Chocolate Cherry Muffins and Martians

I've been notified by the Martian ambassador that the only thing that can stop their planned takeover of Earth is a batch of double chocolate cherry muffins. He was pretty specific. Semi sweet and white chocolate chips-none of that imitation crap. And real butter. You don't want to know what Crisco does to the Martian intestines.

OK people of Earth-you owe me.

The ambassador said we're cool for now, but he sees some chocolate cornstarch pudding being the key to detente.

You Will Need:

1/2 cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 large eggs
2 cups AP flour
1/2 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped cherries
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Coarse sugar for sprinkling

Preheat your Earthling subsistence heating machine to 450 degrees F. Grease the top of a 12 cup muffin tin and line the cups with paper. Set aside.

With your Earthling combining centrifuge machine (or a strong arm) cream together the butter, sugar and salt. Do this for about three Earth minutes. Rest your arm. Do ten jumping jacks. Blow your nose, wash your hands and continue. Wait, don't forget to face North while you do all this. Still with me?

Add the baking powder and eggs and mix well. Add the flour, vanilla and milk and mix again. Don't overbeat the batter. Stupid Earthlings always want to over-beat the batter. Fold in the chocolate and cherries. Spoon into muffin tin and sprinkle tops with granulated sugar.

Bake five minutes and then reduce the heat to 375 degrees F. Bake another 30-35 minutes. Cool before giving to little Martians as they tend to burn their delicate little Martian tongues on hot chocolate chips.