Missing Meatless Monday - Whole Wheat-Walnut Muffins

Ok, so I know this isn't quite the Meatless Monday recipe you were looking for (ie, one that could be served for dinner), but things have been a bit crazy at our house and I honestly don't remember what we had for dinner last Monday. But I do remember that these muffins are amazing - and they don't have any meat in them - so I figured they could work for today's post. I wouldn't consider myself a baker, and I have no idea how very basic ingredients in a simple recipe can create such wonderful results, but I felt like the queen of baking when we bit into these moist and satisfying muffins. Maryana Vollstedt has won prizes for this recipe and after baking two batches in one week, I totally understand why.


1/4 cup butter or margarine, cut up
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 1/4 cups milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup chopped walnuts or other nuts
1 Tbsp. sugar
Optional variation: Add 3/4 cup peeled, chopped apple


Preheat oven to 425. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until well mixed. Add egg, milk, and vanilla and blend. Add flour, baking powder, salt and nuts and mix until moistened.

Spoon batter into paper-lined muffin tins, filling them about three-fourths full. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on a rack for 5 minutes. Serve warm.