Preheat the oven to 375F/190C degrees F.
Cream the butter and 1 1/4 cups sugar until light.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and lemon zest.
Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder, and add to the creamed mixture alternately with the milk.
Crush 1/2 cup blueberries with a fork, and mix into the batter. Fold in the remaining whole berries.
Line a jumbo (Texas) muffin tin with cupcake liners (I use lotus-shaped parchment ones), and fill with batter. Sprinkle the 3 tablespoons sugar over the tops of the muffins, and bake at 375 degrees for about 40-45 minutes.
Remove muffins from tin and cool at least 30 minutes. Store, uncovered, or the muffins will be too moist the second day.
May be made in a standard-size muffin tin, but bake for 30-35 minutes. It will make 12 standard-sized muffins.