Wednesday, November 19, 2008

HOLIDAY TREATS


With Thanksgiving now only a week away I thought it was time I road tested a few of the recipes I have from the many, many, holiday special magazines which I have been buying, and lovingly pouring over for the past several weeks. Cook books and cooking magazines are my "porn". Not a bad thing I hear you say. But now drooling time was over, time to take action and make a decision on what would be my first choice.
I decided to go with a muffin. Not just any muffin, but an "eggnog muffin". Eggnog is very big here around the holiday time, however I must confess to never having had a drop pass my lips. There is something about a mixture of raw eggs and milk lying around a warm kitchen for hours which has not endeared me. Apologies to any hostesses whom I may have offended.
So why did I decide on this muffin I hear you ask? Well it just seemed so appropriate for this time of year and so part of the culture in which I find myself living. A kind of tribute muffin for all my wonderful friends here in the Midwest.
I had seen eggnog for sale in the chilled cabinet in the supermarket, so I bought it in preparation. Everything else was nestling in the pantry waiting for it's next outing. So here we go.

2 1/2 cups plain(all purpose) flour
1 cup sugar
2tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp grated nutmeg
1 cup dairy eggnog
1/2 cup melted melted and cooled butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp rum extract

Line 12 large muffin cases
Set oven to 375f/190c
Mix dry ingredients together in one bowl.
Mix we ingredients in another bowl.
Add wet to dry stirring until dry ingredients are just wet.(It will appear lumpy)
Spoon into prepared muffin tin.

Streusel Topping
In a small bowl mix 1/3 cup plain(all purpose) flour,1/3 cups brown sugar,and 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg. Cut in 2 tbsp cold butter until it resembles coarse crumbs.

Sprinkle this over the muffins and bake for 20-25 mins. Leave in tins for 5 mins before putting on to a wire rack to cool.




Not much too it. But results were surprisingly good, although I am wondering whether instead of the rum I could slip in a bit of Baileys next time. Think I'll give it a try. I cut squares of parchment paper to line muffin tin, just to change things out a bit. Makes them look nice and a bit different. Also I was out of muffin cases, apart from seasonal, but the wrong season alas. Must go out and stock up.
Hope you like my "tribute to my adopted home"

2 comments:

Nazarina A said...

This is one muffin recipe that I would love to try! Sounds oh so good!
I have an eggnog recipe where the milk is cooked, I just leave out the egg whites as well. I have yet to post it LOL!
I have some awards for you!

Shari said...

Wow, eggnog muffins. Sounds decadent. And Baileys next time? Wow.