Celebrating Life with Muffins

Sometimes the National Calendar or Secular Holidays or Feast Days of Faith influence which recipes to share. In the greater scheme of things, I’m sure this is a Feast Day for something. After all, there are more saints than there are days in a year.

Today is both National Sanctity of Human Life Day and Celebration of Life Day. While different, they are tied together. Sanctity of Human Life recognizes the value of human life, from the moment of conception. Celebration of Life Day honors the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren that enrich our lives every day. Both are pro-life celebrations from different perspectives that acknowledge life as a precious gift.

Don’t worry, I’m not about to launce into the whole Roe-v-Wade debate. It’s not my place to judge the choices of others. My prayers have never been to outlaw abortions, but to eliminate the circumstances and reasons for any woman to make such a difficult choice in the first place. Every child deserves to be conceived in love, born in love and simply loved. While it’s not a very realistic view, with a little faith all things are possible.

Weekends are made for family time. It seems, aside from vacations together, weekends are the only time possible to begin the day together over breakfast. Nothing brings me greater joy than starting the day surrounded by the people I love. And what better way to show my love than with some amazing muffins?

Cinnamon Streusel Apple Cider Muffins
Streusel
1/3 cup Brown Sugar, packed
3 tablespoons Flour
2 teaspoons Cinnamon
3 tablespoons Butter, cold

Heat oven to 350-degrees. Line a regular 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners, set aside.

In a bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. With a pastry blender, cut in the cold butter until pea-size crumbs are formed. Set aside.

Muffins
1-3/4 cup Flour
1/3 cup Sugar
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 large Egg
1 small Apple
3/4 cup Apple Cider
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
4 tablespoons Butter, soft

Core, peel and dice apple, set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the center.

In a small mixing bowl combine egg, diced apples, apple cider, and oil. Add all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moist.

Spoon about a tablespoon of batter into each prepared muffin tin. Sprinkle about a teaspoon of the brown sugar mixture over each muffin. Bake in heated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes or so.

Remove muffins from pans; cool slightly on racks. Serve while still warm with additional butter if desired.

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Oh, and before I forget – Happy Chinese New Year! This year is the year of the Rabbit. Just might need to order some Orange Chicken from Panda Express tonight.