Muffin Monday

Ok we're snowed in, and I just can't take it anymore!  So after declaring to my hubby that I'd be baking, he requested a few loaves of bread, and then I quickly moved on to muffins.  Yep, I'm pregnant and just like my last pregnancies, I LOVE muffins.  And, much to my husband's dismay, usually whole bran or whole wheat muffins :)  Here are a few of our family faves.

Chocolate Breakfast Muffin

Ingredients:

1c whole wheat flour

1c. white flour

1/2c unsweetened cocoa

1c sugar (i think this is a lot, but my sugar-junkie hubby insists, and still says they're not sweet enough.  i prefer 1/2c or 3/4c. sugar, but make to your tastes...try the 1c first to see what you think)

1 tsp baking soda

1tsp vanilla

1 egg

1c. plain yogurt

1/2 c. skim milk

1/2c canola oil

1. Preheat oven 400 and line muffin pan with liners

2. Combine dry ingredients in large bowl

3.  In separate bowl, combine wet ingredients.

4.  Pour wet into dry and stir until smooth

5. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full and bake ~20 minutes

We love to top ours with some natural peanut butter or even some of our homemade strawberry jam...Raspberry preserves are great on top as well (i'm a nut for chocolate-raspberry).

*OPTIONAL:  Replace the vanilla with orange extract OR Almond extract to change up the flavor.  And if you just hate the taste of whole wheat flour, just use 2c. white flour.

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Cranberry Pecan Wheat muffins

I love these muffins and my kids do too...don't ask about the hubby :)  It's a sweet batter with a bite of tart cranberry...Yum.  If you're not a big cranberry lover or a "tart" lover, then chop your cranberries before adding to the batter.  

Ingredients: 

1c. unsweetened applesauce

1/3 c. canola oil

1 egg, beaten

1 1/4 c. whole wheat flour

3/4c. white flour

1tsp baking soda

1tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1c. fresh whole cranberries

3/4 c. chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees & line muffin pan with paper liners

2. In a small bowl mix applesauce, oil, and egg.  

3. In separate, large, bowl, Combine flours, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

4.  Add wet mixture to dry until all is moistened. (mixture will be thick)

5.  Stir in cranberries and pecans

6.  Fill muffin pan (cups 2/3s full) with batter

7.  Bake 20-25 minutes

Optional:

  *Before placing in oven, top each muffin with a sprinkle of granulated sugar and a sprinkle of oats.

  *If you prefer the taste of cranberry orange, add 1 tsp orange extract or orange zest to your wet mixture.

  *Hey you super health nuts, add 1/4c of flax seeds if you want.