January 4, 1955 Basic Cookery Lesson No. 1 Muffins Quick muffins

Today and every Tuesday for a time, I thought we might have some lessons in BASIC COOKERY. Let me know how you like this idea. Lesson One today is on muffins.

EVERY MONTH.............IS MUFFIN MONTH

Quick muffins

2 c. flour
3 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
2 T. sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 1/4 c. milk
1/3 c. Planter Peanut Oil

Combine dry ingredients in sifter and sift into a bowl. Make a well and add remaining ingredients. Stir only enough to dampen flour -- you WANT a lumpy batter. Fill greased muffin pans only 2/3 full. Bake in hot oven (400 F.) about 30 minutes.

YOUR MUFFIN CALENDAR

JANUARY: SWISS CHEESE MUFFINS. Mix 1 c. grated cheese with dry ingredients. Sprinlke tops with a few shavings of coarsely grated cheese.

FEBRUARY: BACON MUFFINS. Add 1/3 c. crushed bacon bits (cooked, drained and crushed).

MARCH: PINEAPPLE MUFFINS: Add 3/4 c. crushed, drained pineapple when stirring in milk.

APRIL: DATE MUFFINS.  Add 2/3 c. chopped dates, maybe a few nuts.

MAY: CHERRY MUFFINS. Add 1 c. pitted, chopped cherries. Increase sugar by 2 T. Fresh cherries may be used in May. Frozen or canned cherries may be used. Frozen cherries must me thawed. Frozen or canned cherries, well drained.

JUNE: BLACKBERRY MUFFINS. Increase sugar by 2 T. Sprinkle berries with 3 T. flour, just before filling muffin tins. Use 3/4 c. berries.

JULY: BLACKBERRY MUFFINS. Increase sugar to 1/2 c. for blueberry muffins are always sweet. Sprinkle 3/4 c. berries with 3 T. flour, stir in just before filling muffin tins.

AUGUST: BING CHERRIES. Seed, chop. Sprinkle with 3 T. flour. Add last. Use 3/4 c. chopped cherries.

SEPTEMBER: PEACHES, ripe this month. Peel, seed and chop, enough to make 2/3 c. Stir in with milk.

OCTOBER: CRANBERRY MUFFINS. Double sugar, add 1/2 c. whole fresh berries.

NOVEMBER: PECAN MUFFINS. Double sugar, add 2/3 c. chopped nuts. Sprinkle sugar and more nuts on top of muffins before baking. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon when they come out of oven.

DECEMBER: SALAMI MUFFINS.  Tear 3 thin slices of salami into dime sized bits. Add to muffin batter. Result? A pleasant surprise in a month where all surprises are good ones.

A Very Special Muffin Recipe -- Good

2 c. flour
1 1/2 t. soda
1 t. salt
1/2 c. sugar
2 c. bran
2 eggs well beaten
1/4 c. buttermilk
1/4 c. melted shortening
4 c. thinly sliced ripe bananas (6 to 8)

Sift together flour, soda, salt and sugar. Add bran and mix well. Combine eggs, milk, shortening and bananas. Add to dry ingredients, mixing only enough to dampen the flour. Turn into well greased muffin pans. Bake at 375 degrees 30 to 35 minutes. Makes 16 large muffins.

Trudy's Tips:

1. Never over beat muffin batter, it makes tough muffins.
2. Remove muffins from pans immediately after baking.
3. Always serve muffins PIPING HOT.
4. If you bake muffins in advance you may pop them into the oven for 5 minutes before serving.
5. If you have a home freezer, bake muffins, cool, wrap in aluminum foil. When needed, place in oven frozen for about 30 minutes. They taste like freshly baked ones. Do not remove foil while heating.