the muffin doctor

muffins, muffins, muffins!

it's saturday morning, and what always sounds good for breakfast? muffins! but not your average boring muffins that you get from a box. we are getting inventive here! we deserve better. these are recipes that start with a box, but have creative add-ins to make the 100x tastier :-)

and just a hint: muffins will keep longer if you refrigerate them (just like any bread), so they are an easy breakfast to make on mornings when you have about 20 seconds to grab something before class. just grab one out of the fridge, pop it in the microwave for 15 seconds, and enjoy on the way to class! if you make them over the weekend, they will keep for the week.


bagged muffin mix is cheap. And if it's the store's own brand, they're even cheaper! (they're like 60 cents a piece, seriously!) so grab a bunch of those and away we go!**


Apple Bran Muffins

1 bag of bran muffin mix

milk or water (whatever the bag calls for)

cinnamon applesauce

Steps:
1) Make the muffins according to the package, except you're going to cut the amount of liquid in half, and fill in the missing half with applesauce. So, if the package calls for 1 cup of milk or water, only pour in 1/2 a cup of liquid, and add 1/2 a cup of applesauce. Whatever amount of liquid it calls for, just make sure your ratio is half-and-half.
2) Bake the muffins according to the instructions.
3) These are also really good with granola crumbled on top!


Lemon Blueberry Muffins

1 bag of blueberry muffin mix

water (even if the bag calls for milk, substitute water)

lemonade (i know you have this left over from the party the other night. vodka and lemonade is a staple. always have lemonade)

Steps:
1) make the muffins according to the package, except you're going to cut the amount of water in half, and fill in the missing half with lemonade. So, if the package calls for 1 cup of water (remember you are substituting the water even if it asks for milk), then you want to use 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of lemonade.
2) bake according to the instructions on the package
3) Note: do NOT use lemon juice for this recipe. because you are not adding sugar, the lemon juice alone is too sour. use lemonade!


Banana Chocolate Chip muffins

1 bag of chocolate chip muffins

chocolate milk (to substitute for the liquid called for)

1 or 2 bananas, peeled and mashed (depending on your preference of how banana-y you want the muffins to taste; more bananas = more banana flavor

Steps:
1) make muffins according to the package, except substitute the milk or water with chocolate milk (use the entire amount of liquid called for)
2) break up banana(s) and put them in a bowl. mash with a back of a spoon until the lumps are gone/almost gone
**Note: you could be there all day trying to mash the bananas perfectly. Don't waste your time. If there are a few little chunks, its ok! they will soften in the oven.
3) fold mashed bananas into the muffin mixture
3) bake according to the instructions on the package



**Note- these recipes do not include muffin mix that comes in the boxes; the difference is sometimes those ask for oil and eggs. these recipes should still work if you leave the oil and eggs the same and just alter the liquids the same way as we did for the bags!