moosewood muffins

moosewood restaurant new classics is the first cookbook that i read chapter-by-chapter like a novel. it is full of delicious, easy recipes and lots of good advice for building a healthy, homey kitchen.

last weekend, we tried their classic muffins for the first time, and i am hooked!

the best part is adding whatever "extras" you want. they have some great suggestions: peach blueberry -or- mango banana chocolate chip -or- pumpkin apple cinamon.

for easter, we tried granny smith apple + blueberry. i want to test a new combination this weekend!

DELICIOUS MOOSEWOOD MUFFINS
wet ingredients
6 tbsp butter at room temp
1/2 to 3/4 c sugar
1 egg
1/2 c plus 2 tbsp milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 c "extras" (fruit/nuts/etc)

dry ingredients
2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon

streusel topping
[they say optional, i say necessary]
1/3 c flour
1 1/2 tbsp cold butter, diced
1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar, packed
1/4 tsp cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of salt

preheat oven to 350. prepare 12-cup muffin tin by lining each cup with paper liner or a bit of butter. first, make the streusel topping. combine all streusel ingredients and blend with a fork until the butter is pea-sized or smaller. set aside. next, the wet ingredients. in a mixing bowl, cream together the butter & sugar until smooth. beat in the egg and then the milk & vanilla; the mixture will look lumpy. by hand with a rubber spatula, fold in the "extras." set aside. now, the dry. in a separate large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. mix well. then, add the wet ingredients to the dry, and fold togther with a rubber spatula. don't overmix! spoon about 1/3 c of the batter into each muffin cup. sprinkle each muffin with a scant tbsp of streusel topping. and then, immediately place the muffins in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes. after about 20 minutes, rotate the muffin tin in the oven to ensure even baking. when they are puffed & golden, remove the muffins from the oven and place the tins on a rack to cool for about 15 minutes. enjoy!