| We introduced muffins to you last week and | | | | To put a fancy graham crumb topping on your |
| many of you bought our new Apple Oat Muffin | | | | muffins . . . |
| Mix. Now we're going to tell you how to "fancy | | | | Oat-Graham-Brown Sugar Topping |
| up" your muffins. We'll show you how to add a | | | | 1/2 cup brown sugar |
| touch of orange to your muffins, put a fancy | | | | 1/4 cup rolled oats |
| graham crumb topping on them, or top them with | | | | 2 sheets of graham crackers, crushed |
| cream cheese. You can do this with your Apple | | | | 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon |
| Oat Muffins or a recipe of your choice. | | | | 6 tablespoons cold butter, cut in pieces |
| First, for the orange muffins . . . | | | | 1. Mix the first four ingredients together. |
| Pick a recipe that uses baking soda (or baking | | | | 2. Cut the butter in with a pastry knife. |
| soda and baking powder) as a leavener. Baking | | | | 3. Spoon on top of the muffins. |
| soda is alkaline and needs an acid to complete the | | | | 4. Bake as directed. |
| chemical reaction that causes the bubbles. | | | | To put a cream cheese frosting on your muffins . |
| Buttermilk is the acid most often used. Since | | | | . . |
| orange juice is an acid, you can use that in place | | | | Cream Cheese Topping |
| of buttermilk. Add a streusel topping and include | | | | 8 ounces cream cheese |
| one tablespoon of orange zest. | | | | 4 tablespoons flour |
| Here is a streusel topping mix that works well: | | | | 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract |
| Orange Nut Streusel Topping | | | | 1 egg |
| 1/2 cup walnut pieces | | | | 1/3 cup sugar |
| 1/2 cup brown sugar | | | | Directions |
| 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon | | | | 1. In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese until |
| 2 tablespoon orange zest (the zest from one | | | | soft |
| large orange) | | | | 2. Add the other ingredients and continue beating |
| 1 tablespoon cold butter | | | | until the mixture becomes soft and smooth. |
| 1. Chop the walnuts into small pieces. | | | | 3. Spoon the mixture over the top of the muffins. |
| 2. Stir the walnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, and | | | | 4. Bake as directed. The topping will increase |
| orange zest together. | | | | baking time by at least several minutes. Be sure |
| 3. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry knife or | | | | and test the muffins for doneness with a |
| two table knives. | | | | toothpick inserted in the center of the largest |
| 4. Spoon the streusel mixture over the muffin | | | | muffin. If it does not come out clean, continue |
| batter evenly before baking. | | | | baking. |