These muffins will create warm memories of waking up to a taste of autumn flavors. These homemade muffins, made with apple butter which seems to appear in markets only at this time of year, are sure to be a family favorite. You can substitute walnuts for the pecans if you choose. Preheat oven to 400° F. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl combine flour, 1/3 c. sugar, baking powder, apple pie spice, and salt. Make a well in the center of the mix. In a small bowl combine egg, milk, and oil. Add to flour mix and stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Spoon a rounded Tbsp. of batter into each prepared muffin cup. Top the batter in each cup with a generous tsp. of apple butter. Add the remaining batter, filling each cup 3/4 full. Combine pecans and 2 Tbsp. sugar; sprinkle on top of the muffins. Bake in a 400° F oven about 20 minutes or until golden. Remove from pans; serve warm. Yields: 12 muffins