Apple Muffins

"What sweet thing will we make today mummy'?" Hmmm, making sweet things wasn't really on the days agenda.  "I want to make apple muffins". "Can we make apple muffins?". "Lets make apple muffins mummy", "Is that a plan mummy?" Such willpower. I can put off and delay her inspiration for a little while, pull out the paints, or the playdough, but the little Bowerbird does not forget, and she does not give up. "Mummy, you said after lunch we'd make apple muffins" (cleverly omitting the 'might' in my sentence).  Really, I should just say yes straight away and begin the inevitable, after all, what's not to like about apple muffins?

We are Googling recipes and the little one instructs, A is for apple. She knows I am typing letters. We choose this one http://www.food.com/recipe/apple-cupcakes-41260

They looked promising on the outside, but when chopped in half they were seriously moist, wet in fact, not quite the result I was after. 

At first I thought they were a disaster, but warmed up in the microwave they were like a desert apple pudding, and as the days went by they improved. Not one muffin from the doubled recipe was wasted. It did seem a strange recipe as I was making it, no eggs.

The above images are of May's apple muffins which I never bothered posting, as they weren't really up to scracth.

When the urge for apple muffins struck the little one yesterday we decided to try a different recipe. This one used chopped rather than grated apples. http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2010/08/apple-cinnamon-muffins.html  The little Bowerbird helped dice them into small pieces. There was mixing, and lots of tasting. Again we took a punt and doubled the recipe, 12 muffins last a pitifully short time in our house. Rather than making the topping we just sprinkled on some raw sugar.

These muffins are light and filled with tasty apple chunks, just perfect.  The funny thing is, that  the little Bowerbird has turned her nose up at them. She doesn't really like the chunks of apple. Sigh, at least the rest of the house is happy.

Rapt with Raspberries

We're hauling in so many raspberries, gosh they're good, picked fresh, sweet and warm straight from the canes, or a moist tangy burst in a muffin. You can't have too many raspberries.  I'm grateful for a successful crop and a daughter big enough to pick raspberries and then make muffins and jam with them. Quote from the big Bowerbird  "I love making jam mum, it tastes so good", and I love that she loves making it too.


Quick instant lunch tip.  If you didn't get around to making bread like you thought you would, pancakes are a great instant substitute for school lunches - you can make them quicker than going to the shops for bread.


For more beautiful grateful posts visit, Maxabella Loves.

Orangello muffins

They were meant to be orange muffins but we only had one orange, so in came the tangello.  These are filling and not overly sweet and a little tangier than a plain orange muffin. We doubled the recipe and made 32, otherwise they disappear too quickly and there are none for lunches.
Recipe adapted from http://annies-eats.net/2010/04/16/orange-muffins/

ingredients to make 16:
1 cup milk
½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
½ cup sour cream
2 large eggs
225g butter, melted
3½ cups plain flour
1 cup sugar
1½ tbsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
Zest of 1 orange or tangello (or if doubling use zest and juice of both fruits)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 180C.  Line muffin pans with 16 paper liners.  In a medium mixing bowl, combine the milk, orange juice, zest, sour cream, eggs and melted butter.  Whisk together to blend.  In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Stir to blend.  Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated.  

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared muffin cups - about one ice cream scoop in each.  Bake about 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.