Oh, how Delightful!

When I came across the theme for Muffin Monday (MM02) which was to create Muffins that Make you go *Ooooh!*, my mind started to tick instantaneously. The challenge by Elena of Experiments, who is hosting this blogging event, is to create "Unusual and Unique Muffins - using ingredients that you won't normally find in a muffin that you could buy from a store".

Staring at our pantry, my gaze settled on the little bottle of rose water that I had recently purchased. I felt this sudden surge of inspiration - "I shall make turkish delight muffins!", I declared. "Huh?" came the reply from Quikong. I didn't realise that I had said it out loud. Anyway, Quikong usually ignores my ramblings and mumblings but the words "turkish delight" must have caught his attention. He LOVES that sticky sweet treat. After explaining to him the MM02 theme, and describing what I was planning to do, he responded, "as long as there is chocolate in it." He was actually right on the mark - turkish delight and chocolate are very well acquainted. Just look at the confectionary ailse of any grocery store and you can find several brands (e.g. Fry's) that produce chocolate with turkish delight flavours. You can even find chocolate turkish delight easter eggs.

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Turkish delight can be flavoured with rose water, vanilla or mastic and can contain nuts such as hazelnuts or pistachios. It is made from starch and sugar; and cut up into small cubes that are dusted with a powdery mixture of cornflour and icing sugar which prevents sticking.

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This recipe is for all those turkish delight lovers out there!

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Turkish Delight Muffins

(own creation)

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Makes 6 Extra Large Muffins

(the basic muffin mixture was adapted from the recipe provided by Elena)

2 Cups self-raising flour

1 Tspn Baking Soda

½ Tspn Salt
1 Cup Caster Sugar

2 Eggs

½ Cup Vegetable Oil

½ Cup Milk

1-2 tspn of rose water

a few drops of red food colouring

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a few cubes of store bought turkish delight

good quality dark couverture chocolate

Stage 1:

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Prepare the chocolate covered turkish delight which will be stirred into the muffin mixture: Using a sharp knife that has been coated with the powdery mixture, cut the turkish delight pieces into smaller cubes. Melt the chocolate in a microwave and coat the small pieces of turkish delight. Set aside to set or place it briefly in the fridge while you prepare the muffin mixture.

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Stage 2:

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Preheat oven at 180C (Fan-forced) and place rack in the center of the oven.
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In a large bowl sift together the dry ingredients.

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In separate bowl whisk together eggs, vegetable oil, milk and rose water.

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Pour egg mixture into the flour mixture and fold in ingredients. Seperate the mixture into two protions. Drop a few red food colouring into one portion and mix.

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Fill muffin cups - start with either the pink or yellow, then place a few of the chocolate coated turkish delight cubes on it, then pour other mixture, and then pour the first mixture again until ⅔ full. This will create the marbled effect (see second photo of the sliced muffin).

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Bake for 20 minutes until deep golden brown, and after a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove muffins from the tins and place on a wire rack to cool completely.

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Dust the cooled muffins with the powdery mixture from the turkish delight. or place a few of the chocolate covered turkish delight cubes on the muffins and drizzle with melted chocolate.

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And, devour...... oh, it tasted so delightful!!!
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Taster Notes by Quikong:

.Taste, teture, looks - 3.5/5, Originality - 4/5

Total - 7.5 spoons out of 10

Suggestion - Cut the turkish delights bits smaller and put more in each muffin.

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Do check out Elena's blog and the MM02 round up: