Wednesday, July 11, 2012

July 11: National Blueberry Muffin Day and National Vegetarian Food Day

National Blueberry Muffin Day

Blueberries have been putting in a big show at the markets lately, but I feel like they're almost done for the season.  Why?  The prices for blueberries has gone up in the last week.  Prices are always lowest when the produce is in season.

So what to do with all the blueberries you see in the store?  Well, you could always eat them.  Try making smoothies with them.  Put them in pancakes or waffles.  Freeze them or can them.  Add them to your yogurt or cereal.

Or honor today by baking blueberry muffins.

True muffins are not the huge, peaked, cake-like baked goods most people are familiar with.  Instead, a muffin should be somewhat dome shaped without a peak.  These true muffins result when you use the muffin method.  Basically, you make sure to not over-stir the batter so there is no tunneling in the muffins.  (Check out this Good Eats clip to hear Alton Brown discuss the muffin method.  Or just follow his recipe and make sure to follow the stir count directions.)

Of course, if you're of legal drinking age, you can always make a blueberry muffin cocktail.




National Vegetarian Food Day

There are many different types of vegetarians, so if you decide to go vegetarian, you'll need to decide what kind of vegetarian you are so you can learn what to watch out for on food labels.  If you want to avoid all animal products, you'll want to look for foods labeled "vegan."  If you are okay with consuming eggs, milk, and honey, you should be fine with foods labeled "vegetarian."  A lot of vegetarian burgers that are widely available use eggs as binders and many vegetarian energy bars use honey.

Of course, if you make the food yourself, then you know exactly what went into it.

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