Do you know the Muffin Man?

So I decided to do some grocery shopping late yesterday afternoon. Yes I know, how positively crazy of me! I was going to do a stock up trip and headed out to the Superstore. I went to the nearest one and spent a few minutes driving around the parking lot to find a spot. I was becoming frustrated and decided to drive to the farther one because it usually wasn't so crazy (worth the drive for that aspect alone) but it was also my preferred location.

I wandered through the store (without a list as I never shop with one) managing to remember cereal (see previous parenthesis - forgetting is easy when I shop). Considering I was only on day two of five days off from work I decided to pick up some cookie or muffin mix. While browsing the baking aisle I noticed Honey Bran and thought that sounds yummy and kinda maybe a little on the healthier side of things so I picked it up, then remembered that I didn't have a muffin pan. Off to the bakeware section I went and perused the various pans. I decided against silicon for the price alone plus I'm not convinced of their sturdiness. Due to my self-imposed budget I was initially looking based on price alone (for the amount of baking I do I don't need anything spectacular). I found one pan for about $7. On closer inspection it was way more fun than a regular muffin pan. Anyways I purchased it and decided to make muffins today during my marathon laundry session (two loads done, third in the dryer, forth in the washer - this is quite a feat since there is only one washer and one dryer for my entire building of 11 units). I took a couple pictures of the results:

Behold the Honey Bran Muffins!



Now, take a look at this picture. Can you guess why the pan is so special? Ok, ok, perhaps my baking skills aren't as top notch as they should be, but if you somehow guessed these are muffin tops, you win! Remember that Seinfeld episode about the muffin tops being the best part? Well apparently now there are now pans dedicated to making just the glorious tops o' muffins! Who knew?!



Well they aren't quite just the muffin top alone. The top does need a base to support it, but it's primarily the yummy crusty top!

Bon Appetite!