Sweet Mary

Lemon Cherry Muffins for KEXP DJ John in the Morning

I realized recently that it had been quite a while since I added anything to my Recipes for Rockstars category.  You can be sure that it's certainly not because my interest in music or creating rock-inspired recipes has waned.  To remedy this issue, I pulled out my little recipe notebook to start digging for all those ideas I've been saving for just a moment like this.  However, I had a better idea.

For quite a number of years (maybe even close to a decade), I have been grooving along to a listener supported radio station that is based in Seattle, KEXP.  Visit the site and check it out.  On the homepage, it states, "KEXP, Where the Music Matters."  And, you know, that is dead on.  You might be wondering what they play.  Well, anything from old school indie to rockabilly to roots to hip hop to world rhythms, etc.  It certainly depends in the DJ and/or show; however, somehow it blends all together in a wonderfully inspiring and seamless way.  

Saying that I am a huge fan of this station is an understatement.  I routinely listen to them at work pretty much all day and am consistently impressed by the set lists I hear, not to mention all the live in-studio guests they attract. People always ask me where I find some of the music I listen to...well, KEXP is my first response.  

And, when 9am EST rolls around and I hear the John in the Morning song...well, I immediately perk up and feel psyched no matter how dreary or glum a day. John Richards knows his stuff and can mix up sets that take you places.  Places you've been.  Places you definitely want to go.  Old stuff.  New stuff. Rockin' stuff.  Fun stuff.  Soulful stuff.  You get the picture.  Oh yes, I sure do love me some John in the Morning.  Each and every week day.  

So, John may not technically be a "rockstar."  But, it's my blog and I can expand the definition if I so choose...especially because he really is a rockstar in my eyes. If I were anywhere near the station, I'd bake John (and the KEXP morning staff) some of these lovely Lemon Cherry Muffins and drop them by just to say THANK YOU. I can't imagine what my day would be like without hearing all the great music you play.  KEXP is also running their spring pledge drive....if you listen, support them!

So, yeah, this recipe's for you from Sweet Mary. I am a huge fan of cherries and have wanted a good cherry muffin recipe for cherry season this summer. These came out really moist (after a first test that yielded some rather dry muffins) and delicious. I used frozen cherries for now.  Make sure you drain them well and just fold them in gently a few times because the red will start to streak a lot. It can be a challenge, but don't sweat it, they'll taste just fine.

2 1/4 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons lemon zest

1 cup buttermilk

12 oz frozen cherries that are thawed and drained well (or fresh)

Heat oven to 375 F.

Butter a muffin pan (or use some baking spray).

Combine flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl with a whisk. Set aside. Beat butter and sugar in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium for roughly 2 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla, and lemon zest and mix until fully incorporated and batter is smooth. Then, add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately beginning and ending with the flour. Do not over mix. Then, fold in the cherries. 

Divide evenly into muffin pan. Bake for roughly 20-25 minutes or until light golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool on rack for 10-15 minutes and then take out of pan.

 

A Nod from Donna at the Providence Examiner

Wow, now I feel really guilty for not baking and posting more lately! Donna from the lovely blog Corkscrews, Spatulas & Suitcases and The Providence Examiner just wrote a piece on Rhode Island food blogs called "Rhode Island Food Bloggers Take the Cake". And, lucky me, she included me in her list of blogs. Thank you, Donna!  I'll get back in the kitchen pronto so there's more sweet stuff to check out soon. 

Deep, Dark Chocolate Chip Brownies and a Pomegranate Lemon Raspberry Cocktail

What?  Two weeks.  No recipes or baked goods? I'd apologize; however, after my Aunt Carm's 100th birthday, I spent a few quality days back in Baltimore catching up with friends and former work colleagues, as well as eating and drinking in a few of my favorite spots. I had a great time and it was just what I needed to chase off these crazy winter blues that even the toughest New Englander has seemed to be suffering from! I am happy to report that, although winter is far from over, we've had some warmer temperatures and sun. Thank god.  

So, to get back into the swing of things here on Sweet Mary, I knew I needed to reach out to all my single (particularly female) readers because, ugh, it's Valentine's Day. If you're at all like me, it's just another meaningless holiday driven by branding and consumerism.  However, if you're at all like me, despite your tough exterior, you're reminded of some of the challenges of being single when bombarded with red hearts, cupids, flowers, and stuffed animals. Well, you're in luck, because not only do I have a great brownie recipe for you (not mine, sadly, but thanks to the folks at Baked in NYC), but a homemade cocktail that could and should be shared with some of your very best (preferably single) friends.  

Of course, I think you are all absolutely fabulous whether you are all by yo'self or coupled up with a honey...and I am not just saying that because I have tried and tested a few of my cocktails this evening. But, if you are feeling down for whatever reason, I'd say call a friend and make a few drinks, eat something sweet, watch a funny movie or sing karaoke in your living room.  Just have some fun.  And, although the Valentine's Day Survival Guide I've included below might be a bit too late this year, you can keep it in mind for next year and just remember, Sweet Mary is on your side

Sweet Mary's Valentine's Day Survival Guide

1. Avoid malls, drug stores...well, any stores really! Avoid them for a  minimum of three plus weeks prior to Valentine's Day.  All that red, cheap chocolate, and over the top cuteness is liable to make you batty. Remember, "the man" doesn't control you. You control you. It's just a day.

2. The TV can be torture. I say avoid it all together. Commercials, TV movies, dating shows, talk shows, and, heaven help us, Lifetime TV could send you deep into the darkness. Keep looking towards the light, sisters. The light doesn't come from the tube.

3. Rally any/all close friends around you (this goes for ANY time you are feeling down, not just V Day). They will consistently let you know how awesome you are and remind you of all the wonderful accomplishments you have achieved in your life. They love you. Really. Let them take care of you a little.

4. Do not, I repeat DO NOT walk down what I like to call "Bad Memory Lane." We've all been there. Your boyfriend broke up with you on Valentine's Day. Your ex-husband never did a damn thing for you on or around Valentine's Day. The only man to ever buy you jewelry was your father (or maybe that 14 yr. old kid you tutored back in the 1990's who had the crush on you). I get it, really (because those are my true stories, I swear!). Keep it in the past where it belongs, though. Forgive. Forget. Laugh about it because you know it's actually pretty funny. And, move on.    

5. Do something fun. I've thrown dessert parties for single female friends and lots of silly themed movie nights. Those are just a few ideas. And, I know people who volunteer both regularly or on/around holidays. There are always people who need your services. Wouldn't it be nice to give back and give THEM a little love on/around Valentine's Day. Big deal, you're single. Don't bemoan it. Celebrate it.

Oh, and dang, these brownies are amazing.  And, the cocktail, yummy.  I made one with Grand Marnier instead of lemon and it was also very very good.  In fact, I may have preferred it.

Brownies

*makes 9 

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 tablespoon good quality cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 stick unsalted butter

3/4 teaspoon instant espresso powder

5 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup light brown sugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Heat over to 350 F. Butter and 8x8 square baking pan. Line with parchment and butter parchment.

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Set aside.

In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine butter and espresso. Place over low heat and stir until the butter has melted. Add chocolate and stir constantly until chocolate has melted and is smooth. Remove from heat and stir in both sugars until well incorporated.

Add eggs and vanilla and stir until well mixed and until it no longer appears grainy. Sift the flour mix over batter and stir until just combined. Stir in chips.

Pour into prepared pan and smooth out the top with a spatula. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs, 28-30 minutes.  Don't over bake.  Let cool completely on a rack.  Cut into 9 brownies.  

Pomegranate Lemon Raspberry Cocktail

1.5 oz pomegranate juice

1.5 oz seltzer water or sparkling water (champagne would work, too)

1.5 oz vodka

1 tablespoon lemon juice or Grand Marnier (Triple Sec or Cointreau)

crushed ice

lemon wedge

4-5 fresh raspberries

Put all liquid ingredients and crushed ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake it up.  Pour into the glass of your choice.  Garnish with lemon wedge and raspberries.

Beautiful Excuses

What? No recipe this week?  No sweets?  Even though tonight's the Super Bowl?  

Oh, I try to get ahead on my recipes and have a few ready to be posted; however, I'll just tell you right now that my blogging process is a little less organized than that.  I always have a list of recipes to try, but I like to see how I feel before I bake.  Really, I'm not kidding.  Since baking is normally a super fun activity for me, I just like to wake up, know I'm going to do some baking, and, then, go from there.  My approach is pretty organic, I'd say.  And, I like it that way.

And, quite frankly, this weekend I sure do have the loveliest of excuses.  I took a trip yesterday to my mother's hometown (Troy, NY) where I met up with about 100 of my relatives for a surprise birthday party for my great Aunt Carm.  She turned 100 this week and, talk about inspiring, still lives on her own, drives, and plays bocce at the Italian Community Center (where the party was).  Let me tell you, it was a blast seeing so many of my first cousins, aunts, and uncles.  It was a day filled with tons of laughter, hugs, and waving hands (we Italians have a hard time speaking without all the motion, you know!), and stories from the past.    

On a food note, my godmother made a TON of delicious cookies for dessert and there was certainly a lot of talk about recipes from my grandmother and great Aunt being passed along and on.  I am looking forward to acquiring those recipes, especially the Jeannettes.  I love those cookies.  And, I am blessed to have such a remarkable family.