Of all the baked goods that her grandmother made using homegrown apples, these muffins were Elsa Kleinman's favorite.


1/4 cup (1/8 lb.) butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 pound sweet apples, such as Fuji, rinsed, peeled, cored, and sliced lengthwise
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
3 tablespoons salad oil

1. Melt butter in a 10- to 12-inch frying pan over medium heat; stir in brown sugar until dissolved and bubbly. Stir in apples and cook until they are barely tender when pierced, about 5 minutes. Divide the apple-and-sugar mixture equally among 12 buttered muffin cups (1/2-cup capacity).

2. In a bowl, mix cornmeal, flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt.

3. In another bowl, mix buttermilk, egg, and oil to blend. Stir into cornmeal mixture just until evenly moistened. Spoon batter equally into muffin cups.

4. Bake in a 350° regular or convection oven until tops are lightly browned and feel firm when pressed, 15 to 20 minutes. Immediately run a knife between each muffin and cup rim and invert over a baking sheet to remove muffins (if any apple slices remain inside muffin cups, replace on muffins). Serve warm or at room temperature, apple side up.

Yield: Makes 12 muffins

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 236(32% from fat); FAT 8.3g (sat 3.2g); PROTEIN 3.3g; CHOLESTEROL 29mg; SODIUM 274mg; FIBER 1.5g; CARBOHYDRATE 38g

Elsa Kleinman, Topanga, California Sunset, NOVEMBER 2002