Blueberry Muffins and a Tip for the Day

Last week I bought a huge container of blueberries thinking I would freeze some, but they were so good I never got the chance to freeze any of them.  The girls have been begging to make muffins so that's what we did this morning!  They were simple and sooooo yummy!  They weren't too sweet, which is how I like them, and the texture was perfect.  And yes, I put a few chocolate chips in some of them just for the girls.  :)

Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins (Adapted from a foodnetwork recipe)

1 cup whole wheat (or wheat pastry flour for less gluten)
1/2 cup white flour (or pastry)
1/2 cup rolled oats, plus more for sprinkling
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 cup blueberries
Turbinado sugar, optional, for sprinkling
Chocolate chips for an extra treat 

DirectionsPreheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with muffin liners.
Combine the flour, oats, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a large bowl. Whisk together the vegetable oil, sour cream, brown sugar, vanilla and eggs in another bowl. Fold the sour cream mixture into the flour mixture until just combined, and then fold in the blueberries (don't worry if there are a few lumps).
Divide evenly among the prepared muffin pan. Sprinkle with oats, chocolate chips and/or turbinado sugar if using. Bake until the muffins are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 24 minutes. Cool in the pan for a few minutes, and then 
transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Hint: Toss your blueberries in a bit of flour before adding to the mixture to prevent them from sinking to the bottom!


Tip of the day:

So we have been noticing quite a bit of scratches on our floor, which drives me crazy but cannot be prevented with two little kids in the house!  I was talking to the owner of the flooring company and he suggested using almond oil to hide the scratches.  (Now, these are small, hairline scratches, not gouges.)  I bought some at Whole Foods yesterday and decided to give it a try.  I applied a small amount with a paper towel and then buffed it out with a microfiber cloth.  It worked...the scratches just disappeared! I was so excited, I went around to every piece of wood in my house and let the oil work its magic.  My piano, which had fingernail scratches above the keyboard and lid, looks brand new and there is no evidence there was ever a scratch.  It's amazing stuff!   

(As of post time, no yelling!)