baking muffins

I tried baking for the first time yesterday!!

I had planned to have a stay-in Saturday to bake muffins (so cold now better stay home). And then I saw Faith for dinner on Thursday and she mentioned she hasn't been to mine since I moved in. She's just 3 minutes away and so I thought I'd invite her to my place and bake together!

Weather was horrible.. the winds howled; the leaves were all over the neighbourhood and it was dark and gloomy. I thought the tree outside was gonna fall on my house anytime! Anyway so Faith called me and asked "Do you have measuring cups?"
"No."
"ok I'll bring."
"Do you have mixing bowl?"
"No."
"ok I'll bring."
"Do you have baking trays?"
"No."
"ok I'll bring."
(and this continued...)

Haha I know what you are thinking.. how can I bake with nothing in my kitchen??! In the end we figured she was eventually gonna bring her whole kitchen over to mine so it makes sense for me to go over to hers.

I met Sarah and girls the previous night and I actually invited 3 of them over to try my muffins since everyone didn't have plans for Saturday. I was like inviting people over by faith since I don't even know if the muffins would be edible. (plus the yucky weather and these girls are travelling down 1h to my place!) They have to be good. They just had to work. "Jesus help me!!"

Thank God the muffins turned out yummy! It was choc overload - we like. The only thing was that I should have put loads more cinnamon coz I couldn't taste the cinnamon in the muffins at all. It wasn't too sweet which was good, and according to Faith, the recipe isn't too "scary"; no butter but veg oil (not sure if this is the norm but at least it appears not that unhealthy to me). Noel, Faith and me tried one each hot from the oven. We all agreed "it's a pass!" whew :)

Just in time for my guests! Sarah, VJ and Cherry came over too (last saw her since the Ceilidh dancing). We had a late tea (muffins + earl grey tea) before all adjourning to Kine's for our X Factor night! We are all addicted to X Factor and it's so much fun to watch with friends esp Sarah.. her comments and laughter are contagious. Love these girls.

And here's the recipe in case u are interested:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I'll try 2 teaspoons the next time)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg , beaten
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chip

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture.
3. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, vegetable oil and vanilla.
4. Pour the liquid mixture into the well of the dry mixture.
5. Mix until just moistened, then fold in the chocolate chips.
6. Spoon into greased muffin cups and bake for 20 minutes.

Makes 1 dozen muffins.

In the oven, we can see which is the biggest one!

And here they are, fresh and hot from the oven.
Can you see the choc overload?

Big fat muffin upclose