Saturday, June 4, 2011

Coffee Cake Muffins & The Perfect Spot to Drink Your Morning Coffee!


Other than my front porch, rain, shine, or snow this is my favorite spot to enjoy my morning coffee in Maine!  I enjoy watching the boats load up in the morning as they head out to sea.  I'm amazed at the sea legs on these people, as they stand in their dingy's and navigate towards their boats.  

To go along with the coffee I made some Martha Stewart coffee cake muffins, you can check out the recipe below.  Please enjoy!


 
  



The Muffins

Ingredients

For the muffins

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pans
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sour cream
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
Confectioners' sugar (optional)

For The Streusel Topping

1 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Directions

·        Prepare streusel topping: In a medium bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour, and salt. With a pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles large coarse crumbs; refrigerate until ready to use.
·        Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare muffins: Butter and flour a jumbo 12-cup muffin tin (or two 6-cup muffin tins). In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and baking soda; set aside.
·        Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together butter, sour cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until well combined. With mixer on low, beat flour mixture into butter mixture.
·        Divide half the batter among prepared muffin cups. Top with half the streusel mixture, then remaining batter, and top with streusel. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar, if desired.


One dozen muffins, would you like one?  How do you take your coffee?

 
The tea towel belonged to my mother-in-law
It must be 40 years old, and it's still in great condition!

39 comments:

  1. How lucky are you to live so close to the ocean ... I'm very jealous!
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. I definitely wouldn't say no to one of those along with a big mug of strong coffee! Love it that the little butterfly is visible on the plate.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello:
    How wonderful that you can easily go to this most idyllic spot to take your morning coffee. We should certainly do this if we were there.

    It is good that there is, too, activity by way of fishing boats and as always, the endlessly and fascinating changes of the sea.

    Come to think of it, we should probably stay in this very spot for lunch and dinner too. Oh, and after dinner drinks....

    ReplyDelete
  4. You're so lucky to live by the sea, it must be fantastic to be able to look at that scene any time you want. I'm going to try the muffin recipe and, as I live in England and have no idea what a stick of butter weighs, or what quantity a cup holds this could be a very interesting looking batch of cakes, lol. I think I'm going to have to look for a conversion chart on the internet or I think my cakes might resemble doorstops.
    Jill x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Please take me there when I come for a visit. It's so relaxing to watch the boats go out to sea. The muffins look delicious, but make mine blueberry. Wild Maine blueberries please.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Can't think of a better way to start your day!

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a wonderful way to begin the day.

    Hugs & have a wonderful weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It wasn't a good day to be at sea pretty rough. but the coffee and muffins sound yummy
    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great shots! And what a nice way to start the day, the sea air and some delicious muffins. Enjoy the weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  10. great muffins and what a beautiful view to eat breakfast

    ReplyDelete
  11. Can you courier me one of those muffins?

    ReplyDelete
  12. It takes the truest of true grit to be a fisherman in Maine.
    Hope they had as wonderful a breakfast as yours!
    xx
    julie

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful pics! I love Maine! My sis-in-law lives in Wayne and we visited in 2005. We stayed one night in York Beach. So lovely!
    Muffins look scrumptious too!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Today I'm really happy...I found your blog...I love MAine and New England...we went to Barharbor 2 summers ago...and I hope to come beck...hugs and thanks for recipe... ciao Flavia

    ReplyDelete
  15. Fantastic view - how wonderful to sit and watch all that with a steaming cup of coffee and one of those yummy looking muffins!
    thanks for the recipe!
    Gill xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. The best thing about guest posting is the discovery of so many great blogs like yours. Beautiful photos and the muffins look and sound divine. Definitely the perfect view to enjoy one with :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ah, nothing like a beautiful view and a tasty muffin. Life is good for you.
    Sam

    ReplyDelete
  18. That view must bring you such a kickstart to your day! Coffee and the yummy muffins are the 'icing on the cake'! Hearty souls those lobstermen, that's for sure! Those are not big boats for all the power of the ocean! Keep enjoying that view, dearie!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love these pics! I'm going to Maine in August . . . I can't wait! Have a nice Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  20. oh, you lucky duck. Love the photos and the recipe,thanks for sharing...

    PS.. can I use that first photo for my desktop background?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Yes please, to the muffins AND the lovely view. Wow! I'm bookmarking the muffins, they sound like something that would go over big in our house. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Your area looks lovely!!! Would love to have such sights so close.
    Going to try your blueberry muffins today~~~hope unless somebody got into my blueberries.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow! Thanks for all your ideas on my post!!
    It all sounds so yummy yet fairly hassle free, simple and tasty!
    I shall take on board all of it - the simple herbs and flowers in jars, and the food suggestions weather permitting - inetetsingly enough, two of the various occasons coming up are entertaining Americans so hopefully the BBq bit will go down well if I do that!
    Here though its always "weather permitting" - after weeks of hot sun it is now pouring with rain!
    Still - few weeks until first occasion!
    I really do appreciate you sharing your entertaining tips!
    Gill xx

    ReplyDelete
  24. Love the photos, but it looks a tad chilly! Love the topping on those muffins too. Great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Must be lovely to live by the sea but I bet cold in winter! These muffins look so yummy.

    Maria
    x

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi lovely lady.
    I love your photos of the Bluebeery Muffins yummy !!! Thanks so much for your lovely comments on my [ Where Do I Keep My STUFF.
    I hope you have a Great Weekend.
    XXOO
    Diane

    ReplyDelete
  27. Everybody loves the blueberry muffins. TFS!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I just made a note to myself visit your blog MORE OFTEN!!!!

    It's great to see those pictures and the muffins look very very tasty!

    Thanks
    Leontien

    ReplyDelete
  29. What a joy it must be to live so close to the ocean! Loved seeing the photos of the boats. I can just imagine some nice Maine lobsters being caught :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Forgot to say those coffee cake muffins sound delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  31. The muffins look like the perfect little bites of coffee cake. I'll make some this week. Should I serve them on Old Country Roses that you spotted on my post?
    Cheers!
    Rita

    ReplyDelete
  32. oh i LOVED this my friend

    the muffins look wonderful...and YES..i would like one.i noticed the tea towel...oh yes i did...darling

    love the pictures of the sea...all so lovely...

    i have anadama bread rising in the kitchen right now

    :-)

    happy to stop by
    hugs to the Dukester

    sending love,
    kary and teddy
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hmmm, I am no coffee drinker, but I'll take muffins anytime:)
    What a lovely location you stay in; with full ocean view and you don't even need to pay 5-star hotel prices for the room you view this from! (oh wait, you probably paid premium price when you got the place..but well, it's worth it, I tell you:)

    ReplyDelete
  34. You changed your header? Love all those pictures you just shared. I don't quite understand, but there is something about these that seem to speak to my soul. So happy you shared this today. And those muffins are also calling my name.
    Rita

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hi There, This is looking absolutely delightful. Loved the new combo of ingredients and the recipe is so nicely made and presented. Saving this recipe of urs and wud love to give ur version a try on the coming weekend. Loved your title of the blog. Have a great day….Sonia !!!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I just found your blog through Jessica at Bellelicious and this tea towel caught my eye and I had to comment! I love cherished old linens like this. Your photos of the ocean and sand are so calming. I'm looking forward to checking out more of your blog, in the meantime, I'm liking these muffins!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Wow- these look fabulous! ( doing a little blog surfing this afternoon). Love the photos of the boats in the misty harbor. I love Maine- sigh---
    Vicki

    ReplyDelete
  38. Gorgeous! I'd love to be there right now!

    ReplyDelete

I'm thrilled you've stopped by and I always enjoy your comments! Thank you!