Tuesday, January 20, 2009

the original morning glory muffin

I popped a batch of bran muffins in the oven this evening when a delicious memory struck me: morning glory muffins! Nona used to make them for us when we were kids, and it's probably been at least fifteen years since I sunk my teeth into one. Here's the recipe, originally crafted in 1978 by a chef from Earthbound Farms... my healthy modifications are in italics.

The Original Morning Glory Muffins

These muffins have a great shelf life and actually taste better a day after baking, when the flavors have melded. Store them at room temperature, covered, for up to 3 days, or freeze them for up to 2 months.

Makes 16 muffins

1 1/4 cups sugar (or sweeten with honey/sucanat)
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (possibly substitute whole wheat pastry flour)
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shredded, sweetened coconut
3/4 cup raisins
1 large apple, peeled and grated
8 ounces (1 cup) crushed pineapple, drained
2 cups grated carrots
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts
3 large eggs
1 cup vegetable oil (could probably substitute part applesauce here)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.

Sift or whisk together the sugar, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Add the coconut, raisins, apple, pineapple, carrots, and nuts, and stir to combine.

In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with the oil and vanilla. Pour into the bowl with the dry ingredients and blend well.

Spoon the batter into muffin tins lined with muffin cups, filling each to the brim. Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool muffins in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to finish cooling.

1 comments:

Leslie said...

these look great, but grating an apple? and the carrots? This would take some effort I definitely do not have in the wee morning hours... maybe a special occasion? I love this blog!