Let's Eat
featured recipe


  Fudge Pudding Cake
RAISIN BRAN MUFFINS
 
A delicious way to start any morning

These Raisin Bran Muffins are easy! In addition to their moist heavenly flavor, the best part is that
the batter can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.

This means homemade goodness at anytime! Just preheat the oven and bake.

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 22 Minutes
Servings: 4 Dozen

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup vegetable oil
5 eggs
2 cups brown sugar
¼ cup honey
¼ cup molasses
1 quart buttermilk (okay to use low-fat)
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons Saigon cinnamon
5 teaspoons baking soda
5 teaspoons baking powder
4 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup whole wheat flour
5 cups raisin bran cereal
1 ½ cup raisins (divided ½ and 1)
½ cup boiling water

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 400°F, line muffin tin cups with paper liners. Soak ½ cup of raisins on the boiling water, until they reach room temperature. Place raisins in a blender or food processor process to make a paste add eggs and oil pulse until combined. Mix brown sugar, honey, molasses and buttermilk in a large bowl, add the oil mixture whisk together. Whisk together the flours, salt, cinnamon, soda, baking powder. Mix flour mixture into wet ingredients, Mix in raisin bran and raisins. Bake in greased, paper-line muffin tins for 20-22 minutes.

Hints:

Portion batter with a "disher/ice cream "scoop for uniform muffins


Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks and bake as desired.

  Copyright 2009

This is the third in a series of 6 articles that will highlight the food groups and other information provided in the USDA Food Guide Pyramid. Additional information can be found at www.mypyramid.gov.
 
Fruits



 
What counts as a fruit?
 
Fresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruits all count. Even fruit juice, as long as it is 100% juice. (Check labels. Many products advertised as "juice drink" or "juice cocktail" contain little actual juice.) . However, it is not advised to have more than one glass of juice a day counting towards your servings.
 
How much should I eat?
 
This depends greatly on the person, but is usually around 1 ½ to 2 cups per day. If you love fruits, you can eat more than that. It's just a guideline.
 
Just like vegetables, make sure that you eat a variety of colors of fruits, because there are different nutrients that are found in different colors of fruits.    
 
Why should I eat fruits?
 
Because they taste good and they are good for you! Fruits are packed with nutrients that our bodies need, including potassium, folate, and vitamin C. Eating fruits can help maintain a healthy blood pressure, reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes, help with red blood cell formation, and that's just a few of the benefits. Plus, they contain a lot of fiber, which helps your digestive tract to be regular.
 
This time of year is great for certain types of fruits. Check at a grocery store or a farmers market, and you will see so many delicious fruits that are in season. And as summer progresses, there will be more fruits to choose from. One of my favorite summer treats is fresh diced peaches with some milk, cinnamon and nutmeg. It is a light snack that is very refreshing.   
 
If there is a topic you would like me to cover in an upcoming article, or if you have a nutrition question, you can email me at mkshaw5@hotmail.com. Thanks!
 
Until next time,
Melodie
 
 
* This article is for information purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat any disease or disorder.