{create} apple muffins

I consider myself so blessed to have grown up with an amazing Grandmother. This woman was sheer inspiration. Her husband died when my mom was in middle school, yet my grandma worked full time, kept a beautiful home and most importantly, kept the family together.

Growing up, ALL family holidays were spent at her house, where she would spend days prepping elaborate and wonderful meals. Okay, the carrot jello salad might that appeared at every holiday meal might be the exception. The best part though? She was an amazing baker. She always had fresh baked goods in her house, and she is one of the main reasons I love baking so much today.

When she died a few years ago, I ended up with her recipe book.  Even though this was such an amazing gift, I'll be the first to admit that it's really hard to read her handwriting!

It's so interesting just to flip through the book. It's literally falling apart (as you can probably see!) from her overuse. But it's filled with such lovely recipes, I can see why it was overused.One of these years I want to bake through it. Doesn't Cardamon Biscuit Bread sound interesting?

This past weekend I took a turn at my grandma's Apple Loaf. My mom raves about it, and I can see why. I turned mine into muffins, and they were so moist and so flavorful and tasted completely of fall. Yum!

Apple Loaf Recipe 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ cup butter
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 egg beaten
• 1 cup flour (I used 1 cup all-purpose gluten free flour + ¾ tsp. xanthum gum)
• ½ cup nuts (optional)
• 2 large or 3 small apples

Method:

1. Grate or chop apples.
2. Combine flour, nuts (if using), salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, baking soda in a medium bowl and set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg and beat until incorporated.
4. Add apples. Mix.
5. Add flour mixture to apple mixture. Combine, but don’t overbeat.
6. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes for a loaf. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes for muffins.
7. Enjoy!