A guest post by Miss Rachel Carlin
My mom always told me that there are two things every girl should have: a
qualification and a driver’s license. I have increased the list to include a dress that makes you feel like a diva, a string of pearls and a flattering bathing suit. I would like to add a sub clause to this. Anybody who spends a significant time with children, be it as babysitter, parent, grandparent or teacher should have at least one book they know off by heart that they can “read” to the child whilst fantasising about an ice cold glass of bubbly to be had once the child is in bed; a simple craft activity using an old loo roll; and a basic muffin recipe.
As that great purple dinosaur keeps telling us, sharing is caring, so here is my basic muffin recipe. Think of it as the maxi dress of baked goods: pretty good for most occasions and one size fits all. I halve the amounts (well, not the egg) and make mini muffins. I add sprinkles to the batter and make rainbow muffins. I mash up bananas and add cinnamon for – and here is the kicker – banana and cinnamon muffins. I have even added grated apple, blue cheese and walnuts and served them to adults. If I add anything obviously savoury, I omit the sugar and vanilla essence.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup regular flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- Pinch of salt
- 1/8 C butter, softened
- ½ C sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 t Vanilla essence
- Preheat the oven to 180C
- Line a 12 muffin pan with muffin casings.
- Sift the flour with the baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt.
- Cream butter with the sugar until light and fluffy in a large mixing bowl. Obviously the softer the butter, the easier this is.
- Add egg to sugar and butter mixture and beat well.
- Add flour mixture to wet mixture and mix until smooth.
- Pour into the muffin casings and bake for approximately 20 minutes.
- Turn out and cool.
If you are that way inclined, you could ice the little darlings. And also the muffins.