Lavender Pillows & Blueberry Heaven

Okay...so I'm gonna sneak in one more post before 2010.

My homemade Christmas gifts. This is what I have been working all year long....

Embroidered Lavender Pillows

It was a delight working on this project. I loved it cause they were personal, but not too difficult or complicated. And I always had the beautiful smell of lavender in the house. I made 14 of then in all...some of which have not been delivered to their recipients yet...sorry to ruin the surprise! Anyways...just thought I'd share. This Christmas was SO pleasant and stress-free...working on gifts year-round was the best thing I've ever done! So...I am anxious to get my creative juices flowing and get working on Christmas 2010!

While I'm here, I also thought I'd post a recipe for THE MOST DELICIOUS BLUEBERRY MUFFINS EVER! I am not kidding. FABULOUS! I am confident that I will be gaining a couple pounds over the next few days because of the remaining 10 muffins that are in my kitchen. I made them for Braelyn and me, but she decided she didn't like the warm, fresh blueberries that were oozing with flavor and deliciousness, and I'm not sure I am willing to share with anybody else...so I will be FORCED to eat the rest by myself. I feel convicted that these muffins cannot go to waste and are worth the extra pounds. Anyways, my dear friend, and former apartment tenant, Erica, gave me this cookbook, Cooking with Marie. Marie is the genius that put this blueberry muffin recipe in her cookbook. Enough gabbing...let's get to it:

2 cups flour (I used half white half wheat)
1 T baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1 large egg
1 cup sugar
4 T unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 cup sour cream (I think this is where the magic is)
2 T fat-free milk (cause we're watchin' our calories ;)

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 12-cup muffin pan with butter or cooking spary.

In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt. Add blueberries and toss until coated.

In a separate bowl, whisk the egg. Add sugar, butter, sour cream and milk. Whisk until combined. Fold into dry ingredients. until just combined. Do not over mix.

Spoon into muffin cups. I filled mine pretty much to the top. Bake for 25-30 mins. Let cool for a second and then dive into blueberry heaven! Enjoy!

Happy New Year!