everything but the kitchen sink zucchini bread muffins

Yesterday was pretend-Sunday. A day for running lots of errands, doing a little homework, and best of all having a lazy, big breakfast-ed morning. Sundays are the greatest...even the pretend ones.

Usually, we will do pancakes, or eggs and bacon, but yesterday I had a craving for something a little different. Mostly I just wanted to bake. I hadn't baked since Christmas (I've been trying to be good!), but I had a couple of zucchinis just hanging out in the fridge...so, zucchini bread pretty much needed to happen. I asked Jim, "muffins or bread?" to which he replied, "muffins!" So, I asked, "cranberries, walnuts, or chocolate chips?" to which he said, "all of them!" to which I said, "That is why you're my favorite." And so, it was settled, and the world's best zucchini bread muffins were born.

These guys are good. They are kind of salty--which sounds bizarre--but the mix of the salt and the cinnamon and the walnuts and the chocolate chips...it is just yum. Yum times ten, actually. I love that they aren't too sweet. They go perfectly with a super cold glass of milk, a handful of raspberries, and your favorite Sunday morning buddy.

"Everything but the Kitchen Sink" Zucchini Bread Muffins
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 cups grated zucchini (about 2 zucchinis)
2 t vanilla extract
3 cups flour
3 t cinnamon
1/8 t allspice
1 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
1 t salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat your oven to 350, and grease your muffin pan (or line with pretty paper liners if you have your stuff together, and have those sorts of things laying around...p.s. I don't and didn't).

Next, whisk your eggs in a large bowl, and then mix in the oil and sugar. Add the grated zucchini and vanilla, and mix it all up.

Now add your dry ingredients. Note: my mom never did the whole separate bowl for dry ingredient thing, and so I don't either...I just dump everything all into one bowl together and go to town (less dishes!). I have never had a problem, but if you want you can sift together your flour, spices, baking powder and soda in a separate bowl, and then slowly mix them into your wet ingredients. Whatever works for you!

Once everything is well-incorporated, add your treats: walnuts, chips, and cranberries (dried cherries would also be lovely, by the way). Fill your muffin cups about 3/4 of the way full, and bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool, and then eat for breakfast...and snack...and maybe dessert, too.