THE LEAFLET

Casey Trees volunteer Victor Castillo wrote in to let us know about a fungus that this spring took over his serviceberry tree – Cedar Apple Rust. Though the fungus, scientifically known as Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae, won’t do lasting harm to your trees, the fungus can render your tree’s fruit inedible.

More information about the fungus and its prevention can be found here.

If your serviceberry tree made it through spring unscathed, Victor has kindly shared his now-famous serviceberry muffin recipe.

SERVICEBERRY MUFFINS

These muffins are famous at plantings that Victor leads, and luckily, we were able to convince him to share the secret recipe.

FOR THE MUFFINS

½ cup rolled oats
½ cup orange juice
½ cup plain yogurt
½ cup vegetable oil
1 egg, beaten
1½ cups flour
½ cup sugar
½ tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
1½ cups serviceberries

FOR THE TOPPING

2 tbsp sugar
¼ tsp cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Soak rolled oats in orange juice for a couple of minutes. Add yogurt and mix. Stir in egg and oil to the oats, orange juice and yogurt mixture.
3. Mix dry ingredients (but not berries) together in a large bowl. Add berries to dry mixture; stir to coat.
4. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients. Pour in the rolled oats mixture. Gently fold together, being careful not to over-mix.
5. Spray mini-muffin or standard muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. Evenly spoon mixture into the pan and top with the cinnamon / sugar mixture.
6. Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick comes out clean; about 12 to 14 minutes for the mini-muffins or 18 to 20 minutes for standard muffins.
7. Cool muffins in pan. Serve.