Muffin Monsters

We LOVE muffins! I could do a whole series called "For the Love of Muffins"! I call my children my little muffin monsters. :-) They are great foods to make ahead for Shabbat because they are quick and easy breakfast, snack, or supplement to lunch or dinner. You don't have to dirty dishes, just eat them on a paper towel napkin. Great muffins don't even need butter! We make make all kinds: sweet, savory easy and complicated, even filled or topped muffins! Savory muffins are delicious complements to winter soups and can be prepared in a snap. They freeze so well! So they make wonderful make ahead foods to also have on hand. When I make muffins I make four dozen at a time. We eat 2 dozen that day and I freeze two dozen for another day. if I don't...they will be gone the next day! :-) 8 muffin monsters can make short work of a dozen muffins! I only use freshly ground whole grains for my flours and I almost always use raw honey as my sweetener. Honey gives you a very moist rich muffin which works very nicely with whole grains. Spelt also makes a very nice flour for muffins. When we juice fruits or veggies, I always put my pulp in a zip lock bag and freeze it for a muffin batch another day! Ok...enough yammering...let make some muffins!

Quick Muffin Base with Variations
(each makes 24 muffins)
Preheat oven to 350F takes 25 minutes to bake

2C wheat flour
1/4C wheat germ
1/4 bran
2tsp cinnamon
1tsp baking powder
1tsp baking soda

4 eggs, beaten
1C oil
1C honey
2 tsp vanilla

1. In a large bowl mix dry ingredients.
2. In a medium bowl mix wet ingredients. (Always measure oil first, than same measuring cup for honey - its much easier!)
3. Gently add wet ingredients to dry, and combine, do not over mix.
4. Fold in chunky stuff.

Variations:

When making variations - put the wet additions in the wet bowl and dry additions in the dry bowl. Leaving the chunky stuff like nuts or raisins, etc, to fold in at the end

Zucchini Raisin Muffins - 2C shredded zucchini + 1C raisins

Applesauce Raisin Muffins - 2C Applesauce, add 1/2c flour, 1/2tsp ground cloves & 1 tsp ground nutmeg. (diced dried apples are also very good in this)

Banana Chip Muffins - 2c mashed banana + 1 chocolate chips

Blueberry Muffins - Omit cinnamon, add 3C blueberries. (if using frozen berries add 1/2C more flour)

Carrot Raisin Muffins - 2C grated carrots, 1C golden raisins

Cranberry Nut Muffins - Omit the cinnamon, 3C cranberries, 1C chopped nuts, add 1/2C flour I also like to add a dash of orange flavor too!)

Apricot Nut Muffins - Omit cinnamon, add 2c chopped nuts, 1C chopped dried apricots

Pumpkin Raisin Muffins - 2C Pureed pumpkin or squash, add 1/2 C flour, 1/2 tsp gr. cloves, 1 tsp gr. nutmeg

Savory Muffins - Omit cinnamon and vanilla, add 1C diced onions, and 1C shredded cheddar cheese, 1/2 tsp salt

Cheese Apple Muffins - Add 11/3 C shredded cheddar cheese and 1/2C chopped (peeled) fresh apples

Autumn Muffins - add 2tp dr. ginger, and nutmeg, handful or raisins and chopped (peeled) apple or pear.

Surprise Muffins - After you pour the batter into the tins, take a pitted date, or dr apricot (or any surprise) and tuck it right into the center of the muffin! This is fun to do with a theme...or to make different surprises in the same tin!

Jelly Filled Muffin - After you pour the batter into the tins, drop a dollop of your favorite jam in the center of each muffin. (about a teaspoon)

Kiwi Muffins - Omit cinnamon and add 1-1 1/2C of peeled, mashed kiwi to your wet ingredients.

Corn Muffins - Omit cinnamon and 1C of flour and add 1C cornmeal.

Have you had enough? I can do this all day!!! :-)

* Any dried fruit cut small can be substituted for raisins. Dried Cranberries or cherries are very nice! (but expensive)

* If you prefer to do this in a loaf pan. These recipes will make 2 loaves. Bake for 45 minutes.

Muffin Monsters Unite! :-)