Thrifty Thoughts- Blueberry Muffins & Blueberry Picking

Our family LOVES blueberries.
We love blueberry muffins, blueberry waffles,

blueberries in our oatmeal, blueberries in smoothies and even just to snack on.

My kids eat them like candy which makes me a happy mom :)

During the winter, blueberry prices skyrocket since they're not in season.

The past couple of years I've gone with my mom to pick our years

 worth of blueberries at a local blueberry farm.

I must add last year she picked my years worth for me.
We had just moved and I had a newborn.
She's a jewel I tell ya :)

The place where we pick prices by the pound.
It's around $4 a pound where my mom lives.

That's .25 an ounce.

After we've picked all the blueberries we put them into a sink full of warm water.

Let them soak for awhile to get the dirt off.

Then we pour them onto big towels laid out on the counter to dry.
Once they are completely dry we pour them onto cookie sheets.
Pop them in your freezer for a bit.
This initial freeze will keep them from freezing together as one large blob later on.
Once they're frozen pour the blueberries into freezer bags.

Make sure to date the bags!

And that's it!
When you're making muffins or something like that simply open up your freezer bag and take out

what you're needing!
I love this because it not only gives our family good fruit year round but it's super cost effective.

Blueberry season is coming up around June.
Check your area for pick your own blueberry farms!

The following recipe is my all time favorite muffin recipe.
It's super versatile.
Leave out the blueberries for a plain muffin.
Or add different fruits and nuts instead of blueberries.

You can also make a jam muffin by placing a dallop of your

 favorite jelly or jam in between layers of the muffin batter.

Not only is it a great muffin recipe to use your blueberries but it is also very inexpensive!
It makes either a dozen full size muffins or two dozen mini muffins.

Blueberry Muffins

2 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1 cup milk

1/4 cup oil

Around 1 cupish of blueberries. Frozen or fresh.

Mix your first seven ingredients in a bowl.

Then stir in your blueberries.

Pour batter into muffin tins.

Bake at 350 degrees for around 20 minutes.

____________________________________________________________________

Have any of you ever picked blueberries or other fruits?
I'd love to hear about it :)

Next Thursday I will be doing a Thrifty Thoughts Meal Linkup.
Start thinking of your most inexpensive, delicious meals!
I'm hoping we can get enough links that when it comes time to make our menu plans

we can just refer back to that post for inexpensive ideas!

Hope you're having a great Thursday!