Devin and the Gourmet Muffins

As promised. .

I wanted to share some of our recipes with you all. .

It's no secret that am a bit of a food snob. .

I like different. .

Fresh. .

Unusual!!

And, while we MOSTLY eat normal things that everyone else would eat too. .

I LOVE trying recipes that are intriguing!

I also believe that uncommon recipes do a little better with a judge during competitions. .

And so, we usually try to take a narrow route as far as recipes are concerned. .

Often I go through magazines. .

 or my huge array of cookbooks. .

or the internet. .

And dog ear recipes to let the kids look through later to decide.

This year, I was searching up muffins. .

And Devin tried several recipes first, all of which were pretty tasty.

This was not his favorite. .

But it did have great flavor. .

And a bit of the unusual.

White Chocolate Apricot Muffins. .

Adapted from some website!

He also made Quadruple Chocolate cookies. .

which featured Special Dark baking cocoa. .

and were DELICIOUS!!

He took home a blue ribbon on them.

These muffins were the last thing to bake the night before the fair. .

And we made a double batch. .

which helps sometimes when trying to find 3 products that are the same size, same color, etc.

Unfortunately. .

I got busy trying to get the recipes adapted and copied off my files for the judging. .

And we ALL missed the timer going off by several minutes. .

SO. .

His muffins were slightly overcooked. .

Thus earning him a red ribbon. .

And here's a little judging/baking tip. .

Devin squirted the muffin tins with spray oil to keep them from sticking. .

And must have gotten a little too much at the top of each muffin cup. .

The judge suggested wiping the tops off a bit. .

because the muffins couldn't raise up the side of the muffin tin correctly because of the oil!

BUT. .

The flavor is sooo yummy. .

that you should give the recipe a try out!

I loved the way his shelf turned out. .

He used the tea finish and steel wool/vinegar combo. .

And it looks like we took the wood from a barn!

I am excited to put it up on the wall near my laundry area. .

And place pictures of messy kids on it (a great pinterest idea I found).

He also learned a LOT from the poultry judge, as mentioned the other day. .

And his two hens took a blue ribbon.

We are hopeful that the other 19 chicks will thrive and prosper. .

So he will have a choice of specimens next year!!

Hope you try out the muffins and enjoy them too!

Enjoy your weekend!!

Next up. .

If you don't like muffins. .

I can't imagine anyone NOT liking fruit. .

and pastry!!

Stay tuned!!

                    White Chocolate Apricot Muffins

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon minced crystallized ginger (I actually had this in my freezer because I had wanted to try it once earlier. .They add a bit of spicy undertone to the muffin. .but they would be fine if you opted not to put them in!)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 ounces premium white baking chocolate, finely chopped

3/4 cup 1% low-fat milk
3 tablespoons butter or stick margarine, melted
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Cooking spray
1/2 cup apricot preserves

Preheat oven to 400°.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (flour through chocolate) in a medium bowl; stir well with a whisk. Make a well in center of mixture. Combine milk, butter, and egg; stir well with a whisk. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist.

Spoon about 1 tablespoon batter into each of 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Spoon 2 teaspoons preserves into center of each muffin cup (do not spread over batter); top with remaining batter. Bake at 400° for 22 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center. Remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.