SMALL BITES From Creative Discovery’s Culinary Corner

Do You Know the Muffin Man?

These creative muffins were made by a Normal Park mom, Andrea Merritt.

Muffins have a long history. The word muffin comes from the French word, moufflet, which describes a soft bread.  There are two kinds of muffins: the English muffin and the American muffin.  An English muffin, which is round and made from a yeast leavened dough, is usually cooked on a griddle and has a dense, spongy interior, resembling a honeycomb.

During the 19th century muffins were so popular in England that muffin men traveled the streets selling muffins during teatime.  The American muffin is a small, cup-sized quick bread, sweetened with sugar and flavored with fruits, nuts or savory ingredients. Since muffins are designed to be one serving sized and since they can contain a variety of nutritious ingredients, they are perfect for kids to make and eat.

Involving kids in the hands on process of working with food helps develop a love and interest in cooking and making healthy food choices. The following recipe offers children a great opportunity to develop fine motor skills and experience textures by using their hands to mix ingredients instead of a spatula or spoon. Bananas and chocolate are used as the sweetener for these muffins, but feel free to substitute your child’s favorite fruits.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Based on a recipe from The King Arthur Flour Baker’s Companion

This adaptation will make approximately four muffins.

Ingredients:

2 Tbs. butter

1/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1/8 tsp. Nutmeg

14 tsp. Allspic

1 med. Banana

º cup mil

1/3 cup whole wheat flour

1/3 cup all purpose flour

º tsp. Baking powder

1/8 tsp. Baking soda

1/8 tsp. Salt

º cup chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth.  Beat in the egg, spices, banana (ask kids to use their hands to squish the banana before adding it) and milk.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients, then stir them into the butter-sugar mixture.  Stir in the chocolate chips.

Spoon the batter into muffin cups.  Bake the muffins for 20-25 minutes, or until done.  Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes.