Thursday, May 15, 2008

You make my day, Muffin!


You can imagine my pleasant surprise when I logged on to see this award waiting for me at Uma's blog! Thank you so much for feeling that I am worthy of receiving this award, Uma. You definitely make my day with your sweet comments on my blog, dear. Now comes the difficult task of deciding on who to pass it on to!

After much soul searching, I've finally decided to pass the award on to:

Pravs of Simply Spicy
Cham of Spice Club
Revathi of En Ulagam
Dhivya of Dhivya's Cuisine (best of luck with the pregnancy!)
Lavi of Home Cook's Recipes
Indosungod of Daily Musings
Sra of When My Soup Came Alive

Congratulations to you ladies and thanks to you and every one else who takes the time to read on comment on my recipes. It means so much to hear your feedback!

So, you want to celebrate?? I think something sweet would be appropriate. AFAM is coming up, you say? I've got just the thing... Raspberry Almond Muffins!

These muffins came about pretty much on a whim. I've never been the biggest fan of raspberries simply because the seeds annoy me. But, I was in the grocery store and saw these gorgeous, ruby red berries that seemed to call to me and couldn't resist buying them. Once I came home, I pondered what to do with them. I finally decided on muffins.


I used a combo of AP flour and oats in this muffin. It's actually fairly healthy considering the addition of 2 cups of raspberries and the minimal sugar used. I used 1/2 cup of brown sugar which resulted in very mildly sweet muffins. This was totally fine with me, but I can see people with a moderate sweet tooth needing more along the lines of 3/4 to 1 cup (very sweet bakery type taste) of brown sugar. My husband has a pronounced sweet tooth and these were not sweet enough for him, so just keep that in mind. Hey, it just meant more for me! :)

Enough dilly-dally, right? Off to the recipe!

Ingredients:

All purpose flour - 1 1/3 cup
Oats - 1 cup
Brown sugar, packed - 1/2 cup for very mild sweetness (increase to 3/4 cup or so for sweeter)
Baking powder - 1 tbsp
Nutmeg - 3/4 tsp
Lemon zest - 2 tsp
Almond extract - 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Egg, beaten - 1
Milk - 1 cup
Vegetable oil - 1/4 cup
Raspberries - 2 cups (2 4.4 oz packs), coated with 2 tbsp of AP flour

Optional:

Slivered almonds - 2 tbsp
Granulated sugar - 1-2 tbsp

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 425 F. Line muffin tin with paper liners or grease them.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, oats, sugar, salt, baking powder, lemon zest, and nutmeg. In another bowl, whisk the egg, milk, extract and oil together. Pour into the dry ingredients. Fold the mixture together gently so as not to overwork the batter. Then, fold in the berries coated with flour. Note: Coating with flour prevents the berries from sinking to the bottom of the muffins. Gently folding the berries in will prevent them from breaking up. This batter might seem a bit runny, but everything turns out fine once they're baked!

3. Divide batter evenly between muffin cups. Sprinkle some almond slivers on top and granulated sugar, if desired.

4. Bake at 425 for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to finish cooling. Serve warm with or without butter!

These delicious beauties are off to Ammalu's Kitchen for AFAM. AFAM was originated by Maheshwari of Beyond the Usual.

47 comments:

Madhavi said...

Hey Kalai, Congratulations for the award, u deserve it!!!

Muffin looks divine, just awesome, mouthwatering!!!

Dee said...

Hey Kalai , these look mouthwatering :) I was expecting to lay my hands on some with the entry :D

Cham said...

Wow wow, that is that way i would like to kick my morning with such fruity muffin. I really love the second one with those berry blast! Congrats Sweety, u r always one who makes my day...:) I will gladly accept this award and update immediately.

Suganya said...

Hi Kalai...
That was a wonderful enrty... Looks YUM!... Love the muffin.. Nice entry for AFAM....

Revathi said...

Thank you Kalai, you have always been sooooo kind to me - And to know that I make your day just makes me sooooo happy !!

Pravs said...

Congrats Kalai ! You really make my day with those lovel comments and mostly you are the first one to say something when i post. I am very happy to know i deserve this award from you.
Muffin looks well done and lovely pics.

bee said...

very pretty muffins.

Siri said...

U r a sweetheart Kalai, and deserve this award totally..:D Congratulations dear and time to celebrate with some yummy, moist muffins.. what say?

Siri

Andhra Flavors said...

Hey Kalai ,
these look mouthwatering:)
Congratulations for the award.

Uma said...

Congrats on the award, Kalai! YOu truly deserve it. Thanks for treating us with those delicious muffins. 'Burp' Excuse me! I am full. Yummy!

Unknown said...

muffin looks so delicious...yet to try muffins..congrats on your award..you make my day too with nice recipes...

SMN said...

Kalai congarts on your awards..and muffin luks very tempting/

sra said...

Thanks a lot, Kalai, that's a nice award to receive. And congrats!

The muffins look scrumptious - this is one fruit that hasn't yet made it to Indian markets as far as I know, tho' we've been having raspberry jam on the shelves ever since I've known!

FH said...

HeHe! Me too! Even in Jams, you get that Raspberry seeds crunch which irritates me but love the taste of the fruit!:D
Muffins looks yum, good one. Enjoy the award Kalai, hugs!:)

Richa said...

the muffins look soooo pretty, Kalai! beautifully done! i'm like u, 1/2 cup sugar will be absolutely fine, more for us right ;) congrats on the award!

kamala said...

congrats kalai.U deserve it.The muffins looks so colorful.

kamala said...

Kalai check my blog for a surprise

ranji said...

congrats on ur award kalai!!!muffin looks really delicous...a gr8 way to start ur day:)

Jayashree said...

Congratulations on the award, dear...

Vani said...

Congrats on the awars! Muffins look moist & delicious!

Lavanya Raj said...

Kalai...You Really Made My Day..Thank's For the Award:))

indosungod said...

Congrats for the award and thanks for passing it on. This pleasure is a two way street. I get great pleasure visiting your space. So this is doubly sweet like those wonderful muffins.

Laavanya said...

What a beautiful looking muffin that is Kalai - love the colour that the raspberries lend. I made your tomato rice today to pack something quick for my daughter's lunch - was yummy. Thanks!

TBC said...

The muffins look very good especially in the second pic.

I know what u mean about the raspberry seeds being annoying. I feel the same way.:)

Mansi said...

congrats on the award girl! and thanks for the coating in flour tip! I could lick the muffin off the second pic!:) berries are such great additions to muffins na:)

Meera said...

Congrats on the award! and great entry for raspberries.

EC said...

Congrats on the award

Hetal said...

Check out my blog for a sweet surprise for you.......

Seema said...

Congrats on award & muffins look cool!! So perfectly moist & fluffy too :-)

Purnima said...

Kalai, congrats on ur award! The muffins look great!

Sig said...

Love the color of the raspberries in those yummy muffins... :) Very pretty... Congrats on the award Kalai!

Miri said...

Bite sized morsels of heaven!

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

They look good, in fact remind me of my pomegranate muffins.:)
Fruit adds a moistness to muffins. Unfortunately, don't get raspberries here.:(

Unknown said...

Congrats on ur award...you deserve it :) And the muffins look absolutely delicious! Great entry.

Homecooked

Lisa Turner said...

Goodness! How yummy are these. I make muffins on a regular basis, and can never resist raspberries!

Unknown said...

Perfect muffins kalai..nice entry for AFAM..i am still thinking about my entry..

DK said...

Its raining awards your end huh! Keep it going.. congrats! :)

Heavenly looking muffins!

Dhivya said...

I am doing good kalai:))Thanks for remembering and giving the award..Thank u very much dear!no words to express!!!!!!!muffin looks so wonderful as usual:)))love those pictures

Prema Sundar said...

Congrats on the award and love the colour of the raspberry muffins

Archy said...

Wow,Lovely muffins Kalai!!
Congrats on ur award !! Enjoy !!

SASHREE said...

congrats on the award,first time to ur blog,gr8 recipies
muffins look temptious,would like to grab one

Sagari said...

beautifill muffinss

Rahin said...

wow , the muffins look mouth watering , congrats on ur award too :)

Kalai said...

Thanks so much to all of you for your kind words and encouragement!! You have all touched me in your own way. I apologize for not writing sooner. Have had my hands full with random stuff. I do appreciate everything you have all said! :)

Unknown said...

wow..I love the muffins..they look cute kAlai..bookmarking ur chowchow chutney..should try it sometime..

Srivalli said...

Kalai, congrats on the awards and you have some lovely muffins there!...I am sure its an excellent way to start the day!

Sunshinemom said...

Samaithu parka than venum! Looks great. Just saw it at the round up, and thanks for visiting my blog:)