Muskoka Lakes Museum Pumpkin Muffins

Description:
Thanksgiving has always been an important weekend at the Muskoka Lakes Museum. Being in cottage country, this was the weekend when the summer visitors came for one last hurrah before closing the cottage for the winter. When I worked there the museum would celebrate the end of the season by offering visitors free admission and hot apple cider and pumpkin muffins. The volunteers would bake hundreds of muffins. This is their recipe. I think the original recipe had raisins in it but since I think raisins are evil, I've omitted it.

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup oil
1 cup cooked pumpkin
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 brown sugar


Directions:
Cream together eggs and sugar, add oil and stir well. Stir in pumpkin puree. Blend together with flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and pie spice. Stir well. Spoon into baking cups. In another bowl combine chopped walnuts and brown sugar. Decorate top of muffin with a spoonful of the walnut mixture. Bake at 325 F for 20 minutes.

Kona Inn Banana Bread

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
3 bananas, ripe and mashed
2 eggs, well beaten
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda

Directions:
Cream together butter and sugar. Add bananas and eggs. Sift dry ingredients. Blend wet and dry mixtures but don't overmix. Bake in a loaf pan at 350 F for 45 minutes or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean.

Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

Description:
I was given this recipe about 30 years ago. It is still my favourite chocolate chip cookie. They are deliciously soft and chewy.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 6oz package chocolate chips (scant)
1/4 cup walnut pieces

Directions:
Mix together oil, sugars, egg and vanilla. Sift in flour salt and baking soda. Stir in chocolate chips and walnut pieces. There will be so many chips you will probably have to mix them in with your hand. Drop spoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Bake at 375 F. for 8 to 10 minutes.