Recipe: Raspberry Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Muffins

Recipe: Raspberry Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Muffins

Ingredients

2 ½ cups white whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ cup pure maple syrup
½ cup brown sugar (light or dark brown) loosely packed
1 cup mashed very ripe bananas (about 2 large)
¼ cup full fat sour cream
1 large egg, beaten
¾ cup milk (any milk you prefer)
½ cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
1 ¾ cups fresh raspberries (frozen ok too)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350Ëš Fahrenheit (177°C) with the rack in the middle. Grease a 12 count muffin pan with baking spray. If using muffin liners, spray them first so they don’t stick to the liners. This will make 15 muffins, if you have an extra muffin pan handy prep that as well.

In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the maple syrup and brown sugar getting out as many lumps as possible. Fold in the mashed banana, sour cream and beaten egg. Add the wet into the dry ingredients and mix to combine. Batter will be thick. Mix in the milk. Fold in the chocolate chips, then carefully the raspberries. Be very gentle with the berries so they don’t turn the batter pink. Do not overmix the batter as it will toughen the muffins.

Evenly divide the batter between the muffin tins, filling to the top. Top with more chocolate chips if desired. Bake for 17-18 minutes, until you see light brown edges. A toothpick inserted into the centers should come out virtually crumb-free. If you are using the same pan for the three extra muffins, fill the empty muffin time halfway with water so the muffins bake evenly and your pan doesn’t warp.

Let the muffins cool for 10 minutes before removing from the muffin pan. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Triple Berry Muffins

Recipe: Triple Berry Muffins

Ingredients

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 tbsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp Kosher salt
1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 ¼ cups whole milk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
½ lb 2 sticks unsalted butter, melted
1 cup fresh blueberries
½ cup chopped strawberries
½ cup raspberries
turbinado sugar for topping

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a muffin tin with liners.

Whisk together the dry ingredients: both flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. In another bowl mix together both sugars, melted butter, milk, eggs and vanilla extract. Fold in the berries.

Place 1/3 cup batter in each muffin cup. Top with Turbinado (coarse sugar) Bake for 20-25 minutes. Insert a wooden skewer in the center and if it comes out virtually crumb free then the muffins are done. Let cool a few minutes then transfer the muffins to racks to cool completely.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Fresh Raspberry Margaritas

Recipe: Fresh Raspberry Margaritas

Ingredients

¼ cup fresh raspberries
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
4 fl oz (1/2 cup) reposado or añejo tequila
1 ½ fl oz (3 tbsp) simple syrup (or add to taste)
ice
coarse or Kosher salt for rimming the glass
Simple Syrup
½ cup granulated white or light brown sugar
½ cup water

Directions

Make the simple syrup. Bring the water and sugar to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes making sure all the sugar has melted. Set aside to cool.

Using a wedge of lime, rub the rim of rocks or margarita glasses with the lime. Dip the edge of the glass into the salt. Fill 1/2 way with ice.

Muddle the raspberries with the lime juice in a cocktail shaker.

Add the tequila and simple syrup. Fill with ice. Shake until well combined. Strain into the prepared glasses. Garnish with lime wedges and more fresh raspberries.

~ Marla Meridith

Cran Raspberry Mimosas

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Cran Raspberry Mimosas

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Americana No-Bake Cheesecake

I love to make special desserts for the holidays, especially for July 4th. This Americana No-Bake Cheesecake will impress all your guests and it’s super easy to make ahead of time.

Ingredients

‘–for the crust
2 cups graham cracker crumbs (14 full sheets) you can also us ginger snaps or chocolate wafers
1/3 cup light or dark brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) melted, unsalted butter
baking spray
for the filling
1 1/4 cups cold heavy whipping cream
3 (8 ounce) blocks full fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tbsp confectioners sugar
1/4 cup sour cream, at room temperature
2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
for the topping
1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup fresh blackberries

Directions

Prepare the crust: Pulse the graham crackers (or your preferred cookies) in a food processor until you have a consistent crumb. Pulse in the sugar and butter until well combined. Spray a 9″ or 10″ springform pan with baking spray. Press the crust into the bottom of the pan, using your palms to make sure it’s firmly packed. Refrigerate while you are making the filling, 15-20 minutes.

Prepare the filling: Whip the cream in a stand mixer with the whisk attachment until you have stiff peaks, about 5 minutes. Transfer the whipped cream to a bowl and place in the fridge.

In the same bowl, you don’t have to rinse it, beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Scraping down the sides of the bowl with a soft rubber spatula as needed. On medium-high speed, beat in the confectioners sugar, sour cream, lemon juice and vanilla bean paste until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Be sure that there are no lumps of cream cheese in the mixture.

Remove the bowl from the mixer and gently fold in the whipped cream being sure not to over mix, you don’t want to cream to deflate.

Scoop the cheesecake mixture over the crust. Smooth out the top with an offset spatula. Decorate with the berries.

Refrigerate for at least 6-8 hours up to two days. Serve cold.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Vegan Raspberry Steel Cut Oatmeal

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Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Raspberry Brioche Bread Pudding

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Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: French 75 Cocktail

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Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Sweet Summer Raspberry Tarts

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Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Raspberry Banana Bread

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Red Raspberry Rascal Cocktail

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Directions

~ Marla Meridith