Date and walnut muffins - TulStig Style

At popular request - well especially for Linda...

Ingredients: 
300g self-raising flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
50g unsalted butter
80g caster sugar
80 - 100g of chopped dates 
50 - 80g walnuts
2 eggs (well beaten)
200ml sour cream (or buttermilk)
1 banana (smashed) (optional)
splash of milk (if needed)

Method

1. Mix the flour, sugar and baking powder together in a bowl.
2. Add dates and nuts to the flour and stir in, coating the fruit.
3. In another bowl melt the butter over a pan (or in the microwave)
4. Add the sour cream (or buttermilk) to the butter.
5. Add the smashed banana to the other wet ingredients and blend together with a fork.
6. Add the beaten eggs to the wet ingredients and mix together.
7. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix well. Do not overwork or you'll end up with heavy muffins. Simply stir together until it is well mixed.
8. Add a little milk if the mix is too stiff. It should be smooth but not wet.
9. Spoon the mix into bun cases (usually makes between 12 -16)
10. Cook for 20 minutes (more or less) at gas mark 6 (200ºC/400ºF)
11. Cool on a wire tray, or scoff straight from the oven.

The buns may keep for a few days in an airtight container, but if you've friends like ours they'll be gone in no time!