Coconut Vanilla Bean Muffins

Have had a hectic week. Been so long since I'm able to go home straight after work. Honestly I've been feeling kinda cranky lately. Kinda down and disappointed with the way certain things are turning out. Also feel bad that I was unable to attend some of the gatherings which my friends whom I've not seen for ages, had organised. Sheesh. Sometimes I really wonder if I'm trying to do much more than I can handle. Moreover I'm planning to further my studies this coming July which I was initially all enthusiastic about. Now I'm kinda worried if it means giving up some time on the activities I'm engaged in now.

But it's a challenge ain't it? Have to motivate myself more. Sigh. Maybe I'm experiencing some kind of crossroad-in-life crisis or something heh.

My previous posts were actually post dated bakes from a week or two back. Wanted to bake for 'real' but can't find the time to. What I mean by 'real' baking, is making whole cakes haha. Had to make do with quickie bakes like these. But engaging myself into baking relieves me of the frustration momentarily.

Was kinda anxious to see how the muffins turn out because the batter looks different from my usual lumpy muffin mix. It was gritty instead and relatively less wet. Was excited when vanilla fragrance filled the kitchen by the time they are due to be out from the oven. The muffins came out with little jagged golden brown crusted tops, totally rustic looking. The coconut milk gave it a different undernote from normal muffins. Makes it scoring a perfect ten on the aroma department. Though a little on the dry side, nothing like good ol' strawberry jam to moisten up the little fellow. For me, I like it warm with a spoonful of honey.

Coconut Vanilla Bean Muffins
(makes 12 muffins)

Ingredients:
210g plain flour
100g sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
75g unsalted butter, melted
50ml coconut milk
10ml milk
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla powder
Vanilla pod seeds, scraped from 1 pod
2 tbsp vanilla yogurt

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Line 15 medium sized muffin paper cups on the muffin tray.
2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt, set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, combine butter, coconut milk, milk, egg, vanilla pod and yogurt.
4. Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture and fold in wet mixture into it. Stir until just combined. It's okay to have a few floury lumps here and there.
5. Bake for 14 mins and transfer to wire rack to cool