Easy Muffins for Snacks or Breakfast

Many people don't have time to bake and yet still like muffins. Muffins can be a quick and easy snack or, with some muffins, a meal! A muffin can be the ultimate meal-in-your-hand eating. There are many brands of quick breads or muffin mixes that make it as easy as adding milk or water and egg or vegetable oil but for some these lack imagination. Be creative!

For example, make a snack muffin with chocolate chip muffin mix, but pour about half way up in each tin. Take a "dollop" of peanut butter in the center of each one then pour up to the ¾ or 2/3 point many directions call for. This is a dressed up peanut butter-chocolate chip muffin that is still easy to make and doesn't take a great deal of time.

Another breakfast type muffin can be made easily from scratch. While your oven is preheating at 375F, grease your muffin tin (or line with paper cups). Combine 2 cups flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, a teaspoon ground sage and ½ teaspoon each onion powder and salt. In a medium sized bowl beat an egg until foamy then add ¼ cup melted butter, a cup each of milk and mashed potatoes. Combine the two until just moistened then gently stir in crumbled browned sausage or bacon bits and ¼ cup shredded cheese until just mixed together. Pour into cups until ¾ full and bake 15-20 minutes or until done. You can even drizzle maple syrup over the tops of these - even better than a stop at the drive through window!

Maple pecan muffins are another heavenly treat either as a snack or for breakfast. Prepare your oven and tins the same way. In a large bowl blend together 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ½ cup pecans adding a dash of salt as mixing this up in the medium bowl combine ¼ cup maple syrup, 2 tablespoons melted butter, a large egg, ½ cup water (or milk) and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth. Combine the two bowls and stir until jut moistened, then spoon into tins to about ¾ full and bake for 15-20 minutes. Cool slightly, turned out on wire rack and serve warm, or cool completely as desired. Black walnuts may be substituted for pecans and are also delicious!

You can also experiment using the peanut butter technique with regular muffin mix and jelly, or stirring in dried fruit. Muffins are easy, tasty and so good straight from the oven on a cool fall morning. Try adding muffins to your routine - for snacks or breakfast!