1.11.2010

Branny Breakfast

I'm the sort of girl who wakes up early, cheerful and absolutely ravenous! Oddly enough most of my friends can go for half the day without eating, and I'm practically perishing by the time they're even thinking of food. I love them dearly but for sheer survival I've learned to carry nuts and dried fruit with me when visiting any of them. :-)

Thankfully I have a few pals who like to eat before noon, and Betsy is one of them. Few things make her happier than waking up early and going out for breakfast with her hubby and friends. Whenever I visit I'm delighted to join in, and have feasted on many a Dutch Baby, Coconut Pancake and sausage link with relish and abandon.

Most days though, I like to eat hearty and healthy at home. I usually start with a fresh squeezed juice of some kind. This morning it was ruby red grapefruit.



 I like to serve it in a pretty glass, just because it makes it a little bit special.



This week I was craving muffins. Not sugary or chocolaty, but moist and grainy with lots of flavor and tender crumb. I found a marvelous recipe on the back of Bob's Red Mill Wheat Bran.

Sweetened only with molasses and applesauce and using a scant 2 Tbsp of oil, they are low in bad fats and sugars. Thankfully they are not only healthy but delicious! Tender, moist and flavorful, they are easy to make, a snap to freeze, and reheat beautifully.

The only deviations I made from the recipe were to grind up the nuts (I don't care for chunks) and use coconut milk instead of regular milk. I've been using coconut milk as a substitute in more and more of my recipes and the results have been consistently wonderful.






I like them best sandwiched with peanut butter and creamed honey, served with simple scrambled eggs.




Moist Molasses Bran Muffins
(From Bob's Red Mill)

Ingredients:

1 cup Wheat Bran
1 1/2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 cup Raisins (Unsulfured)
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 cup Milk (I used coconut milk)
1/2 cup Molasses (or Honey)
3/4 cup Applesauce
1/4 cup chopped Nuts
2 Tbsp. Oil
2 Eggs, beaten

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Combine wheat bran, flour, baking soda and baking powder.
  3. Stir in nuts and raisins.
  4. In a separate bowl, blend applesauce, milk, molasses, oil and egg. Add to dry ingredients and stir just until moistened.
  5. Spoon into greased muffin tin (or paper muffin cups) and bake for 15-20 minutes. Makes 12 marvelous muffins.

16 comments:

  1. Mmm, creamed honey and peanut butter! I don't think they've heard of creamed honey yet here in Kansas. Wonder if rolled oats would be a nice alternative to the wheat bran?

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  2. holy those do look really moist. nice pix

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  3. Oh, I bet the oats would be great, Jerusha! Mmm, yep, I'd like that for sure. :-)

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  4. They sure are, Tia! :-) Glad you like the pictures!

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  5. me loved ur fantastic pics too...im very very hungry and crave chocolate right in the morning at times n on other days have lunch directly(ok i did pop in a few milk chocolate callets along)...
    This muffin would be perfect for breakfast alongwith my home made strawberry preserve...oh what wonderful flavours u have here...

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  6. I love the idea of coconut milk replacing milk. Inspired! And peanut butter is great sandwiched between almost anything, I think. :)

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  7. I would pass out if I didn't eat in the mornings, seriously. I'm with you girlfriend!

    Loving the muffins.
    xxx

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  8. I LOVE breakfast and can't understand how my friends go hours without eating it either! Although I used to be one of those people, so who am I to talk. But once you start eating breakfast, it's really hard to stop!

    These muffins look awesome. Especially smothered in PB. That would be my favorite way to eat them as well.

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  9. Oh Vanilla, your strawberry preserves would be PERFECT with these! :-)

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  10. Thanks, Karine! I heartily agree :-)

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  11. Amuse - I KNOW! I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner! :-) My favoritest exchange yet was in my mocha tart. WOW! Coconut milk made the filling exquisitely smooth. :-)

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  12. Yay! I KNEW you were a kindred spirit, DJ :-)

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  13. I've never considered using coconut milk in bakes....I will have to give it a go. Love the look of the grapefruit juice..........YUM.

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  14. I hadn't either, Oz, but I really love the results. It provides a depth and richness to dishes that I am smitten by. :-)

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