Weekly Blogroll: Blackberry Muffins, Amish Vegetable Soup, Less With More, and More!

By Kevin Williams

BLUEBERRY OR BLACKBERRY MUFFINS: This is a versatile recipe that can be used with blueberries, blackberries and, I'm guessing raspberries or maybe even strawberries.  Check out this delicious Amish recipe from Patricia's Patchwork Quilt blog (SIGH, I have a love-hate relationship with muffins...they just are rare as good as I hope they'll be....my muffins are often dry and crumbly and I come away wishing I had just made a cake instead).

Summer blackberry crisp, 

HOME JOYS:  Man, part of me just does

But these muffins sound - and look - good. Check out the recipe here.

RELATED RECIPES: Summer blackberry crisp,  Blackberry Crumb Cake,  Homemade Blackberry Pie.

HOME JOYS:  I almost don't like to go to Home Joys blog anymore because I just come away feeling such sadness for the family.  But I do keep going, because 1) Gina, the Mennonite Mom who writes the blog, is handling her husband's brain cancer with such grace and 2) visiting the blog is a way to show a bit of support for the family, let's them know they are in your thoughts and prayers and that is important. But, wow, definitely a showcase of life's unfairness, such a nice family wrestling with such a malevolent malignancy.  Click here to read the latest.

LESS IS MORE:  I figured following up Home Joy's this week with Bruce Stambaugh's ode to minimalism was appropriate.   Bruce writes a poignant piece this week about starting from scratch in a new community they've learned to do more with less, I think there are good lessons there for all of us.  Click here to read Bruce's blog.

AMISH APPLESAUCE MAYONNAISE SNACK CAKE:  Check out this delicious dessert, moist, amazing cake!  Click here.

AMISH VEGETABLE SOUP:  Homemade vegetable soup is one of those dishes that go well year-round, especially if you have access to freshly grown garden goodies.  Check out this delicious looking soup from Katie's Kitchen!

BLOG SPIN - AMISH CINNAMON BREAD:  Mmmmm, I "spun the wheel" and it landed on this and I'm glad it did! Click here for a photo that will get you salivating and a delicious recipe for a timeless classic: Amish cinnamon bread.