Fresh Apricot and Pecan Muffins

Start off by sifting the flours, baking powder and salt into a large bowl.

Then, in a separate bowl, mix together the egg, sugar, milk, melted butter and vanilla extract. Now return the dry ingredients to the sieve and sift them straight on to the egg mixture (this double sifting is essential because there won't be much mixing going on). What you need to do now is take a large spoon and fold the dry ingredients into the wet ones – quickly, in about 15 seconds. Don't be alarmed by the rather unattractive, uneven appearance of the mixture: this, in fact, is what will ensure that the muffins stay light.

Now fold the apricots, pecan nuts and cinnamon into the muffin mixture, again with a minimum of stirring: just a quick folding in. Spoon in just enough mixture to fill each muffin cup (if you're not using papers, grease the tins well), and top with the chopped pecans and crushed sugar before putting into the oven.

Bake on a high shelf of the oven for 20 minutes for minis or 30 minutes for the larger ones or until well risen and brown. Remove the muffins from the oven and cool in the tins for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack (if they are in paper cases remove them from the tins straight away).