banana muffin ~

I always hit the cookbook table at the school's book fairs, and one of the best finds I've ever made was this little bitty muffin cookbook. It has quick and amazing muffin recipes, from standard ones like banana and blueberry, to healthy ones full of nuts and raisins and made with wheat flour, to party ones with chocolate and cherries and such.

If you love muffins like Dr. Kelso, you gotta try this one. Warm and sweet, with a cup of coffee, you can't beat it for a great starttotheday...

Banana Walnut Muffins

(from The Totally Muffins Cookbook by Helene Siegel and Karen Gillingham)

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 stick butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease muffin tins or line with paper cups.

Spread nuts on a tray and toast in oven 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside.

In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.

In another bowl, cream butter, sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add mashed bananas and beat until combined.

Stir dry ingredients into banana mixture just until flour disappears. Lightly stir in nuts.

Spoon batter into muffin cups to the top. Bake 20-25 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. Makes 12 muffins.