Delicious muffins

I did one of my favourite things on Saturday afternoon...I baked! My recipe books arrived with the rest of our things from SA on Thursday. It was fun choosing what I wanted to bake and then exploring the baking aisle in Sainsbury's. I decided on Carrot muffins for a sweet treat (the cream cheese icing is a must) and for something savoury; Spinach, Feta and Olive muffins. Our visitors on Sunday gave my baking the "thumbs up!" Try these recipes - you won't be disappointed...

Carrot Muffins

(makes 12 muffins)

500ml cake flour

15ml baking powder

3ml salt

10ml ground cinnamon

200ml sugar

100ml cooking oil

2 extra-large eggs

250ml milk

5ml vanilla essence

3 medium sized carrots (grated)

1. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon together. Add sugar.

2. In another bowl, whisk the oil, eggs, milk and essence. Stir into flour mixture

3. Add the carrots, but do not overmix; the batter should still be lumpy.

(I added some chopped pecan nuts for flavour and crunch)

4. Spoon into greased muffin pan, filling each to two-thirds full.

5. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees celcius for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Cream Cheese Icing

(I used half these measures for 12 muffins)

60g butter softened

500ml icing sugar, sifted

125g smooth cream cheese or cottage cheese

5ml vanilla essence

Cream butter and sifted icing sugar together. Add remaining ingredients and beat to a smooth consistency. DO NOT overmix as it will become runny. Ice each muffin and sprinkle some chopped pecan nuts on top.

Spinach, Feta and Olive muffins

(makes 10 muffins)

100g spinach, chopped

50g black or green olives

500ml cake flour

20ml baking powder

3ml salt

2ml cayenne pepper

100g feta cheese, crumbled

125ml milk

150ml cooking oil

2 extra-large eggs

1. Cook spinach until just soft - set aside. Remove pips and cut olives in half - set aside.

2. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and cayenne pepper together. Add the feta cheese, spinach and olives.

3. In another bowl, whisk the milk, oil and eggs together, then stir into dry ingredients. Mix until the flour is just moist, the bater should still be lumpy. Sppon into greased muffin pan, filling each too two-thirds full. Top with crumbled feta cheese.

4. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees celsius for about 20 minutes. Serve hot with butter.

ENJOY!

(Thank you to: The Ultimate Book of Baking Heilie Pienaar)