Long Ago and Far Away...

...I made these Dorie muffins. I haven't used many of her muffin recipes, but the two I've done thus far have been superb! My next experiment will be her Southern biscuits. I'm hoping that they are not flat and dense but puffy and light, but I diverge. The muffins I made were the Allspice Crumb muffins. I didn't have any allspice, so I substituted cinnamon. It was still delicious. With a tender crumb and crispy topping, these will delite your tongue and satisfy your tummy!

Allspice Crumb Muffins

from Dorie Greenspans' Baking from my Home to Yours

2 cups AP flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice (I used cinnamon)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup (packed) brown sugar

1 stick unsalted butter, melted and cooled (I'm pretty sure I used margarine)

2 large eggs

3/4 cup whole milk (I used skim)

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, allspice, and salt together. Stir in brown sugar, being sure there are no lumps. In another bowl, whisk the butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla together. Pour over the dry ingredients and gently and quickly stir to blend. The batter will be lumpy. Divide evenly among muffin cups (fitted with paper molds or sprayed). Sprinkle the streusel mixture over the top (recipe to follow) and gently press into the batter. Bake for 20 minutes, or until tops are golden and a knife inserted in the center of muffin comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing muffins from mold.

Streusel:

1/2 cup AP flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon all spice (I used cinnamon)

5 T cold unsalted butter, cut into bits (I used margarine)

Put flour, sugar, and allspice in a bowl. Add the butter and work into the flour mixture with your fingers. It should be irregularly shaped crumbs. Dorie says that these can be made up to three days ahead and kept covered in the refrigerator. when ready , sprinkle this over the muffin batter.

On a side note: In cleaning out my Granny's house, I was the recipient of her tube pan, cast iron skillet, pressure cooker, some REALLY CUTE stacking measuring cups, a pie plate, and an old cookbook. I might also get a poaching pan. SO be watching for my use of these items! Granny would love it.