{"id":793,"date":"2012-04-29T14:21:06","date_gmt":"2012-04-29T13:21:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/londonerfromafar.wordpress.com\/?p=793"},"modified":"2020-05-24T17:24:32","modified_gmt":"2020-05-24T16:24:32","slug":"are-muffins-like-cupcakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alondonerfromafar.co.uk\/are-muffins-like-cupcakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Muffins like Cupcakes?"},"content":{"rendered":"

OK, so we are having a bit of a friendly\u00a0controversy here today. Are<\/strong> muffins like cupcakes<\/strong>?\u00a0This issue goes a bit further when we take into account the similar (but different) varieties in other countries in the world.<\/p>\n

I walked\u00a0into the bakery section of a supermarket chain in\u00a0London to get my usual breakfast items. There they were. Bigger than my hand and, probably, tastier than corn cereals. They had interesting berries and oats added to them, not just lovely chocolate. They were also more expensive than many cakes there.<\/p>\n

They were so appealing<\/strong>. My natural curiosity was boosted by their sight and,\u00a0let\u00b4s face it, hunger. My first pay was due the following week, and so my resources were quite\u00a0limited at the time. Then, the supermarket was offering two of the expensive-looking type\u00a0for 1 quid.<\/p>\n

\"Muffins\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 or \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"Are<\/p>\n

Muffins<\/strong> were a conversational topic with some friends and work colleagues from other countries during my first year in London.\u00a0Our friendly banter went even to the point of taking sides and saying that muffins are\u00a0actually<\/em>\u00a0big cupcakes! I have even found threads on online fora discussing this topic. Mad!<\/p>\n

Some examples now.\u00a0In Spain, they\u00b4ve got `magdalenas\u00b4, sometimes written `madalena\u00b4, in different shapes like the\u00a0long\u00a0`valencianas\u00b4 or\u00a0`sobaos pasiegos\u00b4 (which used to be made with bread dough until 19th century).<\/p>\n

\"Muffins\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Muffins\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Muffins<\/p>\n

In France, they\u00b4ve got `madeleines\u00b4, which are usually shell-shaped.<\/p>\n

\"Muffins<\/p>\n

All of them tend to be sweet, and so are many muffins that I have had so far.\u00a0So, what\u00b4s different? What I have learnt about muffins is that:<\/p>\n