Basic Muffins

I have been reading Nourishing Traditions and thoroughly enjoying the book. I am learning how to eat more "real foods" and going back to basics. We have even made a shift to organic foods in an attempt to remove those nasty chemicals from our diet. We still have a long way to go. One of things I would like to do in my baking is remove processed white sugar where possible and the recipe below does that by replacing it with maple syrup (I think raw honey would worked just as well). 

It is the first time I have used Spelt Flour, an ancient grain which according to what I have read is a grain with lots of goodness and worth adding to our diets. 

Sultana muffins - they tasted so good and I didn't even notice there was no processed sugar in them

Recipe from Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon - page 482

Ingredients

• 3 cups of spelt, kamut or whole wheat flour (I used spelt)
• 2 cups buttermilk, kefir or yoghurt (I made my own buttermilk - 1 cup milk with one tablespoon lemon juice and let sit for 15 mins)
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons melted butter

Method

1. Soak flour in buttermilk, kefir or yoghurt in a warm place for 12 to 24 hours - muffins will rise better if soaked for 24 hours.
2. Blend remaining ingredients.
3. Pour into well-buttered muffins tins, filling about three quarters full.
4. Bake at 325F/160C for about 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean

Variations

• Raisin Muffins: (or currents, sultanas etc..): Add 1/2 cup raisins and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
• Blueberry Muffins: Add 1 cup of blueberries (fresh or frozen).
• Fruit Spice Muffins: Add 2 ripe pears or peaches, peeled and cut into small pieces, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon cloves and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• Lemon Muffins: Add grated rind of 2 lemons and 1/2 cup chopped crispy pecans
• Ginger Muffins: Add 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger and 1 teaspoon ground ginger. Omit vanilla.

Comments: 
My husband really liked these and he isn't one who usually likes muffins.  We both decided they had a earthy taste (in a really nice way), which I think is the result of the spelt. I made the sultana version which I then cut in halves and covered in real butter - delicious. Next time around I am using blueberries for some added goodness.  These will certainly be made again.