Betsy Piner is a member of the Commission's planning staff. She has been employed here since May of 1995. Betsy resides with her family in Tabernacle Township which is a predominately agricultural community within the Pinelands. She is known for her excellent baking skills, the products of which are often shared with her co-workers.
Betsy's recipes always include the abundant fruits and vegetables of the Pinelands National Reserve. After all, she needs only to drive a short distance to personally pick fresh ingredients for her delicious pies, muffins and breads. Pick Your Own Farms are plentiful within the region and are at full swing this time of the year.
Betsy has submitted for your pleasure, her recipe for Three Season Fruit Muffins. Come to one of our farms and select the delicious fruits that give each type of muffin its distinct flavor.
(Makes 12 muffins)
- 2 cups of flour
- 1 tablespoon of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 1/2 cup of milk
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
- 1/4 cup of melted butter
Select from the following Pinelands grown fresh fruits according to the season:
| Spring: |
| April |
1 cup of chopped RHUBARB mixed with an additional 1/4 cup of sugar |
| May/June |
1 cup of coarsely chopped STRAWBERRIES |
|
|
| Summer: |
| July |
1 cup of BLUEBERRIES (New Jersey is among the top three states in blueberry production) |
| August |
1 cup of BLACKBERRIES mixed with an additional 1 cup of sugar,
OR
1 cup of PEACHES (yes we grow these, too) coarsely chopped and sprinkled with 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract |
| September |
1 cup of RASPBERRIES |
| Fall: |
| October |
1 cup of finely chopped tart APPLES such as Winesaps |
Mix the flour, baking powder and salt together with a fork. Add the remaining ingredients including one cup of the selected fruit. Stir to combine, but don't overmix. Spoon the batter into muffin pans lined with paper baking cups. Sprinkle additional sugar or sugar/cinnamon mix on top, if desired. Bake in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven for about 20 minutes. Then, enjoy a taste of the New Jersey Pinelands.
