Mmmm Mmmm Monday: Springtime Muffins

This is a yummy recipe from my Muffins Galore cookbook. In the book they're called "Easter Muffins" but they are great for all spring long!

I made a batch over the weekend when we had some out-of-town guests and these tasty muffins were a big hit with everyone!

Makes 10 muffins.
1 cup self-rising flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup superfine sugar
1/4 butter, melted
5 Tbsp lemon flavored yogurt
Finely grated zest of 1/2 lemon
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 egg, lightly beaten

For the lime syrup (optional...I made it without the syrup and the frosting and they were still great!)
finely grated zest & juice of 1 lime
2 heaping Tbsp superfine sugar

For Icing:
1 and 1/5 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbsp butter, melted
3 Tbsp lemon juice
food coloring

*Preheat oven to 375*. Line muffin pan with paper liners.
*For the muffins, mix the flour, baking soda, and sugar in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together them elted butter, yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice, and egg. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix briefly until just combined.
*Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, dividing evenly. Bake for 15 minutes, or until risen and golden.
* While the muffins are baking, make the lime syrup. Gently heat the lime zest, lime juice & sugar in a small saucepan until the sugar has dissolved. Remove pan from heat and cool for 5 minutes. Strain syrup into a bowl using a fine strainer. Drizle a little of the warm syrup over each hot muffin. Cool completely in pan.
* For the icing, sift the powdered sugar into a mixing bowl. Gently heat the butter & lemon juice in a small saucepan until melted. Pour the melted mixture over the powdered sugar and stir until smooth & glossy.
* Add food coloring if desired and decorate cold muffins. Leave to set before serving.

Mmmm Mmmm Monday: Chocolate Chip Orange Muffins

When I checked out Cupcakes Galore from the library a couple weeks ago, I also picked up Muffins Galore. I tried out this recipe over the weekend and these puppies were so tasty that they were gobbled up in less than 24 hours.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup light brown sugar
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Generous 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup milk
6 Tbsp butter/margarine, melted
2 eggs, lightly beaten
Finely grated zest of 1 orange

Preheat oven to 400*. Grease 12 cup muffin pan or line with paper liners.
Mix the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt & chocolate chips in large bowl.
In a seperate bowl, mix together the milk, melted butter/margarine, eggs & orange zest. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix briefly until just combined.
Spoon the batter into the muffin pan, dividing evenly. Bake for 20 minutes or until well risen and firm to the touch. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then place muffins on a wire rack until cool.