Wednesday 24 July 2013

Mushroom muffins

Mushroom muffins are dense, moist with lovely mushroom scent. Ideal for brunch or picnic.

To make them first you need to fry the mushrooms with onion and some herbs.

Mushrooms:
  • 500g mushrooms
  • 1 medium sized onion
  • basil oil
  • salt and pepper
Chop the mushrooms into smaller chunks. Dice the onion. Pour small amount of the oil on the frying pan. Preheat the oil and then  place the onion and mushroom on the pan add some salt and pepper. Fry them stirring from time to time until all the water reduce. When ready set aside to cool down.


Ingredients for muffins:
  • 300g flour
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 egg
  • 200 ml milk
  • 100 ml basil oil
  • 80g grated cheese
Preheat the oven to 180C. Line muffin tin with paper cases.

Sift the flour, salt and baking powder into a big bowl. Then add fried mushrooms and fold them in.

In separate jug mix the egg, milk and oil and whisk them well. Pour the wet ingredients into dry ones. Add half of the grated cheese. Mix all ingredients together until just moist.

Spoon the batter into baking cases, about 3/4 full. Sprinkle with remaining grated cheese. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until well risen.

Enjoy !

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Chocolate muffins with strawberries

Those chocolate muffins with strawberries are delicious. Chocolate rich, sweet, fluffy cake with juicy strawberry bits. Topped with fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate. 

Ingredients for 6 big muffins:
  • 250g flour
  • 25g cocoa powder
  • 125g sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 egg
  • 185 ml milk
  • 80 ml oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chopped strawberries

 Preheat the oven to 180C. Line muffin tin with paper cases.

Chop the strawberries and set aside.

Sift the flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder into a big bowl. Add the sugar and stir in well. 
 
Fold in the strawberries and set aside.
 
Pour the milk and oil into separate jug add the egg and whisk well. Pour the wet ingredients into a bowl with dry ones. 

Mix all ingredients until just combined. 

Spoon the batter into muffin cases up to 3/4 full. Bake  for 20 - 25 minutes until well risen.

Transfer the muffins to the wire rack and cool them down.

Prepare the strawberries for decoration.

Strawberries in chocolate :
  • 6 medium sized strawberries
  • around 50g of chocolate
Break the chocolate into a small bowl. Place the bowl over a pot with hot water. Stir the chocolate until it melts down.
Then dip each strawberry in the chocolate and place them on piece of parchment until chocolate sets. When ready place small bit of melted chocolate on top of each muffin then place there each chocolate dip strawberry.
 

Enjoy !

Friday 19 July 2013

Very healthy muffins

This recipe comes from Muffin Tin Mania blog . When I saw those muffins I had to make them. As soon as I gathered all ingredients I started. Those muffins were extremely easy to prepare. They don't need to be bake. And the are very tasty. Crunch, chewy, sweet and full of goodness. We really enjoyed them. I think they are perfect snack.
Ingredients for 10 - 12 muffins:
  • 100g rolled oats
  • 50g rye flakes
  • 150g chopped, pitted dates (I used half figs half dates)
  • 60g shelled pistachios
  • 40g sunflower seeds
  • 50g raisins
  • 60g cashew nuts ( I used salted)
  • 30g cocoa nibs
  • 2 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 2 tbsp ground flaxseed (skipped)
  • 250 ml brown rice syrup
  • 60 ml almond butter

Place all dry ingredients into a food processor and process until slightly pulverised and mixed. Then add the brown syrup and almond butter and mix again until all ingredients clump together. 

Spoon the mixture into silicone muffin moulds. And press the with the back of the spoon. If the seeds stick to the spoon cover the spoon with thin layer of brown rice syrup. Try to smooth the surface.

Chill the muffins in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Then remove form moulds and wrap into parchment. 

 Store the muffins in the fridge.

 Enjoy !



Saturday 13 July 2013

Sugar - free, chocolate and blueberry muffins

Today I would like to present sugar - free, chocolate and blueberry muffins. The recipe comes form 'Easy muffins' cookbook. Those muffins are quite tasty, soft, gently chocolaty with juicy bits of fresh fruits. The best when freshly baked, on next day turn a little bit dry. What is interesting the sugar was replaced by orange juice, so real sugar content depends on type of orange juice used. The best of course would be the freshly squeezed  juice. Anyway dark chocolate and blueberries belong to  super foods which, I believe, make those muffins slightly healthier then others. Enjoy !

Ingredients for 10 - 12 muffins:
  • 225g flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp allspice or mixed spice
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 tbsp canola oil
  • 175ml orange juice
  • freshly grate orange zest (skipped)
  • 100g fresh blueberries
  • 45g dark chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 200C. Line muffin tin with paper cases. 

Sift the flour into a big bowl. Add the baking powder, allspice, cocoa and whisk them well. Then stir in the chocolate chips. Set aside.

In separate bowl whisk the eggs, mix them with oil and orange juice. Then add the blueberries. Pour the wet ingredients mixture into a bowl with dry ingredients and stir with spoon until just combined. 

Spoon the batter into paper cases up to 3/4 full. Bake for 20 minutes until well risen. Leave them in baking tin for a few minutes then transfer to the wire rack to cool down.

Enjoy !