Chocolate and courgette muffins

10 oz self raising flour
3 oz sugar
2 medium eggs
8 fl oz milk
4 oz butter, melted
3tbsp good cocoa
1 medium or two small courgettes, grated

Sift flour and cocoa into large bowl, add sugar and stir well. Add grated courgettes. Beat eggs with milk and melted butter, pour on to dry ingredients and mix lightly. Don;t beat it, or it will end up like a heavy sponge cake - just keep turning and folding the mixture until everything is incorporated. Spoon inot muffin cases and bake in a hot oven for 25 - 30 minutes until well-risen and firm to the touch. Cool on wire rack.

Taking out the chocolate and courgette gives a foolproof recipe for muffins, which I've been using for about 7 or 8 years now - add in anything you like - fresh or dried fruit, spices, chocolate chips, grated carrots, bacon bits, sweet or savoury. My very favourite is blueberries, the classic muffin. This will give you a muffin akin to the American ones, not too sweet, rather than the overly sweet big spongy things that are sold as muffins usually here in the UK.
Great with a big mug of very hot tea. :)