Strawberry Muffins

It was just supposed to be plain berry muffins, but we topped it with some cream cheese icing, and baked it in a large muffin mold to make it into a great birthday surprise.

You need:
A cup of finely chopped, or mashed, strawberries (and some more nicely sliced ones for garnishing - optional)
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Cream the butter and sugar, then add the eggs and stir some more. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

Line muffin tray and pour about 2 tbsps of batter in each cup.

Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 deg C for about 15 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.

If you are using the cream cheese icing, let the muffin cool completely (30 min or so) before spreading it over.

Makes about 10 medium-sized muffins

Milk Cake

This uses a minimum amount of butter and tastes great. You could add bits and pieces of your favourite ingredient to it or have it plain.

Heat a cup of milk and add 4 tbsp of butter.
If you use vanilla pods, add them now, or a few drops of essence. Allow butter to melt. Keep aside.

Sift 2 cups flour,
with a pinch of salt and
2 tsp baking powder.

Take 4 eggs and whisk it with
2 cups of sugar till light and fluffy.
Fold in the flour mixture slowly. Add the milk.

Bake it for 40 minutes at 180 deg C.

Variations:

• Peeled and chopped pears and/or apples (with some ground cinnamon and nutmeg)
• Desiccated coconut
• Dry fruits - walnuts, blanched almonds, dates
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder (subtract 2 tbsp flour from the whole)

Carrot+Apple cake

This is as simple as ABC (for those who speak English). Easy to remember too!

You need:
1 cup peeled and grated carrots
1 cup peeled, cored and grated apples
1 cup vegetable or olive oil
1 cup flour
Pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg

Optional:
A few drops of Vanilla
Handful of Walnuts and/or dates
Orange zest

Beat the eggs with the sugar till fluffy.
Add the oil and whisk again.
Sieve in the flour with the baking powder and salt. Then fold in the mixture.
Fold in the rest of the ingredients.

Pour in a greased pan and bake for 40 minutes at 180 deg C.

Jelly-filled Cinnamon Cake/Muffin

This was actually a muffin recipe that I made into a cake for Husband's birthday surprise at midnight.
Simple to make with no flashy ingredients. You'll need:


1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Pinch of ground nutmeg and cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup milk (room temperature)
Jam (any flavor)


Sieve the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix the wet ingredients (except the jam) separately in another bowl, then stir in the wet mixture into the dry one and mix properly.
Put half the batter in a tray (muffin or cake), add a layer of jam, then pour in the rest of the mixture on top.
Bake for about 25-30 minutes at 250 deg C.

For the Topping:
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Keep the melted butter in a small small, and on a plate mix the sugar and cinnamon. As soon as the cake is done, dip the top first in the butter then the sugar.
Additionally, you could top it with some chocolate sauce.