Gingerbread Muffins

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I always have muffins in my freezer for a quick breakfast or snack.  I enjoy trying new muffin recipes and tweaking them to increase the nutrition.  The original recipe I got from a magazine a long time ago;  I made some changes to make it my own.

Ingredients:

  • ½ c. vegetable oil
  • ½ c. unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 1 c. molasses
  • 4 eggs or 1 cup egg-substitute
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 c. low-fat buttermilk
  • 4 c. white-whole wheat flour
  • 1 T. plus 1 t. ground ginger
  • 1 t. allspice
  • ½ t. nutmeg

 

Directions:

  1. Beat oil, applesauce, and sugar until light and fluffy.
  2. Stir in molasses and eggs, beating well.
  3. Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk.
  4. Combine flour and spices.
  5. Add flour mixture and buttermilk mixture alternately to the sugar/oil mixture, beating well after each addition.
  6. Spoon into greased muffin tins or paper liners. Fill about 2/3 full.
  7. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

 

Yield: 36 muffins

Nutrition Facts per serving (1 muffin):

Calories: 137, Total fat: 4g, Saturated fat: 0.7g, Cholesterol 24mg, Sodium 88mg, Total carbohydrate: 24g, Dietary fiber: 1g, Sugars 11g, Protein 3g

 

Easy Heart Healthy Eating Tips

Love your heart this month by trying the following easy tips for a healthy heart:

  • Eat fish at least twice per week.
  • Eat a variety of foods, especially whole grains, lean meat, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, beans/legumes, fruits, and vegetables.
  • Eat less nutrient poor foods, such as chips, candy, soda, crackers, salt, and cookies.
  • Eat more of these foods (which may lower cholesterol): ground flaxseeds, oats, apples, fish oil supplements, soy, and garlic.
  • Exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
  • Manage stress.
  • Avoid smoking.

 

What do you to do love your heart?