Showing posts with label Muffins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Muffins. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Peanut Butter Cupcakes

The "Eat from your Pantry Challenge" is going on fully steam around the blogosphere. Even though I am not participating this time around,  I thought it would be great to share one of my recipes that I make that uses up a few things that I keep in my pantry and often wonder what I can make with them that would be kid friendly. Are you like me and have boxed cake mixes and canned frosting in your pantry and wondering what you could make with it other than just making up plain old cake or cupcakes?

Why not try these easy to put together, yummy, kid friendly cupcakes??!!

Peanut Butter Cupcakes


Cake:
1 box yellow cake mix

1 1/4 cups water

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Frosting:
1 container chocolate frosting

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup chopped peanuts(optional)


Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.

2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, eggs and 3/4 cup peanut butter with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (about 2/3 full).

3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

4. In medium bowl, stir together frosting and 1/4 cup peanut butter. Frost cupcakes with frosting mixture. Sprinkle with peanuts, if desired; press lightly into frosting.

Notes: Since I am not big fan of chopped peanuts I used about 1/2 tsp. grape jelly on top of several cupcakes while leaving others plain.

This post is linked to:

Friday, October 23, 2009

Oatmeal Muffins

In my efforts to find more nutritious snacks to make rather than relying on pre-packaged snacks to have on hand for my family, I found this recipe in my recipe files.  I am not sure my source for this recipe, but it definitely will be put into my keeper notebook! (update: I found my source, my homeschooling friend, Leni! Thanks so much for this yummy recipe!)

I find these easy to make and was able to use items I had on hand to make them. I divided the recipe in half rather than making the huge batch of them and find that my crew did not like them. Hence ending up wasting a ton of muffins!

These muffins are very versatile in that you can change around the types of flour you use along with changing the type of liquid you put into them.  You can make the huge batch (40 muffins) and divide the batter into different bowls so that you can add in different ingredients to give you a whole different muffin.  I didn't want to use milk in the recipe so I used some apple cider for all the liquid amount.  I also add in 1 TBSP. cinnamon into the mixture as well.  There isn't much sugar in this recipe which makes for a very healthy and yummy muffin.



Oatmeal Muffins

3 cups whole wheat flour
2 1/3 cups white flour
3 cups oatmeal (quick or whole)
8 tsp. baking powder
4 eggs
3 cups milk(water, apple juice, apple cider)
1 cup oil
1 1/3 cups sugar (white or brown)

Add in options:
  • chopped apple
  • chocolate chips
  • raisins
  • dried fruit 
  • chunk of cream cheese in each muffin cup
  • dollop of jelly or jam in the middle
  • spices, ie. cinnamon
Mix together the dry ingredients in one bowl.  In another bowl, cream together the eggs, liquid, and sugar.  If desired, separate batter into different bowls before adding in any of the above "add in" options. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until golden.  Makes about 40 muffins, depending on size.

This post is linked to:


Friday, July 24, 2009

Fresh Strawberry Muffins


Tis the season to have LOTS of fresh fruit in the house, however, I have several family members that will not eat many fresh fruits--maybe an apple or banana if I am lucky! Which means that when I have fresh fruit in the house it might take a while for those us who like fruit to eat it.

I had purchased 3lbs of strawberries a couple of weeks ago on price drop at Meijer for 99¢/lb. My oldest son and I are the only ones that eat the strawberries fresh and so I chopped them up and we ate some of them fresh. After a few days though they started to get a little mushy so I decided to use them up before they went bad and make some fresh strawberry muffins for the first time.

I used Nancy's fresh strawberry muffin recipe as my guide and went to work creating a yummy healthy muffin!

Here is my recipe:

Fresh Strawberry Muffins

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup margarine, softened
2 eggs
4 cups flour (2 cups white, 2 cups wheat)
4 tsps. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups chopped strawberries
6 tsps. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and mix well. Sift flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Add flour mixture and milk alternately to butter mixture. Add sour cream and vanilla. Gently stir in strawberries. Scoop batter into muffin pans. Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over muffins. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes. Makes 2 1/2 dozen.

Notes: I made 2 dozen muffins and 1 small quick bread loaf. Allow to cool before eating! As you can see from my picture above, they are a bit crumbly if you try to eat them right out of the oven!

This post is linked at:

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Aunt Nellie's Best Ever Muffins


Last week in my fridge I discovered that I had 2-6oz containers of fresh raspberries that needed to get used up before they went bad on me. I decided that I would use them in muffins since several raspberries I had to take off bad spots.

I pulled out my trusty/no fail borrowed church cookbook from my Mom that I have love browsing through and trying recipes, like the peach cobbler muffins from a couple of weeks ago! This time while browsing through looking for a recipe to use my fresh raspberries, I found my Aunt's quick muffin recipe! These literally take all of about 5 minutes to whip up and they cook in under 30 minutes! So they are great for adding to a morning breakfast or to whip up for a quick afternoon snack. They are also very easily doubled! The other thing I like about this recipe is there is not much sugar in the recipe so my diabetic parents can handle eating them without too much problems.

Aunt Nellie's Best Ever Muffins

1 3/4 cup flour (used half white, half wheat)
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
1 well-beaten egg
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup veggie oil

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a bowl; make well in center. Combine egg, milk, and oil. Add all at once to dry ingredients. Stir quickly just until dry ingredients are moistened. Fill greased muffin pans 2/3 full. Bake in 400° oven about 25 minutes. Makes 1 dozen muffins.


Blueberry or Raspberry Muffins: Prepare batter above. Toss 1 cup fresh or thawed and well-drained frozen blueberries or raspberries with 2 TBSP. sugar. Gently stir into batter. Bake as above.

Notes: This recipe is a very basic recipe so other "stir-in" items other than berries would work as well! I only stirred in about 1 tbsp sugar with the raspberries that I used. I also used paper liners in my muffin tins with no problems.

This post is linked at:


Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Cherry-Apple Bran Muffins

I stepped out of my "box" of always having to follow someone else's recipe and I did some experimenting in the kitchen today!! I had bought some fresh cherries a couple of weeks ago and got tired of me and one child eating them fresh so I decided instead of letting them go to waste that I would use them up by making up some muffins.

Okay, I looked at my tried & true banana bread recipe to use as base for my experimenting but overall this recipe is totally something that I whipped together on my own to use up the fresh cherries that I were in my fridge that I got a couple of weeks ago on sale.

Here is the recipe:


3 eggs
2 sticks butter or margarine(I used a stick of each)
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour(I used 2 cups white, 1 cup whole wheat)
1 1/3 cups bran flakes, crushed
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 1/2 cups cherries, pitted & pureed(about 1# cherries)
1/2 cup applesauce




Remove pits from cherries. Put in the blender and coursely puree. (I used my Kitchenaid blender on the "chop" setting for 30-45 seconds.) In a mixing bowl, cream eggs, sugar, and butter/margarine. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, bran flakes, baking soda, and salt. Add to the creamed mixture. Mix well. Add cherries and applesauce. Stir or mix well. Bake in oven at 350° for 35-45 minutes. Makes 24-27 regular size muffins.

Results: These got a 6 out of 7 from my family! My hubby did not like them that well BUT he is not a big fan of muffins that don't have chocolate of some sort in them. My kids inhaled their muffin and were asking if they could have another one. Since I was filling my freezer, I let them have their one and the rest were put in the freezer to pull out for a compliment/side for a breakfast or to have as a snack!

This post is linked at:

Friday, June 26, 2009

Peach Cobbler Muffins

I love looking through cookbooks, especially church cookbooks. Church cookbooks are the type of cookbooks that you know have tried and true recipes in them and can be trusted not to fail! A few months ago, my mom let me borrow one of her church cookbooks, which is actually from my aunt's church and I have found several no fail, tried and true recipes along with helpful hints in this cookbook.

One of those recipes is for Peach Cobbler Muffins!!


Here is the recipe for your enjoyment!

Peach Cobbler Muffins

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
6 TBSP. butter or margarine, diced
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen peaches, chopped

1 1/2 TBSP. butter or margarine, melted

1/2 tsp. cinnamon
4 tsp. sugar


Preheat oven to 400°. Grease or line muffin tins(10 muffins). Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend or cut with knives.(I just use my Pampered Chef pastry blender) Cut in diced butter until crumbly. Stir in milk. Add peaches, stir. Divide dough into muffin cups. Drizzle with melted butter. Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on top. Bake 25 minutes until golden brown.

These are fun to eat plain or with a scoop of ice cream!

This post is linked at:

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Scrumptious Sunday--Strawberry Muffins


I love these muffins because they are versatile in that you can change the kind of berries and yogurt you use in the batter!  I have done these using blueberry yogurt and blueberries. I have also done blackberries with raspberry yogurt. You can also use frozen berries not just fresh. 

Strawberry Streusel Muffins
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 cup strawberry yogurt
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup chopped fresh strawberries

  • STREUSEL TOPPING:
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons cold butter
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, combine eggs, yogurt and sour cream; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in strawberries. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full.      For topping, combine the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon in a bowl; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over batter.      Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Yield: 1 dozen. 

For more scrumptious recipes, head over Happy to be at Home!

**photo courtesy of Taste of Home

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Oatmeal Muffins


OATMEAL MUFFINS 

This is a quadruple batch, should make about 40 muffins, depending on size. I got this recipe from a friend a while ago.  I love making these muffins up because I can have a variety of muffins in very little time. Paula asked me if these freeze well...the answer is yes they do!!  I allow them to cool completely and then stick them in a ziploc gallon size freezer bag and stash away in the freezer. Something else that I have done is take the time to individually wrap the muffins and then stick in the ziploc freezer bag so it is just an easy pull for sticking in a "on-the-go lunch". 

3 C whole wheat flour
2 1/3 flour
3 C oats (quick or whole)
8 tsp. baking powder
4 eggs
3 C milk (I sub water often)
1 C oil
1 1/3 white or brown sugar

Add-in options:

Chopped apple
Chocolate chips
Raisins
Dried fruit
Chunk of cream cheese in each
Dollop of jelly in the middle

Bake at 400 for 20 min or until golden.


For other tempting tummy recipes and more; head over to Blessed with Grace!
For other kitchen tips, head over to Tammy's Recipes! This post is also linked at Blissfully Domestic


Saturday, November 15, 2008

Scrumptious Sunday--OJ Muffins



ORANGE JUICE MUFFINS

1 egg
½ cup buttermilk
1/3 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/3 cup margarine, melted
1 2/3 cups flour
½ cup sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt

Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Combine the egg, buttermilk, orange juice concentrate and melted margarine in a separate bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Stir until batter is moistened but still lumpy.

Lightly spray 12 muffin cups with vegetable oil spray. Fill the muffin cups ¾ full with batter. Bake in a 400° oven for 20 minutes or until muffins are golden brown. Yields 12 muffins

Notes: Can use veggie oil instead of melted margarine. Can also make into bread loaves just adjust baking time.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Smelling like Fall!

Today the temps around here were in the high 30s! You look out my windows and you can see the leaves changing! You step outside and breathe in the crisp, cool air! Fall is definitely here in my part of the country!

So I am now getting in the baking mood! Today I focused on the pumpkin smell in my house!!


I made this awesome moist pumpkin bundt cake! It has a mild pumpkin flavor and just melts in your mouth! The kids had it for snack today hence the cake being half gone already!



Since I opened just a 15 oz can of pumpkin I didn't have enough for another "big batch" of something so I found a recipe for pumpkin muffins over at Hillbilly Housewife that only called for 1 cup of pumpkin! So I baked up that recipe! Of course, I changed a couple of things in the recipe! I didn't have quite a full cup of pumpkin to put in the batter sooooo I used 1/4 cup of cooked butternut squash along with 3/4 cup of pumpkin to get my 1 cup of pumpkin! I also did not use a 1/3 cup of melted margarine but instead used 1/3 cup of unsweetened applesauce!! The muffins will make a good compliment to breakfast in the morning!

Both of these recipes made my house smell soooo good and fall-like!

Go take a look at the many other Harvest or Halloween type recipes over at Life as a Mom or share some of your own!!

More of Sonshine's Fall Recipe Collection

Friday, September 19, 2008

Fall Recipe Collection




I love the fall season! Not because it means that I will be a year older(my birthday is in October); but because of all the homemade goodness that I can make in my kitchen that I really have hard time doing in the summer heat. Life as a Mom is hosting a Favorite Fall Food Recipe Swap, so I thought I would join in the fun and share some of my favorite fall recipes!

Where to start.....there's muffins, and stews, and crisps, and cakes...OH MY!

Pumpkin Muffins

2 c sugar
2 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 c. oil
4 eggs
1 (15-oz) can of pumpkin

Mix together all dry ingredients first, then add oil and eggs. Once this is mixed well (it will be thick), add pumpkin. Put in 2/3 cup batter into well greased muffin cups or or greased wrappers. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 mins (my oven baked them just right at 18 mins). I iced them with Cream Cheese icing!


Apple Cider Muffins

Pumpkin-Oat Muffins



Apple Crisp

Pumpkin Cake Squares


Chicken Rice Soup





Veggie Beef Stew


Go take a look at the many other fall recipes over at Life as a Mom or share some of your own!!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Kitchen Tip Tuesday--Muffins Galore


The last couple of weeks, I have talked about packable lunches and packable snacks. I hope those lists have helped you get ideas for the upcoming school year!

I have been working lately at getting several different varieties of muffins in my freezer for quick breakfast or snack pulls. So this week I want to talk Muffins! No it is not a foreign language but several(okay many) recipes that I love to do. I have talked about about muffins before, however, I haven't taken the time to share all my recipes! None of them are family secrets and I love having the recipes someplace other than my hardcopy in the kitchen just in case friends want the recipe.

There is soooooo many different kinds of muffins! Muffins are quick and easy to do, especially if you are using a muffin mix!

Muffins that are favorites around here are:



Banana

Pumpkin Muffins

2 c sugar
2 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 c. oil
4 eggs
1 (15-oz) can of pumpkin

Mix together all dry ingredients first, then add oil and eggs. Once this is mixed well (it will be thick), add pumpkin. Put in 2/3 cup batter into well greased muffin cups or or greased wrappers. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 mins (my oven baked them just right at 18 mins). I iced them with Cream Cheese icing!

Pumpkin-oat Strusel

Chocolate/Chocolate Chip

Zucchini

Apple cider

Orange juice

Chocolate chip

Easy Bran

Blueberry

Strawberry

Cinnamon/Snickerdoodle

TOPPING
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

MUFFIN
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup fat-free milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) margarine or butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat oven to 400°F. Spray bottoms only of mini muffin pan cups with cooking spray.

For topping, combine sugar and cinnamon in small bowl; mix well and set aside.

For muffins, combine flour, oats, sugar and baking powder in large bowl; mix well. In small bowl, combine milk, egg, margarine and vanilla; blend well. Add to dry ingredients all at once; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. (Do not overmix.)

Fill muffin cups two-thirds full. Sprinkle topping evenly over tops of muffins.

Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool muffins in pan on wire rack 5 minutes; remove from pan. Serve warm. 3 DOZEN

I don't know why put I just can't bring myself to try muffins that have sausage or some other kind of meat in them! Has anyone tried ones like this before?

Do you have a favorite muffin recipe?? I would love for you to share!! I love having a variety of muffins in my freezer. I love making up a variety plate/platter of muffins for hubby to take and share at work, or for those summer potlucks that I need a dish to pass, or even for Christmas gifts to relatives or neighbors!

Remember...instead of always doing loaves of quick bread make the bread into muffins sometimes regular muffins, or sometimes mini muffins for a quick freezer pull snack or breakfast!!

For other kitchen tips, recipes and more, head over to Tammy's Recipes

Friday, August 8, 2008

Friday Afternoon Snack



Instead of the usual fair of crackers and cheese I decided to make up some of Joy's Chocolate Chip Muffins!!

Not only did I go against the usual snack but I was a bit adventurous in my endeavor!!! Usually when trying a new to me recipe, I just do up a single batch to try the goodness rather than do up a twice as much for just a few or no one to eat and hence the food goodness gets wasted. However, knowing how my family loves anything chocolate and they also like muffins, I decided to make a double batch of them rather than just a single batch!

I also did not follow the recipe exactly!! I switched a few ingredients.

Here is her recipe....
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups white flour
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup oil
1 egg
1 cup chocolate chips


Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix all the ingredients together, except for chocolate chips. After it’s mixed, stir in the chocolate chips. Fill greased muffin tin (or paper muffin cups) and bake for about 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. These muffins can also be frozen and reheated in the microwave or oven.
Makes 12 muffins


UPDATE: I recently made this recipe using 1/2 cup applesauce (all I had on hand was sweetened applesauce) in place of the oil. I didn’t tell my kids I had made that change until after they ate them. Imagine my surprise when (before I told them of the substitution) all three commented that those muffins were the best I’d ever made! So now I always make this recipe with applesauce because my kids specifically ask for them that way.

NOW here is the way I did them....

3 cups white flour
1 cup ww flour
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup veggie oil
3/4 cup applesauce(I had sweetened applesauce opened so I used that)
2 eggs
1-12oz bag semisweet chocolate chips(approx. 2 cups)


Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix all the ingredients together, except for chocolate chips. After it’s mixed, stir in the chocolate chips. Let it set for about 5 minutes. Fill paper muffin cups(or greased muffin tins) and bake for about 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. These muffins can also be frozen and reheated in the microwave or oven. Makes 24 muffins.



These muffins turned out soooo moist and good!!! Instead of using cinnamon, I used vanilla and so the muffins really taste like a chewy, moist chocolate chip cookie!!! I have gotta use some self control because I don't think just one is going to be enough!! Needless to say, my adventure was successful!! These will definitely be made again!!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Strawberries Galore!




Here in the upper Midwest, it is starting to be strawberry season, finally!! I love strawberries! I love strawberry jam, strawberries and ice cream, strawberry muffins, strawberry desserts, chocolate dipped strawberries and even strawberry smoothies!

Since strawberries are now the "in season" fruit around here, I am going to share a few tried and true strawberry recipes.

First off, my friend, Marcy posted some strawberry recipes that she has tried, like her "Berry Freezer Jam". I haven't tried making strawberry jam myself but her recipe looks very similar to the one that my Mother used to make when I was growing up! It looks yummy, so do the other two recipes! Thanks Marcy for sharing!

One of my favorite magazines, Taste of Home, has several cool summer treats linked on their homepage! The treats are all some that I have done and they are very good!!

Another recipe that I have tried from Taste of Home is Strawberry Muffins...

Ingredients:
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup fat-free plain yogurt
1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled (I have even used canola oil)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups coarsely chopped fresh or frozen unsweetened strawberries

Directions: In a small bowl, combine the first four ingredients. In another bowl, combine the eggs, yogurt, butter and vanilla. Stir into the dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in strawberries. Fill muffin cups coated with cooking spray or lined with paper liners two-thirds full. Bake at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm. Yield: 1 dozen.

One other muffin recipe that I have tried that my kids seem to enjoy is these fun Strawberry Muffin Cones...

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 carton (6 ounces) strawberry yogurt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup chopped fresh strawberries
15 ice cream cake cones (about 3 inches tall)
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon shortening
Colored sprinkles

Directions: In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In another bowl, beat eggs, yogurt, oil and strawberries; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Place the ice cream cones in muffin cups; spoon about 3 tablespoon batter into each cone. Bake at 375° for 19-21 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely. In a saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip muffin tops in chocolate; decorate with sprinkles. Yield: 15 servings.


Notes: These muffin cones are best served the same day they're prepared. Muffins can be baked in paper liners instead of ice cream cones.


Don't have time to make strawberry jam, what about making some strawberry butter!! Yummy on some wheat english muffins!

The best dessert using strawberries is my no-bake cheesecake instead of using pie filling for the topping using fresh sliced strawberries! I recommend that you make the cheesecake and then serve the fresh strawberries on the side or put the strawberries on the cheesecake when you are ready to serve it.

Lastly, a dessert that I am going to be making this year is my friend, MJ's Strawberry Trifle!! It sounds sooo yummy and it is also a no bake type dessert for the "dog days of summer"!

For other frugal tips, recipes, or resources, head over to Biblical Womanhood!!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Kitchen Tip Tuesdays--More Muffin Talk!


For this week's kitchen tip, I thought I would talk more about making muffins! Several left me questions after last week's kitchen tip on muffins that I thought I would take the time to answer them in one post for all to see!

One said that she had trouble getting her muffins out of the pans and asked if I used liners or what did I do?! Well first off, I do use muffin paper liners. I get them from my local Gordon Food's Marketplace. They sell white ones in packs of 500 for just under $4.00(the last time I bought them about 3 months ago!). Secondly, I make sure that I don't fill the muffin wells too full, I try to only fill them about 1/2-3/4 full. Thirdly, when they are done baking and need to be taken out of the muffin pans....I take them out of the pans immediately using tongs and place them on cooling racks. Taking them out of the pans immediately means there is less chance of the muffins sticking to the pans.

Another asked how long do the muffins need to bake? It depends on the recipe! I have an orange juice muffins that cooks at 400° for 20 minutes. But then my banana bread muffin recipe bakes at 350° for about 30 minutes. If I am converting a quick bread recipe that calls for loaves to muffins, I use the oven temp that is stated in the recipe and I divide the time stated in half.(for example, recipe says bake 1 hour @ 350° then for doing muffins bake it at 350° for 30 minutes) To check for doneness, I have a Pampered Chef Cake Tester that I use. It is a long thin piece of stainless steel...longer than a toothpick so that can not get lost/stuck in the muffins! :)

I don't usually use a basic mix, however, there are many quick bread recipes that you can change the fruit or the liquid in without too much difficulty. It is fun to experiment! :) At the same time, I do have two basic mixes that I use on occasion....you can find them here and here!

The last question has to do with freezing baked goods and wondering how long they last and how to store them!? I have talked before about freezing foods and I have found that with my baked goods, if I let them cool til they are just cool(about an hour) and then put them in freezer bags and put immediately into the freezer they will last a good 4 months and still be fresh tasting when thawed. I usually just stick all the muffins into a freezer bag...usually 18 regular size muffins will fit into a gallon size ziploc freezer bag. The other 6 muffins of my batch of 24 muffins, I usually leave out for the family to munch on for a snack. :) I have also taken the time to individually wrap the muffins before sticking them in the gallon size bag so that they are quick grabs for hubby's lunch.

I hope that this clarifies how to make muffins out of quick bread recipes! For more good tips and ideas head over to Tammy's Recipes!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

A-B-C Muffin Mix

I have made some of the variations below(look for the bold) but haven't tried them all. Thanks to my friend, Leni for sharing this mix recipe with me! :)

A-B-C MUFFIN MIX
Compiled and adapted by Pat Lancaster

Keep this mix in the freezer until ready to use.

18 cups WW flour or white
5 cups sugar (Brown, white, whatever)*
2 1/4 cups buttermilk blend or non fat dry milk
6 Tb. baking powder
2 Tb. baking soda
2 Tb. salt
3 Tbsp. ground cinnamon

* or other sweetener {or leave out & use honey when making muffins}

Stir together well, breaking up lumps.

Place ingredients in a large airtight container labeled with the date and contents store in the freezer. Mix makes enough for about 5 batches of 24 muffins each.

If desired, dry sweetener can be omitted then stir in 1 cup honey for every 24 muffins as you make them.

TO MAKE 24 REGULAR SIZED MUFFINS:
{I used 1/2 recipe & made 18 muffins - don't know what size muffins tins she used. I used 1/4 cup batter per muffin} Preheat oven to 400.

Coat muffin tins with an oil/lecithin mixture, grease with butter, or spray with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, beat:
4 eggs / 3 tsp. vanilla / 2 cups water / 1 cup oil*
* or butter- this measurement is up to your tastes and desires. We find them perfectly acceptable without ANY fat, but any amount of oil can be added up to one cup.

Stir in 5-1/2 cups muffin mix and any additional ingredients (listed on chart below) just until moistened.
The batter should be lumpy.

Fill muffin tins 3/4 full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until muffins are golden brown. {I baked for 15 minutes, depends on your oven & pans}

Muffins freeze well. To reheat frozen muffins, microwave on high for 30 seconds per muffin. (or heat in the oven until warm)

These two toppings would go well with almost any of the ABC muffins. Sprinkle mixture atop uncooked muffins before popping them into preheated oven:

STREUSEL TOPPING for 24 muffins:
Mix together:
1 cup sucanat (sub brown sugar)
1 tsp. cinnamon
2/3 cup flour {ww pastry}or Kamut
cut in 1/2 cup cold butter until mixture is crumbly.

CRUNCHY TOPPING for 24 muffins:
Mix together:
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup flour
1/2 cup sucanat
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
cut in 1/2 cup softened butter with fork or pastry
cutter until crumbly


TYPE OF MUFFIN:
Ingredients to add to mix before baking:


APPLE MUFFINS:
3 cups raw grated apples
1 tsp. gr. cloves
1 cup nuts or raisins

sprinkle with cinnamon and sucanat mixture before baking

APPLESAUCE MUFFINS:
1 cup applesauce omit oil

APRICOT MUFFINS:
1 cup chopped dried apricots

BANANA MUFFINS:
2 mashed bananas
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS:
2 cups fresh or frozen rinsed blueberries

BRAN MOLASSES MUFFINS:
Use only 3 cups of muffin mix.
Stir in:
4 cups bran cereal
1/2 cup molasses
1 cup raisins

CARROT MUFFINS:
2 cups grated carrots
1 cup raisins
1-1/2 tsp. allspice

CASHEW MUFFINS:
2 cups unsalted coarsely chopped cashews

CHERRY MUFFINS:
2 cups fresh or dried pitted cherries

CHOCOLATE CHIP FUDGE MUFFINS:
1-1/2 cups cocoa {try carob}
1/2 cup sucanat
3 cups mini carob chips

COCONUT MUFFINS:
3 cups toasted flaked coconut
reserve some to sprinkle on the top

CRANBERRY ORANGE MUFFINS:
2 cups chopped fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup nuts
1/2 cup orange juice
2 Tb. orange peel

CURRANT MUFFINS:
1-1/2 cups currants
1 cup chopped nuts

DATE MUFFINS:
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup chopped nuts

EGGNOG MUFFINS:
4 tsp. rum extract
2 cups eggnog (omit water from recipe)
before baking, top with mixture of:
2 Tb. sucanat
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

FIG MUFFINS:
2 cups dried chopped figs
1 c. chopped walnuts

FRUIT MUFFINS:
2 cups dried diced fruit

GARDEN FRESH MUFFINS:
1 cup grated carrots
1 cup grated zucchini
1/2 tsp. ground cloves

GINGERBREAD MUFFINS:
2 Tb. ground ginger
1/2 cup molasses
2 cups raisins

GRANOLA MUFFINS:
reduce muffin mix to 4 cups and add:
1-1/2 cups granola
Top with additional granola before baking

GRAPENUTS MUFFINS:
reduce muffin mix to 4 cups and add:
2-1/2 cups grape nuts
1 tsp. allspice

HAZELNUT MUFFINS:
2 tsp. ground cardamom
2 cups chopped hazelnuts

INCREDIBLE CREAM CHEESE MUFFINS:
combine:
2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese
1/2 cup sucanat
2 eggs
Drop this mix by Tb. onto top of muffins before
baking

JAM MUFFINS:
1-1/2 cups jam or preserves
(strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, cherry)
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

LEMON MUFFINS:
omit 1 cup water and replace with 1 cup lemon juice
{haven't tried this, but sounds like too much lemon juice to me.
I would start with 1/2 cup}
use 4 eggs
1/2 cup chopped nuts

MANDARIN MUFFINS:
1 (11oz) can mandarin oranges chopped and
undrained
reduce water to 1 cup
1-1/2 cups shredded carrots

MAPLE MUFFINS:
6 Tb. maple syrup
reduce water to 1-1/2 cups

MARMALADE MUFFINS:
1-1/2 cups orange marmalade
1 cup chopped nuts (opt)
1 cup orange juice (omit 1 cup of the water)

MINCEMEAT MUFFINS:
1-1/2 cups mincemeat

OATMEAL MUFFINS:
reduce muffin mix to 4 cups and add:
1 cup oats
use 4 eggs
up to 2 cups raisins or grated apples

ORANGE MUFFINS:
2 cups sour cream or yogurt
1 cup nuts or coconut (opt)
2 cans (11 oz. each) mandarin oranges, drain
use 4 eggs

PEACH MUFFINS:
2 cups fresh or one large can (drained) chopped
peaches

PEANUT BUTTER BANANA MUFFINS:
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
3 mashed bananas

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY MUFFINS:
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
drop 1 Tb. jam into each muffin before baking.

PEAR MUFFINS:
2 cups fresh or one large can (drained) chopped
pears

PECAN MUFFINS:
2 cups chopped toasted pecans
1 tsp. maple extract

PINEAPPLE CARROT RAISIN MUFFINS:
1 cup grated carrots,
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
1 cup raisins
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

PINEAPPLE MACADAMIA MUFFINS:
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 large can crushed pineapple, drained
1 jar (7 oz. or about 1 cup) macadamia nuts,
chopped

PLUM MUFFINS:
2 cups fresh or canned plums, chopped

PRUNE MUFFINS:
1 to 2 cups chopped prunes
1/3 cup poppy seeds

PUMPKIN MUFFINS:
2 cups or 1 can solid pack pumpkin
1 Tb. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup each chopped nuts and raisins

RASPBERRY MUFFINS:
2 cups fresh or frozen whole, unsweetened
raspberries

RUM RAISIN MUFFINS:
3 tsp. rum extract
before baking, top with mix of:
2 tsp. sucanat
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

SESAME SEED MUFFINS:
1 cup toasted sesame seeds
before baking, top with mix of:
1/2 cup nuts
4 Tb. sucanat
4 Tb. sesame seeds
2 Tb. flour
1/2 tsp. each cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

SOUR CREAM MUFFINS:
omit one cup of the water and add:
1 cup sour cream or yogurt
2 cups nuts
2 tsp. grated lemon peel (opt.)

SQUASH MUFFINS:
2 cups mashed squash
1 Tb. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup each chopped nuts and raisins

STRAWBERRY MUFFINS:
2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries, chopped

SWEET POTATO MUFFINS:
1 Tb. allspice
4 Tb. dry orange peel
2 cans (10 oz each) sweet potatoes, mashed,
well drained (about 2-1/2 cups)

TROPICAL TREAT MUFFINS:
1 cup dried mango or papaya, chopped
1 cup chopped banana chips or 2 fresh mashed
1 cup macadamia nuts, chopped
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup sour cream or yogurt
2 tsp. lemon peel, grated

WHEAT GERM MUFFINS:
2-2/3 c. wheat germ
use 4 eggs
1/2 cup extra water
before baking, top muffins with mix of:
1/2 c. wheat germ
2 Tb. sucanat

YOGURT MUFFINS:
reduce water to 1-1/2 cups and add:
2 cartons (8 oz each) yogurt -- plain or flavored

ZUCCHINI MUFFINS:
2 cups grated zucchini
2 Tb. cinnamon
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Kitchen Tip Tuesdays



The other day when I was posting my banana bread recipe, I realized that I do several things with my quick breads that many others might not do! So I decided to share them for this week's Kitchen Tip Tuesdays over at Tammy's Recipes.

One thing I do with quick breads is make them into muffins instead of loaves. I find that making them this way accomplishes two things:
  1. The muffins bake in less time than a loaf. I can get 24 muffins made and baked in one hour! :)
  2. I can individually wrap them and stick them in my freezer and then they make a quick grab for snacks or on the go breakfast.

Another thing that I do is any fruit that I might use in the batter is put in as the last step of the recipe. I find this makes the fruit "taste" bolder in the bread once it is baked. The fruit doesn't get "lost" in the taste of the bread. Of course, if you are adding berries to the batter they don't turn to mush if you add them in last. :)

I don't like nuts of any kind! I think it is a texture issue or something. However, I have family members that do so I make the batter up and divide it so that I have some plain muffins and then add nuts to the remaining dough. To know which ones have nuts in them, I take a whole half piece of a walnut or pecan and stick it on the top of the muffin before baking. The nut ends up being stuck in the top of the muffin well enough that it makes for a good marker.

For more tips or ideas to use in the kitchen, head over Tammy's Recipes!!

Monday, October 22, 2007

Pumpkin Oat Streusel Muffins

**found this recipe over on Quaker Oats website and it looked like a yummy recipe to try to use all my pumpkin up**

STREUSEL
1/4 cup Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon margarine or butter, melted
1/8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

MUFFINS
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 cup pumpkin
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg, lightly beaten

Heat oven to 400°F. Line twelve medium muffin cups with paper baking cups or spray bottoms only with cooking spray. For streusel, combine all ingredients in small bowl; mix well. Set aside. For muffins, combine flour, oats, sugar, nuts, if desired, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt in large bowl; mix well. In medium bowl, combine pumpkin, milk, oil and egg; blend well. Add to dry ingredients all at once; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. (Do not overmix.)

Fill muffin cups almost full. Sprinkle with reserved streusel, patting gently. Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool muffins in pan on wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from pan. Serve warm. Makes 1 dozen


NUTRITION INFORMATION: 1 muffin Calories 230, Calories From Fat 80, Total Fat 9g, Saturated Fat 1g, Cholesterol 20mg, Sodium 170mg, Total Carbohydrates 35g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Protein 4g.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Apple Cider Muffins

1 ¾ cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
1 beaten egg
¾ cup apple cider
¼ cup oil
1 apple—peeled, cored, diced (optional)
1 tsp. vanilla


In a mixing bowl put all the liquid ingredients in and mix well. Combine all the dry ingredients and add to the liquid mixture. Stir in the apple if desired. Oven @ 400° for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Kid friendly Muffins

ORANGE JUICE MUFFINS

1 egg
½ cup buttermilk
1/3 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/3 cup margarine, melted
1 2/3 cups flour
½ cup sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt

Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Combine the egg, buttermilk, orange juice concentrate and melted margarine in a separate bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Stir until batter is moistened but still lumpy.

Lightly spray 12 muffin cups with vegetable oil spray. Fill the muffin cups ¾ full with batter. Bake in a 400° oven for 20 minutes or until muffins are golden brown. Yields 12 muffins

Notes: Can use veggie oil instead of melted margarine. Can also make into bread loaves just adjust baking time.



CHOCOLATE CHIP MINI MUFFINS

½ cup sugar
¼ cup shortening
1 egg
½ cup milk
½ tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
½ tsp. soda
½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
2/3 cup mini chocolate chips


Cream sugar and shortening till fluffy. Add egg, milk, and vanilla; mix well. Combine dry ingredients gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Fold in chocolate chips. Spoon about 1 tbsp. batter into mini muffin tin. Bake @ 375° for 10-13 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.