some cup-o-cake notes

ok... so, here are some notes about cup-o-cakes (that is, cakes made in mugs in the microwave.

my cornbread mug-o-muffin recipe works fine if you don't have buttermilk, just make the following changes: don't put in any baking soda, but put in 1/2 baking powder. Use regular milk instead of buttermilk (obviously).

any of the recipes can be made with less oil, though they are best eaten right away if you reduce the oil (they will get tough if leave them to cool when they are lower fat). I recommend using at least 1 teaspoon of oil or butter, and not omitting the fat completely for flavor and texture. If you reduce the oil or butter make it up with other liquid... basically make sure there are still approximately 5 tbs of liquid (if you used milk in the cake, just add more milk, if you used oj, use more of that, etc).

Know your microwave... some take longer some take less time. If you have a more liquid batter you will need to nuke it longer than you do with a stiffer, thicker batter.

be a kitchen scientist.... observe what happened if something doesn't seem to have worked, and try again using the data you have collected from making the cake once... lots of info on kitchen science can be found on the internet and in cookbooks... just keep at it or drop me an email if you would like some help! i am noisybnora@aol.com

oh... and for those of you who want to make the mug-o-muffin pictured in today's post, here is the recipe. It is

Apple Spice Mug-o-muffin

Into a good big coffee mug put:

6 Tbs all-purpose flour
2 Tbs packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
about a 1/2 tsp cinnamon (I eyeballed it, it was about 6 or 8 shakes from the container)
about 1/8 tsp nutmeg (again, eyeballed, about 2 or 3 shakes)
1/8 tsp ginger (about the same amount as the nutmeg)

Stir it all around with a fork and add:

4 Tbs milk
2 Tbs very soft butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 of a apple, grated (my apple was sort of a medium sized one, about 3 inches across at the widest point)
1 Tbs pecans (optional)
1 Tbs raisins (optional)

mix it all really well and put it into the microwave for about 2 to 2 and a half minutes (I set it for 2 and a half, but ended up stopping it at about 2 minutes and 5 seconds cause it looked done to me). Let cool 3 or 4 minutes and then turn out of the mug to cool a little more before sharing it with the kids

oh... and if you want plain spice cake just leave out the apple and maybe cook for not quite as long