Makes one dozen
2 cups self-rising flour
3⁄4 cup sugar
1 cup milk
4 tablespoons butter (half stick), melted
3⁄4 cup “flavor” ingredients, optional
Prepare muffin tin(s) by greasing or insert paper cups; set aside. Combine flour and sugar, sift to incorporate. Make a well in the mixture, pour in milk and butter. Whisk as little as possible, just until mixture is incorporated. Add any variable ingredients (see below), and mix slightly. Add batter to muffin tins, filling only 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees until skewer comes out clean, about 12 minutes.
Variations: Many ingredients can be added to the muffin batter: raisins, apples, dried fruit, spices, chocolate, nuts, etc. Be sure to fold the ingredients into the batter as little as possible to prevent a chewy, dense muffin.