Apple-Upside-Down Cornmeal Muffins
Makes 6These muffins have healthy things in them like apples, cornmeal & walnuts, but they fall short of “healthful” due to butter, white sugar & white flour. If this bothers you, switch to whole-wheat flour, sugar substitute and a zero-trans-fat shortening; they should still be good but maybe not “as” good.
3/4 stick of cold unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces
3 Gala or Fuji apples, peeled, cored & diced
1/3 cup each light brown sugar & granulated sugar
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup each yellow cornmeal & coarsely chopped walnuts
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 large egg
3/4 cup whole milk
Place oven rack in upper third of oven, preheat to 425F, spray muffin cups with non-stick oil.
Heat 2 Tbsp butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides, then cook apples, brown sugar, and lemon Juice, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced to a glaze and apples are tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the walnuts, and divide this mixture among the cups of a six-muffin pan.
Whisk together flour, cornmeal, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until combined. Cut in the remaining butter, until mixture resembles coarse meal with some pea-size butter lumps.
Whisk together the egg and milk in a large bowl. Add flour mixture and whisk until just combined.
Divide this batter among the muffin cups and bake until they pass the toothpick test and are a golden color, 15 to 18 minutes.
To remove them, run a paring knife around the edge of each cake to loosen it, place a rack over the muffin cups, and gently dump the muffins onto the rack. Serve warm with a blob of whipped cream, if you prefer them somewhat decadent.