In one bowl, m ix thoroughly:
1/3 cup soft shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
In a second bowl, sift:
1 1/2 cup self-rising flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Add sifted ingredients to mixture in the first bowl, alternating with 1/2 cup milk. Add slowly until all flour and milk are mixed with the egg mixture.
Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full.
Bake at 350° for 20 to 30 minutes.
While warm, roll muffins in a melted oleo (6 tablespoons of butter or oil does about one recipe).
Then roll in sugar and cinnamon mixture (1/2 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon).
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Forty-four years ago, a friend of my grandmother delivered a batch of muffins to her on Christmas Eve. She told her to put the muffins in the oven to warm them up and have them Christmas morning. The muffins were so delicious that my grandmother called her friend to ask for the recipe. She said she would give the recipe on one condition: my grandmother would have to make a batch every year and give them to someone else.
Over the last forty-four years, my grandmother has made probably close to one thousand batches to give to friends and family. My mom grew up always having the muffins Christmas morning, and now we have them every Christmas morning at my house. Last Christmas (2007), my grandmother accidently used self-rising flour instead of regular flour and said they tasted better. So, now we have altered the recipe to use self-rising flour.
Ever since I was little, my mom has always made these on Christmas mornings. The muffins were mostly made for me to eat while opening my presents. My mom has them ready when I come downstairs, and they are gathered on a platter with juices and coffee to choose from. On Christmas Day, my grandmother comes over in the morning to join my mom, dad, and I. My dad thinks the muffins are disgusting and never eats them. So, my mom, grandmother, and I eat the muffins.
These muffins are one of my favorite foods my mom makes. They are so yummy, and I always love the muffins covered with the most cinnamon and sugar. They always remind me of Christmas, which is my favorite holiday. I get so excited on Christmas Eve when I know the next morning I get to eat my Christmas muffins. If I woke up one Christmas morning without the Christmas muffins, it would ruin my Christmas spirit. I hope to continue the Christmas muffin tradition when I have my own family, and that one day, my kids will pass on the tradition to their children.
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