Last Friday, in an effort to save some money, I decided to stay in and watch the National Spelling Bee, thus turning down the many, many invitations I had received to go out to the hottest clubs and party with the city's celebrity elite. It was a hard decision, for sure, but sometimes even I must find refuge from the flashing lights and gliteratti. However, as exciting as watching awkward middle schoolers was, I still felt like the night needed some sort of augmentation — a little pizazz to keep things interesting. What better way to spice up the festivities than by making my first ever batch of muffins? After all, B-Side Blog reader SpecialK had so kindly purchased me a muffin tin after having seen my previously misshapen baking exploits; so why not put it to use?
And so with a shopping basket in hand and a dream in the heart, I happily bought a packet of mix and plunged down the rabbit hole that is homemade muffinry. Photos after the jump.
First, some pageantry: the box from whence the muffin tin came.
Behold the muffin tin!
Three minutes from pouch to oven? I'll believe it when I see it.
The batter appears to be turning out well; however, I still add extra chocolate chips to ensure greatness.
Alas, I get so caught up in the experience that I neglect to take photos of the pivotal muffin-forming process. Oh well. Here's how they turned out. A little on the small side.
There's not even a muffin top for me to make Fergie jokes about.
Flavor-wise, the muffins are okay. It's a good thing I used extra chips though; otherwise the experience may have teetered on the verge of disappointing.
Next time, I'll make them from scratch...
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Mmmm...the shot of the melting chocolate chip made me yearn for one WITH a big glass of cold milk, of course.
Congratulations on your first muffin making experience!
Yum! And from scratch ones are even better!
Hmm...they look alright. I never eat muffins. I guess I am not a muffin person. It looks like there is a stray piece of corn in your muffin! I've written *muffin* too much.
you can't see this but i gave you a standing ovation for finally completing the promised muffin-blog.
and i was disappointed in the lack of stove-pics. oh well.
hb
Maybe if you used someone's grandmonther's recipe for homemade banana nut muffins, and you were sure to fill the muffin cups about 3/4 full, then you would have nice big muffins with muffin tops.
Not to get all epideictic on you, numnah. (Spelling Bee injoke.)
I'm pretty sure I see a piece of corn in that first close up. I'm impressed; your first time making muffins and you've already figured out my family's secret: always add corn.
Nice muffins...But have you seen MuffinFilms.com? It might complete your muffintastic circle.
(And BTW, my friend's son made it to the 7th round of the Spelling Bee this year. Woot woot!)
most men might be embarassed to show their small muffins in public B, but you soldier on. Bravo!
Yay for SpecialK!
Am I a nerd for getting the numnah reference?
B, I'm so proud of you and your little muffins (the ones you baked). I knew if I schlepped a muffin tin across the country there would be entertainment in my future; you did not disappoint.
Jen, I got the numnah reference, too. So sad.
Actually that muffin mix you used is not the greatest but they do have a good blue berry and mixed berry. I liked them when I was a singleton because I didn't like having a whole dozen muffins in the house.
For a good corn muffin mix (great with chili) go with the old fashioned jiffy in the blue box with white front. I haven't used any of there other muffins so I cannot comment on their quality.
And finally if you have an actual muffin tin you don't need the aluminum foil cupcake papers you used, you can just the plain paper ones. They make the aluminum foil onces for those that don't have tins, so they may have been left over from pre muffin tin days. But they are also great for the mini quiches if you ever go on the south beach diet.
If you are up to it try homemade cupcakes, I wanted to try this recipe but haven't so let me know if it is any good.
http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/birthdaycupcakestesttwo
Muffin man, they are adorable.
Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix - Copy Cat recipe
Makes: 6 muffins.
When a recipe calls for a box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix, here’s a copycat recipe you can make at home.
This recipe is equal to one 8.5 ounce box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix.
Makes 8.5 ounces (equal to 1-box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix) Makes 1-1/2 cups of mix. Makes 6 corn muffins.
INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup yellow corn meal
3 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Combine flour, corn meal, sugar, baking powder and salt. Mix well with whisk. Whisk in vegetable oil and mix until dry mixture is smooth and lumps are gone.
2. If another recipe is calling for a box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix, add the above mixed ingredients to that recipe.
3. If you wish to make Corn Muffins, continue with instructions below.
4. Preheat oven to 400F.Combine above mixture with egg and milk. Mix well.
Fill muffin tins 1/2 full. Bake 15-20 minutes. Makes 6 muffins.