Muffins

One of the best and least expensive gifts we were given when we got married was a recipe. Well, it came as muffin mix, a spoon, a hot pad, and recipe cards. It was for basic muffin mix, and it is wonderful. We usually just make the basic muffins, but you can add just about anything you want to them.

Basic Muffin Mix

8 cups all purpose flour
3 cups sugar
3 TB baking powder
2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp nutmeg

Combine all and mix well. (I have found that it is easiest to mix everything but the flour and then add the flour. That way, there is a slight color difference and you can tell when it is all together.) Put in airtight container. Label with date and contents. Use within 6 to 8 months.

So, you make up the mix and you can store or use it and completely homemade muffins whenever you want!

Melt in your mouth Muffins

2 3/4 cups Basic Muffin Mix
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
½ cup margarine, melted or vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 400. Spray muffin pans. Put mix in a medium bowl. Combine egg, milk and margarine or oil in a small bowl. Add all at once to mix. Stir until just moistened, batter should be lumpy. Fill tins 3/4 full. Bake 18-20 minutes, until golden brown. (Check them often until you know how long they take in your oven. I used to cook them for 17 minutes, but with this different tin, it is more like 10-15 minutes.)

Variations:

Corn meal muffins-Decrease mix to 2 1/4 cups. Add ½ cup cornmeal.

Jelly muffins-Fill each cup 1/3 full with batter. Drop 1 tsp jelly on top of batter. Fill cups 3/4 full with batter.

Butterscotch-Pecan Muffins-Melt 6 TB butter or margarine in a small saucepan. Stir in 6 TB brown sugar. Place 1TB of brown sugar mixture and 2-3 pecans in bottom of each muffin cup. Fill cups 3/4 full with batter.

Apricot Muffins-Add 1 cup chopped dried apricots to liquid ingredients before adding liquid to muffin mix.

Banana Muffins-Mash 1 large banana (½ cup) and add to liquid ingredients before adding liquid to muffin mix.

Blueberry Muffins-Add 1 cup well-drained blueberries to liquid ingredients before adding liquid to muffin mix.

One thing that helps a lot is that I use a scoop from hot chocolate. It puts just the right amount of batter in the tins. (I also use these scoops for pancakes and waffles.) Free and easy way to reuse something that would normally be thrown away.


I also love the muffin top tin that my MIL gave us for Christmas! The muffins are a lot easier to eat and the kids like them and waste a lot less food. Belle thinks they are cookies!!


Well, here they are. I'm hungry, now, how about you??