Love for Food

This past Saturday, I did my usual cooking for the week. During the week I never have time to cook and always come home starving. I like to devote Saturday afternoons to some quality me time. Listening to jazz, cooking, and snuggling with the company of two fur balls. After starting my new years resolution - going back on the diet, I've been having terrible chocolate cravings. I was thinking and thinking and thinking of a healthy way to eat chocolate. Muffins came to mind. The recipe came from Nigella Lawson, courtesy of the Food Network website. They came out pretty tasty, similar to a chocolate bread and not like a cupcake. If you prefer sweet muffins, I would suggest adding more Splenda or sugar to the batter. These were great grab and go snacks for my busy week.Ingredients: Serves 12
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons best quality cocoa powder
1 1/4 cup Splenda
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips, plus 1/4 cup for sprinkling
1 cup fat free milk
1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Put the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa, Splenda, and 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips into a large bowl.
• Pour all the liquid ingredients into a measuring jug.
• Mix the dry and wet ingredients together, remembering that a lumpy batter makes the best muffins. Spoon into the prepared muffin cases.
• Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips on top and then bake for 20 minutes or until the muffins are dark, risen and springy.