March: Baking

A really long name for what turned out to be an OK but nothing special muffin. I think it really needs more banana as the banana flavour was really not very strong. On the upside it did make the nicest round domed muffins I've ever been able to bake. Anyway it serves its purpose as breakfast for the next few days.

Recipe: Banana Coffee Muffins with Cacao Nibs and Oatmeal

TNT #5: Green Chile Muffins

Very moist to the extent that one got mouldy within three days. Otherwise a good addition to the savoury muffin genre. (Mild) green chiles were fine but not a wow! ingredient. Maybe the hot ones will be better.

Recipe: Green Chili Muffins from Food.com
Substitutions: added half can of tuna

Weekend Baking: Coffee Break Muffins and TNT #21 Flaxmeal

I was attracted to these muffins by the promise of coffee in a not-too-sweet base. These came together very easily and were moist and fluffy. Butterscotch chips added a slight sweetness, which were just right with the base recipe. I had some trepidations substituting flaxmeal and water for the egg, but the muffins turned out great texturally. With two pounds of flaxmeal I need all the ideas I can get! The mini muffin size is also perfect for morning tea.

Recipe: Coffee-Break Muffins from Dorie Greenspan on Week of Menus
Changes: substituted flaxmeal and water for egg and instant coffee with vanilla flavour for espresso, added butterscotch chips.

Weekend Baking: Cherry Upside Down Cakes

Turned out to be disappointingly soggy. Frozen cherries in silicone cases were probably not good changes to the original recipe.

Recipe: Little Blueberry Upside-Down Cakes from Baking Bites

Weekend Baking: Orange Raisin Loaf

Very moist loaf. Good flavour from the dried pomelo. Not too sweet. A keeper for this season of oranges.

Recipe: Orange Raisin Muffins from allrecipes.com
Substitutions: increased juice and oil to substitute for the milk, soaked sultanas in tea, added dried pomelo and reduced zest.

Weekend Baking: Cheese and Mushroom Muffins

I was really craving some savory muffins but had only a tiny smidgen of cheese, and no milk or butter. Not that I ever have milk or butter, but it means certain recipes are a no go. I also had some tasteless white mushrooms to use up, so this Cooking Light recipe seemed like a good base.

These muffins turned out to be very moist and the mushroom flavour did intensify with baking. These look very plain but will be fine for breakfast. Very spicy due to a heavy hand with the chili.

Recipe: Cheese Muffins from Cooking Light on MyRecipes
Substitutions: substituted yoghurt for the milk, white whole wheat flour for plain and chili powder for the black pepper; added mushrooms to make up for the scraps of cheese.

Cheese and scallion muffins

This muffin recipe from Student on a Budget attracted me because of its lack of butter or milk. I substituted scallions for the chives and added some garam masala. Texturally this was soft and fluffy, but lacked any particularly cheesey flavour. A later attempt with cheddar instead of mozzarella proved overly pungent. I'm going to keep experimenting, maybe with cheese on top of the muffin for added crispness, as this is too convenient a recipe to give up on.

Lime yoghurt muffins

Another venture into baking using Babe in the City's Citrus Yoghurt muffin recipe. Unlike hers mine browned nicely but insides are very light. Adapted by omitting the zest as I didn't have any, and substituting Yoplait Key Lime yoghurt for the plain. Scrumptious with a very light, fluffy texture and strong lime flavour. Yoghurt is excellent on its own too.

Weekend Baking: Coffee muffin

Nothing exciting for all the baking mavens but exciting for me as this is my first foray into baking with this basic muffin recipe. Modified by using water instead of milk as I have no milk and adding a teaspoon of instant coffee. Very easy and looks like a good base recipe I can modify. Very light and fluffy texture with not much coffee flavour.
As with all microwave muffins, this became a tad dry after a few days but some yoghurt and raspberries turned it into a yummy dessert.