Snow Days? Keep Kids Busy Cooking!

How does the song go? "The weather outside is frightful..."
Having been a teacher, I know the challenge of keeping the kids occupied on days it's too cold to go outside! Cooking is a great way to keep them busy, so grab the Bisquick box or the bag of chocolate chips and follow recipes on the packages! As long as you involve the kids in the cooking process, you are all set!

For those of us who are "geographically challenged" at this time of year, we stock up and finding basic ingredients shouldn't be hard. The below recipe is for cinnamon muffins and you should have most, if not all of what you need.

Feel free to add blueberries, whatever you have in the house! If you don't have certain ingredients, your neighbors might! Involve the kids and get them cooking!

CINNAMON MUFFINS
Adapted from www.Epicurious.com
Gourmet Magazine, April 1998

MAKES 6 MUFFINS

For Cinnamon Sugar Topping:
1/4 cup sugar (Feel free to use less sugar!)
1 teaspoon cinnamon

For Muffins:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/3 cup milk

To Make Topping:
In a small bowl stir together sugar and cinnamon. Preheat oven to 375°F. and butter six 1/3-cup muffin cups.

In a bowl mixtogether flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg until combined well. Beat in flour mixture and add milk, beating until mixture is just combined. Divide batter evenly among cups and sprinkle with topping. Bake muffins in middle of oven 15 to 20 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. Remove muffins from cups and cool on a rack. Muffins keep in an airtight container 2 days.