Hide-and-Seek Muffins


from Pretend Soup by Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson
This recipe Copyright 1994 Tricycle Press, Berkeley, CA
Look for picture version of the instructions for kids on America On Line (Keyword: NPR).

Tools

  • 1 muffin pan (1 dozen capacity)
  • muffin papers
  • small pan for melting butter
  • 2 medium bowls
  • mixing spoon
  • 1-cup measure
  • measuring spoons
  • whisk
  • 1/4 cup measure with handle
  • small plate for extra sugar

    Muffin Mix
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 tablespoons melted butter
  • 12 medium strawberries
  • 3 tablespoons sugar for the strawberries

    Instructions
    1. Grown-up assembly: assemble muffin mix and melt butter. Pre-heat oven to 375.
    2. Put muffin papers in the pan
    3. Break eggs in a bowl.
    4. Add milk, vanilla, and melted butter. Whisk.
    5. Pour the wet ingredients into the muffin mix. Stir.
    6. Use 1/4 cup measure with a handle to fill the muffin tin.
    7. Roll each strawberry in sugar, and put one in the center of each muffin, pushing down with your finger.
    8. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted all the way down comes out clean.
    9. Remove from the pan to cool. Cool at least 10 minutes before eating. (The strawberries get very hot!)

    Cooking hints for grownups:
    Children love to break the eggs themselves. A foolproof method is to let your youngster crack the eggs on the bottom of the mixing bowl, then just dump the insides in. If you have to remove a few pieces of shell, it's no big deal.

    Take the worry out of measuring liquids by putting the measuring cup in a pie pan. Let your child pour the milk from a small pitcher into the measuring cup. The pie pan will catch the spills.

    Stirring is hard work. You and your young cook may want to take turns holding the bowl steady while the other mixes. It's fun to count how many stirs each gets. Remember the batter doesn't have to be perfectly smooth.

    Pouring the batter into the muffin cups is tricky, even for adults. You'll need to hold down the muffin papers and guide your child's hand. Don't worry about the inevitable drips on top of the pan... just wipe them off.

    Putting the muffins in the oven and taking them out are adult jobs! Kids should stay away from the hot oven. Let the muffins cool down before eating.