Patricia's Spiced Fruit Muffins

Patricia was one of Natalie's Fairy Godmothers. She also gave me the recipe for that self-crusting courgette quiche that we make so often. She was a very sensible woman, and told me that both these recipes were very good for pot-lucks. And so they are!

Patricia was also Alices' breeder Elizabeth's best friend. When Alice had that unexpected (and HUGE) litter, I named two of the bitches Patricia and Elizabeth, and somewhere there's a photo of Patricia holding 'her' puppy. I'm not sure that I ever told Elizabeth. Probably best, as I'm sure she wouldn't have approved of the opportunist little pig-dog who was the father!

Anyway, the muffins are really easy, and you can use whatever fruit you have. I experiment with mixtures, for example banana with apricot yoghurt. Rhubarb is nice too. If there's nothing else, even apple and chopped dates will get favourable comments.

Mix together: 1 1/2 cups white flour

1/2 cup oat bran

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp mixed spice

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda (soda bic)

Heat together 1 cup lightly stewed diced fruit and 50 gm butter, just enough to melt the butter.

Add 1 egg and mix.

Add 2/3 cup yoghurt and mix again.

Fold wet into dry ingredients. Mixture will start to rise immediately. Don't over-mix or the muffins will be rubbery.

Quickly put spoonfuls into a greased muffin tin and bake at 200ºC for 10 - 15 minutes or until golden.

Makes 9 large or 12 small muffins.