Erikurious

Winter is far from being my favorite season. At least, during springtime nature comes alive and we have the blooming of pretty flowers to distract a bit from the still chilly wind that persists early in the season. Summer brings glorious warmth and the prospect of travel to new and exciting lands. Even, autumn can claim the falling of the leaves, an amazing time venture out and take nature expeditions with camera on-hand. But, what about winter? What does winter bring except for dreaded cold, the chore of cleaning snow off cars (especially this season) and overall detereoration of nature as we know it?

Well, it seems that as I grow older I am slowly finding some beauty in winter that the cold prevented me from seeing in the past. I recognize the beauty of snow as it falls gently and envelopes everything it comes across in white. I get excited just like everyone else at the arrival of the holidays and the excessive eating, drinking and socializing associated with the season. I also delight in lounging lazily at home (in my pajamas, of course), drinking hot beverages and curling up like a cat to watch movies or read all day.

But, there is only so much movie watching, reading or even hot beverage drinking I can do at home before the walls start closing in and I begin getting restless, cranky, sulky, and intolerably whiny. So before I drive my boyfriend away with my perpetual wintry bitchiness and end up spending a solitary winter with only the company of my two kitties to rely on, why don't we crack open a nice chocolate stout, put on some music and do some baking?

Last week, as I was perusing different cooking websites, I came across a delightful recipe for cinnamon muffins. They were exactly what I was looking for-something simple but irrestibly delicious, sweet and satisfying. I hope you enjoy them just as much as we did. Here is the recipe:


Cinnamon Muffins

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (I used about half of the amount the recipe called for and the flavor was still very noticeable, so adjust according to taste)

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup milk

1/3 cup butter


Topping:

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup butter, melted


Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and ginger.

Mix the egg, milk and oil in another bowl. Incorporate wet ingredients into the dry. Be sure not to overstir.

Spoon into greased or paper lined muffin cups (fill about halfway). I sometimes use a batter bowl for ease of filling. Bake for 20 minutes or until tops of muffins are lightly browned.

For topping combine the sugar and cinnamon. Brush the tops of the warm muffins with butter and dip the top of muffin into sugar/cinnamon mixture. Makes 12.