Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Kiwi fruit muffins



Hands up who really loves kiwi fruit? I'm interested. Really. I've yet to come across anyone who names the kiwi as their favourite fruit. Don't get me wrong, I've nothing against the kiwi. I quite like it in fact. Especially the little black seeds. But I can't really get excited about a ripe kiwi fruit in the same way I might about a perfectly ripe and juicy pear or a luscious strawberry. It is not something you'd often find lurking in my fruit bowl either - I just wouldn't buy them, unless I was making a fruit salad or some exotic fruit dessert.

That was until recently. Over the last few months there have been rather a number of kiwis lying at the bottom of my fruit bowl, looking a little dejected. You see, at this time of year,
Abel and Cole struggle to keep the fruit selection all that varied in the weekly organic box. So citrus fruit and kiwis have been the order of the day. I've tried hard to rise to the challenge, carefully peeling and then eating the odd kiwi fruit. But as fast as I can eat them, they seem to multiply. They won't even go mouldy (...which, dare I say it, would at least give me a valid excuse to dispose of them...)

I decided that action was required and first hit the web for
inspirational kiwi recipes. I was underwhelmed with the selection, to say the least. But then my saviour arrived in the form of the excellent Abel and Cole cookbook. I spied a recipe for kiwi fruit muffins. Really. Sounds unlikely, doesn't it? But look - here they are...


Obviously, I had to make them. In the style of this excellent cook book, no scales are required. Just a regular sized mug and a touch of gentle mixing. I was rather pleased with the results. Not in a 'move over blueberry muffins,here come kiwi muffins' kind of way. Just that the muffins themselves were rather good. I've bemoaned my lack of muffin-making skills
in the past. Previously, my muffins haven't been as risen and puffy as I would like. This time around they were pretty good. My preference would still be for some other kind of flavouring, I think, but actually the cinnamon was rather good with the kiwi. Definitely a good way to use up the kiwis - my only regret is that it didn't use up quite enough. I think the muffins could easily have carried a little more of the fruit. Here is recipe, re-written my way, but I really do suggest that you invest in this gem of a book.

If anyone has any good kiwi recipes they'd like to share, I do still have a few lurking in the bowl!

Kiwi Fruit Muffins
Makes 12


Ingredients

1 egg
1/2 a cup of milk
2 tbsp olive oil

1 1/2 mugs of plain flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 mug of caster sugar, plus a couple of tablespoons extra for sprinkling
1 tsp cinnamon, plus a bit extra for sprinkling

1/2 to 1 mug of peeled kiwi fruit, chopped into small pieces
butter for greasing

1. Pre-heat the oven to 220C. Combine the egg, milk and olive oil in one bowl.

2. Sieve the flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl and add the sugar and cinnamon. Combine. Carefully mix the dry and wet together, taking care not to overmix. It doesn't need to be perfectly smooth.

3. Gently fold in the kiwi fruit.

4. Grease a muffin tray with butter (or use muffin cases) and dollop mixture into each hole. Fill about half-full.

5. Sprinkle over a little more sugar and cinnamon...


6. Bake in the oven for around 25 minutes.

7. Cool on a wire rack (or obviously break into one whilst still warm and burn your tongue as I always do with any form of baking).
P.S. Not quite sure what happened to this one!! Something of a mutant...

22 comments:

Pam said...

I would never think to use kiwis in muffins, but those sound awesome!

Sylvie said...

I quite like kiwi fruits, but your right, they are not my favourite fruit either. My mum eats loads of them as they are supposed to have the same positive effect as prunes, if you get my drift.

Sylvie said...

Sorry, I meant to add that the muffins look pretty good!

Pixie said...

haha Antonia, love the mutant muffin. I do very much enjoy kiwi; not sure how many I would eat at once but I do like it and tg for the internet coming up with great ideas.

Peter M said...

Yes, yes..the kiwi will never win the pageant, always the runner up but it's a good, tasty fruit when ripe.

A unique ingredient for the kiwi...I'd certainly nibble on a couple for brekkie.

Julia said...

Wow, this is an unusual recipe. I bet they're lovely.

I've tagged you for a meme:

http://asliceofcherrypie.blogspot.com/2008/04/six-words.html

Anonymous said...

Kiwi is such a wonderful and delicious fruit, it's great to find another way to use it. Thanks for the great share!

David Hall said...

I love kiwi fruit and a great idea making muffins out of them! Love the exploded one at the end there.

Cheers
David

Abitofafoodie said...

Pam - I know. A slightly strange idea, but it worked!

Sylvie - I didn't know that. I'd better not eat too many in that case!!

Pixie - I had to laugh when I saw the mutant too!

Peter - yes, they'd be good for breakie actually. Good idea.

Julia - thanks for the tag. I'll take a look!

Abitofafoodie said...

JJ - thank you for stopping by my blog! Glad you like the look of the muffins.

David - an unusual recipe, certainly, but not at all bad. Hoping to have a breather from kiwis in this week's veg box!

LisaRene said...

You are right, the kiwi is a conundrum. I tend to eat them mixed with other fruit in a fruit salad or by themselves. I find the best way to eat a solitary kiwi is to cut it in half and use a teaspoon to scoop out the flesh, using the skin as a "cup".

I think kiwi pair very nicely with strawberries so maybe a kiwi strawberry pie? Maybe it's best to just juice them :)

Maggie said...

I absolutely love Kiwi fruit. I cut the top off and then eat it like you would a boiled egg!!
Unfortunately, sometimes they can lack in taste and the texture can be like cottonwool.
Do you think the last muffin was trying to escape?
Never would have thought about making a kiwi muffin, they look delicious.

Lore said...

Could I have the mutant muffin? Once I know you used kiwis I suddenly associate a great deal of freshness to these muffins.

Maria♥ said...

I like kiwi fruit and I would also never have thought to use them in muffins. Your muffins look delish!!

Maria
x

Rosie said...

I just love kiwi fruit but what a great idea to add to muffins Antonia you are a geniuses!!! I must try your recipe out and those muffins look really good :D

Rosie x

Abitofafoodie said...

Lisa - kiwi and strawberry pie sounds great!

Margaret - I like the idea of eating them like a boiled egg! I know what you mean about some tasting a little wooly.

Lore - of course you could have the mutant muffin. It did make me laugh.

Maria - they were certainly different. I don't think I'd rush out to buy kiwis specially as I'm not that keen on them. But next time I have a glut from the veg box, then I know what I'll do with them.

Rosie - thank you. I was pleased with them and hope you give them a try and let me know how you like them.

Anonymous said...

I'm with Abel and Cole too so I get those kiwis! I know what you mean, I often forget about them until there is something mouldy in fruit bowl and I need to get it out. I would never have thought of kiwi muffins and it doesn't sound like it would work but obviously it does! I am intrigued now....

Anonymous said...

Dearest Antonia

I've just baked these lovely kiwi muffins.. they're delicious. Thank you so very much for this recipe!

Thought I should let you know that I had to put down the temperature to 180 for 10 min because my first batch got burnt.

I made 31 cupcakes out of this mixture.

Thanks again.
Rebecca xx

Abitofafoodie said...

Hi Rebecca,

Thank you for the note about the oven temperature - I so sorry that your first batch burnt, but glad to hear that the second lot turned out well!
Now I re-read the recipe, I do think the temp. sounds a little high... They definitely worked for me though, so perhaps my oven is a little on the cool side - they do all vary.
It is great to hear from people who have tried the recipes - so pleased you took the time to comment. Thank you!

GlassRaindrops said...

Kiwi would be my favourite fruit.
Has been ever since I ate one when I was little.
I will definitely be trying out this recipe, they look delicious. :]

marit Haugland said...

HI:)

You shuld try"almonddough?" (sorry, dunno the word) sprinkled on top of the kiwi muffins before you bake them. Delicious!

Kellee said...

I have a tip for you that might make kiwis more enjoyable for you in flavour.

You'll need -

Kiwis (preferably not quite ripe)
Apples (1-3 depending on how many kiwis you have)
Plastic bag
Cool dry place (like a cupboard)

Place the fruit in the bag, tie off and put where you've chosen. Check on their ripeness now and then, but in roughly two weeks you'll have ripe kiwis. The taste is something like what the offspring of a kiwi and apple would be, definitely more delicious than a typical kiwi.

Also on that note, you're eating them in far too complex a manner I think. Cut in half, grab a spoon - eating kiwi fruit made fast & easy!