For those who are curious and perhaps seeking clarity on my baking endeavors, let me clarify a common misconception: I did not create blueberry muffins with the intention of currying favor or "kissing any ass." I crafted various muffin recipes purely for my family's enjoyment, rather than to gain any personal advantage or leverage in my social or academic circles. The only instance where I have made an effort to impress someone involved bringing some delicious Mexican food to my college statistics teacher, but that is as far as my culinary aspirations to win favor have gone.
In the past, my passion for baking was more widespread, and many people took delight in indulging in my pastries. I had a genuine dream of establishing a scratch bakery — a vision that, in hindsight, seems a bit far-fetched. As I have matured, I have come to realize that muffins have become my indulgence of choice. The whimsical phase of cupcakes has faded, and I find myself gravitating towards the more wholesome and comforting muffin option. Approaching my 30s, I now crave the simple pleasure of a warm blueberry muffin accompanied by a robust cup of cinnamon-infused coffee. This is from the Gilmore Girls Cookbook and my god, does this recipe have my heart!
Here’s a detailed look at the recipe I follow for my delightful blueberry muffins:
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup of olive oil
- 2/3 cup of sour cream
- 1/2 cup of whole milk
- 6 ounces of fresh blueberries
- 2 teaspoons of coarse sugar for topping
Our Ratings
When it comes to evaluating the blueberry muffins, I would personally rate them a solid 9 out of 10 in terms of both preparation and taste. I am a massive fan of these muffins overall, but I feel the coarse sugar sprinkled on top somewhat detracted from the overall experience. Additionally, I would have preferred to puree the blueberries rather than incorporating them whole, as the whole berries disrupt the texture of the muffin. I believe that if I had enjoyed these muffins fresh out of the oven, it would have elevated the experience even further.
In contrast, Shayne's rating for the muffins is a perfect 10 out of 10. He sampled both the blueberry and orange muffins simultaneously and appreciated the subtle orange flavor, which he found to be pleasantly mild yet distinctly recognizable. Unlike me, Shayne actually preferred the coarse sugar topping over the orange glaze that adorned some of the muffins.
Our Financials
As for the financial aspect of baking these blueberry muffins, most of the ingredients were readily available in my kitchen, which made the shopping experience relatively straightforward. I typically purchase my groceries at Publix and Walmart, and this particular shopping trip saw a surprising majority of the ingredients sourced from Publix, with a few additional items obtained from Walmart. Below is a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with each ingredient:
- Flour: $2.49 from Publix
- Sugar: $1.98 from Publix
- Salt: Already in my pantry
- Baking Powder: $0.99 from Publix
- Baking Soda: $0.68 from Walmart
- Eggs: $6.69 for a dozen (30) from Publix
- Olive Oil: Already in my pantry
- Sour Cream: $2.89 from Publix
- Whole Milk: $2.05 from Publix
- Blueberries: $2.78 from Walmart
- Coarse Sugar for Sprinkling: Already in my pantry
The Cash Back Application Outcome
When it comes to maximizing savings through cash-back applications, I primarily utilize a set of reliable platforms, including Ibotta, Fetch Rewards, ShopKick, and Coinout. Over time, I have accumulated various applications, but I tend to stick with those that consistently serve my needs.
Regrettably, I did not earn any cash back through Ibotta for this recipe, which is a common occurrence since many fresh grocery items typically do not have corresponding offers on the platform. Most of the cash back I see tends to come from purchasing shelf-stable items like protein bars and shakes.
On a brighter note, through Fetch Rewards, I was able to earn 50 points, although this was partially due to additional ingredients I purchased for other recipes. Every point counts, and accumulating them will eventually lead to gift cards that I plan to use to furnish my future home. I have multiple goals for utilizing these applications, which keeps me motivated.
During this shopping trip, I completely forgot to activate my ShopKick application to earn kicks. For your information, while ShopKick generally doesn’t showcase the products I tend to buy, I often earn kicks simply by walking into the store. There is an option to scan promoted items for additional kicks, but I haven't taken advantage of that feature yet; perhaps I should consider it in the future!
Finally, Coinout allowed me to earn a mere 15 cents by scanning in my receipt. This platform does require a good amount of shopping to yield significant returns, but if you aren’t particularly focused on making money, it can still be a useful tool.
Outcomes and Recommendations
Reflecting on my baking journey, I can say that in my early 20s, I was known as a devoted enthusiast of red velvet cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, strawberry-flavored cupcakes, and even Twinkies. However, as I have matured, my preferences have evolved. I now find great joy in pumpkin bread, cinnamon rolls, and, of course, blueberry muffins.
In my experience, I wholeheartedly believe that pairing honey butter with blueberry muffins creates an irresistible combination that is sure to warm anyone's heart and is a delightful way to charm those around you.
Comments