie’s crisps, perhaps a blueberry muffin. Ah, yes. Anything with blueberries involved makes me smile and so here I am still trying to explore, dream, be me, move forward and for goodness sake, let me at least smile if I can’t figure any of my stuff out. Let me at least smile!
This is my go-to blueberry muffin recipe… makes me feel good all over.
Sure Proof Blueberry Muffins
makes one dozen
6 T unsalted butter
1-3/4 C whole wheat pastry flour
1 T golden flaxseed meal
2 T natural cane sugar
2 t baking powder
3/4 t salt
1/2 t lemon zest
2 eggs
1/2 C whole milk
1/4 C maple syrup
2 C blueberries
cinnamon (optional)
Pre-heat oven to 375ºC/190ºC. Butter a 12 spot muffin tin. Melt butter on stovetop. In a large bowl mix flour, flaxseed meal, sugar, baking powder, salt and lemon zest. Whisk together well. In a separate bowl beat eggs. Add milk and maple syrup. Beat well. Add butter and quickly beat well. Add wet ingredients to dry gently mixing just a few times around with a fork or wooden spoon. The ingredients should still be craggy looking and very under-mixed (see photograph above). Add blueberries and fold them in with a few strokes. Don’t over-mix! Under-mix if anything. Separate batter into 12 muffin cups. Sprinkle with a little cinnamon (optional). Bake for 18–20 minutes rotating the tray once in the middle of your bake-time. Remove from oven and let cool for a couple of minutes. Turn muffins out and enjoy warm or after cooled.
And you know what? I did smile. Think I’ll keep doing it. I’m feeling determined now!
Hope you’re smiling too.