Festive Muffins

1/2 cup soft butter or margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 Tbsp rum
1-1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup ground pistachios
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp grated lemon peel
1/2 cup chopped pistachios


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat butter with sugar and vanilla until creamy and light-colored. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in milk and rum.

In a separate bowl, mix flour, ground pistachios, baking powder, salt, spices and lemon peel. Add this mixture to the butter-sugar mixture just until blended (don't over-mix). Lightly fold in 1/4 cup chopped pistachios.

Grease 12 muffin cups or line cups with muffin papers. Evenly portion batter into cups. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup chopped pistachios. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until done.

Tip: Pulse pistachios in a food processor until coarsely ground.