Bastille Day Muffins!

When I was in college, I took French. Not my brightest idea, since, after 7 years of Spanish, I tried to pronounce everything as if it were in Spanish. Oh, well. Anyways, since I was taking French, I tried to do French things. The extent of that included watching movies I already knew in French (it sort of helped) and making Bastille Day Muffins (it was no help at all, but fun!) My roommates at the time LOVED the muffins, so now it's become a tradition and I make them every year. They're super easy and delicious.

Bastille Day Muffins

Adapted From: All Recipes 

Ingredients:

MUFFINS

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1/3 cup melted butter

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

TOPPING

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 cup melted butter 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Mix everything in bowl (seriously, these muffins could not be easier - just mix it all in, in whatever order you want - there can even be lumps and they will turn out great)

3. Place batter in greased muffin tin (this makes 12 muffins)

4. Bake for 20-25 minutes (check at 20)

5. Take muffins out, and let cool a bit so that they're warm, but easy to handle

6. Melt butter for topping and create sugar/cinnamon/nutmeg mixture

7. Roll muffins first in butter, then in sugar/cinnamon/nutmeg mixture

8. Serve and Enjoy!

Banana, Mango, Avocado Mini Muffins!

I went to the store today, and I just happen to pick up bananas, mangoes and avocados. I wanted to make something with all three and I came across a recipe for muffins. With a bit of tweaking, I came up with a super easy, super fun recipe!

Banana, Mango, Avocado Mini Muffins

Adapted from: Food.com

Ingredients:

1 mango, cubed

2 bananas (extra ripe)

1 avocado (soft)

1 stick butter

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/8 - 1/4 cup molasses

2 3/4 cup flour

1/4 oat bran

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 - 1 cup pitted dates, chopped

1/2 - 1 cup dried cranberries

Instructions:                                    

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Place bananas, avocado and butter into bowl. Beat in stand mixer until mostly smooth (it won't be perfectly smooth, but that's ok)

3. Add eggs, sugar, molasses.

4. Add flour, oat bran, baking soda, baking powder, and vanilla.

5. Add about 1-2 cups dried fruit (I used dates and cranberries, but anything would work) and cubed mango, stir in by hand.

6. Bake in mini-muffin tins for 15 minutes, at 350 degrees.

Almond Poppy Seed Muffins

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons almond extract

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes

Adapted from: Rachel's Cooking