Fruit muffins were originally an attempt to use up borderline fruit and to make regular muffins (Fruit muffins 1.0) more healthy. They have since become a family favorite.

You may not need to make fruit muffins before Thanksgiving but you will most definitely need to make them afterwards. That is why I am giving you the recipe this week. You see, you will have left over items from Thanksgiving, and most likely you will make soup out of these premium ingredients. It follows therefore that you will need muffins to go with your soup.

Fruit muffins 2.0 is a flexible recipe. You will see a lot of variations and there are a lot of workable substitutions.

Adjust your shelf to the upper third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.

Equipment

Two cupcake tins each holding 12 cupcakes.
Unbleached cupcake papers, usually available at a natural food store

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour or whole wheat flour fine grind ( use white if you must but the result is less rich.. you may need more flour too)
2 teaspoons baking powder
One half teaspoon salt
One and 1/2 half teaspoons baking soda
1/2 cup butter, or one half cup coconut oil can be substituted
1 1/2 cup sugar, can be cut to 1 1/4 cup
Two eggs
4 tablespoons lemon juice (equals one quarter cup)
Six bananas
or 3 bananas +3 cups mixed fruit such as strawberries, diced fresh apple, dried cranberries.
Zest of one orange if you have it

Most baking recipes like this one proceed along a typical pattern:

Cream the liquid ingredients first starting with the butter in the sugar by themselves.
Add eggs at this stage and whip mixture until fluffy.
Add the lemon juice and whip again.
Mix in all the fruit and the zest.
Whisk together the dry ingredients so they are thoroughly mixed.
Stir or fold them thoroughly into the wet ingredients.
Scoop with a large ice cream scoop into the muffin papers.
Bake 19 -24 minutes ( usually 23) until golden and slightly firm, and passing the sharp knife test.

Transport in their tins to serve warm to happy friends and family, or to crabby ones and watch their mood improve. These are great served with cold milk.

Have fun cooking this week. Clean , decorate, cook, and forget perfection. Make cooking a fun group activity. Make it healthy with selected treats and family traditions. Get along with everyone as best you can. Most of all, be grateful.