Recipe: Apple-Walnut Muffins

Apple-Walnut Muffins
Source: Contra Costa Times, 01/23/91
Makes 12 muffins.

2 1/2 cups flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 cups grated Delicious or Granny Smith apples
1/2 cup toasted, chopped walnuts (see note below)

Preheat oven to 400~. Grease 12 muffins cups and set aside.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, combine the brown sugar, eggs, buttermilk and melted butter. Beat on medium speed until the mixture is smooth.

Add the reserved dry ingredients and beat on low speed just until the ingredients are combined. Don't worry about lumps; they will disappear during baking. (Hmm, this sounds like a secret diet aid: lumpy thighs disappear while baking). Gently fold in the grated apple and the walnuts. Spoon into the prepared muffin tins.

Place on the center rack of the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes until golden brown and firm to the touch. Serve hot.

NOTE: to toast the walnuts, spread them out on a cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 325 oven for 5-8 minutes.