BASIC MUFFINS

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cold butter or margarine, cut into 4 pieces
1/2 cup milk
1 large egg, beaten

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.

Fit food processor with steel blade. Measure flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into work bowl. Process on/off to mix.

Add butter; process on/off 8 to 10 times or until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Combine milk and egg. Pour over flour mixture. Process on/off 5 or 6 times, or just until flour is moistened. Do not overprocess. Batter should be lumpy.

Spoon batter into greased muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full.

Bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm.

VARIATIONS:

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS:
Prepare batter as directed for Basic Muffins, increasing sugar to 1/2 cup. Gently fold 1 cup fresh or thawed frozen blueberries or 3/4 cup well drained canned blueberries into batter just before spooning into muffin cups. Bake as directed for Basic Muffins.

DATE OR RAISIN MUFFINS:
Prepare batter as directed for Basic Muffins, adding 1 cup chopped, pitted dates or dark raisins to flour mixture before adding milk and egg. Process on/off, then add milk and egg. Continue as directed for Basic Muffins.

LEMON NUT MUFFINS:
Prepare batter as directed for Basic Muffins, adding 1 cup chopped nuts and 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind to flour mixture before adding milk and egg. Process on/off, then add milk and egg. Continue as directed for Basic Muffins.

CINNAMON SURPRISE MUFFINS:
Prepare batter as directed for Basic Muffins, adding 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon to work bowl with flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Fill muffin cups 1/2 full of batter, then drop 1 teaspoon fruit jelly, jam or preserves in center of batter in each cup. Cc with remaining batter. Bake as directed for Basic Muffins.

CRANBERRY MUFFINS:
Prepare batter as directed for Basic Muffins, increasing sugar to 1/2 cup. Gently fold 1 cup chopped fresh cranberries into batter just before spooning into muffin cups. Bake as directed for Basic Muffins.

Makes 1 dozen muffins
From: Recipelink.com
Source: Recipe booklet: Fast and Easy Breads and Quick Breads with Your Food Processor, Favorite Recipes Magazine, No. 16, 1986