Banana Almond Morning Muffins

A delicious morning muffin does not require a lot of preparation time. This recipe can be put together while your coffee is brewing and ready for your second cup if you sip slowly.

Gather These Ingredients

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• 3 fully ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup of sugar
• ¾ cup of soft butter
• ½ cup of sliced almonds
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees before mixing the ingredients. Peel and mash the ripe bananas in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter, eggs, and sugar and mix thoroughly. Blend in the dry ingredients followed by the almond slices. Line four large muffin tins or coat with a non-stick product. Spoon in the mixture and bake 20-25 minutes or until center is baked. Enjoy warm.

Raspberry Walnut Morning Muffins

If you are not a so-called “morning person,” it’s okay to prepare the mix the night before and refrigerate. However, the raspberries do best when they are added just before baking.

Gather These Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup of sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• ¼ cup of brown sugar
• ¾ cup of soft butter
• ½ cup of milk
• 1 cup of frozen raspberries
• ½ cup of walnuts

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, sugars and then add milk. Stir in the dry ingredients including the walnuts. Lastly, gently mix in the frozen raspberries. Line four large muffin tins or coat with a non-stick product. Spoon in the mixture and bake 20-25 minutes or until center is baked. Enjoy warm.

Pumpkin Pecan Morning Muffins

This relatively quick-baking recipe is a pumpkin and pecan delight. It makes a perfect indulgence on a cozy Saturday morning.

Gather These Ingredients

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 large egg
• ¾ cup of soft butter
• ¾ cup of brown sugar
• 1 cup of canned pumpkin
• ½ cup of chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 3 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly mix butter, sugar, egg, and pumpkin. Blend in dry ingredients including pecans. Spoon in mixture and bake 15-20 minutes or until center is baked. Enjoy warm.

We hope our Belden Stratford community members enjoy these muffin ideas. If you or a friend would like more information about our Chicago apartments, call us today.

The post 3 Great Morning Muffin Ideas appeared first on The Belden-Stratford Blog.

Cheesecake Stuffed Berries 

This treat is so easy to make, but it’s a scrumptious dessert that is sure to disappear fast this spring. 

What You’ll Need: 

• 1 tablespoon of amaretto
• 1/3 cup of powdered sugar
• 16 large strawberries 
• 4 ounces of cream cheese (or reduced fat cream cheese), softened 

How to Make It: 
Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until they are well blended. Add the amaretto, continuing to beat until fully incorporated. Cut a thin slice off the bottom of the strawberries. Remove hulls and use a paring knife to hollow them out slightly. Pipe the cream cheese mixture into the berries. Chill until serving. 

Basil Strawberry Ice Cream 

As the weather warms up, this is a refreshing treat that’s easy to whip up. 

What You’ll Need: 

• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 1 can (14 oz) of sweetened condensed milk
• 1/8 teaspoon of salt 
• 1 can (5 oz) of evaporated milk
• 2 tablespoons of fresh basil, chopped
• 1½ cups of whole milk
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, fresh
• 1 16-ounce container of strawberries (fresh), chopped coarsely 

How to Make It: 
Whisk together the whole milk, condensed milk, evaporated milk, salt, and sugar. Cover and refrigerate for two hours. In a food processor, pulse the lemon juice, basil, and strawberries 5-6 times until they are finely chopped. Stir strawberries into the milk mixture. Pour into a freezer container for a 1-quart electric ice cream maker. Freeze according to the instructions from the manufacturer. Remove container from the ice cream maker, freezing it for 30 minutes. Place mixture into a loaf pan covered well with foil or an airtight container. Continue freezing for 3-4 hours or until the ice cream is firm. 

Strawberries Bordeaux Style 

Need a fancy dessert you can whip up fast. This recipe takes only a few minutes to make, and your guests will be impressed. 

What You’ll Need: 

• Sauce:
  • 2 tablespoons of sugar
  • 1½ teaspoons of vanilla extract
  • 2 cups of Bordeaux 
  • 1 tablespoon of minute tapioca 
• Berries:
  • 3 tablespoons of sugar
  • 1 pound of fresh ripe strawberries, hulls removed
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract 

How to Make It: 

Combine the sugar, tapioca, and wine in a saucepan, heating on medium. Cook for seven minutes, ensuring that tapioca dissolves completely and the mixture begins to thicken. Stir regularly with a whisk. Remove the pan from the heat, stirring in the 1½ teaspoons of vanilla. Pour into a bowl, setting it in a bowl of ice water to cool down to room temperature.   

Prepare berries by combining hulled berries with vanilla and sugar. Allow to stand for 15-20 minutes, stirring from time to time. 

Divide the berries among four wine glasses. Top with the sauce. Serve immediately. 

Strawberries make the most delicious desserts, and all three of these options are super easy to create. Don’t forget, if any of your guests this spring are looking for apartments in Chicago, have them call our office to find out what options we have available. 

The post Strawberries are in Season: 3 Great Spring Desserts to Make with Strawberries appeared first on The Belden-Stratford Blog.