"muffins" news and stories

By the time you lug yourself out of bed at 11 a.m. on a Sunday, do you really want to spend another 30 minutes prepping brunch before you start cooking? Try using make-ahead brunch recipes for an even more relaxing weekend morning.

I love when life tosses a little bit of unexpected happiness. Walking around my local farmers' market, I spotted from a distance a sugary concoction that sparked an interest. I asked the question, he answered, and I wondered if life would ever be the same.

Meet the doughnut muffin: part delectable doughnut, part soft, cake-y muffin tossed around in cinnamon sugar. Beyond filling (but not too heavy), I split this with my trusty side-kick and felt the level of comfort rising. New to block - Brownie Points located in Summit, NJ - turned out this perfect marriage of everything gone right in the pastry world along with many others.

Visit them at the Summit Farmers' Market every Sunday until Christmas or at their store: 3 Beechwood Road (908) 464-2253

Muffin Mania has returned -- after doing well in the '80s, Martha Prange has republished her grandmother's muffin cookbook.

A review of the long-awaited new Toronto bagel shop, Bagel World ... although it's more about the babka than the bagels.

Those super-cute mini cows are making waves in Ontario, but restricted from metropolitan Toronto life.

Wild idea: Instead of dieting, just change your eating habits a little. Eat, Drink and Be Gorgeous: A Nutritionist's Guide to Living Well While Living It Up offers that and foodie sex tips too?

Wines: Toasting summer with tasty whites and getting red for fall.

Recipes: Crab cakes.

On the Fourth, I went with my parents and my boyfriend to pick blueberries, and we came home with 20 lbs. of them. Apparently, we're not the only ones with blueberries on the brain, since the food blogs have been teeming lately with lovely blueberry delights (even this one, see?). Here are a few of my favorites posts -- those that are in the running for using up the remaining 8 lbs. of blueberries in my refrigerator:

blueberry gelato from Coconut & Lime

blueberry frozen yogurt from Jumbo Empanadas

creamy lemon and blueberry bars from Cookie Madness

blueberry and pineapple clafoutis from Tartelette

blueberry bran muffins from Cook Quick Easy Recipes

Something Blueberry -- a blog dedicated to the fruit

berry almond crumble from Simply Recipes

avocado and blueberry fruit salad from A Weight Lifted

Ideas for my pounds of blueberries? Please share.

Do you find your empty muffin wells burning when you make a few muffins? Here's how to keep that from happening.