Katie has been my best friend since second grade. She is hands down one of the most genuine people I have in my life and I honestly would be a lost soul without the girl. Literally. I would most likely be wandering around the street in circles.
Not only because she probably knows more about me than anyone. Or because she listens to me vent about everything. Or because she just gets me and still loves me, hehe.
But also because she always lets me know when she tries a really great recipe. It always comes back to the food, kids 
Katie and I were on the phone as I was rambling on about how I have a surplus of lemons in my kitchen and really need to put them to use. She then told me she had just made really “yummy” Tuscan Lemon Muffins from the latest issue of Cooking Light. I asked her what made them “Tuscan” and she began to list the ingredients; olive oil and ricotta cheese being two of them. I was intrigued. And immediately hopped back in my car to pick up a small container of ricotta to see how these little babies would come out.
Tuscan Lemon Muffins (makes 12 muffins):
Adapted from Cooking Light
Print this Recipe!
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar (aka sugar in the raw)
Here’s what you do:
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.
And in the well, add the ricotta, water, olive oil, lemon rind, lemon juice, and egg.
Mix them all together until everything is nicely combined. This batter was so light and fluffy I kind of just wanted to… I dunno what I wanted to do but it was just a nice batter
Place muffin-cup liners in your muffin pan.
And using an ice cream scoop drop the batter in the muffin-cups.
Sprinkle with a bit of sugar in the raw. Once baked, the sugar adds the perfect sweet little crunch to the muffin. Mmm, sugar.
Bake for about 16 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clear. Let the muffins cool for about 5 minutes in the pan on a wire rack.
I’m a big fan of having homemade muffins in my kitchen at all times in case I don’t have time to make a proper breakfast. I mean, who am I kidding, it’s also kind of nice to hit snooze a couple extra times knowing that breakfast is already waiting Especially when it’s moist, airy, lemony muffins.
Muffins are especially good to just toss in your purse (in a ziplock bag, of course!). I find I always have random bursts of hunger so I like to keep food on me at all times. Never know what you’ll find in my purse! I actually found an unopened cheese stick in there recently. Woops! And another fun fact. When Sues and I were in our early 20s (eww, I don’t like how that sounds!) she may or may not have packed snacks in her purse for me when we went out on weekends. Apparently when I’m hungry I let everyone know about it. Seriously. Without Katie and Sues I’d be a hot mess. And a hungry one at that.
And no one likes a hungry hot mess.
[Chels]
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I seriously love lemon in baked goods. Its such a refreshing flavor! And having a bar or muffin to grab in the morning is key to life operating as usual in my house
. These look awesome. Glad you have good friends to keep your tummy from rumbling 
mmm! Original and fun! I’ve been wanting to try olive oil in a “sweet” dish–there’s a blood orange olive oil cake I’m dyyying to try and make! These look lovely
Aren’t best friends grand??
Since these are Tuscan, I have the urge to throw in some fresh rosemary…
I always have snacks in my purse but don’t think it has ever included muffins…. sounds like a good idea, though:-)
this sound like the perfect spring muffin!
I love baking muffins because they are great for breakfast, snack or dessert… Actually, this is pretty deadly for me so I usually send most of them to work with Bret for his co-workers!
These muffins look delicious!
I always pack snacks, too. I’m particularly fond of LaraBars and spiced nuts.
Haha, I have to pack my own snacks because I am the same way- very hangry if I don’t eat enough!
thank you for all the lovely things you said! i almost started crying when i just read that! i’d be lost without you too and i’m happy you liked the muffins!
These are a perfect Easter breakfast compliment to eggs benny! Love this recipe!
Nothing like a best friend
Lovin’ the muffins….I can imagine how wonderful they tasted!
hahaha – a hungry hot mess. i know the feeling! best friends really are the best
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Wow, these looks incredible. Fresh lemon zest totally does it for me!
1. These sound so good.
2. Where did you get your flour/sugar containers? I love them!
mmm i love muffins! i made orange berry ones the other night. can you taste the ricotta at all?
I love friends who share recipes!
These look delicious!
it must be a real blessed to have katie and sues around you all the time! i havent had ricotta cheese in my bakes before, a little curious though how they taste like but i can tell you that your muffins look simply gorgeous!
fabulous! love the sounds of all these ingredients
@brandi the flour/sugar containers are from Pier 1. They come with a couple pieces of chalk so you can write whatever you’d like on them
I got them back in the Fall. I wonder if they still sell them! [chels]
@sarah you can’t really taste the ricotta. I think it’s used mostly to keep the muffins nice and moist and light! Delicious
[chels]
I can’t wait to make these. We love muffins but I h8t what they have in the stores. Lemon is alway a plus too!!!!
Yummy, these look great! I LOVE cooking with ricotta – I made Strawberry Lemon Ricotta muffins recently, and they were outrageously good. Makes them so moist!
Those look delicious…so light and fluffy and doable to boot – a must try for me! Gotta love those friends who know THAT much about you
Such a sweet post.
The muffins look delicious….so easy to grab and go with these.
Wow these look tasty. Yum. I happen to have all of these ingredients on hand in my kitchen. I may have to make these tonight!
Made these last night. Just had one for breakfast. So super delicious!
Hungry hot messes not allowed! Give them muffins! lol
The crumb on these muffins looks amazing. I love these and the addition of olive oil and ricotta make them sounds really interesting!
The calories on those aren’t bad at all! I love muffins… better than cupcakes. But don’t tell anyone.