Apple Muffins -- Saturday Morning Muffins with Friends

Saturday Morning came again, as it does every week, bringing with it our last music class, good friends, my beloved aunt and uncle, and yummy apple muffins, not necessarily in that order.

I was in the mood for apple, which seems to be one of those things that almost everybody will enjoy. It may not be a favourite  -- there really are die hard chocolate lovers out there -- but it seems to be enjoyed with gusto by very nearly almost everybody. Except our friend Kim who thinks fruit in baked goods is just wrong and very very mean.

Anyway, these apple muffins went over very well, and were enjoyed by all demographics. They are lightly sweet, extremely moist, chock full of protein, and neither fancy nor demanding. Kind of wholesome and reassuring. Hopefully, everything an apple muffin should be. And lovely with a cup of tea, dear friends, and a beloved aunt and uncle.

ingredients:

1 1/2 cups organic whole milk

1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil

1/4 cup clear agave

1/4 cup coconut sugar

2 XL organic eggs

1 1/2 tsp ground vanilla (or 1 tbsp vanilla extract)

1/2 tsp sea salt (I think I would add an extra 1/4 tsp next time)

3 tsp cinnamon

a touch of black pepper

1/4 tsp organic orange zest (optional) finely zested and minced

1 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp allspice

1/4 cup flax meal

1/4 cup shelled hemp seeds (aka hemp hearts)

2 cups almond flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup kamut flour 

1 large organic royal gala apple finely chopped (approx 2 cups)

1 small organic royal gala apple cut into quarters and then thinly sliced (optional -- for topping the muffins)

directions:

preheat the oven to 345

1. lightly warm the milk, and add the extra virgin coconut oil to melt it

2. stir in the agave and the coconut sugar

3. beat in the eggs

4. add the vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, sea salt, black pepper, and orange zest

5. mix in the flax meal, hemp seeds, and finally the almond flour

6. stir in the baking soda, mixing well

7. add the kamut flour, and stir lightly until just combined

8. add the finely chopped apple and mix gently until just combined

9. scoop the mixture into prepared muffin cups

10. bake at 345 for 30 minutes

makes 24 muffins

The hemp seeds give these muffins an extra richness and a moist, delicate texture.