Alright, I think the general opinion is that everyone loves muffins! From the moment the ingredients are mixed (with the mixing bowl being licked clean of course) and transfered to the oven there is a moment of intense excitement. For me, this excitement intensifies as soon as the smell of the baking muffins fills the air ... a smell good enough to eat, almost. I could go on forever; but that would cause me, and you, to become extremely hungry :)
I don't know the exact origins of the recipe but over the months I have changed it around a little to suit my taste buds. To tell the truth, this recipe also holds a special place in my heart. After numerous health issues I realised the crux of my problem was the little amount of food in my diet. I love fitness and working out, but my diet wasn't up to scratch; hence, the sudden health decline. While trying to gain a balanced yet very healthy diet again were my reasons for taking up cooking, nothing can displace my passion for it now. And these muffins were just the start of this love. So, without further ado, here is my own relatively healthy take of apple and cinnamon muffins mmmmm...
Ingredients
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1/2 cup of white sugar
3 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
3 teaspoons of ground cinnamon***
3/4 cup of apple juice
1/2 cup of skim milk
1 tablespoon of canola oil
2 cups of apples, cored and finely chopped (this takes approx. 2 apples)
Brown sugar to sprinkle (optional)
Method:
1. Heat oven to 205 degrees. Grease the bottoms of only 12 muffin cups
2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; mix well
3. Combine, in another bowl, the apple juice, milk, and canola oil; blend well
4. Add the dry ingredients all at once into the liquid mixture; stir until dry ingredients are moistened (batter will be lumpy).
5. Stir in the chopped apples
6. Fill each muffin cup 2/3 full; sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon on top
7. Bake for 18 – 22 mins
***sometimes the cinnamon that is used for the mixture isn't enough – if you want a really cinnamon flavour to the muffins sprinkle (as much as you like) extra cinnamon into the mixture when you stir in the chopped apples.
