Anything-Goes Muffin Mix

Even though both my parents worked when I was growing up, we never lacked for delicious, healthy homemade food.  My mom was constantly on the look-out for ways to save money and time on meals.  She made frequent use of the Crock-Pot, the auto-timer on the oven, and in some cases, mixes.

Homemade mixes!  What an inspired idea.  Mix together all the dry ingredients in a basic muffin recipe, stick it in a container, write the recipe on the lid (GENIUS!), and voila!  Muffins at any time.  This is a great thing to have around as the holidays are approaching, when you have family and guests around more often!  What an effortless way to whip up breakfast for people on the day after Thanksgiving (that is, unless everyone's eating pie for breakfast)!

Mix in whatever you like to make them more special!  Here are a few suggestions:

• 1 teaspoon orange zest, 1 cup fresh cranberries, and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 teaspoon almond extract, 3/4 cup dried cherries, and 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest, and 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 cup frozen fruit of your choice, straight from the freezer
• 1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut and 1/2 cup diced pineapple
• 1 cup diced apple, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3/4 cup grated carrots, 1/2 cup raisins, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, 1 tablespoon honey

What would YOU mix in?

Anything-Goes Muffin Mix

5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cold butter, chopped into pieces

Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until combined.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  Yield: about 4 dozen muffins

To make muffins:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Beat together 1 egg and 1 cup milk.  Add to 2 1/2 cups muffin mix and stir until barely combined (too much stirring = hockey pucks).  Fold in any mix-ins you like.  Spoon into paper-lined or greased muffin tin.  Bake 15-20 minutes, until a tester inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.  Each batch yields 1 dozen muffins.