MUFFINS BASIC AND VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Grease 12 2 1/2-inch muffin cups.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Sift Flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a medium-sized bowl.
• Stir to mix well.
• In a small bowl, beat egg with a fork.
• Add milk and oil.
• Add all at once to dry ingredients.
• Stir mixture only until dry ingredients are moistened.
• Batter will be lumpy.
• Drop batter from a tablespoon into prepared muffins pans, filling each cup half to two-thirds full.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Remove from pan and serve hot with butter, jam or marmalade.
• VARIATIONS:
• GINGER MUFFINS: Add 1/2 Cup finely diced candied ginger to flour mixture before adding liquid.
• BANANA PECAN MUFFINS: Prepare muffin batter but use only 1/2 cup milk.
• Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans and 1/4 t ground nutmeg to sifted flour.
• Add 1 cup mashed, peeled banana with the egg, milk and oil.
• BLUEBERRY MUFFINS: Toss 1 cup washed and well-drained fresh or frozen blueberries with sifted flour mixture before adding liquid.
• ORANGE MUFFINS: Cut 2 peeled navel oranges into sections.
• When batter is in the cups, place an orange section on top of each and sprinkle lightly with granulated sugar.
• CHEESE MUFFINS: Fold 1/2 cup grated sharp yellow cheese into muffin mix with the last few strokes on batter.
• Serve hot with scrambled eggs and bacon for a special breakfast.
• SURPRISE MUFFINS: Fill muffin cups 1/3rd full of batter.
• Drop 1/2 t of your favorite jelly in center of batter.
• Add batter to fill cup 2/3rds full.
• Kids just love these as you will.
• COCONUT MUFFINS: Add 1 c Shredded coconut with the last few strokes of mixing.
• For a snack have coconut muffins, butter and milk.
• CHIVE MUFFINS: Fold 1/4 cup chives into the batter during the last few strokes and serve at dinner.
• Great with a steak and salad.