Try these Onion and Apple Muffins as an alternative to a sandwich or with some soup. They are also delicious with a bit of garlic and herb cream cheese and some salad. It may sound a bit weird but really give them a go. Although best straight out the oven, as with any home baking, they are pretty good for picnics and lunch boxes.

This recipe uses cups which makes it really easy to get little ones helping to bake and quicker too.

• 2 cups self-raising flour
• 1 cup grated strong hard cheese such as cheddar
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 small onions
• 50 grams butter
• 1 apple, grated
• 2 teaspoons of thyme, fresh or frozen is nicest but dried is fine (use another herb if you prefer)
• 1 egg
• 1 ¼ cup milk

Pre-heat the oven to 200C and lay out muffin cases or grease a muffin pan.

Finely chop the onions and gently fry in the butter in a small frying pan until they are golden brown. Add the grated apple and thyme to the pan and cook until the apple has browned.

Put the flour, grated cheese and sugar into a bowl and mix.

In another bowl, beat the egg and the milk together. Add the onion apple mix to this bowl.

Tip the bowl of wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix them together until they are just mixed, the flour is barely dampened. It doesn’t matter if it looks a bit lumpy, don’t over-mix. That is the secret to good muffins.

Divide the mixture up into the muffin cases/pan. This mixture should make about 12 muffins. Pop in the oven for about 12 minutes until they are golden and when pressed they spring back.

Enjoy one straight from the oven (taking care not to burn yourself) for quality control is a bit of a must!! Shared with any helpers!