Generic muffins and variations

Yield: 24 small muff

Measure Ingredient
2 cups Cake Flour [1]
½ teaspoon To 1 tsp salt
2 tablespoons To 4 T Sugar [2]
2 teaspoons Baking powder [3]
1 \N Or 2 eggs [4]
2 tablespoons To 4 T melted butter [5]
¾ cup Milk [6]
\N \N ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Sift flour and measure it. Resift with salt, baking powder and sugar.

Beat the eggs in a separate bowl; add and mix the butter and milk. To mix add the optional ingredients to the flour mixture and then beat in the liquid ingredients to the dry ones with a few swift strokes...

a minimum of strokes; ignore the last few lumps so as not to develop and toughen the wheat gluten.

To bake fill a well greased [ or use cooking spray or teflon if you are seeking low fat recipes ] or cup-cake paper lined muffin pan about ⅔ full with water in any empty wells so to protect the pan and moisten the muffins while baking. Bake at once in a pre-heated 400 deg oven for 20-25 min. Let muffins cool slightly before removing from pan.

[1] Flours: Use 1¾ to 1 ⅞ c All-purpose flour depending on liquids. or 1 c Whole grain or Graham flour + 1 c All-purpose flour.

or 1 ½ c flour + ½ c Bran. or 1 c flour + 1 c cooked porridge or rice. or 1 ⅓ c flour + ⅔ c quick oat meal. or 1 ½ c flour + ¼ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ c ea bran and wheat germ. or 1 c flour + 1 c corn meal [+bacon bits]. or 1 c whole wheat flour + ½ c wheat germ + ½ c soy flour + ¼ tsp extra baking powder [hi protein]. or ½ c Whole Wheat Flour + ⅓ c Bran + ¼ c Peanut Butter + ⅓ c Peanuts, chopped. or 1 c flour + 1 c All-Bran cereal.

[2] Sugars: Use 2 tbl molasses + 1 to 2 Tbl white sugar. or 2 to 4 Tbl Orange marmalade or Pineapple jam. or 4 Tbl brown sugar. or ½ c molasses, reduce liquids and add all-spice. or ½ c honey, and reduce liquids.

[3] Leavenings: If using an acid like sour cream or buttermilk reduce to 1 tsp and add ½ tsp baking soda.

[4] Eggs: Substitute 2 egg whites for 1 whole egg to reduce fat.

[5] Fats: Use 1 c sour cream/yogurt instead of butter and milk, with soda and less baking powder and perhaps extra sugar. or 2 to 4 Tbl liquid vegetable oil or melted shortening, margarine [ or lard/bacon fat if adding bacon]. or ⅓ c skim milk and 1 c apple sauce instead of butter and milk.

[6] Liquids: Use 1 c Buttermilk with soda and less baking powder. or ½ c milk + ½ c Apple juice and reduce sugar. or ½ c milk + ½ c orange juice + 2 Tbl orange zest. or 1 c light cereal cream; omit the butter & 2nd egg.

[7] Additions: Add ¼ to ½ c chopped nuts, dried apricots, prunes, dates, figs, crushed pineapple, candied ginger or raisins. or ½ c chopped, dried apricots + ¼ c walnuts + 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice. or ½ c chopped pecans + ½ tsp cinnamon [and use brown sugar]. or ½ c chopped pecans + ¼ tsp nutmeg + ½ c mashed banana and reduce liquids by half. or 1 c shredded coconut. or ½ c chopped apples + ½ tsp cinnamon + ¼ tsp ea nutmeg and cloves. or ½ c chopped apples + ½ c grated sharp cheddar and garnish with apple slices. or 2 Tbl grated orange peel. or 1 to 2 tsp grated lemon peel. or ½ c mashed pumpkin + ¼ ts Ground cinnamon or 1 c grated carrot or diced zucchini. or ½ c mashed bananas [ and reduce liquids by half] + opt'l ½ tsp or more cinnamon. or 1 Banana + ½ c grated carrots + 1 tsp Cinnamon. or ½ c chopped, fresh apricots + ¼ tsp ea cardamon and ginger. or 1 c lightly floured or sugared blueberries or cranberries + opt'l ¼ tsp cloves or 1 tsp cinnamon.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ or 1 c lightly floured or sugared raspberries or sliced strawberries + opt'l 1 tsp grated lemon peel. or 1 c chopped rhubarb or half and half strawberries. or 1 c lightly floured or sugared cherries + opt'l ¼ tsp ginger. or ¼ c cocoa + ½ c extra sugar + 1 tsp vanilla + opt'l ½ c chocolate chips, nuts or raisins. or ½ c butterscotch chips + 1 c chopped apple.

[8] Stuffings: Pour half the batter and place a spoon of jam or an orange segment etc. and top off with more batter.

[9] Toppings: Garnish batter top with a cherry or orange segment etc.

before baking. or ¼ c brown sugar + ¼ c chopped pecans and ½ t ground cinnamon mixed and sprinkled on batter. or ¼ c brown sugar + 1 ts Cinnamon + ¼ ts Ground cloves + 3 Tbl butter in a small saucepan, cover and steam over low heat for 2 min before spooning over batter.

[10] For savory rather than sweet muffins reduce sugar to 1 Tbl and add: ¼ to ½ c cooked, crumbled bacon or grated cheese. or ¼ c parmesan + ¼ c parsley. or ¼ c chopped onion + 1 Tbl dill or 1 tsp other green herb. or ¼ c chopped chives. or 1 c diced zucchini + 1 tsp Italian seasoning. or 12 oz Can Green Giant Mexi-corn. or slice and serve corn meal muffins with ½ lb Smoked turkey breast, thinly sliced + cranberry relish or honey mustard.

Submitted By JIM WELLER On 07-11-95

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