You Just Can't Go Wrong with Muffins

I am always hesitant to try recipes off websites and in cookbooks cause you don't really know how they will turn out. The best recipes are the ones I get from friends and family. I have started collecting them in a book, so I always know where to find a "sure thing". I thought I would share a really great one with y'all. I got it from a lady Jason works with. It has been tested many times on unbiased friends, relatives and Jason so I can give it the Jason and Mike Good Muffin Endorsement.

Donna's Blueberry Muffins

Preheat oven 375F

Batter:

1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter (use the real stuff, it makes a difference)
1 egg
2 1/3 cup all purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup blueberries

Cream the butter and sugar. Add egg and mix well.
Combine dry ingredients. Add dry to creamed while alternating with milk. (This is when I really really love my stand mixer, if you don't have one, it is a great investment.)
Stir in vanilla. Fold in berries.
Pour into 12 muffin cups. It looks like more than 12, trust me, you can do it.

Topping
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup butter (again, real butter makes a big difference, come on live a little.)
1/2 tsp cinnamon (I like it better without the cinnamon.)

Combine dry ingredients. Cut in butter till crumbly. (If you don't have a pastry cutter, what are you waiting for, get one!)
Spoon topping onto batter. (Again, you will think it won't all fit, but it will, just pile it on.)

Bake 25 to 30 minutes till nice and golden brown. For mini muffins, cut baking time to 15 to 20 minutes.

I am going to try the muffins with strawberries this week. I have already used chocolate chips instead of berries. That was good, it just needed a little more milk. I used cocoa powder instead of cinnamon in the topping. The muffins themselves aren't really that sweet, so you cannot skip the topping.

And a bonus recipe: Homemade Hot Chocolate (cause you can't have muffins without hot chocolate.)

1 tbsp real 100% Cocoa Powder
2 tbsp sugar
Hot Milk about 10 to 12 oz
1/4 tsp vanilla (optional)

Combine cocoa and sugar. Here is the real trick, add just enough milk to the sugar/cocoa mixture to form a slurry so the cocoa is smoothly dissolved. Then stir in rest of milk. It is even better if you add a little cream too. If you like dark chocolate, use a little less sugar.

Good stuff for cold Saturday mornings! Let me know if you try them.