Integrating Cooking: Muffin Monday

How many times do you go through the week thinking, I really should do more for breakfast than just cereal? So, why not on Sunday evening, make some yummy muffins for Muffin Monday? Then you have something different at least for Monday and Tuesday and the family has love from the oven.

The kids can read the steps in takes to make the muffins and learn measurements at the same time!

1. Use the good old Jiffy muffin mix

2. Banana Nut (Chocolate) Bread
1/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking power
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed ripe banana (2 1/2 bananas)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I use chocolate chips instead)

oven 350

Cream together shortening and sugar; add eggs and beat will. Sift together dry ingredients; add creamed mixture alternately with banana, blending well after each addition. Stir in nuts.
Pour into a well-grease loaf pan, or cupcake pan.
Makes 12 Muffins

3. Apple Praline Bread
Bread:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 medium (2 cups) apples, peeled, grated
s; remove from
Topping
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup finely chopped pecans

Heat oven to 350 degrees
Combine 1 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup butter in large bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy. Add sour cream, eggs and vanilla; continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low, add all remaining bread ingredients except apples. Beat until well mixed. Stir in grated apples.

Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake for 38-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and tops are dark golden brown. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans; place onto wire cooling rack. Cool completely.

Meanwhile, combine 1/3 cup brown sugar and 1/3 cup butter in 1-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a boil (3 to 4 minutes). Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until well mixed and smooth (2 to 3 minutes) remove from heat; stir in pecans.

Spread topping evenly over each loaf. Serve warm or at room temperature.