Here is my $1.50 Japanese bread basket that ended up costing $89.48 after all the paint I needed to make it white. See? Looks cute with the basket liners which are the easiest thing in the world to make.
I think it would make a cute house warming gift - bake a batch of muffins and present them in a little basket with a pretty liner.
I am experimenting with Ina Garten's tri-berry muffins from her Barefoot Contessa at Home cookbook. Only I made mine bi-berry since I didn't feel like adding strawberries (blueberries and raspberries made the cut).
Ina, and this book, is my go to inspiration. Everything I have made from this book makes me look like an accomplished chef. This is my first foray in to the baking section though. I am going to make the cable TV guy test them out as soon as he gets here.
I used blueberries that I bought fresh during the summer and froze. And frozen raspberries from the store. I would recommend letting them thaw on a cookie sheet and then gently incorporate them into the batter. I just plunked them in frozen and they took way longer to bake then the recipe indicated.
Where is that cable guy, anyway?
Andrea - I'm a big fan of Ina Garten and I've found that almost every recipe of hers I've tried has taken much longer than the recipe says. Not sure if she has a convection oven or what - but the roasted chicken recipe takes almost twice as long as she says. Same with the ultimate brownies - takes much longer.
Glad it's not just me or my oven! Regardless - they look delicious.
Posted by: Karla | February 22, 2008 at 01:58 PM
OM Gosh - those look amazing. I love love love blueberries too!
Posted by: Julie size | February 22, 2008 at 02:54 PM
I have that cookbook and I drool over it from time to time, but I don't think I've ever cooked anything out of it! The muffins look lovely...I'll have to give them a try.
Posted by: Janelle | February 22, 2008 at 08:59 PM
I had to laugh at your $89 Japanese basket! So, how did the cable guy like the muffins? When summer comes, you must try Ina's recipe for upside down plum cake. It is fantastic. I forget which of her cookbooks it is in, but you must try out that easy and delicious cake.
Posted by: Nicole | February 23, 2008 at 09:47 AM
whoooa love the basket, it turned out great!
Barefoot Contessa Rocks the house. I love her peas pesto and pasta salad...
Posted by: kim | February 23, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Those muffins look really yummy and would look great in your 89.00 dollar basket, LOL. I can't tell you how many times I've been done that road of things turning out a bit more work and money than was in the original plan. But the end results is almost always worth it, like your basket.
Love Ina - just got done watching her on the food network.
Have a great Sunday - Karen
Posted by: karen | February 24, 2008 at 07:50 AM
Great muffins and they look great in the Big$$$ basket. hehehe Got to love when crafts have their own mine set. I once had to use three gallons of white paint to cover a ugly blue dresser. Next time I went darker.. less paint...Katie
Posted by: Katie B. | February 26, 2008 at 12:51 PM