Christmas Morning Muffins

Just four days before Christmas, my children started their school holiday and my husband took his vacation. We started it with PSTC (Parents Student Teacher Conference) at school in the morning, then followed by last Christmas shopping. Done!

The beautiful aroma of Chrismas holiday blew stronger around us, to every corner of our home. That's the most wonderful time of the year!

We had more time to enjoy our home during this 'most wanted' season, ...wrapped the Christmas presents, put the ribbon and the gift tags while enjoying Christmas songs, and ...baked another batch of gingerbread cookies (ha..ha.. ) and some quick bread. "This is the season to be baking, ... "

One beautiful morning, I decided to bake this kind of quick bread. Oooh, I have to thank to Nigella Lawson for her clever recipe. This delicious muffins, not only kick our hungger, but the harmony flavor of the cinnamon, dried cranberries, nutmeg, orange juice, and palm sugar give more festive aroma in our home and signifying Christmas.
"Thank you, Nigella".

Christmas-Morning Muffin
Source : Delicious Magazine Dec/Jan 2004 {Christmas Goddess, recipe by Nigella Lawson}.
Makes 8-12 muffins

1 1/3 cups (200gr) plain flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tswp bicarbonate of soda
75 gr demerara sugar (I substitute with palm sugar)
Good grating of fresh nutmeg
Juice of 1 small orange
About 50ml milk
60 gr unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg
150 gr dried cranberries (craisins)

Topping
2 tsp demerara sugar (I substitute with palm sugar)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 200C (180C for my oven :)). Line 8 or 12 holes in a muffin pan with paper cases.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, sugar and nutmeg. Squeeze juice into a measuring jug, then pour in milk until reaches the 150ml mark. Add butter and egg, beat to combine. Pour liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir till they are more or less combined, remembering that a lumpy butter makes light muffins. Lightly fold in cranberries and fill muffin cases.

For topping, mix together the sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the top of the muffins. Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes. Enjoy them as they are, or broken open and spread heapingly with unsalted butter and marmalade.

For all of you, have a festive, happy, dan safe holiday!