Fruit by the muffin

Last Sunday, I got up and got baking. Just like old times. I made pancakes for breakfast, started on an all-day pasta sauce from scratch, and made these mini muffins. I got the recipe from a handy Company's Coming recipe book on Christmas recipes which always inspires me to host huge brunches and cocktail parties. This time, I took a baby step and just made the muffins. They were bite-sized and handy for a snack or as a brunch or breakfast item. The fruit and yogurt in them made them moist and the brown sugar kept them sweet. I followed the recipe closely...except I added some raisins along with the recommended fruit. You could also add nuts.

You'll need:

1 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt

3/4 cup quick rolled oats
2/3 cup finely chopped apple
1/3 cup finely chopped dried apricot

1 Large egg
2/3 cup yogurt (recipe suggested peach, I used strawberry)
3 tbs cooking oil
 2 tbs milk

Measure first 5 ingredients into a large bowl and stir together.

Add the next 3 ingredients and stir until the fruit is coated. Make a well in the center of the mixture.

Combine remaining 4 ingredients in a small bowl and beat lightly. Add this wet mixture to the dry mixture (the well) and stir until just moistened. The recipe says this will fill 24 mini muffin cups but I found it filled about 18. You need to fill up the cups until they're full and the batter is slightly mounded. The muffins won't rise much in the oven so filling up the cups to the brim will give you a good muffin shape.

Bake in a 350 F oven for about 17 minutes or until the muffins are golden. If you insert a wooden pic in the center of one it should come out clean. These will keep for most of the week or you can freeze them for up to  3 months in an airtight container.

This is a great recipe that's quick to put together and packs a nutritional punch. And with September rolling around, it's great to make a few batches and keep some muffins in the freezer for last-minute school or work snacks.