Here's a recipe that's relatively low in fat and sugar, but makes gigantic muffins that look and taste better than storebought! The yoghurt isn't just a low-fat wet ingredient; the acid in it reacts with the baking powder to make them very fluffy. The basic batter is very simple, uses cheap, common ingredients¹, and can be altered to accomodate your current cravings and use up whatever's in your cupboard. Also good as breakfast-on-the-run² or in lunches. Have fun experimenting with the recipe!

Things you'll need access to:

• Mixing bowl and spoon, as well as a teaspoon for measuring
• Kitchen scale
• Oven
• Muffin tin³
• Friends and family to share with, or the self-control to freeze some and not eat them all in one sitting!

• 250g plain flour⁴
• 50g oat bran⁵
• 50g neutral cooking oil⁶
• 250g yoghurt ⁷
• 50g sugar ⁸
• 2 eggs ⁹
• 5 level teaspoons baking powder¹⁰

Also zero¹¹ or more of the optional ingredients - just mix and match:

• Lemon or orange zest, cinnamon, vanilla or another flavouring¹²
• A few handfuls of nuts or raisins¹³
• 1-2 cups berries or chopped fruit, fresh or frozen¹⁴
• A spoonful of your favourite jam for the centre of each muffin¹⁵
• Streusel topping (25g sugar, 50g butter, 75g flour mixed into a crumbly dough and sprinkled over the top.)¹⁶
• Whatever other mix-ins strike your fancy¹⁷

Mix all the ingredients until they're mixed. You can add them in some fancy order or dump them in all at once, whatever suits your style, though it usually works best if you mix all the wet stuff first and then dump in the dry stuff. Avoid overly vigorous mixing, or wear an apron!

Preheat the oven to 200° C¹⁸ Leave the batter sitting for a little while to let the yoghurt/baking powder combination fluff it up. Pass the time by greasing a muffin tin - including the top, because the muffins tend to spill over a little.

Bake for 20-25 minutes - just long enough to tidy up the kitchen. If you're going to go check hootoo while they bake, set a timer so they don't burn. Wait until they cool off a little so they're easier to jimmy out of the pan. Make a nice cup of tea or coffee to go with them, and enjoy!

To cut out all the added sugar¹⁹ and nearly all the fat, just mash up two very ripe bananas in the mixing bowl before you add the other ingredients, and leave out the oil and sugar. Then ruin all your good intentions by throwing in some chopped chocolate and walnuts²⁰.

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Malabarista

23.11.09 Front Page

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