Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Healthy Muffins


Company is coming in February! There will be 7 of us gathering in our great room in the mornings for coffee, tea and something to satisfy their tummies after evenings of "many beverages". After reading Wendy's posts the past week and her appetizing muffins, I thought "muffins" would be an easy early morning treat. At the time I was thinking this, I was paging through one of mine and Valli's favorite magazines "Cooking Light". In the December issue, I saw a recipe by Deborah Madison for "Whole Wheat Oat Muffins". Checking the ingredients, I was surprised that I had all of them on hand. So off to the kitchen I went and made these terrific little muffins. Now granted, they are not your bakery-style muffins that look like small snow capped mountains. These little gems are just plain and healthy. I served them to myself with a bowl of fresh fruit and Sher's "Seasoned Eating's" gift to me, cinnamon spun honey. Oh what a breakfast party in my mouth!





Deborah Madison's Whole Wheat-Oat Muffins
1-1/2 cups fat free buttermilk
1 cup regular oats
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/2 cup oat flour (about 2 ounces)
1/2 cup whole wheat flour (about 2-1/2 ounces)
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cooking Spray
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl, stir well.
Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours, sugar, soda, and salt in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Add buttermilk mixture; stir just till moist. Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pans and cool on a wire rack.
These are great breakfast muffins! They have just a hint of sweetness to them, so they pair well with a fruit salad. The only thing I would do different next time is add a bit of cinnamon to the batter, just because Sher has me on a cinnamon kick!
If any of you have an EASY breakfast dish that I could use while having a crowd at breakfast, please let me know!
Cheers!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mmmm... these look lovely, Deb. Do you think I could sub AP flour for the oat flour without adversely affecting the finished product?

Peter M said...

Oat flour is a new ingredient for me too. The muffins look good and I'd certainly eat two!

Anonymous said...

That looks like perfect breakfast/company fare, with a healthy twist :-)

Deborah Madison rocks - I've got her Vegetarian Cooking For Everyone and it's a book I keep returning to again and again.

Lucy said...

Perfect for company!

I'm with Jen - Deborah Madison is high up on my list of favourite authors. Have fun with your visitors.

Nora B. said...

Thanks for the recipe. I have also been tempted to make some healthy muffins.

I can't think of easy breakfast items off the top of my head, but a definite crowd pleaser are these ricotta pancakes (http://lifesmorgasbord.blogspot.com/2007/
05/bills-ricotta-hotcakes.html). The good thing is that you can make the batter the night before and cook it just before serving it.

Nora

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

they look good and I love making muffins now I have a silicone muffin tray!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Shers Cinnamon spun honey would go perfectly with these muffins. Cooking breakfast for a crowd??? A great place to look up recipes on bed & breakfast websites for breakfasts. Try Innkeeper Recipes at www.bbonline.com/recipe/index.html There is quiche with a hash brown crust that is delicious!!Coffee cakes, cinnamon buns, frittatas.....I love breakfast!!

Wendy said...

Very pretty pictures. Will definitely try these out. :)

Anonymous said...

They look so good! I love Deborah Madison recipes for anything, and her muffins are always a joy to eat. The California bees are glad you enjoyed their honey. :):) I'm starting to salivate here, thinking about those muffins with the honey.

Katie Zeller said...

Oat muffins! Perfect for breakfast!
Is it the annual arrival of the snow birds? I have a cousin in Miami who has guests from now until April...

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great breakfast for a small crowd :)

Thistlemoon said...

I know your guests are going to LOVE this Deb! What a great way to start the morning and so healthy too! I always like making fritatta - it is easy and yummy and a crowd pleaser!

Aimée said...

Healthy is good. I am always looking out for healthy muffin recipes to disguise as cupcakes for my little one. Yours look too good to pass up!

winedeb said...

Hi Michelle, I am pretty sure you could do the sub. Give it a try and let me know how it turns out!

Hey Peter, I wound up eating your two plus my two that day!

Hi Jen, I do not have Deborah's book, but it is on my list now!

Hey Lucy, just telling Jen I need to get Deborah's book!

Thanks Nora! Those sound great and I am all for the idea of fixing the batter the night before!

Hey Holler, how do you like your new tray?

Hey Valli, I enjoy breakfast also and thanks for the helpful sight!

Hi Wendy, going to try some of yours while the guests are here also!

Sher, you need to get yourself a jar of that honey. It is great!

Yes Katie, it is definately snow bird time. You should see how our little town is filling up!

Hey Maryann, hope they enjoy!

Thanks Jenn for the idea. Good idea for the weekend.

Aimee, I think the little ones would love them, especially if you add some peanut butter and jelly!

Gloria Baker said...

These muffins looks so great Debs!! Gloria

Cakespy said...

These look pretty tasty in addition to being healthy!

winedeb said...

Hi Cakespy! Thanks for stopping by and these muffins are terrific!