Freshly baked muffins are irresistible, but there are so many possible flavours – how do you choose? All my kids have a different favourite, of course. So, to get around the problem, I make a batch of the basic muffin mix, then divide the mixture into three separate bowls and add a different flavour to each bowl. These are our top three combinations, but you can play around and come up with your own.

Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with muffin cases.

In a mixing bowl or food processor, beat the eggs and then mix in the oil, milk and sugar. Sift in the dry ingredients and mix until well combined, but do not overbeat. Now that you have your basic muffin mix, you can get creative.

Divide the mixture equally between three bowls and add your preferred flavour ingredients. For instance, add the pear and walnuts to one, the mixed berries to another and, finally, the lemon zest and poppy seeds to the last one. Or come up with your own variations.

Spoon the mixture equally into the muffin cases – each bowl should have enough mixture for four muffins. As a rough guide, each muffin case should be around three-quarters full.

Bake in the middle of the oven for 20–25 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.