Whole Grain Muffins

Basic Muffins

2 ½ cups freshly milled flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup buttermilk (see buttermilk Substitution?)
1 egg
½ oil or melted butter
½ honey (or ½ cup honey ¼ cup sucanat) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucanat

Add all dry ingredients to a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl mix liquids and add to dry bowl, mixing until just blended. Drop by spoonfuls into greased 12 cup muffin pan. An ice scream scoop or a Pampered Chef (shown to the left) medium scoop works great.

Bake at 400 for 12-15 minutes.

NOTE: you may mill your flour and mix your ingredients the night before and place in a mason jar.


Helpful Hint: Your add ins opportunities are limitless, however no more than 1 cup more liquid and 1 cup more dry may be added. For example, 1 cup blueberries and 1 cup of nuts would be my limit of add ins for one batch of muffins.

Blueberry or Peach muffins
Add 1 cup of frozen or fresh fruit to the DRY MIX and coat the fruit to prevent it all from going to the bottom of the muffin. Add 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ - 1 tsp. nutmeg, and 1 tsp of vanilla to the liquid mix. Once you have all the spoonfuls dispensed place 3-5 blueberries on top. This makes for a great presentation.

Spice Muffin
Add 1 mashed banana, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp. nutmeg, and 2 tsp of vanilla to the liquid mix.

Banana Muffin
Add 2-3 mashed bananas, 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp. nutmeg, and 1 tsp of vanilla to the liquid mix.
Budget wise: Freeze your too ripe banana in its skin. When you want a banana muffin trim with a pairing knife off the skin and then mash the banana.

Chocolate Chip Muffin
Add 1 cup chocolate chips to the DRY MIX and coat the fruit to prevent it all from going to the bottom of the muffin. Add 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp. nutmeg, and 1 tsp of vanilla to the liquid mix. Once you have all the spoonfuls dispensed place 3-5 chocolate chips on top. This makes for a great presentation. Also I would use ½ honey and 1/2 sucanat as the sweetener, sucanat has a brown sugar like taste.

Buttermilk Substitution
Use this simple substitute, and you won't need to buy any:
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
•Milk (just under one cup)
•1 Tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice

Preparation:
1. Place a Tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup.
2. Add enough milk to bring the liquid up to the one-cup line.
3. Let stand for five minute. Then, use as much as your recipe calls for.