More Raspberries, Mushrooms and Mail

Have been searching for Raspberry recipes ever since my last post.  Here is one to share:

Raspberry Muffins!  Rob and Amelia loved them.  Amelia ate the entire muffin which she usually does not do.

Raspberry Streusel Muffins

Streusel Topping

 2/3 cup all purpose flour

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon 

4 tbsp butter, cold

Muffins

2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

3 tbsp butter, melted and cooled

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp almond extract

1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a standard muffin tin with 12 paper liners.

In a small bowl, make the streusel topping. Stir together all dry ingredients, then cut the butter into small pieces and add to flour mixture. Rub in butter thoroughly until mixture is very fine and sandy. Pick up the streusel mixture and squeeze it in your hand to form small clumps, repeating until streusel appears to have a much coarser texture. Set aside.

Next, make the muffin batter. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, stir together melted butter, sugar and egg until well combined. Stir in half the flour mixture, followed by the buttermilk, vanilla and almond extracts. Stir in remaining flour mixture, mixing just until the dry ingredients are incorporated and no streaks of flour remain. Fold in raspberries (toss frozen berries in 2 tsp of flour to keep them from “bleeding” into the muffin batter).

Divide muffin batter evenly into prepared baking cups. Cups will be fairly full. Divide streusel mixture over the muffins (be generous, and don’t worry if some of the streusel doesn’t seem to “stick”).

Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached.

Turn muffins out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Cooled muffins can be stored in an airtight container.

Notice the pretty white plate??  I found a new shop "What Not Consignment Shop" right here in Eagle River!  It isn't actually new and I have actually been in it before, but must be a new owner as this time I scored these plates and teacups...

(Guilty admission:  I actually bought them for Amelia to play with at her tea parties.  After I brought them home and realized how beautiful they were...I kept them and gave her our old cups and saucers from a set I was ready to part with :)  Bad mom.)

I also scored this table: 

I was looking for a sturdy coffee table for Amelia's dollhouse to sit on as she has been laying on her belly playing since Christmas.  This was actually long enough to house her barn too!  Will paint a new white too, but was eager to get it up to the playroom!

We also purchased another bookshelf.  The kid (and mom) loveeess books.

Now she has a cozy nook in her room for reading and since she apparently does not want to nap anymore...she can have quiet time so mom can get dishes and laundry done...oh and post to her blog once a week :)

MUSHROOMS..
Our last class at the Eagle River Nature Center was all about Mushrooms.  Ever since we have been talking shrooms...and rightfully so, as it has been non stop rain here and the mushrooms are out of hand!  

Found lots of mushrooms in the old hollow tree at the Nature Center.  Ms. Ute was kind enough to take our pic.  Notice she has no jacket...such an AK girl.

Here are a few from our yard where the Fairies obviously inhabit.

I made her get off her bike to show you how big these really are!  They are very poisonous and while some you can eat (as Ms. Ute said), Amelia is advised to be fearful of all mushrooms outside and never touch or eat them. 

Lastly, 

YOU'VE GOT MAIL.

Amelia LOVES to get mail.  I decided she needs mail every day...in her own mailbox.

Sometimes she gets a letter, but sometimes 
it is a small  package!

I write them / pkg them first thing in the AM so she is sure to get her mail when she wakes up.  Who doesn't like getting mail???????  Well....the good kind that is.  :)