Putting All Other Muffins to Shame.

Breanne, I promised you a muffin recipe,and for everyone out there who only thinks they like Tim Hortons...I give you


Harvest Muffins:

Or the "Nature's Ultimate Bounty Muffin"

*A note to begin.... I am a careless pinch of this and sprinkle of  that  kind of baker, so I tried to put this recipe in hard facts that will turn out perfect every time while adding all my carefree habits as side notes. If you are more comfortable to follow the stricter guidelines then they will not steer you wrong and perhaps try that first and then try new variations on the tried and true recipe as you go to find the perfect muffin for you and yours.)

They require:
1/2 cup of margarine
1 cup of sugar (you can get away with more like 3/4 cup)
2 Eggs
1 cup of canned pumpkin
I throw in 1/4 cup of mashed sweet potato and sometimes a healthy dollop of applesauce (you can cut down on the sugar if you use the applesauce for sure)
2 cups all purpose flour ( I use half white and half whole wheat) (and a tblsp of flax)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp (each) of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg
1 cup of Semi sweet chocolate chips ( I have on occasion gone crazy and used butterscotch chips and white chocolate chips as well, but usually I save those for my Triple Chip Cookies of Amazingness... for another post at another time... back to the muffins:)

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1/4-1/2 cup raisins, dried cranberries or even seeds would be awesome (optional)

(notice that the chocolate chips are not optional?)

So, cream your margarine and sugar and then add one egg at a time. ( I throw all my wet ingredients together and cream them up and then dump all my dry ingredients on top and it works out just fine. You really don't have to be finicky with this recipe)
Place big gooey lumps of this recipe into a greased muffin tin or loaf pan and set it in an oven preheated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bake them until the smell has filled your home and made you thank God for autumn and its bounty and then pull them from the oven
(this will take about 15 minutes for muffins and close to an hour for a loaf. My suggestion; Who has an hour? Go for the muffins!)

Let them cool,simply so you don't burn your mouth, and then stuff a muffin whole into your mouth as soon as you can.... They are only slightly improved by being slathered in butter.....

I think I have some muffins to go bake....who's coming for coffee?