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February 10, 2014

Muffins

Jack: How can you sit there, calmly eating muffins when we are in this horrible trouble, I can’t make out. You seem to me to be perfectly heartless.

Algernon: Well, I can’t eat muffins in an agitated manner. The butter would probably get on my cuffs. One should always eat muffins quite calmly. It is the only way to eat them.

– from The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde

I don’t butter my muffins, so I don’t have to worry about getting my cuffs greasy. And I hope this doesn’t make me heartless, but I think muffins are always a good choice, regardless of whether I’m calm or agitated. Somehow they’ve acquired the guise of a quasi-healthy food, and I’m sticking with it.

This muffin recipe is a perfect example. The pears and chocolate chips add sweetness, but not as much as if I’d made cookies. I wouldn’t eat cookies for breakfast (okay, I might, but I try not to make a habit of it) whereas eating muffins for breakfast – or snack, or dessert – seems perfectly legitimate. And while it’s important to be earnest, it’s even more important to eat your muffins with pleasure. In fact, it is the only way to eat them.

Pear Chocolate Chunk muffins
(adapted from The Jewish Week) 
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 – 2 firm, ripe pears, diced (to make 2/3 cup in total)
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chocolate chunks
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine oil and sugar in a medium bowl and mix well.  Stir in the egg, and add diced pears and vanilla. Combine well. Stir in both flours, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon, and stir just until combined. Add chocolate chunks.
Divide the mixture between about 8 lined muffin cups. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool for five minutes and remove from the pan to cool completely.

Filed Under: Fruit Desserts, Muffins

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Natalie Aguirre says

    February 10, 2014 at 12:50 am

    Wow! Sounds delicious. I think I need to get some pears and chocolate chunks.

    Reply
  2. Julie says

    February 10, 2014 at 12:59 am

    What a delicious variety of muffin. I have pears in the freezer, these could be in future!!

    Reply
  3. Valerie Gamine says

    February 10, 2014 at 1:13 am

    Sage advice. 😀
    These muffins look suitable for every mood – love the chocolate/pear combo!

    Reply
  4. Liz Berg says

    February 10, 2014 at 2:27 am

    Ooh, these look terrific, Beth! I haven't baked with pears in eons. And I'd eat these whether calm or agitated 🙂

    Reply
  5. bamskitchen says

    February 10, 2014 at 2:54 am

    I have not made muffins with pears but I know this just has to be delicious and almost healthy, right?…wink wink as it does have fruit in it. I think these muffins would take all the worry and agitation away.

    Reply
  6. scrambledhenfruit says

    February 10, 2014 at 4:17 am

    Lovely breakfast, and I'm quite sure I'd eat them in earnest. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Angie Schneider says

    February 10, 2014 at 10:16 am

    These muffins look wonderful! I love the add of pears.

    Reply
  8. Daniela Grimburg says

    February 10, 2014 at 12:31 pm

    These muffins look so tempting!
    I confess I could eat them anytime – breakfast,lunch, tea and dinner 🙂
    Love the Oscar Wilde quote, just delightful.

    Reply
  9. Belinda says

    February 10, 2014 at 1:08 pm

    Never though to use pears…but I'm down for it!

    Reply
  10. bakewithjill.com says

    February 10, 2014 at 1:11 pm

    Those look and sound delicious!

    Reply
  11. Chocolate Shavings says

    February 10, 2014 at 3:16 pm

    Pear and chocolate is a combo I can never get enough of — yum!

    Reply
  12. grace says

    February 10, 2014 at 5:32 pm

    i've never even considered buttering a muffin but i can imagine that in days past they needed a little boost. i like your flavor combination here, beth–it's not one i see very often!

    Reply
  13. Ruth Schiffmann says

    February 10, 2014 at 6:48 pm

    Oh yes, muffins are perfectly legitimate breakfast food. (I always butter them.) This is a flavor I've never had. Think I'll give these a try! Thanks, Beth.

    Reply
  14. Jemi Fraser says

    February 10, 2014 at 10:04 pm

    I don't think I've ever had pear muffins before – although I love both pears and muffins! Thanks 🙂

    Reply
  15. Bonnie says

    February 10, 2014 at 11:37 pm

    Beth, I love muffins and scones. And, I do like a spot of butter. There is nothing better than a muffin for breakfast….oh I love them for an afternoon snack with tea as well. Thanks for the recipe. Bonnie

    Reply
  16. Chris Scheuer says

    February 10, 2014 at 11:53 pm

    So funny, I just saw a pear and chocolate cake and it looked so good. I've never had pear and chocolate but I think that's about to change! Yum, Beth!

    Reply
  17. Katerina says

    February 11, 2014 at 9:35 am

    Although pear and chocolate match very well, we do not get to see this combination very often. I love the idea of putting them together in these muffins!

    Reply
  18. lisa is cooking says

    February 11, 2014 at 3:56 pm

    Pears and chocolate make a great combination! And, I agree, they're always a great choice.

    Reply
  19. amy (fearless homemaker) says

    February 11, 2014 at 8:07 pm

    I would definitely eat these muffins with pleasure – they look absolutely amazing! What a great combination of flavors.

    Reply
  20. Juliana Levine says

    February 11, 2014 at 8:10 pm

    Pear and chocolate? Sounds and looks delicious Beth, I need to try this combination.
    Have a great week 😀

    Reply
  21. Andrea_TheKitchenLioness says

    February 12, 2014 at 9:13 am

    Beth, you are absolutely right – pears and dark chocolate are wonderful together – I made a pear and chocolate crostata a few times and we love the combination. Your muffin recipe sounds delightful – perfect for the season!

    Reply
  22. Claire Davis says

    February 12, 2014 at 4:54 pm

    Mmm! I love chocolate chip muffins and the pears are a wonderful addition!

    Reply
  23. Kitchen Riffs says

    February 12, 2014 at 4:58 pm

    I've never met a muffin I didn't like! And I've never seen a performance of The Importance of Being Ernest that I didn't love! Such a funny play. What I haven't had, though, is a pear muffin. Love the idea! And with chocolate? Sold!

    Reply
  24. Caroline Taylor says

    February 12, 2014 at 8:29 pm

    I've never made muffins, these sound great.

    Reply
  25. Christy says

    February 13, 2014 at 4:32 am

    Terrific muffins, and love The Importance of Being Ernest!

    Reply
  26. Catherine says

    February 14, 2014 at 7:15 am

    They look great. It must be good with pears! I will have a try.

    Reply

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