Mini Macks Muffins a.k.a breakfast

“Well, I can’t eat muffins in an agitated manner. The butter would probably get on my cuffs. One should always eat muffins quite calmly. It is the only way to eat them.”

– Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

Ryder has always had a desire to eat muffins. Maybe it was because before he could even walk we would sit on the kitchen floor and stir up a batch of Martha White muffin mix. We would watch them rise to a golden buttery perfection in under fifteen minutes. Or maybe its because muffins are happiness in a little paper cup (or naked really, it doesn’t matter to us).

Over the last year I have found ways to incorporate Ryder’s muffins with additional ingredients to make them even more of a healthy choice – but without compromising the bliss they bring.

I have recently learned that flax seed (from the flax plant) is a great egg substitute (2 table spoons = one egg) and/or just a great addition to baking recipes to gain some power nutrition. Some say it can lower cholesterol (especially in women…the first time I was introduced to it was at our birthing class for Ryder and I thought, “Yuk, who wants seeds in their baked goods!” But I’ll have you know its rather nutty and not a very strong taste, so it hides well if you need it to). It is also high in omega-3 fatty acids and is said to help prevent breast and prostate cancer. But I digress.

Another substitute is Apple sauce. It can be used in lieu of vegetable oil or other fats. And shredding carrots, zucchini, squash, or apples are also healthy ingredients for hiding in muffins too! We often semi-homemake our muffins. Using the Martha White muffin mix found at nearly any chain grocery store (its less than dollar and makes half a dozen muffins) and by adding flax seed, carrots, or whatever fresh veggie you have on hand makes this morning dish mixed and ready in 20 minutes! They double as great snacks too!

Here are two recipes we like and modify as items are on hand:

Martha White Muffins w/Mini Macks substitutions:

Martha White muffin mix (we like the bran or blueberry best)
Milk (usually calls for 1/2 cup. Using canned evaporated milk works great too)

Mini Macks additions:
1-2 shredded carrots
or
1 zucchini
and/or
2-4 tbsp flax seed (Hodgson Mill flax seed in the box is great, around $2.50 a box and lasts us over a month, even with all the muffin consumption in our house! Its brown flax seed, normally ground. Put in refrigerator after opening).*
1/2 cup semi-sweet toll house chocolate chips (what? they have some nutritional goodness…emotionally if nothing else).

Bake at 350f for 14 minutes.

* you might need to add a splash of milk depending on how much flax seed is used. Or if your veggies have a lot of water to them after shredding (like apples or zucchini) you might not need as much milk.

Bed Head Zucchini Bread

This was inspired from various zucchini bread recipes. The batter looks crazy-funky, reminds me of Ryder’s hair in the morning. Just say’n.

In a bowl combine:
1 1/2 cup of flour (wheat, white, all purpose, doesn’t matter)
1 ts cinnamon
1/2 ts salt
1/4 ts Baking Powder
1/4 ts nutmeg or pumpkin spice

In another bowl:
3/4 cup of sugar (or less if you like. Honey can be used as well)
1/4 cup vegetable oil or apple sauce (like one of those kid snack cups from the pantry)
1 egg (or 2 Tbsp flax seed)
1/2 cup carrots grated (that’s about one large carrot)
2 cups zucchini (that’s about 1 and a half zucchinis)
1-2 tbsp additional flax seed if you feel like it
1/2 cup raisins (or let’s face it, chocolate chips, who are we kidding here?)

Combine dry contents into wet bowl. Fold together until you don’t see any more white to the flour. But don’t over mix. I think because it makes the muffins harder/denser. Put in one greased bread pan. Cook at 350 for 1 hour or until toothpick (or chopstick or juice straw or thin plastic kid toy**) comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Slice and serve with cream cheese or naked (the bread, not you).

Ok, so technically the second recipe is not muffins. Its “bread”. But you can put them in greased muffin tins instead. I am guessing 30 minutes or so.

**I’m kidding about the toy. I’ve never done it. But I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t considered it.