Summer Harvest

  

   It's that time of year again. The time when the warm summer sunshine has turned our gardens into a bountiful harvest.  While I don't have a garden of my own, I am fortunate enough to have some friendly suppliers who are more than happy to have me turn their crop into something sweet.  

     This year I decided to try out a new recipe and combine zucchini with blueberries and one of my most favourite baking ingredients - cinnamon. The results were gobbled up!  There are several ingredients in this recipe that will make you feel good about eating these muffins. Give it a try and you'll see what I mean.   

Zucchini Blueberry Streusel Muffins *adapted from allrecipes.ca Makes enough for 24 muffins or 2 loaves of bread
For the batter:
3 eggs 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/4 cup sour cream 1/4 cup oil 2 1/4 cups sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups grated zucchini  3 cups flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 tablespoon cinnamon 2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen (no need to thaw)
For the streusel:
1/4 cup butter (1/2 a stick), cold 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed 1/4 cup flour 1/4 cup sugar 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Directions:

•  In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat eggs, applesauce, oil, sugar, and vanilla extract until creamy
•  Place grated zucchini onto some paper towels and pat out extra moisture
•  Add zucchini to bowl or mixer and stir until just combined
•  Add in flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon
•  Mix until well combined
•  Gently stir in blueberries
•  Spread batter evenly among lined muffin cups or pour into two greased loaf pans
•  For streusel, add all ingredients to a bowl and cut with a pastry cutter, or two forks, until small crumbs form
•  Sprinkle evenly over tops of muffins or loaves
•  Bake at 350 for 17-20 minutes for muffins or 50 minutes for loaves, or until a toothpick comes out clean
•  Cool before slicing and serving loaves

I made these for my sister in law's birthday. She is expecting, 

so I tried to balance the cupcakes with something 'healthy!'