Chocolate Chip Muffins

A lovely way to start the day, if you ask me. Also a fine choice for those brown-bag lunches or an after- school snack. These travel well.

The original recipe, which I'm pretty sure came from the back of the sugar bag, called for walnuts, but I never add them. Feel free, if you have nut lovers in your house.

1/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. brown sugar
2 c. flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
2/3 c. milk
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, melted and cooled
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 t. vanilla
2 c. chocolate chips
1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

In large bowl, stir together sugars, flour, baking powder, and salt. In separate bowl, mix together milk, butter, eggs, and vanilla. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients and add milk mixture; stir to combine. Stir in chocolate chips (and nuts, if using). Spoon batter into greased muffin cups. (Make sure to grease the top of the muffin cups and on the edges around the cups, to make it easy to get them out when they're done.) Bake at 400 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes, until a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean. Makes 12 large muffins.

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