berry season

i'm not the greatest produce shopper. sometimes i just buy that red pepper at $3.69/lb at the store because i'm THERE and don't want to go somewhere else. the fruit that really gets me and makes me wonder, "is this a good price?" is berries. i think it's because they're not around all year long for me to get used to seeing their prices. but come berry season, i'm looking at the prices and can never be sure whether i'm getting a good one or not. in the past, the fear of buying overpriced berries has made it so that i completely miss berry season altogether and barely get any! after a couple summers like that, it occurred to me that i better just indulge in fresh berries while i can - whatever the price.

i drive by this produce place everyday that had a sign out a couple weeks ago saying cherries were $2.99/lb. it didn't sound like a particularly good price so i drove by many times. after i'd had a look around the grocery stores and saw cherries at $3.49/lb, i thought, "i love cherries. i'm going to get some for $2.99/lb." and i did. pat on the back. while i was there, i bought a small container of raspberries too for who knows how much. the next day, the paper came with the flyers in it. all three of the main grocery stores had cherries on for less that $2.99! one even as low as $1.99! so i guess i didn't do that great.

but now it seems that the local strawberries may have passed me by. i looked at all the stands at the berry festival and they just didn't seem to be that great in price. so i left them. and now, i'm regretting it. and raspberries! are they gone too? augh!

i did make one batch of raspberry muffins this weekend and they were great. fairly low in sugar and butter, i thought. here's the recipe if you find yourself some berries:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 brown sugar (packed)
2 small to medium size apples (any type), peeled, cored, chopped or grated
1 cup fresh raspberries (or blackberries)
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted

Line a muffin tray with muffin papers.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and the brown sugar and mix by hand, to combine.

Lightly beat the milk and eggs (with a fork).

Add the melted butter, and then add the fresh raspberries and the apples, just to combine.

Mix the fruit mixture gently into the dried ingredients, just until combined. Do not over mix! The batter will look "lumpy".

Spoon the batter into the muffin cups.

Bake at 400° F for 10 - 12 minutes, or until golden brown, and when a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Makes about 12 muffins.