The magic of the lengthening spring afternoons doesn't diminish as day after day comes to it's close, the sky softening as the sun slips softly and swiftly over the horizon. 

After such a cold winter the warmer weather is a joy, not just for the warmth, but to see the burgeoning of life in the landscape around us. 

Many more people are out with their families, dogs included! walking, running, strolling. just generally enjoying the balmier conditions.

The birds are in full voice.  It is also time to 'beware' of the magpies who are very ready to dive bomb any unsusupecting passer by although most of us know their tricks and hope to avoid their attacks.

   The light at the end of the day is almost irridescent as it washes over the light green haze of new growth on trees and grass.

Around every corner there is the delight of blossoms of all types and I have to restrain myself from stopping to photograph them all.

This past weekend being fathers day, I decided to make lots of muffins for the fathers at my church.  All the mums received a rose on mothers day so it was only fair that the dads were not forgotten.                

    As one lady said about the muffins, 'this is a man rose'. 

Muffins are so easy to make.  I found a recipe many years ago in one of the cookbooks that brownie, scout and church groups put together with everyone's tried and true recipes.  It was so successful that it is my muffin base for all flavours.

when deciding on what flavours to use for these ones, besides chocolate of course, I rummaged around in the cupboard to see what I had.  There was some pineapple, shredded coconut, coffee leftover from the coffee maker that I can't bear to waste and had frozen.  Oh yes and apple.

So we had pineapple and coconut, apple and cinnamon and coffee chocolate.

They didn't take long to make on Saturday evening, one dozen of each flavour, thank goodness for multiple muffin trays, only taking 14 minutes per tray.  It took considerably longer to wrap them in cellophane. 

BASIC MUFFIN MIX

2 cups Self raising flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons melted butter

Pineapple coconut:
1/2 cup of shredded coconut
1/2 cup of crushed pineapple

Apple cinnamon:
2 grated apples
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Coffee Chocolate:
1/4 cup coffee
1 cup choc chips
2 tablespoons cocoa

*Sift dry ingredients and mix
*add dry flavourings
*combine milk, butter and beaten egg
*add to mix with wet flavourings
*mix till combined with a wooden spoon
*spoon into muffin papers in muffin tins

Bake in a moderate oven for 12-15 minutes

Hope you all enjoyed your fathers day

Enjoy

Jo