What is it you just can't seem to cook just right?
For the longest time, for me, it was Sweet Tea. I found an acceptable solution, but I'm still not 100% happy with the results. I'll take 85%, for now.
What I really haven't felt like I've gotten pinned down is how to make a good muffin. I end up with little hard-rather-than-fluffy balls of bread, that aren't any fun to eat at all. What's your trick or recipe?
Go over to the Natural Mommy and ask your own recipe question, or drop more tips to those of us who don't have the answers!
9 comments:
oh, there are so many wonderful recipes out there, I won't even try to pick just one -- but if your muffins are coming out hard, it might be that they're being over-mixed. Mine come out much too chewy and hard when my 2-year-old sous chef is helping with the mixer. :) Just make sure you're mixing the dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately first, then when you mix them together, mix until just moistened. The batter will be lumpy, but they'll come out fluffier after baking! :)
Hope this helps!
I'm not totally sure what sweet tea is. Can you tell me your recipe?
Another tip to prevent over mixing (besides separate bowls) is to make a well in the dry ingredients before pouring in the wet ingredients.
I also like to use a whisk when the batter is thin enough. It moistens the batter with the fewest amount of strokes. (Also scrapes the bottom better than a wooden spoon).
My muffins aren't hard, by any means, but I've never made all-white ones, so I can't really compare them to know how I'm doing. I make half-whole wheat ones, so of course, they're not as fluffy.
And FOR SOME REASON, I can only ever get 11 muffins out of a mix. I finally just resorted to making mini muffins so I don't feel so inadequate. Look! Look at all the muffins!
CC - "Sweet tea" is iced tea with sugar added. My recipe is here. I meant to include the link in the post. My bad.
Catherine & Beth- Overmixing is probably my problem. Thanks for the tip! and, Beth, I'll have a hard time getting away from my wooden spoon. I love it.
Over mixing was my first thought, but SWEET TEA?! Aren't you from the North? What is wrong with you? :)
Ha- Stephanie, I may live in Indiana, but I was born in Georgia, and have a mom with deep roots in southern rural Georgia. Growing up, there was never a time without sweet tea in the fridge!
Hello
I wanted to help you out with your sweet tea.
I use 2 family size tea bags and I put them in 4 cups of water in the mirowave on high for 5 minutes then let it sit for 5 minutes.
I put 2 cups of sugar (yes...2 cups...sweet tea needs to be sweet) in a 1 gallon pitcher.
I pour the hot tea in and stir well then I fill up the rest of the pitcher with water. Stir well. Pop in the in fridge and get it really cold.
YUM!!!
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