Some Day You'll Thank Me

So this is the time of year when I start to complain about the weather. Even in the years when I tell myself that I won't, inevitably November rolls around and it is still warming up to the 80s in the afternoons, (a nice break from our Hades-like summers, yes, but remotely fallish, no) and we are usually still using our air conditioning, and the grumbling begins. Yes, I know that I signed up for six months of summer when we moved here, but if you count May as one of those six months (which I do), then November is month seven. And that I just can't abide. Hence my grumbling.

 In addition to still needing air conditioning (did I mention that it's November?) there is also the trouble with the winter wardrobe. I have winter clothes (read: long sleeve shirts and jeans) out for my kids, ready for when the weather finally turns, but since their dressers can only accommodate one season worth of clothes at a time, and it's still too warm to put their shorts away for good, said winter clothes are just sitting around in piles (on my dresser, on the futon in the office, etc.) until I can actually pull out the shorts & short sleeves and make room for them. Grr.

But, since it is fall in other places, and the door to the garage is covered in paper leaves, and every day I light a pumpkin-scented candle that has the power to put me in a fallish mood, (even as I continue to sweat over the stove) I am still going to do what other people do during the fall. (Or would do, if they had the recipe.) I'm making apple streusel muffins. You should, too. Not only are they super scrumptious, the recipe calls for unpeeled diced apples. Score two for the muffins. (Oh, and I also I like to convince myself that they are healthy. Because, well, there's apples in them.)

Apple Streusel Muffins

2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 T baking powder
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 large eggs, beaten
1 c. sour cream
1/4 c. butter, melted
1 c. finely diced apples  (I can usually get a cup out of one good-sized apple.)

Topping:
1/4 c. sugar
3 T flour
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 T butter

In large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda; set aside. In small bowl, beat eggs, sour cream, and butter. Add all at once to dry ingredients along with apples. Stir just until moistened. Fill well-greased muffin tins (or cupcake wrappers) two-thirds full. Combine topping ingredients and sprinkle on. Bake at 400 for 20 to 25 min. Yield: 18+ muffins.

Go on, make them. You know you want to. I promise you'll thank me.