English muffin
An English muffin is a small, round and flat yeast-leavened (sometimes sourdough) bread which is commonly round and tall. It is generally sliced horizontally and served toasted. In North America, Australia and New Zealand, it is frequently eaten with sweet or savoury toppings such as butter, fruit jam, honey, eggs, sausage, bacon, or cheese. English muffins are an essential ingredient in eggs Benedict and a variety of breakfast sandwiches derived from it, such as the McMuffin, and can be used in place of other breads for French toast. In various parts of the world, these products are commonly called English muffins to distinguish them from the sweeter cupcake-shaped products also known as muffins. English muffins are available in a wide range of varieties, including whole wheat, multigrain, cinnamon raisin, cranberry, and apple cinnamon. Origin The word muffin is thought to come from the Low German , meaning "little cakes". The Oxford English Dictionary also suggests a possible link to Old French , a type of bread. Originally it meant "any of various kinds of bread or cake". The first recorded use of the word muffin was in 1703, and recipes for muffins appear in British cookbooks as early as 1747