just a bite

Sometimes all you want, all you need, is one bite. One bite of something sweet... one bite of home baked goodness. These mini muffins are those little bites (well, more like 3 bites, unless you're in a hurry).

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, oatmeal chocolate chip muffins remind me of my mom; of being a kid and the excitement of coming home from school to a freshly baked treat. I decided to take the classic recipe and make mini muffins... they baked up perfectly, with slightly golden puffed tops...super cute and absolutely delicious. Who doesn't love a muffin? Especially one that brings you right back home, sitting in the kitchen with your mom. :0)

*Special note for Abigail... these could be perfect for your "coffee, cake, 1000 words per day" goal... only substitute the muffins for the cake ;0)

Traditional Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins (mini sized)
ingredients:
1 c. buttermilk
1 c. oatmeal (not instant)
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 c. vegetable oil
1 egg
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 c. mini dark chocolate chips (I used mini since the muffins were going to be mini)

Preheat your oven to 400 F. Line your mini muffin tin with paper liners - I was able to get 24 muffins out of the batch.

In a large bowl, mix together the buttermilk and the oatmeal; then allow them to sit for about 10 minutes or so.

While you're waiting, combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda together in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Go back to the soaked oats and use a large spatula to stir in the egg, the brown sugar and the oil. Add the flour mixture to it and stir to just combine (you'll see, all it takes is a few strokes). Toss in your chocolate chips, incorporate those and, voilà! Your muffin batter is done.

Grab your mini-ice cream scooper and scoop out the batter evenly into each muffin liner - you want the batter to hit the top (so that you get a nice puffed up effect once baked).

Bake for about 12 minutes (I checked at 10 minutes and then added a couple more minutes for good measure). Remove from the oven, allow to sit in the muffin tin for another 10 minutes and then allow to cool completely on a wire rack... but really, why wait?