This summer, I treated myself to some muffin tins. I must say that I invariably order double chocolate muffins wherever I go, and I have been seen to leave a certain establishment when they've run out of it - but I'd rather go without sugar-fix than be spotted with a skinny peach muffin!
What I miss here in London is the coffee culture. That's not to say that Vienna has fantastic coffees (they may have 100 different ways of serving it, but the coffee they use is crap*, no sweet-talking here), but the pastries and cakes to go with it are delicious. Such a variety of sinful temptations is hard to come by in any other place on earth!
In London, you're limited to muffins as the staple companion to your latte or, in my case, espresso - and you sometimes get delicious ones (over the past 5 years, I have been counting such occasions with my own precious fingers and haven't felt the need for a third hand, to be honest), but I did feel the urge to impress those around me and for once be a "domestic goddess" (Nigella or the one who must have inspired her with her cakes, Jennifer), so I decided one day to make my own. This was far back in the summer months, with fresh fruit in abundance, so I tried two different flavours on one batch of dough: raspberry & white chocolate and peach & pecan - they turned out nice and fluffy, just what you'd expect, even without all the e-numbers and tons of baking powder the tried and tested chains must to be using... I guess I haven't sussed the crumble topping yet, it could be stickier, but there you go - I am not pretending to me a muffin master, much more like a muffin monster!
*but then again, my husband and I are coffee primadonnas and anybody out there who can secure some reasonably-priced Musetti espresso beans in or shipped to London: there's a considerable reward waiting for you, alongside life-long gratitude!
Muffin duo: peach & pecan, raspberry & white chocolate
(makes about 12)
375 g white flour
130 g caster sugar
20 g baking powder
1 pinch salt
110 g butter (melted)
200 g buttermilk
1 egg
15 ml oil
1 peach
1 pinch cinnamon
pecan crumble (see below) to decorate
100 white chocolate (chopped)
100 raspberries
For the crumble:
40 g flour
40 g oats
25 brown sugar
40 g butter (melted)
40 g pecans (chopped)
Combine the flour, sugar and baking powder in a bowl.
In another bowl, whisk together the oil, butter, sugar and egg. Gradually add the flour mixture and the buttermilk to the egg mixture, just enough to make a smooth batter.
Divide in half.
Add the peach and cinnamon to the one half, the raspberries and white chocolate to the other. Divide into muffin tins lined with paper cases and top the peach muffins with the crumble.
Bake in the pre-heated oven (200 C) for 25 - 30 minutes until lightly brown and cooked through.
You have me intrigued that you love Musetti coffee above all others and I've never had it. Where did you drink it? So I did a little research: 2 kg of Musetti beans (coffee comes in 1 kg bags, so depending how much you drink...) would cost about $50 shipped in the U.S., plus shipping to London.
Want some?
I am serious -- I know what it is like to live overseas and crave certain unobtainable items. After 10 years of my family's living in Hong Kong, I would guess I have a lot of karma to repay all the friends and business associates who carted over everything from videotapes of American television to suitcases filled with bagels and bialys. Anytime you want to arrange a shipment of espresso (maybe surprise your husband on Christmas morning?), I am your girl. You have provided me with enough cooking inspiration that I would still come out ahead!
E-mail me if you are in need of some Italian caffeine....
Posted by: Michele | Oct 06, 2005 at 10:13 AM
I love Musetti coffee too! They serve it in Tuttons in Covent Garden and each time I'm in london I have to have a cup! I still haven't found a supplier in the UK, Tuttons get it wholesale, but every time I've asked who from the cook (who knows who from) is out...Either that or they just want me to keep coming! Where did you find that supplied it from the US?
Posted by: Mary Dobson | Nov 03, 2005 at 12:24 PM
since posting, i have found a supplier of musetti coffee!http://www.limoncello.co.uk/acatalog/Limoncello_Coffee_8.html £6.99 delivery and £6.50 per pack!
I am very happy now!
Posted by: mary dobson | Nov 03, 2005 at 12:35 PM
Oh yes, I came across them, too - unfortunately, they don't do beans! but thanks for letting me know anyway!
Posted by: johanna | Nov 20, 2005 at 09:30 PM