Over the years I've taken my standard recipe (it's available here) and made slight changes every now and then. I enjoy adding a little ground clove (it was not part of the original recipe Mom made when I was a child), a teaspoon or so of vanilla and a variety of nuts (walnuts are still my favorite but chopped pecans are delicious, too).
I added dried blueberries and cranberries this time. We generally have cranberries mixed in with our raisins but I've never added blueberries before. And they are delicious!
As I take the 1/2 cup of raisins (etc.), cover them with water and microwave them for 30 seconds or so), the water which is then drained off and discarded will be inky-purple because of the blueberries. For this reason, the fruit should be added last and mixed gently. You don't want the batter turning blue.
I made the muffins today because Bob and his friend, Sam, are heading out to Gatlinburg, Tennessee tomorrow for some hiking. Sam's mother always sends spice cookies and I always send muffins.
This year they'll bite into something a little different.
