Tullz

These muffins are drop dead simplicity itself. I bake them at the Cedar Tree Café in the grounds of Vogrie House, Midlothian, where they go down a storm. I use anything that’s kickin' around, needs using up or what I fancy putting in. They really are mix and match; put in your favourite things, even kids like them, without realising that they are packed full of stuff they say they don't like! The All But Muffin - all but the kitchen sink! Ingredients: 10oz plain or wholemeal flour 1tsp baking powder 1tsp bicarbonate of soda (bicarb) 1/2 tsp salt 3 large bananas 4oz granulated or Demerara sugar 2oz choc chips or walnuts* 1 egg 2-3oz soured milk (milk with a splash of lemon) 3oz sunflower oil or melted butter Sunflower and pumpkin seeds, optional Method: Line a muffin tin with muffin cases. Put all the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Mash the banana with egg, milk and oil or butter (* instead of chocolate or walnuts, I add a mix of dried cranberries, dried blueberries, sultanas or raisins, apricots, grated carrot, grated apple, dried pineapple, glace or dried sour cherries, prunes, soft dried figs and anything else at hand into the wet mix. It really is a case of mix and match of whatever you like). Add wet ingredients to dry, stir lightly and quickly to a soft batter but don’t over mix. Spoon into muffin tin. If you find you have mixture left over, line a loaf tin with greaseproof paper, shove in the remaining mixture and bake as below. Sprinkle with sunflower and pumpkin seeds for extra crunch. Bake in a hot oven at 190oC/Gas5/Fan oven 170oC for about 18-20 minutes. Leave in tin to cool slightly, then finish cooling of wire racks. Enjoy Tullz Little things please little minds, while bigger fools look on!

LOL I always get 'What the bloody hell do you want to take *that* for?' Or 'haven't you forgotten something? - the kitchen sink!' Men! The just don't understand, unless they are chefs Nut loaf sounds good. I love the smell of bacon in the morning (rather than nahpalm!) Tullz

What do you do for your sins? I'm a food writer and reviewer. Got to many restaurants too review at the mo _at least 4 if not 6 by the end of next week! Thank gawd for elasticated waist bands! Ahhh homemade cakes! I spend 1 day a week doin home baking at a friends cafe and as such, I too have more than my fair share of staff tasters! LOL Might take a cake tin and my baking notes along with a couple of sharp knives, zester and my cast iron saute pan. I know what the equipment is like on these jaunts. I remember a trip on the Maid of Plastic on the Thames many years ago - had a bloody frying pan the size of a dish at Jodrell Bank - just about fitted on the 3 ring gas stove, only problem was there wasn't enough pressure when all 3 were alight at once! You have a great trip too Tullz

Nice to know where I can if needs be. Most kind of you CSM Tullz

Cheers, m'dear Tullz

Lucky you! Unfortunately I may have work to do on our jaunt And BOGG (Big Old Grumpy Git) has his lapdog surgically attached! Like you, we've only got 10 days to go, unlike you the cake tin remains empty, the kids ain't bovvered and I'm up to armpits in laundry! BOGG on the other hand is heading to Dubai for the week, so remains blissfully out of the loop of packing! *evil grin* up to me then as to what I pack for him Tullz

Thanks David Hopefully I won't need it but it's nice to know where I can hop online if needs be Tullz

Why is it work always conflicts with holidays? Once again I need your expert guidnace here, oh oracles (or should that be gurus?) of the canal systmer I will need net wifi access around Braunston/Foxton, do any of you know where there are wifi hotspots or net cafes in the area? Ta very much for ya help, once again. Tullz

Didn't like Wasp Factory, much prefered Crow Road - very funny in places, black humour at its best Tullz and twopenneth worth

*innocent look* No comment! Tullz

Give you a wave? Bugger off ... I'd expect you to join us for a pint or two. We'll hopefully moor at Braunston on Mon nite (2nd). See ya then Tullz