Jul 11
Muffin Day
Blueberry Muffin
Blueberry Muffins
"When I am in trouble, eating is the only thing that consoles me. Indeed, when I am in really great trouble, as any one who knows me intimately will tell you, I refuse everything except food and drink. At the present moment I am eating muffins because I am unhappy. Besides, I am particularly fond of muffins." ~Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895
Whether you prefer English or American-style muffins ... today is the day! And for many, a blueberry muffin is the favourite flavour in American style muffins! The names of blueberries in languages other than English often translate as "blue" "berry", e.g., the Scots blaeberry and Norwegian blåbær, possibly because along with blueberries, bluefish and blue corn, the color blue is rare among edible plants and animals. Native Americans referred to blueberries as “star berries” because of the star-shaped blossoms and made a beef jerky similar to pemmican with dried blueberries and meat called Sautauhig, which was consumed year round.
“You ought to have seen what I saw on my way
To the village, through Mortenson’s pasture to-day:
Blueberries as big as the end of your thumb,
Real sky-blue, and heavy, and ready to drum ..."
~Robert Frost, "Blueberries"
A particularly loved American style muffin, the blueberry muffin is even the official state muffin of Minnesota!
The names of blueberries in languages other than English often translate as "blueberry", e.g., Scots blaeberry and Norwegian blåbær. Blaeberry, blåbær and French myrtilles usually refer to the European native bilberry (V. myrtillus), while bleuets refers to the North American blueberry. Native Americans once called blueberries “starberries” because the blossoms make a star shape. Similar to pemmican, A beef jerky called Sautauthig, was made with dried blueberries and meat and was consumed year round.
In the winter of 1620, the Pilgrims established a settlement at Plimoth (Plymouth). Many perished during the first few months, but those that survived went on to build homes and establish farms. From the Wampanoag Indians , they learned how to gather blueberries, dry them under the summer's sun and store them for the winter.
This tartan, designed by Carol A.L. Martin, has extra blueberries for the blueberry muffin aficionado.
For the complete text of Robert Frost's 1915 poem, "Blueberries," click the muffins!