Have a Very [Blue]BERRY Monday!
Brew Monday: turning Blue Monday into brighter days
Blue Monday — often labelled the “most depressing day of the year” — sounds official, but the truth is simpler: it started life as a marketing idea, not a scientific fact. While many people do feel low in January, there’s no single Monday that decides how we’re all doing.
That’s where Brew Monday comes in.
Mental-health charities like Samaritans flipped the script, turning Blue Monday into an invitation form a brew rather than a verdict:
Brew Monday is about connection – checking in on someone, sharing a cuppa, and remembering that feeling low doesn’t need fixing, analysing, or explaining. Sometimes it just needs company.
At its heart, Brew Monday says:
You don’t have to do January alone.
And honestly? A warm drink and something comforting to eat never hurt either. So let’s add some BLUE-berries of our own (which are nutritious in their own right) and full of antioxidants.
Let’s face it, cake for breakfast is always a good idea. Muffins just made it more acceptable!
Small things matter
Brew Monday isn’t about pretending everything’s fine. It’s about making space for conversation, for kindness, for small comforts that help us through the grey bits.
So put the kettle on.
Send a message.
Share a muffin.
Sometimes, that’s more than enough. 💙 ☕️ 🫐 🧁 💙
Blueberry muffins to accompany the perfect brew
INGREDIENTS
250g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
100g sugar
(caster or light brown)
1 large egg
100ml milk
80ml vegetable oil
(or melted butter)
150g blueberries
(fresh or frozen or a combo)
1 tsp vanilla extract
(optional)
METHOD
-
Heat oven to 190°C (170°C fan).
-
Line a muffin tin.
-
Mix flour, baking powder, and sugar in a bowl.
-
In another bowl, whisk egg, milk, oil, and vanilla.
-
Gently fold wet ingredients into dry : don’t over-mix – this gives them the texture.
-
Gently fold in the blueberries.
-
Spoon into cases and bake for 18–22 minutes, until golden and springy.
-
Bake them slightly imperfect. Cracks on top are a feature, not a flaw!
Brew Monday Tips for Perfect Muffins
Extra steam
To add extra moisture and height to muffins is to fill a couple of the empty holes in your metal muffin tin with boiling water just before you place the tray in the oven. The water evaporates to create a steamy environment, helping with initial lift and delaying the crust from forming before the batter has expanded.
DIY muffin cases
Create a more artisan, rustic look by making your own muffin cases. Simply cut a sheet of baking parchment into 10 squares, each one slightly bigger than the hole. Push into each indentation in the tin, folding it to fit and flattening over the top edges to give the muffins room to spread.
Frozen and fresh blueberries
Opt for a mix of fresh and frozen blueberries for a range of textures.
The frozen ones burst more readily and create a ripple of colour, while the fresh ones are more flavoursome.
The best blueberry muffins
Martha Collison’s recipe brings impressively domed, coffee shop muffins within your grasp. See her Waitrose recipe here.
Airfryer muffins
Click here for Blueberry muffins you can cook in your airfryer: Blueberry Cheesecake Muffins:
Gluten free muffins
Get this recipe for Gluten Free muffins from Blue Sky Eating.
Gluten Free muffins from Blue Sky Eating
Make your muffin mixture the night before
If you’re not an early riser, check out this easy blueberry muffin recipe and get most of your prep sorted the night before!
1-Bowl Vegan Blueberry Muffins
Soft, fluffy and moist Vegan Blueberry Muffins from with fresh, juicy blueberries throughout. You’ll love how easy they are to make in one bowl!
Image Credit: Vegan Blueberry Muffins by Nora Cooks
Fibre
Supports digestion and gut health.
Fibre helps to steady blood sugar (important in winter comfort foods).
Manganese
This is important for metabolism and antioxidant enzymes.
Polyphenols & Anthocyanins
These are the compounds that give blueberries their deep colour and are linked to brain health, heart health & reduced inflammation.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K supports bone health and blood clotting.
Cover Image Credit: cakesmiths
Image Credit: waitrose.com
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