Blueberry Muffins
From the Victory Cook book, 1945
The recipes contained in the Victory Cook Book were collected by the ladies of the Victory Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Like many small publications of the period, the resourceful committee (or the publisher) managed to offset some of the publishing costs by including full page ads supplied by Baker's Chocolate and Swans Down Flour.
This particular recipe was offered by Mrs. J. Borstad. It takes a lot of baking powder, but has a nice sweet flavor though a bit crumbly. Very tasty though ... it wasn't hard to gooble several up in rapid succession. Great with coffee, which is to be expected from Scandinavian immigrants. I can just imagine Mrs. B offering them up in her little kitchen to Mr. Borstad or her next door neighbor ... sun streaming through the window, little blue-checkered café curtains and bright red geraniums on the sill, piping hot coffee in Fire King jadite mugs.
This recipe makes six muffins in a standard pan.
1/4 c. shortening 1/2 c sugar 1 egg 1/2 tsp salt 3 tsp baking powder 1 1/2 c flour 1/2 c milk 1 c berries |
Cream shortening (I used unsalted butter) and sugar. Add egg. Sift flour, salt, and baking powder together. Add milk and flour and beat well. Fold in berries last. Bake at 375º F for 20-25 minutes. |
Notes: The recipes in the Victory Cook Book are brief and assume some experience in the kitchen.
I replaced the shortening with butter because it tastes so much better.
As for construction, cream the shortening and sugar, then add the egg. Sift the flour, salt, and baking powder together separately. I alternate adding the dry and wet ingredients, and mix just enough to incorporate everything. (Too much beating seems to make for a tougher batter.) Fold in the berries gently ... if you use frozen berries, beating will break the berries down and your muffins will be lavender ... not really a pretty effect.
Also, sprinkle crystalized sugar on top for a bit of sparkle.
Source
—— Committee. The Victory Cook Book. Victory Lutheran Church. Osterhus Publishing Co., Minneapolis, Minnesota. 1945.
© 2008–2014 — Antique Home Style