Strawberry Muffins

Preheat the oven to 375° and line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners. In a medium bowl, toss the strawberries with the 2 tablespoons of the sugar and let stand for 10 minutes.

In another bowl, whisk the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar with the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, whisk the buttermilk with the oil and eggs. Quickly whisk in the dry ingredients. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the strawberries along with any accumulated juices.

Fill the muffin cups about three-fourths full with batter. Bake in the center of the oven for about 30 minutes, until golden and puffed and a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Let the muffins cool in the tins for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature.