Banana Muffins/Bread

   This is the best recipe I've found for banana bread, and I simply modified it to make muffins! My family loves banana bread, but I hate the crumbs that get all over, so I decided to make muffins instead of loaves of bread. I found that by cutting the water in half, I got a perfect muffin batter! And best of all... no crumby mess!!

Banana Bread/Muffins
   1 cup sugar
   ⅓ cup margarine, softened
   2 eggs
   1½ bananas, mashed (overripe work best)
   ⅓ cup water
   1⅔ cups flour
   1 teaspoon baking soda
   ½ teaspoon salt
   ¼ teaspoon baking powder

Mix sugar and margarine. Stir in eggs; then add mashed bananas and water stirring well. Add four, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. Put batter in greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.

Optional: You may add nuts; pecans are my favorite.

For muffins, decrease water by half. Bake at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes.
Makes 18 muffins.

Note: To get a really moist banana bread, use over-ripe bananas!

Blueberry Muffins

   So... I searched the internet trying to find an awesome recipe for blueberry muffins and found two that looked especially good. I made both and had my family vote on which was best. This is the recipe they all loved the best, as did I! I think it is the crumb topping that is baked on that won us over!

Blueberry Muffins
Ingredients:
   1½ cups flour
   ¾ cup sugar
   ½ tsp salt
   2 tsp baking powder
   ⅓ cup vegetable oil
   1 egg
   ⅓ cup milk
   1 cup fresh blueberries
Topping:
   ½ cup sugar
   ⅓ cup flour
   ¼ cup butter, cubed
   1½ tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners. For batter, combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup;

add the egg to the measuring cup

and enough milk to make 1 cup.

Add milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just mixed. Fold in blueberries.
Fill muffin cups with large cookie scoop. Do not bake yet! We will add the crumb topping prior to baking.

To make the crumb topping, mix together sugar, flour, and cinnamon.

Add cubed butter.


Cut in butter until well mixed (everything is moist).

Sprinkle muffins with the crumb topping.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until done.

Makes 12 regular sized muffins.
Notes:
My youngest son prefers no crumb topping, so I leave a few without topping for him!
I like to double the batter, but not the crumb topping, as this makes a lot of crumb topping!

Zucchini Muffins/Bread

   We have had zucchini coming out of our ears this year. My father planted 20 zucchini plants in the family garden. Even with my large family, we have not been able to eat all the zucchini. We have been giving it away.
   One of my favorite things to make with zucchini is Zucchini Bread. I still use my mother's recipe, but I lightened it up a bit with applesauce instead of a whole cup of oil. Also, I like to make muffins instead of loafs. They are just easier for the kids to eat, and a lot less crumby!

Zucchini Muffins/Bread
Ingredients:
   2 cups sugar
   ½ cup vegetable oil
   ½ cup applesauce
   3 eggs
   1 teaspoon salt
   1 Tablespoon cinnamon
   1 teaspoon soda
   ½ teaspoon baking powder
   2 cups zucchini, grated
   3 cups flour
   ½ cup nuts, chopped (I like pecans best.)
Combine sugar, oil, applesauce, eggs, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder in mixing bowl. Mix well. Add flour, zucchini, and nuts. Stir until just mixed. Place liners in muffin pan or grease muffin tins. Place one large (3 Tbsp) cookie scoop of batter into each liner. Bake at 425 degrees for about 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Makes 30 muffins.

   To make bread... prepare as above, but place batter in greased loaf pan and bake at 325 degrees for about 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

   To make in mini loaf pans... place 2 large cookie scoops (⅜ cup) of batter in each pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.