Hi folks. I could not sleep last night so I decided to do some experimenting in the kitchen. I liked the combination of the fraisiers I made this past week. So I picked a couple of ingredients and made muffins. I had no idea if they would turn out or not. I've not made this kind before. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut and cross your fingers. So I did, and it turned out well. They taste amazing. If you love coconut and you love cherries this is the muffin for you. Hope you try them out.
Today's adventure with the camera was fun. I have a pretty old, craptastic camera. I should say it's a fine camera for people shots but not so great for food. Does not have all the bells and whistles. So it's a bit of a challenge to get the shots I want. I did pull out the manual but it's like a foreign language to me at the moment. I am determined to figure it out though. I cannot afford a new fancy camera so I must figure it out. I enjoy it though. Taking pictures reminds me of my father. He loved doing it and did it well. He took classes and even learned to develop his own photographs. So the photo bug runs deep in the family. My sis and both my brothers enjoy it. A couple of my uncles are very into it. So I've joined the ranks. I am attempting to learn and getting frustrated beyond belief but enjoying every minute of it. I wish I had good light in the house from the windows but our house is old and our windows suck. The new ones are in the front but the best light comes from the back. I may try my daughter's room as it's in the back and has a big patio door. She also has a deck that I am going to play around taking pics on. It has an awning I can move back and forth so hoping to get out there this week to experiment.
I hope you are having a great weekend. It's a long weekend here in Canada. It's a civic holiday tomorrow. Personally I think they just make this stuff up. Anything to take a day off. But hey, we'll take it. Both the kids are working tomorrow so they'll get holiday pay so woot woot for the kids.
Anyhow on to the muffins which is what you came for. Hope you like them. I sure did. And when you make yours hide your coconut, trust me. I must have eaten half a coconut yesterday.
Cherry Coconut Muffins:
Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup pastry flour
4 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt (I used my vanilla salt, go HERE for recipe)
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup whole milk
2 cups fresh cherries, pitted and chopped
2 cups fresh coconut, chopped
Optional- sugar sprinkles over the tops
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl sift flour, baking powder and salt together.
In another bowl mix your yogurt, eggs and milk.
Mix the wet and dry together slowly and stir until blended.
Now add the coconut and cherries and mix lightly.
Pour into muffin tins and place in oven for 20 to 25 minutes.
You could put sugar sprinkles on some or all. It just makes them sparkle.
Remove and let cool on a wire rack.
Photos missing due to a G+ incident. Will be restored soon.
As you can see I had a ton of fun with my pics today. What do you think? Any worth a send in to any sites or still a big suckfest? Hope you all have a fabulous day. And check back shortly for ice cream sunday.
Toodles and smoochies. xx
Jackie
These sound really good. I really like both cherries and coconut. I will have to try these out. I love the pics.
Dee at Deelicious Sweets
Did you change your blog up? I am so behind on blog stalking! These muffins look really good and I'm starving at the moment so this is really tough to stick around long enough and comment after seeing all of those beautiful pics! Nice job, keep up the good work and keep playing. I take so many pictures of the same thing and I will get one of two good ones. There is a ton of luck involved when taking pictures. Oh, and don't forget the memory card, I have done that and it's so frustrating!!
Anne@frommysweetheart
Hey Kim....Cherry and coconut are such a fabulous combination! These muffins look great! You sure are doing a lot of experimenting lately! But that's great! Keep up the good work. (And I am still only using your basic point and shoot camera as well!)
Dzoli
Another great marriage for muffins:)
Kim Bee
Jackie- Thanks so much. I hope you try them. My only suggestion is do small chunks for the coconut. Mine were a bit big.
Dee- I did! I was playing around the other night. It used to be pink, which I adore but too many people had the same design so I made some changes. Still not 100% happy with it but getting closer. I enjoyed myself today with the pics. Reminded me of spending time with my Dad. Especially since I cracked open the tripod. I went out the other day on the patio and forgot the battery, so funny. My food is melting and I am running back inside.
Dzoli- So good. I think I like coconut way too much. lol
Kim Bee
@ Ann- Thanks. I am a bit of a mad scientist lately in and out of the kitchen. Having a blast. It's fun to learn, making tons of mistakes but it's such a process. Good to know I am not the only point and shoot out there. I am trying to read the manual but when I played with setting today it was bad news. I got blur. So need to spend a few days just shooting and making notes so I can remember what I did and see differences. Maybe I can take a class at some point. Would love a new camera but unless I win one or one falls off a truck by my house it ain't gonna happen.lol
Sandra
Looks beautiful and tasty! Love anything cherry except juice:)) Great Recipe Kim!
Kim Bee
@ Sandra- Thank you so much. Love cherries too. Trying to make the most of them while they're in season.
claire
What a fabulous flavor combination!!!
Carolyn
Great muffins! They look wonderful, even though you say you have a hard time getting good shots. It can be tough with just a point and shoot, but I still think you did a great job.
Erin
What great muffins! Love when you cross you fingers and just take a chance and it works out!! I just bought those liners the other day!
Ann
Hi Kim! I say send them to the site...the worst they can do is say no. I've been denied 25 times and I still keep sending! I also have a point and shoot...a good one, but not a DSLR. One day.... The muffins sound delicious and I love the vanilla salt addition!
Baking Serendipity
Sometimes I spend so much time thinking about what to bake while I'm falling asleep, it becomes the reason why I can't sleep! Nonetheless, I love the muffin that came out of your insomnia 🙂
Lexie Lane
Kim,
I think if I visited your site every day, I would be really really fat, because oh my goodness. Everything looks soooooo good. My mouth is watering right now!!! Haahaaahaa!!!
Kim Bee
@ Claire- Thanks!
@ Carolyn- Thanks and thanks. I am trying hard but foodgawker and tastespotting do like my pics at all. Lol! I am having fun though.
@ Ann- I've only had one accepted to tastespotting. It's driving me nuts. Still have never been on foodbuzz top 9. I am determined to get better at photos. It's fun too so I am enjoying the process. Thanks, such good muffins.
@ Baking Serendipity- Lol, so true. My head just swims with foodie stuff all day and night. It's exhausting. These were worth not sleeping. SO yummy!
@ Lexie- Thanks for popping by my dear. I tell ya I laughed so hard at your comment. This food blog is the reason I had to start the weight loss blog. So far the food blog is winning the war. lol
Patty
Sounds like a delicious combination!
Isabelle @ Crumb
I've been gobbling cherries like there's no tomorrow now that they're in season... obviously, not sick of them yet, since I'm drooling over these muffins. Love the idea of mixing cherry and coconut together!
PS - It's totally possible to get good photos without fancy camera gear... styling, lighting and a good eye is about 90% of the photo anyways, and that you can easily learn with some practice. I sometimes still use a point and shoot if I'm at an event or restaurant and don't want to use my bulky SLR. Love that last photo, BTW.
Kim Bee
Patty- Thanks so much!
Isabelle- Oh me too. I cannot eat enough of them. Cherry and coconut go so well together. Love it. Good to know cuz mine just suck. They get denied every time. I need to play around more. My brother is here and has a fancy camera so I'm hijacking it for a few days to see the difference. Lol! Thanks I like that last one too.
Junia
i love cherries in bread. paired with coconut, these look great!! 😀
Michelle O
haha I take a gazillion photos too and foodgawker always tells me no. It's always worth a shot though! Love cherry and coconut. YUM. Oh and cute muffin liners.