Mango Raspberry Lawsuit Muffins

Alright, so I admit - I use baking as bribery. Is that so bad? (for either party) Seriously. Because I know I’m not the only one who uses sweet, buttery baking to their benefit, why? Because it works! My advice to any of you who haven’t tried this lucrative tool, do it - it pays off! Now, that - admittedly sounds pretty manipulative, but given the context it really actually works out to be just plain clever. Using cookies to encourage a favor - delicious, chocolate cake to get out of tax evasion - well, that’s slightly frowned upon (given that you don’t get caught! Not that I suggest you try...ahem...). In my humble opinion baking should, and quite frequently, be used to the bakers advantage. It is delicious, as many bribees would confirm, and more often than not leaves extras for our indulgence! Now if only world conflicts would be solved over baking and not bombs!!

So who was I bribing and more importantly with what was I bribing? Oh, the list of people goes on and for several different reasons (early morning chauffeuring in absence of a car, tech help, last minute space booking... you can see how much I put this baking-bribing thing to use!) but the baked goods are quite simply delicious and sweet enough to make anyone forget who they are - let alone the reason why they are curiously getting buckets of baking! (which works for me!). Mango Raspberry Lawsuit Muffins, Oatmeal Cookies and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies were among the chosen - carefully and thoroughly thought out I might add. They had to be pretty generally popular, certified favourites, plus easy to pack and munch on the go (or on the job, depending on where the bribing was taking place) and those are what I chose.

Today will just be the muffins - but I would be surprised if you haven’t already come across this extremely popular, top-notch, tried-and-true, blogger tested and approved (ten-fold, plus) recipe. Yes, it hails from the one and only, lawsuit queen: Marcy Goldman. Haven’t heard the story? No, well I guess this you should check out the real-deal, because if I were to attempt a rendition it might end-up with an extradition order and strict legal restrictions forbidding any muffin baking of any kind, skewed and hugely out of proportion in any case.(I tend to exaggerate sometimes - go figure!).

Oh, and by the by these are henceforth my brothers FAVORITE muffins, “best muffin I have ever tasted!” is what he said, through a mouthful of fluffy muffin. He even dismissed the famous fresh Crampton’s bakery muffins (which I personally believe are the world’s finest - no offense to Marcy’s though, because they are neck and neck - a tough one to call) saying mine were better. I then had to make a second batch after the first lasted but one day!! (so I did: tripleberry, apple-cinnamon and strawberry-banana). Upon hearing this high praise I had to know what made them so fabulous, “the crunchy top” he said, munching away, “and the streusel, and the perfect muffin texture.” So there you have it - from a very discerning palette (and prep/line cook to boot) - world’s best muffins. Make them yourself and see!

So yes, and without any further ado... Marcy Goldman’s Lawsuit Muffins (in a little mango raspberry number)

Mango Raspberry Lawsuit Muffins

adapted from Marcy Goldman’s Lawsuit Muffins

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 Tbsp citrus zest (I was out of lemon so i used orange)

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup buttermilk, or equally 1 cup milk and 1 Tbsp lemon juice (which is what I used)

2 3/4 cups flour (the original 2 1/2 cups was too little for me)

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 3/4 cup (or so) fruit flavourings (such as Mango-Raspberry, equal parts)

Streusel Topping

1 Tbsp butter

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup rolled oats or walnuts, or a little of both (i prefer oats personally, but what ever tickles you fancy!)

Preheat oven to 400℉. Line a muffin tin with paper, this recipe makes 9 good sized muffins - though it stretches easily to 12 if you like more moderate sized ones.

Combine brown sugar and oil together in a large bowl. Whisk in egg, zest, vanilla and milk.

In a separate bowl combine flour, baking soda and powder, and salt. Add to wet mixture and gently fold together with fruit flavourings.

**NB: Mix up whatever fruit combinations you like. ex: Maple-walnut, Fresh Currant and Lemon (Citron-Cassis), Caramel Apple, or Cinnamon Apple, Strawberry-Banana, Berry, Pineapple-Coconut... you can see the list could easily go on forever!**

Generously fill 9 (or 12) muffin cups, there should be nice mounds if you want serious domed muffins!

Sprinkle with streusel topping (just mix the ingredients together - no theoretical particle physics required!)

Bake for 15 minutes at 400℉, then lower the temperature to 350℉ and bake for an additional 12 minutes or so. The muffins should be springy and delectably crisp on top. Let them cool in the pan for 10 minutes or so, remove and eat immediately! (or you could save them to enjoy a little later...if you want!) Just a note - if you put them in an air tight container they loose their crisp tops, so either eat them quickly or try storing them in a paper bag for a day or two.

Mmm... delicious!

If you were wondering about the book, it’s a serious classic, Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree: The Enchanted Wood! My favourite childhood read in the original 1950’s edition.

05.17.2008

Mango Raspberry Lawsuit Muffins

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