Spiced Carrot Muffins

I made these muffins with some leftover carrot puree I had and everyone in my family loved them!  They thought they were pumpkin muffins because of the color and the spice, and you can also add shredded carrots as well if you don't have pureed.  A great way to sneak in some vegetables!

Ingredients:
1 3/4 - cups all purpose flour
1/2- cup sugar
1/2 - cup brown sugar
2 - teaspoons baking powder
3/4 - teaspoon baking soda
1/2 - teaspoon salt
2 - teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
3/4 - cup plain or greek yogurt
4 - tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 - teaspoon vanilla extract
1 - large egg
1/4 - cup milk
2 - cups peeled, shredded carrots or
3/4 - cup pureed carrots
1/2 - cup raisins, optional

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375. Line 12 cups of a standard muffin tin with paper liners; set aside. If not using muffin liners spray each muffin tin with baking spray.

In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugars, pumpkin-pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In a separate bowl, whisk together yogurt, milk, butter, egg and vanilla. If using pureed carrots add the pureed carrots to the wet ingredients.

If using shredded carrots fold into the batter last. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add yogurt mixture. Stir until just combined. Fold in shredded carrots and raisins if using.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups and bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown or when a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

If you want to use less sugar in this muffin recipe you can decrease the sugar amounts to 1/4 cup each.

Cook's Note: You can also use half whole wheat and half all purpose flour.

Zucchini Bread

i love summer because this bread is just tasty!! i make it with EVOO and it is wonderful!! best and easiest recipe i have found!!


Adapted from several sources
Yield: 2 loaves or approximately 24 muffins
3 eggs
1 cup olive or vegetable oil
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 cups grated zucchini
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
1 cup dried cranberries, raisins or chocolate chips or a combination thereof (optional)


Preheat oven to 350°F.
Grease and flour two 8×4 inch loaf pans, liberally.
Alternately, line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk. Mix in oil and sugar, then zucchini and vanilla.
Combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt, as well as nuts, chocolate chips and/or dried fruit, if using.

Stir this into the egg mixture. Divide the batter into prepared pans.

Bake loaves for 60 minutes, plus or minus ten, or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Muffins will bake far more quickly, approximately 20 to 25 minutes.

Morning Glory Muffins

This recipe I got from my friend Lauren. They are very good and very healthy, and a great way to sneak in veggies and fruit to your kids. This recipe makes a lot, but if you half it, it makes about 20 muffins.

4 C. Flour (2 C. white, 2 C. Wheat)
2 C. Sugar
4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
4 tsp. cinnamon
1 C. raisins (or Craisins)
1 C. pecans (I like walnuts)
4 C. grated carrots (or use some zucchini)
2 apples shredded (Granny smith's are good)
2 C. oil (I use applesauce)
1 C. coconut
6 lg. eggs
2 Tbsp. vanilla

Mix dry ingredients. Stir in everything but liquid. Mix everything just to combine. Bake 20-25 min @ 350. Cool in tin for 5 min. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

This recipe is from one of my good friends, Cara Newman. She was my visiting teacher for a while and would make this for me every fall and bring it to my house. It is so yummy!

2 beaten eggs
1 1/3 cup sugar
1 cup pureed or canned pumpkin
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1 2/3 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp soda
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Scant 1/2 tsp ground cloves
About 1/3-1/2 cup chocolate chips
Combine eggs and sugar, mix well. Add pumpkin, oil, and water. Blend thoroughly. Add all dry ingredients and mix well. Pour into greased mini loaf pans about 2/3 full. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Whole Wheat Brown Sugar Muffins

I LOVE this recipe. It's one of favorite things to make for breakfast, it's always a big hit with my family, friends, and young women.

Cream together-
1 stick of butter
1 Cup of brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

In a separate bowl combine and mix well,
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder

Alternately add flour mixture and 1 cup of milk to creamed mixture. Mix well.
Pour into greased muffin tins and sprinkle brown sugar on top. Bake on 375 for 10-13 minutes

Easy Cinnamon Roll Muffins

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 tsp salt

4 tsp active dry or rapid rise yeast

2/3 cup warm milk (100-110F; low fat is fine)

3 tbsp vegetable oil

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 large egg

Filling/Topping
2 tbsp butter, room temperature

2/3 cup brown sugar

3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

pinch ground cardamom

Icing

1 cup powdered sugar

1-2 tbsp milk or cream

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt. Dissolve the yeast in a measuring cup filled with the warmed milk, then stir milk mixture, vegetable oil, vanilla extract and egg into the flour mixture. Mix well, until very smooth. Pour into prepared pan and let rest for 15 minutes.

While the dough rests, mix together butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and cardamom in a small bowl using a fork until all the butter has been incorporated into the sugar and mixture is crumbly.

Divide the batter between 12 greased muffin cups. Sprinkle evenly on top of rested dough and press the mixture down into the dough with your fingertips (or swirl in with a spatula.)

Place pan into a cold oven, then set the oven temperature to 350F.

Bake for about 20 minutes, until bread is lightly browned at the edges and the center of the bread springs back when lightly pressed.

Some of the sugar mixture on top may still be bubbling.Cool for at least 30 minutes before whisking the powdered sugar and milk together to form an icing and drizzling it onto the bread.Serve warm.

Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave.

I love cinnamon rolls I just hate all the time it takes to make em! this speeds up the process and they taste SOO good!

Chocolate Oatmeal Chocolatechip muffin

1/2 c. quick cooking oats
2/3 c. boiling water
1 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. melted butter or marg
1 egg, lightly beaten
2/3 c + 2Tbsp all purpose flour
1 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 pkg chocolate chips semi or milk ( I like to use half of each)

In large bowl, pour boiling water over oats. Let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in brown sugar and butter, mix in egg. In a seperate bowl sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Add flour mixture to batter, mix well. Stir in vanilla and half of the chocolate chips. Grease and flour a cupcake tin, I like the large ones the best. Sprinkle the tops with the remaining chocolate chips. bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes our clean. I like to wrap some in saran wrap and freeze them for later. Great for a grab and go breakfast!