You can’t beat fresh homegrown strawberries! The flavor of ones you grow yourself is so much better, more intense, than store bought (but that’s true for all home grown produce). I have a delicious Homemade Strawberry Muffin Recipe for you at the bottom of this post but first I want to talk a little bit about growing strawberries.
Not only do people love strawberries, but also birds, rodents, snakes…we once even had a dog (Buttons our Cocker Spaniel) who used to love going in the strawberry patch to snatch some!
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You need to use netting or shade cloth to protect those sweet berries! Some people don’t like using netting as “things” (snakes, chipmunks etc) can get caught in it. Supposedly strawberries ripen as much by heat as by sun so some people prefer shade cloth since nothing can get caught in it.
This year I put some apple green fencing on the inside of my strawberry bed which I got in the dollar spot at Target. They had some cute colors!
Then I laid some netting on top. I weighed down the edges with some rocks. We’ve had loads of strawberries already. I’ve only lost a few to pill-bugs.
I had so many strawberries the other day that I made strawberry muffins (recipe at end).
Delish! They were sooo good and moist!
Here’s the recipe:
Delicious Homemade Strawberry Muffins
Pre-Heat oven to 375 degrees
1/4 cup of oil (I used light olive oil) 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract 2 tsp baking powder
1 large egg 1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup milk 1/4 cups brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 cup white sugar
1 to 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh strawberries (to me, the more strawberries the better)!
cinnamon sugar for top (optional)
*I don’t drink or use regular milk so I used almond milk
*I used 1 cup all purpose and 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
*Haven’t tried it with honey or other sweeteners. We don’t find it to be an overly sweet muffin.
Directions:
Combine the wet ingredients in a bowl. Combine the dry in another and mix in the chopped up strawberries. Add the wet to the dry and stir. Fill 8 greased muffin cups or use cupcake liners. Top with the cinnamon sugar for a nice crunchy top (optional).
Bake for about 20-25 minutes and enjoy! These are great for dessert, breakfast or a snack!
You may also be interested in: All Purpose Muffin Mix In A Jar
Love your new blog…nicely done!
Manuela, congratulations on your new endeavor, I love the clean, fresh and cheery look of your new design! Have a blessed day!
Thank you Shilo!
Manuela
Love it, love it, love it!
I did have to subscribe to this blog through Google Reader.
Hi Manuela,
I love your new blog home.
Your strawberry muffins look amazing!!
Becky K.
They were really good. Cooked strawberries almost taste like rhubarb. I guess that’s why they make such a good combination!
Manuela
Your strawberries look fabulous. I have a few, but they havn’t produced too many yet. I can’t wait for a bumper crop. Hugs, Marty
I am glad you are blogging again I missed your posts which I find inpiring. I live on Lookout Mountain and I get down to the Atlanta area occasionally I was wondering if you would share where your favorite flea market is from the last post – there were several things I found in your pictures that I liked. Also I think you are wise in staying put. My husband has his own realestate company and he told me that right now there is a year’s worth of inventory on the market. Have a good day and I’ll enjoy visiting with you again.
I am glad you are posting again. Could you share where your faorite flea market is from your last post I live in Chattanooga and sometimes get to the Atlanta area.
The Classy Flea in Marietta is my favorite place so far.
Manuela
Hi Manuela, I love your new blog and will definitly keep following you! Your little strawberry patch is sweet. We are blessed to live in the country and there is a strawberry field u-pick across the road so I can walk to it! We don’t have a large enough yard to plant our own garden so that’s really handy. I’m looking forward to strawberry season which won’t be for another month here! Blessings, Pamela
Love the pictures and the recipe. I am in such a similar place — a suburb of Memphis — and very in to gardening, urban homesteading and neighborhood sustainability. I’m looking forward to your new emphasis. I read The Great Neighborhood Book and Superbia! 31 Ways to Create Sustainable Neighborhoods over the winter and am hoping to implement some of the suggestions in those books.
Diana
Hi Diana,
I actually have Superbia on the way! My neighborhood is so odd. Everyone is just into their own thing. We couldn’t even organize a neighborhood garage sale a few years ago! I tried to give away raspberry plants last fall and no takers. I just divided some iris and tried giving those away again no takers. The only thing people are willing to take is tomatoes!
Manuela
Hi, Manuela! What a great new blog design, it’s beautiful. I will have to put up your new button. If you haven’t heard yet, I’m now back in ATL. Lots of changes in my life, but I’m looking forward to some better days. Keeping my head up and moving forward. Would love to finally meet you one day, if you’re up for it! Hope to see you soon.
Manuela, I love your new look and applaud your new endeavor for change! How did you carry over all of your posts and followers from Blogger? I thought that was near to impossible. But then, I might be living under a rock and not know the computer literate specifics. LOL I’m not any sort of a gardener, so I could never grow veggies or fruit. I kill most everything! Your strawberry plants look healthy and you’ll reap the rewards of them soon. I just go off picking them in a market field the first week of June, usually. Depends on the heat- and Ohio has been chilly and rainy for some time. Our furnace heat was still on as of 2 days ago. ICK…
~ Sue
HI Manuela, I’m glad you’re back to blogging no matter where you change your address to. I know exactly how you felt about wanting a fresh start. I just did that myself. I think blogging is an adventure and changes as you and your lifestyle change. It was kind of scary and I really wanted a totally fresh start and didn’t even say I started a new blog. I will be keeping the old one as a craft oriented blog to post my cards and sewing but the new one will focus on my life and home where I am now. I am a wantabe farmers wife also and love, love, love to garden. I have a question regarding your strawberries. I noticed that you don’t have them growing off the ground at all. How do you keep the pill bugs and such from having lunch in your patch? I look forward to your new adventure.
I do have some straw underneath the plants and as I said I have lost a few to the pill bugs. I don’t know if it’s because it’s a raised bed or what, but I don’t have a huge pest problem with any of my produce. My problems are the chipmunks and birds. I do have to pick them as soon as their ripe. They really can’t sit and wait because I think the riper they are the more attractive the pill bugs find them!
Manuela
Hi Manuela,
I feel so lucky to be able to have you as a decorating inspiration. I love the new design. Very functional too.
Hope all is well,
Viola
Congratulations, Manuela! I love your new spot! I’m so glad for you to be back to active blogging–I missed you during your time away.
Your nest is definitely an inspiration to me–just as you are!
Beautiful new blog Manuela! How fun, and it is so good to have you back. Thanks for the berry growing tips. We just put berries in last year so still new to it. The muffin recipe looks wonderful so I’ll have to give it a try:>)
I adore your new place Manuela and I love the new direction your blog is going. Seasons of life tend to make us focus on different things and go different directions. It sure keeps life from being boring! I have always loved gardening and working toward self-sufficiency, so I know I’ll enjoy following along with you.
Jen
Congrats on your new blog design and new direction as well. As always, I’m looking forward to following along. I’m envious of your home grown strawberries. I tried placing a net on ours last year and someone (a bird perhaps) just poked right through the net and enjoyed a lovely feast, day after day. I gave up this year, and will use the space in the bed to plant some beans. Your muffins looks delicious though and I’ll have to try the recipe with some strawberries from our farmer’s market. 🙂
The netting has to be up off the plants. Last year I used PVC pipes in the corners and this year is the wire fencing.
Manuela
Welcome to your new “blog home,” Manuela! I missed you and last night was thinking how much I’d enjoy having you “back amongst us.” Happy Mother’s Day to you as well!
Brenda
I like the new look of the blog! 🙂
No strawberries around here yet, another month or so…it has been so wet and chilly in the Northwest lately!
Have a wonderful Mother’s Day Manuela!
Blessings!
~Nadine
How exciting. This will be right up me ally. I guess we’re all in the same boat and trying to stretch those dollars. I’ll look forward to your ideas. Linda
Great new blog Manuela! I’ve been thinking I should make some muffins tomorrow. I think I’ll give these a try. Mimi
Love the new look blog Manuela, so fresh and clean. Looking forward to future posts.
I will find you no matter where you go….. ; – )
HUgs
Linda
So glad to follow you over here Manuela. I’m looking forward to reading your new blog. The layout is beautiful.
My strawberries are growing like crazy too. Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Have a wonderful Mother’s Day!
Blessings,
Marcia
Just added your new blog to my sidebar….but I can’t figure out how to add my photo to this comment forum. Any ideas?
Blessings,
Marcia
Mmmm…. no I have no idea. But I’ll look into it.
Manuela
I love homegrown strawberries…there is nothing better!
A new way we like to enjoy them, is to cut up flour tortillas and lightly fry them in oil. Drain quickly and then toss in cinnamon sugar. When they are done, put a few on a plate, put fresh strawberries on them and top with whipping cream! So good!
Deanna
Well, Yoooohooooo for the new blog! I’m trying to figure out what subscribing through google friend connect means. This didn’t come up on my dashboard that I saw so now I need to figure out how to know if you have a new post. ‘
It’s tough being so lame.
Love the new blog and the new outlook. I look forward to seeing you around more.
And now, I wish that I had grown my own strawberries.
I was having problems with my feed and the GFC. Hopefully it’s fixed and won’t disappear again!
If you were subscribed to TPOH you are automatically subscribed to this blog as it’s the same blog just new name and place. Let me know if you’re still having problems and I’ll see what I can do.
Manuela
Those strawberries look delicious. I have never grown anything…but I admire those who do.
I have never made Strawberry muffins either but those sure do look good. (:>)
Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Linda @ Truthful Tidbits
Ohhh your changing things up. I love the look of your blog!!! It is too early here for strawberries, but I can enjoy yours!! xoxo Clarice
How exciting! I’m really looking forward to reading your new blog! I have been toying with the idea of starting a new blog too, because I’m ready to write about some of my passions that are not in keeping with the Opulent Cottage theme. You may have just inspired me to finally do it. Can’t wait to see your new posts, Manuela!!
xo, Andrea
I love the cup and saucer. I will try the recipe.
Love your blog and spirit.