It’s Wimbledon & Time for Strawberries & Cream!

Wimbledon Championship started in London yesterday, which is home to grass tennis. Our Britain’s number three seed Andy Murray (men’s) is playing today. The championship by a British (men's) player hasn’t been won for 73 years and our entire hopes ride on Andy this year.

Not only is Wimbledon famous for tennis but also for serving strawberries and cream. The popularity of serving strawberries with cream is possibly as old as the event itself. In honour of this tradition, I am serving up strawberry cheesecake muffins to share with you! Each muffin hides a soft lush centre of fresh strawberry and sweet creamy cheese. I am sure these muffins would be delightful to take with you on a picnic or even better still, watching Wimbledon tennis live! Oh yes, bring it on, 30-40...deuce...match point *giggle*.

I know I have gone a little strawberry manic lately, but with British strawberries being in supply for such a short season, I am sure you will understand why. This recipe regrettably is not my own, I only wish it was! It comes from a little book called 101 Cakes & Bakes Goodfood, it has numerous delicious cakes and bakes, which would make any baker or person who “loves de cake”; salivate on flicking through each page, I know I do....teeheehee....

Strawberry Cheesecake Muffins
(Adapted from 101 Cakes & Bakes Goodfood)

Makes 12

Ingredients
350g (12 oz) plain flour
1½ tbsp baking powder
150g (5 oz) caster sugar
½ tsp salt
2 eggs
250ml (9 fl oz) milk
75g (3 oz) butter, melted
For The Filling
175g (6 oz) soft cheese
3 tbsp caster sugar
6 small strawberries, halved

You will need a 12 holed muffin tin lined with 12 paper muffin cases

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan oven 180°C/400°F/gas Mark 6.

Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl, add the sugar and salt and mix through with a wooden spoon or whisk then leave aside.

In another bowl beat the eggs and milk together, and then stir in the melted butter. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid ingredients, now gently mix, it is quite normal to have a few lumps remaining in the mixture. Do not over mix or the muffins will not be light and airy. Mix the cream cheese and sugar for the filling together in a small bowl. Half fill the muffin cases with the muffin mixture, and then push half a strawberry into each muffin case. Place a teaspoonful of the sweet cream cheese on top, and then finish by spooning over the remaining muffin mixture to cover and fill each muffin case.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 -20 minutes until well risen and golden on top. Leave to cool for 5 minutes before turning out on a wire rack to finish cooling.

Lastly, grab a muffin and dive into that soft lush centre of fresh strawberry and sweet creamy cheese. Oh boy, does that tame your sweet tooth? I know it sure did mine :-9