Nectarine, Basil, Cream Cheese Muffins
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2/3 cup milk
2 large eggs
1/4 cup cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups yellow nectarine, cut into 1/4" pieces
4 large basil leaves, minced
Streusel Topping
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 hazelnuts, chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and pinch of salt, set aside.
In a small saucepan melt butter on low heat and leave it on for 5-6 minutes until it starts turning color or browning a bit.
Add the melted butter, eggs, milk, cream cheese and vanilla to the dry ingredients and mix until combined. A few lumps are okay.
Gently mix in the nectarines and basil.
Scoop the batter into lined muffin cups. I filled 13. I did need a sample muffin anyways.
In a small bowl combine the brown sugar, flour, hazelnuts and melted butter. Sprinkle over the muffins evenly.
Bake for 18-20 minutes.
These muffins came out amazing, yet I still thought I needed one more thing to do so I'm not bored.
I sold my old dinette set when we moved the first time, so I scoured Craigslist and scored this maple gem - sans the 80's blue upholstery.
I've already removed the cushions and have decided on a red French toile, but I have another problem.
The problem is I'm torn between what color to paint the chairs and legs of the table. I've been researching chalk paint and I know I want to use it, but I can't decide between cream or black!!!
Any votes?? Hurry, please before I'm forced to toss a coin.
While I'm waiting for you all to let me know what color I should paint, I'll just be sitting here enjoying one of my muffins.
Pretty please don't keep me waiting too long; I really don't need any more muffins to enhance my muffin top.
Thanks,
Gina
Ok, I'm snickering over the whole muffin top thing. I feel your pain. ::sigh:: They do look delicious. The thought of adding peppery basil is very cool.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could give you advice on the painting, but I'm a plain wood person so I'd say leave them alone. The color of the wood itself is gorgeous. But I'm also decorating challenged so you shouldn't listen to me.
Thanks Christiane, I like the wood too, but the legs are pretty beat up and by the time I sand and re-stain, painting is less time consuming.
ReplyDeleteIf you have to paint them, I'd say go for cream. They'll make your room look lighter (says the amateur interior designer in me, lol).
ReplyDeleteNow the muffins, wow, they sound a bit like my salad post that's just up! Except without the scallops and persimmon, haha. I absolutely love it when you're bored and making all these delicious goodies. Please save me a few jars of that marinara sauce too, won't you? ;)
Welcome back Gina! I have a huge love for interior decor. Here's my take. Love the French Toile fabric btw. If wood is in black- it exudes modernism, with still a flair of glamour since your chair and table has those lovely curves. If your home has a modern contemporary fill, mixing something warm and urban does make it all look cosy yet chic. Cream/ White on the other hand is really shabby chic and super french. Both would go well, but I suppose it does depend on the theme you are going for in your dining area. LOL.. As for muffins, I could use one.. LOL, and I might add drizzle some honey over. Guilty :P! All is well here Gina and do take care of yourself! Big huggss, Jo
ReplyDeleteHi Gina! I could really use a muffin as I ponder the question of colors??? My daughter painted an old wood table and the chairs white- it came out very shabby chic which is what she was going for, I liked it too;-) Black would be dramatic, I'm curious which color you decide on, please share the photos;-)
ReplyDeleteI love light color furniture so my take would be cream. And while you paint, I'll take a couple of these muffins, thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou cook. You bake. You reupholster. You decorate. You amaze me!!! I'd be having the same indecisiveness. I'd do one of each and see which you like best.
ReplyDeletePS...I'm drooling over your muffins...peach/nectarine heaven!
I would love cream colour!
ReplyDeleteThese muffins look YUMMY and I love stonefruit!
I agree with all the votes for cream. Although I like the look of wood, too. And I certainly like the looks of these muffins! I can never resist muffins, and these look wonderful. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Gina!
ReplyDeleteYou are my hero, is there anything you don't do?:) The muffins sound really good. Last year I tried to make a savory nectarine muffin,but they ended up in the garbage. Needless to say they tasted horrible. I'm ready to give nectarine muffins another try with your recipe.
As for the color, my first choice would be black because I like dark colors. But on second thought the cream would probably work best. Can't wait to see the finished project:)
Wow, Gina...you don't sound bored to me, at all! Your muffins look so moist and yummy...love the cream chesse the basil, and the nectarine addition...oh, and the crunchy streusel hazelnut topping. I'm rather curious where your source came from...since I see the cookbook on your photo; no doubt you adapted it your way!
ReplyDeleteYour maple table and chairs are gorgeous. Such craftmanship design. Why would you want to paint the legs of the chairs and table, when you can sand it down and bring back the original pretty stain. The red French toile is beautiful, and elegant; great choice!
Take care...hugs!
I think all of you are right and I'm painting a sample chair this week in cream.
ReplyDeleteElisabeth, I was reading "The Art and Soul of Baking", by Cindy Mushet. I wanted to make her morning muffins with raspberries, but I didn't have most of the called for ingredients, so I fooled around with what I had on hand. It's a wonderful book and I'd highly recommend it.
Hope I am not too late to put my vote in for cream! I think it will look so lovely against the french toile. A day of boredom suited you well because it definitely got your creative juices flowing with this muffin recipe. Basil and nectarine sounds like a yummy combo!
ReplyDelete