Blueberry Lemon Muffins

Muffins, bread, cake... make it what you will, any which way it's going to taste so good.  This recipe is so light, not overly sweet and with a subtle taste of lemon it gives a freshness you don't often get in a cake or muffin.  My good friend Angie makes this time and time again in a loaf pan...she can't keep it in the house long enough! It's a beautiful combination and I love it, so I thought I'd make it into muffins and see what the girls thought.  Verdict: A hit!  I probably put a little too many blueberrries in mine today (more than the suggested 1 1/2 cups) as it didn't leave much room for the cake to form around them at the bottom but it was delicious I couldn't eat just one.

Ingredients:
3/4 stick (6 tblspn) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cup caster sugar
2 large eggs
1 tspn vanilla essence
1 1/2 cups all purpose (plain) flour, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tspn salt
1/2 cup milk
1 tblspn vegetable oil
1 1/2 cup fresh blueberries (if using frozen - defrost, drain to remove excess water)
2 tblspn lemon zest
4 tblspn lemon juice

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 350'F (180'C)
• Prepare your muffin trays or loaf tin, with cupcake cases or well greased/sprayed tin
• In a mixer, cream the butter and 1 cup of the sugar until light and fluffy
• Add the eggs, one a time, mixing well between each addition
• Add the vanilla essence and continue to mix
• In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and lemon zest 
• Add the dry ingredients to the butter/sugar mixture alternating with the milk/oil until well combined
• Turn off your mixer and fold in the blueberries by hand using a large spoon 
• Bake for 22-25mins or until golden brown on top.  
• For a loaf tin, bake for closer to 1 hr - or until a skewer comes out clean in the middle

For the glaze:

• Heat the remaining 1/3 cup sugar and lemon juice over heat until the sugar is dissolved and it turns to a nice syrup.

Once the muffins are baked, pierce the top all over with a skewer and brush over lemon glaze to finish.  Remove from pan and allow to cool.  Eat!!