Wholesome Blueberry Banana Muffins
When I swung my legs out of bed this morning, I did not feel that I was getting up on the wrong side. In fact, I was feeling confident about my to do list and how I was going to rain down check marks next to each item. I had an acceptable outfit in mind, and a coffee on the horizon. Life was looking good.
But, looks, as well know, can be deceiving, and a day that starts out fine can turn into a bit of a mess. You know what I’m talking about: you stub your toe, you bounce a check, you’re down to the last of your deodorant, you spend two-and-a-half hours in a waiting room. You screw something up at work, and then all of sudden, your outfit’s not looking so cute after all.
These are the kind of days I just like to scratch from the record. Get in bed as early as possible with a thoroughly engrossing novel, and close the bedroom door on the real world. But when your day is sucking before noon, this tactic isn’t all that successful.
In these moments, all I can do is try to remember all the things that are going well (new high score in Tetris!) and remember brighter days. Like Tuesday, for instance, when I was kicking so much ass at life that I actually made muffins for breakfast one morning. They were wonderfully moist with the wholesome, earthy heft of whole wheat flour and ground flax seed. This recipe, for sure, is a keeper. This day, though? Not so much. I just hope Annie was right.
Blueberry Banana Muffins
adapted from Everyday Food
makes 12
1 cup whole-wheat flour (spooned and leveled)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1/4 cup ground flax seed meal or wheat germ
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light-brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 ripe bananas (about 1 pound)
1/3 cup reduced-fat (2 percent) milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. In a bowl, whisk together flours, flax seed meal, baking soda, and salt.
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In another bowl, mash bananas with a fork (you should have 3/4 cup); stir in milk and vanilla.
With mixer on low, alternately add flour mixture and banana mixture to butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix just until combined. Fold in blueberries.
Divide batter among muffin cups. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, 25 to 28 minutes, rotating pan halfway through. Let cool in pan 10 minutes; transfer muffins to a rack to cool 10 minutes more.
Kristina: Rest assured, tomorrow you will return to the usual: kicking ass at life. (And I’m sure your outfit is very cute, despite the suckiness!)1 year ago
Ha, thanks, Kristina. I think I just couldn’t avoid a little bit of a public venting session!
1 year ago
Margaret: For another type of therapy, watch Jessica! She’s a heart-lifter for those before-noon days…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3rK0kZFkg1 year ago
Amy C: Ok, seriously. Monday was that day for me. I ended up having to commit a beloved long-term patient to a mental hospital. She screamed and cursed at me and ended our relationship, after I have been (pro bono) seeing her twice a week for 4 years to help her. It was more than a little awful – in fact, I would categorize it as one of the worse days I’ve had in the past few years. Needless to say, I haven’t exactly had muffin-making energy. Also, I got my period on the same day.
Here’s hoping tomorrow will be better!1 year ago
Amy, That is terrible. You win!
No, seriously, I’m really sorry. That sounds very harrowing. There’s nothing like feeling like you’re doing good work and trying to help someone and it goes utterly unappreciated. I recommend you follow Margaret’s advice and watch that video. I’ve already seen it approximately 47 times this week. Anyway, I dedicate these muffins to you. 
1 year ago
Cadi: It must be something in the air – I had one of those days yesterday, and while today has been better it wasn’t by much. Your post did a wonderful job of reminding me that I’m not the only one in this world that has these days. Misery does love company.
And the wholesome blueberry muffins sound yummy – I need to find someone to bake them for me while I continue to wallow.
1 year ago
Ruth@GraceLaced: Speaking of Tetris, perhaps this will brighten your day…it did mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9vm2gLk8xk1 year ago
Molly: I’m a friend of Janna’s, and I mentioned your blog to her, and she pointed out that you’re real life friends! What a small world.
Anyway, these look so delicious. I love your blog, and I’m excited to bake me some blueberry muffins!1 year ago
Amy C: I can do anything good, better than anyone! I like my hair!
Margaret, My day just got 1,000 times better. Thanks for the video!1 year ago
Donna: Thanks for the recipe!
Donna1 year ago
Wendy: trade that bad day for these guys!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WflwF29Dko1 year ago
Cristina: I’ve been playing a whole lotta’ Tetris myself lately. Funny how something as little as getting a new high score can make you feel so much more awesome than before!1 year ago
Christina: Hi! I absolutely adore your site..I have gotten so many clever ideas from you! Just out of curiousity..where did you stumble across those awesome albums with the great covers? thanks so much!
~Christina1 year ago
Christina, Glory to the Brooklyn stoop sale! Someone was unloading a bunch of their stuff for a move, and I was the lucky beneficiary!1 year ago
LuLu: LOVE your little site! I hope it’s okay to post this because it’s ALL about how a day can go wrong from the get-go just like you were saying! It’s called The Sneaky Hate Spiral.
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/1 year ago
Kristine: Hope you are back to kicking lots of ass and feeling fantastic! I’ve been watching that Jessica video non stop as well and it is an instant upper.
Your blog makes a lot of other people a whole lot happier on their grumpy days so I’m sure the happiness karmic wheel will be rolling back to you again soon.1 year ago
shauna: I made these today and they were luscious. The flax and wholemeal flour made them feel so virtuous and the blueberries were nice and squidgy! Thank you!1 year ago