There is nothing out there that is quite as gratifying to me as smashing, kneading, chopping, beating, etc. the heck out of food. When I am stressed, give me a recipe that calls for doing something inhumane to the ingredients and by the time I have an end product, my stress is gone.
This morning, my kids were not getting along at all. From the moment they woke up they were bickering with each other about every little thing. They were apparently frustrated with each other and needed a quick intervention. I decided to try to distract them some. They could help me make breakfast, and while doing so, they could relieve some of their obvious stress by smashing some strawberries. I got out two bowls and divided the berries among them. I gave them each a vegetable smasher and they went to town destroying their own little bowl of berries. Instead of fussing and arguing, I heard giggling and laughing. Before I knew it, the first step to our breakfast muffin recipe was done and the mood of my children had changed dramatically.
Together we finished adding the ingredients, stirring it up and making the muffins. We ended up having a lovely breakfast of delicious Berry Smash Strawberry muffins. The kids were so proud of their part in making breakfast and I was just thrilled to have a morning where the bickering was squelched from the start.
For your own at home therapy session, give this recipe for Berry Smash Strawberries Muffins a try.
Berry Smash Strawberry Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 2/3 cups fresh strawberries
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups Gold Medal all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425 F.
- Put a paper baking cup in each of 12 regular-size muffin cups, or grease just the bottoms of 12 muffin cups.
- Slightly smash strawberries in large bowl, using fork.
- Stir in sugar, oil and eggs until mixed.
- Stir in other ingredients just until moistened.
- Spoon batter into muffin cups.
- Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until light golden brown or toothpick poked in center comes out clean.
- Cool 5 minutes.
- Loosen sides of muffins from pan if needed, and take them out of the pan.
- Makes 12 muffins.
- Tip: If you do not have fresh strawberries, you can use frozen strawberries that you have thawed and drained.
Way to go! There is nothing better than getting aggressions out on something you can eat later! 🙂 They need to bring home-ec back to middle school. That would help me out tremendously!
My one would enjoy mashing the berries too. It’s funny how some mornings they just wake up with the grumps! They look like a yummy breakfast to me 🙂
Brillant! The problem solving and the muffins! Congratulations.
Great idea to squish the tantrums and the stress! Beautiful results!
yum, those sound delicious! i agree, cooking is a definate stress reliever. i think berry flavored things are my favorite sweets, mmmmm
Looks delicious! I love how you got the kiddos to help you in the kitchen; to echo another commenter, "Brilliant!" 🙂
What a clever mom! Working together is fun, huh? These look really good.
You are clever! And those muffins look soooo good, like the strawberries melted into the batter. Yum!
Delicious!!! Love it! 🙂
Ahhh…strawberries! I am blessed to be pretty much in the heart of California Strawberry Country!
Freshly picked strawberries available pretty much everyday at one of the various Farmers Markets!
I could live on the little red bundles of juicy joy all summer!
(So…when will we see you on the iTuber.com channel!)
I’m lovin’ the recipe name! Food mostly seems to sort things out with kids. Next time I feel stressed I’ll remember this posting.
I picked my first bowl of strawberries on Saturday – the ones the birds allow me to eat. I like your idea in theory but I don’t think I could bear to smash the little beauties. Now, a banana, I could smash a banana..
There is nothing kids like better than squishing things! Great idea and the muffins look delicious!
Great parenting, at least that mashing worked out their frustration and it turned out productive as well since you now have delicious muffins!
What a great way to distract the kids, Kristen – these muffins look delicious! I love berries.
Those are smashing muffins ;-P! Very nice..
What a great idea! Sometimes kids get sick of each other and need to smash something too, preferably berries. ha.
What a great way to allow them to get their frustrations out! hee! Love the thought of the muffins too.. bet they were AWESOME!
xoxo
hahaha…you are such a smart and funny mom!
So, from reading your previous posts, are you planning to have more babies? 🙂 I have my 3 boys, and it feels complete now. I love when they come to the kitchen with me and help me bake. Have a nice week!
Those look marvelous. Strawberries are just about in season around here and I always end up with so many I am looking for ways to get rid of them.
These muffins are gorgeous, I love the color, and I can only imagine how delicious they tasted to have such an affect on the little ones!
I don’t think I’ve ever had berry muffins like this….hmmm….
That is why I love to bake bread…to beat the yeast down when it rises. I think smashing would be good too 🙂
What a wonderful way to distract the kids and a get a delicious meal all at the same time. I’m going to have to tell my sister about this. I think it would be a great way for my 3 year old niece to work out her "frustrations" now that she is a big sister! 🙂
I love a good berry muffin. Something I don’t make enough of. This are just adorable.
Ah, strawberry muffins sound delightful right about now. Wish I had one–they look so moist and delicious!
Wanna trade stress stories? Isn’t it amazing how busy it gets at this time of year? And sports, and school ending and selling the house next week and finding a rental and blogging and having a garage sale, carpool, kid’s school projects. I miss my kitchen:). I hear you!!!!! Hope summer is off to a brilliant and increasingly relaxing start for you!
In your previous post you said your were a selfish mom, but I think you are a brilliant mom! What a fun way to start the day and strawberries are sooo good right now.
Hi Kirsten,
Love your blog too! Thanks for visiting me on Dad-Baker and if you’d like to see more of my creations you can check out my personal website on food…
http://www.dharmnavaratnam.com/cakes.htm
See you around on the Foodie Roll!!
These look so delicious! I love the simplicity of the recipe, not too complicated but the result looks amazing.
These are so gorgeous! I love a good muffin for breakfast 🙂
http://www.bsasnodescansa.blogspot.com Visit us!
Hi Kristen,
thanks for visiting my site..very nice recipes here..will keep visiting..
Wow! I can see this was posted years ago, but I just discovered and had to comment because it is PERFECT. I love how easily it comes together–one bowl, no beaters, little mess, and the results are perfection. Literally not a thing I’d change about it. Thank you!
Thanks for giving them a try! It’s an old favorite!