Cottage Cooking - Glazed White Chocolate and Raspberry Muffins

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...The seminal version of this recipe was developed in the Land O' Lakes test kitchen, and if the number of riffs it has generated is any indicator, people liked it - a lot. The source was hard to find because there are so many versions of the recipe floating in cyberspace. That number is easily explained by how simple these delicious muffins are to make. No special equipment is needed to prepare them, so this is a perfect recipe to make in a poorly equipped summer kitchen. It is also one that can be made by young cooks. I must warn you, that while these muffins are too sweet to serve for breakfast, they make an addictive dessert or late afternoon snack. They are moist and sweet and truly great to eat. The batter used to make the muffins is very stiff and guaranteed to mash the berries you try to fold into it. If you think the bleeding color will bother you, use frozen, unthawed berries and you'll be fine. I do hope you'll give these muffins a try. Here is how they are made.

Maraschino Cherry, White Chocolate and Oatmeal Cookies

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Lest you lose more sleep, I'm here tonight to answer one of life's most vexing questions. What exactly are maraschino cherries? I know you're anxious, so we'll get right to the point. They are light colored sweet cherries that are bleached in a solution of calcium chloride and sulfur dioxide. When they turn yellow they are transferred from the bleach solution to vats of high fructose syrup and Red Dye #4, where they get sloshed and gradually become the vibrant red stemmed beauties you find in drinks and atop ice cream sundaes. I rarely have them in the house, but I had a visitor this week who had a request that demanded I use them. After our busy afternoon, I still had some remaining, and because I am frugal, I stuck the jar in the fridge with the intention of finding someway to use them. I found this recipe on the blog Yummy Addiction and decided these cookies would be a perfect way to finish the remaining cherries. Those of you who like sweet things will be thrilled with these. As I see it,  the oatmeal cancels out the butter, sugar and dye in the cherries and produces a  health food that has yet to be recognized. My feelings about the cherries aside, this is a really nice cookie that I know those of you who try will enjoy. Here is how they are made.