Two more months.
That’s what’s left of 2014, a year that has passed by so quickly, so full of events and friendships and ideas.
We’re in November, and I’m not sure how exactly to believe it.
We’re in my favorite month of the year, one filled with birthdays and festivities and spring days singing with life and bright with the colors of this beautiful season.
And yet, in this month of November, as my 29th birthday draws near, marking my last year in my twenties; as I inch closer to yet another Christmas away from my family and friends from home, I can’t help but feel a longing for the country in which I was born.
The city where I first learnt to walk, to write, to exist, and where the people dearest to my heart live. The place which will always be mine, first and last.
In the almost five years since I’ve relocated away from Singapore, I don’t usually get homesick easily.
But as each year comes to its close, whenever we enter into holiday season – birthdays, Christmas, and New Year’s, there are days just like today that I yearn for home – whatever that means.
I think about the house where I lived in before moving to Argentina, and my third-floor bedroom with the balcony and its gorgeous night sky view.
I recall the sight of my mum poking her head into my room, just to say hello before leaving for work; the view of my dad reading the morning paper over a cup of milk tea and his breaksfast; and the sound of my siblings’ laughter and easy banter.
I miss spending my birthday and Christmas with my family, both direct and extended, and going for long drives with my best friends, or just sitting at the breakwater at East Coast Park, watching the waves crashing on the shore.
Today, I needed to feel close to home. I put on a playlist of Christmas songs, and with my headphones plugged in, I feel my soul feeling a little warmer, a little nearer and just that bit comforted by things that are familiar.
The sun’s shining beautifully outside my window, after an earlier morning downpour, and as I look outside, I’m reminded that “La Vita è Bella” – life is beautiful.
And while my loved ones are far away, I’m comforted by the fact that they love me as much as I love them. And for now, until we see each other again next year, that’s enough for me.
Sending everyone of you that I’m thinking of these blueberry cornbread muffins – small bites of golden cornbread intertwined with spring’s sweetest blueberries, best eaten with a generous drizzle of honey on top.
Missing all of you and sending my love. XO.
Gluten-free Blueberry Cornbread Muffins
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Yield: 16 muffins 1x
Description
Small bites of golden cornbread intertwined with spring’s sweetest blueberries, best eaten with a generous drizzle of honey on top.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup coarsely ground cornmeal
- 3/4 cup gluten-free flour blend (I used 1/4 cup rice flour, 1/4 cup corn flour & 1/4 cup tapioca flour)
- 1/4 cup + 1 teaspoon sugar (or a little more if you prefer the muffins slightly sweeter)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/3 cup milk
- 2 eggs, lighten beaten, at room temperature
- 8 tablespoons of butter, melted
- 2 cups of fresh blueberries (if you use frozen, make sure to drain them of excess water)
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 425 deg Fahrenheit (220 deg Cel)
- Lightly grease a muffin mold
- In a large bowl, mix together the cornmeal, gluten-free flour blend, sugar, salt, and baking powder.
- Whisk in the milk, eggs and butter until well-combined
- Gently stir in the blueberries into the batter
- Divide batter equally between the cups in the muffin mold
- Bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserte int the middle comes out clean
- Allow cornbread muffins to cool for 10 – 15 minutes before removing from muffin mold
- Serve warm with butter and a drizzle of honey
- Category: Snacks
- Cuisine: Gluten-free
