Muffins


Can muffins be considered a breakfast food? Aren’t they like a cupcake? My father constantly refers to a muffin as a "cupcake" and I constantly tell him "DAD! It’s a MUFFIN!" His response is a chuckle.

Okay, muffins look like a cupcake. Some are made so sweet and moist they probably do fall under the category of a cupcake but are called a muffin as a selling point. There is, however, a difference. A muffin is more like a quick bread baked in individual servings whereas a cupcake is just that – a little cake baked in cupcake form for individual servings. There are ways to differentiate a muffin from a cupcake, although it is true that the differences are slight.

A muffin has a coarser, somewhat drier texture and is not as sweet as a cupcake. A true muffin can be a breakfast food but a real cupcake should not. Also, muffin dough should be handled gently, stirring the batter with a wooden spoon and only enough to combine the ingredients. Cake ingredients, on the other hand, are usually beaten with an electric beater. Muffins are baked at a higher temperature for a shorter length of time due to the texture of the dough and to achieve the best results.

There are some common problems in turning out a good muffin. Following are some of the most common problems and ways to solve them.

*If a muffin turns out hard that means there is too much flour and not enough liquid in the batter. Or, the batter may have been stirred too long and too hard.

*If muffins are tough and soggy, with peaks in the center, the batter was probably over-mixed, which toughens it.

*A muffin that rises and then falls flat in the center does not have enough flour. Sometimes eggs are so large that they increase the ratio of liquid ingredients, so you may need to increase the flour by about 1/4 cup.

*If muffins are coarse-textured, it may man not enough stirring and baking at too low a temperature.

A little trick I always use is to sprinkle the tops of the muffins with sugar. This is optional, but it will give the top of the muffin a delicious, appealing, sweet crunch when you bite into.

Also, muffins are always best served warm. If you have any left over, individually wrap them, put them in freezer bags and freeze for up to three weeks. The double wrapping keeps them from becoming freezer burned or taking on the taste of other foods in your freezer. It also keeps them as fresh as when you removed them from the oven. Microwave 20 to 25 minutes to serve warm.

The following muffin recipes can be enjoyed for breakfast, a dessert or a snack. All are low in fat and under 200 calories each. They provide a good carbohydrate boost and when ingredients such as fruit and/or vegetables are added they pack an additional nutrition punch. Master the art of making a good muffin and you’ll never be wanting for a quick breakfast or treat again!

*All recipes use all-purpose flour unless otherwise indicated.

Recipes:

Applesauce Muffins
Ingredients
3/4 cup olive oil
2 cups sugar
4 egg whites or egg substitute equivalent to 2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups applesauce, unsweetened
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons balking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 cup chopped walnuts, optional
Cinnamon-sugar

Directions
In a mixing bowl, cream oil and sugar. Add egg substitute or whites and vanilla. Mix well. Stir in applesauce. Combine flour, baking soda, spices and stir gently into creamed mixture until moistened. Fold in nuts if using. Fill greased or paper lined muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until muffins test done. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Recipe makes 24 to 30 muffins.