Add to Me Muffin Mix

This is just a basic muffin recipe. You can add anything you like to make these your own special muffins. Try fresh or frozen berries (try raspberry and white choc chip for a decadent treat), choc chips, nuts or even finely chopped vegetables for delicious savoury morsels. All muffins will be mixed together the same way, just add your additions once the batter is completely mixed. Use a wooden spoon and only mix until the ingredients are just combined and moistened, don't over beat. Bake as directed in this recipe.

What You Need:

2 c plain flour
1/3 c sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 c canola oil
2 egg whites
1 c skim milk

How to Make Them:

Place the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl. Blend all the ingredients together with a wooden spoon. In a separate bowl blend the oil, egg whites and milk with a balloon whisk until blended completely together. Pour into the dry mixture. Mix with that wooden spoon until everything is just moistened. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees (400F). Prepare a muffin tin with a non stick cooking spray OR place a muffin paper in each cup. Fill each muffin cup 2/3 full of batter. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a couple of muffins comes out clean.

These muffins are the best morning tea snack and they really keep the after school hungries at bay until dinner time too. You can make them low fat by substituting unsweetened applesauce (homemade or canned) for the oil, just use the same quantity. You won't notice any difference in texture, flavour or moistness I promise.

Welcome to my old fashioned kitchen

Take a seat at the table and I'll put the kettle on. I'm hoping you'll be able to visit awhile so we can have a gossip and swap recipes. And I hope you're not dieting, I have a new recipe I'd like you to try too. I made it up fresh this morning because I just knew you'd pop in.

I've been in this kitchen for almost 20 years, raising my three children and lovin' my darling. Sometimes things have been a little tight, but that's ok. My kitchen is cosy and safe and there's nothing nicer than the smell of homebaking to shoo away the burdens of the world.

I hope I can share recipes and my personal philosophy on life and even tips on caring for your home with you.

So come on and get a cuppa, sit back and relax in my old fashioned kitchen.

Let's be friends

Let's be friends

So we can be friends, you'll need to know at least a little bit about me. I'm Cass Ann, married to my Darling and the very proud mum of Train Boy (18), Tidgy (16) and Spanny Girl (13). We live in our dream house, in suburban Melbourne. Yep, I'm a mum from the 'burbs and proud of it! I'm a full time happy homemaker and I never seem to have enough hours in the day to do everything I want to.

I love to cook and bake for my family and friends and anyone else I can think of. I love our kitchen table - it's big enough for 12 and often there are more squeezed around it. Our home is filled with laughter and love (I know it sounds corny but it's true) and lots and lots of kids, especially right now. It's school holidays and there are bodies everywhere :)

I have a veggie garden and flower beds. I like to bottle, dehydrate or freeze the excess from our garden. I also sew and love crafts. My favourite busywork is creative tapestry, next in line would be counted cross-stitch and I've occasionally been known to pick up some wool and a pair of knitting needles to keep busy.

In my spare time I look after my mother and my parents-in-law, and help out with shopping and driving to appointments and so on. Oh, and sometimes actually make it to a Home and School meeting instead of sending apologies.

All in all, I live a fairly average, suburban life and I wouldn't change a thing about it.