2.7.11

gf blueberry muffins
gf blueberry muffins
gf blueberry muffins

Here are some things you should totally do. I know what I'm talking about. I'm definitely a reliable source. I give quality advice. I... I'm protesting too much.

1. Bake blueberry, almond & buckwheat muffins. They're vegan! And gluten-free! And delicious! Even if you aren't vegan or gluten-free! And I spent a lot of time getting this recipe right, so damned if you aren't going to eat them and enjoy them, doyouhearme? You should have a muffin for breakfast tomorrow. I'm going to have a muffin for breakfast. We could be muffin buddies. That sounds like a euphemism... I didn't mean it that way.

2. Read Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. I finished it at 2.30am last night and then cried for half an hour. Clearly I got a great night's sleep. You don't have to go quite that far. 

3. Write two blog posts in a row with numbered lists, apparently. Um. It's cool. If I point it out before anyone else can, it's okay, yeah?

4. Make someone smile. I made homemade oreos this evening for the people in my mum's office, cause they're all under terrible stress and having breakdowns left right and centre, reportedly. I made them cupcakes last week, and apparently someone was so touched they cried. Either that or they were just really terrible cupcakes.


I'm not so good at this. Here are some things you shouldn't do.

1. Bake vegan and gluten-free brownies. They just aren't going to work. Give it up. If I had to describe the texture in one word it would be 'tacky', and I don't mean the good kind of tacky. Is there a good kind of tacky?

2. Commit crimes. Forging letters is a crime. Not like murder, but still. Don't do it. Unless you're desperate. The real one will almost definitely get there in time, even if it's in the very last post and you're hyperventilating and thinking your life's going to end. Seriously. Life'll work it out.

3. Write songs with the word 'Pikachu' in. I can explain. A long time ago my friends and I had the semi-joking idea of writing a Pokemon musical, except after a while of semi-joking about it I was like '...shit, I've actually written three songs, how did this happen?'. I came across some of them the other day. I really want to finish them. Is this wrong? Or is it so wrong it's right?

And then I recorded a one-woman multi-part a cappella cover of the Pokemon bike song from the Game Boy game. 

Only kidding. 

...Not really kidding.

I shouldn't be allowed out of the house.

4. Write two blog posts in a row with numbered lists. It isn't cool. I'm sorry. Have a muffin.


Blueberry, Almond & Buckwheat Muffins (Gluten Free)
makes about 8, but mine were pretty big

120g (1c.) ground almonds (almond flour)
100g (2/3c.) buckwheat flour
20g (1/4c.) ground flax   
1 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
50g (1/3c.) brown sugar
zest of 1 lemon
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp cider vinegar
60ml (1/4c.) melted coconut oil
120ml (1/2c.) soya yoghurt
180ml (3/4c.) blueberries

Oven to 180C


In a medium bowl combine the almond flour, buckwheat flour, ground flax, brown sugar, bicarb and salt. In a separate, small bowl combine the wet ingredients: vanilla, vinegar, oil and yoghurt. Make a well in the flour mixture and pour in the wet, stirring until combined but not over-beaten. Gently fold in the blueberries. 

Spoon into lined muffin tins; about 3/4 full, but my liners were awesome wrap ones so they were a little bigger than standard, so judge for yourself. Bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out virtually crumb free.

I clearly need advice for life. What's the best thing you've eaten, made, read or done this week? And what should I absolutely definitely not do?

8 comments

  1. 1. Pokemon: The Musical- how has that not already happened? Make it so.

    2. Never Let Me Go is one of my favourite books ever. I wrote an essay on it, about to what extent memory forms identity

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  2. #4 under the "Do's" made me laugh. But now it seems like I'm laughing at someone's misfortune...whoops.

    Best thing I've eaten? Probably the potato salad I made for the 4th yesterday. Twas delicious.

    Should should probably not wear flimsy sandals to walk all day in downtown Chicago...you know, not from experience or anything... ;-)

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  3. Alright, alright I DO hear you and I WILL make muffins but if they don't turn out I'm going to make a Pokeman musical and blame it on you!
    P.S. You're hilarious.

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  4. Leah - I'm working on it! In earnest! Meanwhile, I'll trade you in an a cappella bike song in exchange for a read of your essay... you know how I love to read your essays.

    Claire - Nah, that's turning a negative into a positive, not laughing at misfortunate. Fo' sho'. And I've walked miles round cities in flip-flops before... a very bad move. You're totally not alone in that one.

    Laurelvb - And you're a sweetie! Though now you've made me nervous that the muffins WON'T turn out and you'll challenge me to a pokemon battle or something similar. Fingers crossed...

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  5. WOW! These look gorgeous and delicious! I just might have to follow your list and make these!

    Best thing I ate: Raw banana cream pie
    Did: Ran in the rain. Childish, I know, but worth it.
    Read: hmmmm...I need to read some better books...
    made: Banana cram pie! That thing is just so darn good!

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  6. So can I be prosecuted for not following directions? I hope not. Here's the deal, I didn't have any blueberries but I had some lovely frozen blackberries and my stomach doesn't do vinegar so I used lemon juice, oh and coconut yogurt not soy.
    Other than that I followed the recipe to a "T." Except for the extra vanilla and 1 C of frozen blueberries.
    I baked these muffins 25 minutes because of the frozen fruit. They came out perfectly tender, moist and BAKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. That's a tough order for GF goodies most of the time.
    I'd say this was a new age bran muffin, only a lot healthier, or would have been if I hadn't sprinkled vanilla sugar on top. LOL
    Thanks for sharing. Cheers.

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  7. there is a good tacky and it is for meringues, omg I want meringues, strawberries and cream.
    Hope you are well.
    Ed
    Enjoy Japan, would love to go, food looks amazing!

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  8. your muffins look yum! if you’re into muffins check out the ones I made this weekend. They were super duper good. and still… yes of course: healthy!
    Keep cooking!

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© papillon.Maira Gall