Bakery Style Triple Chocolate Muffins

Before I tell you how delicious these tender Triple Chocolate Muffins are, let me tell you a story... I learned recently that listening to your husband sometimes is useful and I can admit that I am probably the last person you'd want around in a physical crisis. One time I was a first hand witness to a cyclist getting hit by a car at a busy intersection. He literally got slammed right in front of me and flew off his bike. All I did was stand in front of him lying painfully on the ground, pointing and yelling "Your leg is broken!" (His leg was not broken). Seriously, not helping... 

Open water has always been my biggest fear. It's not our territory. We are not fish. It feels like I'm intruding in someone else's home. I just don't know what's down there! It's deep and dark and there are things with spines, stingers, sharp teeth and suction cups. I feel much more comfortable on land.

All that said, I've developed an appreciation for the beauty of the underwater world and have taken a liking to snorkeling. The bright colours and strange creatures excite and intrigue me, but I can't help but still swim with extreme reluctance as if some angry octopus is going to come right up to me and tell me that I'm disturbing his mealtime.

I'm pretty comfortable in deep water now. I really really enjoy snorkeling and seeing how incredible nature is. I've been lucky enough to swim with turtles, spot squid, lobster, shrimp, a seahorse, clown fish, sting rays and many other tropical fish. I even swam with sharks, and jumped into the water surrounded by bright pink jellyfish. I'm taking more risks in the water and feel like my confidence is growing. I finally felt like I overcame my fear.

And then last week happened. I was snorkeling happily and peacefully until I took a brief glance to the right and not even 20cm from my head was a black and white striped sea snake rapidly slithering right towards me and it eventually touched my shoulder. All that crossed my mind was the previous time we spotted one of these snakes deep in the ocean, Jonathan mentioned to me that they are very poisonous.

Well, at the moment this venomous snake touched me I completely lost my marbles, came above water, flew my hands in the air and full-blown panicked. I actually threw Jon right in front of it between me and the snake...

I'm not sure what that says about me but he didn't seem to share my stress so I figured I might as well make him useful. He just laughed at me and said "Good find". Yes, good job for spotting the sea snake. Apparently it won't bite me if I don't bother it. Sure. Ok.

Because I need to recover and regain my strength to re-enter the water, I need the comfort and cheerful endorphins that chocolate brings. Nothing brings back my courage and spirit like chocolate and Nutella. Let's throw them both in a bowl and make some muffins!

I'm talking chocolate coming from four different ways:

• melted dark chocolate
• cocoa powder
• Nutella
• chocolate chips

I'm serious when it comes to stress relief. I also don't need a challenge right now so this recipe is easy.

Anything that starts with melted chocolate and Nutella has to be good. I don't care if you squirt it on a hot dog - it will be delicious. Until I make a Nutella hot dog... then I might eat my words...

HOW TO MAKE TRIPLE CHOCOLATE MUFFINS:

Like any great muffin story, you don't need any equipment to build these. It's all hands on deck today. You will need to dirty three bowls though. It will be worth the clean-up.

• STEP 1). Melt chocolate with Nutella in one bowl and set aside.

• STEP 2). Combine dry ingredients all in one bowl and whisk to blend evenly.

• STEP 3). Combine all wet ingredients from eggs to milk in another and whisk well.

• STEP 4). Add the melted chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and mix well.

• STEP 5). Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and fold it in gently. Do not over-mix.

• STEP 6). Scoop the batter into the muffin cups and top with chopped roasted hazelnuts.

• STEP 7). Bake in a hot oven!

HOW TO GET CRACKLY MUFFIN TOPS

The key to getting a high crackly muffin tops is to bake in a relatively high oven and to fill the batter up to the rim of the pan. We want the batter to spill over the sides slightly and this batter is nice and thick so you don't have to worry about it oozing everywhere.

This recipe makes these dramatic crunchy earthquake-like muffin tops! Hazelnuts add extra crunch as well!

As much as I do enjoy exploring the ocean floor, muffins are so much better than sea snakes.