INGREDIENTS

*2 cups white flour
*1 tablespoon baking powder
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*2 tablespoons sugar
*1 egg, slightly beaten
*1 cup milk
*1/4 cup melted butter

PREPARATION

Preheat the oven to 200°c. Butter muffin pans. Mix the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Add the egg, milk, and butter, stirring only enough to dampen the flour; the batter should not be smooth. Spoon into the muffin pans, filling each cup about two-thirds full. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes each.
Blueberry Muffins.
Use 1/2 cup sugar. Reserve 1/4 cup of the flour, sprinkle it over 1 cup blueberries, and stir them into the batter last.
Pecan Muffins.
Use 1/4 cup sugar. Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans to the batter. After filling the cups, sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon, and more chopped nuts.
Whole-Wheat Muffins.
Use 3/4 cup whole-wheat flour and 1 cup white flour.
Date or Raisin Muffins.
Add 1/2 cup chopped pitted dates or 1/3 cup raisins to the batter.
Bacon Muffins.
Add 3 strips bacon, fried crisp and crumbled, to the batter.