Makin' Muffins with My Sidekick Chef

I was hoping to get to bed earlier tonight, but here I am at 11 pm just posting. Time flies when it's your "free" evening time, eh? Anyway, thought I'd share some pics of a new muffin recipe that we tried tonight. These Pumpkin Pie Muffins are from EatSmart from the publishers of fine Cooking. I came across it at Costco and thought it looked good. It's actually like buying a recipe book- almost- in price: it retails at $11. Isn't that more book than magazine? I guess not nowadays. (ok, now I sound like an old timer. LOL) Anyway, it was a bit cheaper at Costco than retail at least.

The recipes in it are the creation of Ellie Krieger (not sure if she did all of them) who writes, "I believe that luscious and healthy can be used in the same sentence." I like that! I'm trying to live more fully with healthy, but interesting foods. That's my goal anyway.

Anyway, the muffins are really good. Very dark and moist- like gingerbread almost? or, I guess, Pumpkin Pie. We made them kind of late- by the time we were done, so dd and I just split one, since it was actually after her bedtime. (I need to get her her own apron. She used to have one, but she out grew it. I took a pic cause her floured shirt looked cute to me.)

Anyway, my assistant chef picked off the pumpkin seeds, but gave them a big thumbs up (and wants them in her lunch bag tomorrow.) They will cost you 4 points a piece if you are a ww girl. Not too bad for a big, luscious (and yet healthy!) muffin.

In early (for me) HYC check in news, I was actually down a couple of pounds (unofficially) this morning. I had a pretty good week: same old story: need to exercise more consistently and need to drink more water. Also, need to get to bed earlier! like now! Hope you all had a good week! :)

Here's the nuts and bolts of the recipe in brief as I couldn't find it online. lmk if you have any questions. I left out extra description, as usual.

Pumpkin Pie Muffins

1 c flour
1 c whole wheat flour (or whole-grain pastry) I used a combo flour mixture
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp nutmeg
3/4 c packed dark brown sugar I only had light for 1/2 c and then a brown Splenda mix
3 tbsp unsulfured molasses
1/4 c canola oil I used vegetable oil since we were out
2 eggs
1 c pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 c buttermilk
1/4 c unsalted raw pumpkin seeds

Preheat oven 400 F. Coat muffin pan with cooking spray.

In med bowl, whisk flours, baking soda, salt and spices. In large bowl, whisk sugar, molasses, oil and eggs- adding one at a time. Whisk in pumpkin and vanilla.

Alternate adding flour mix and buttermilk. Whisking. Does all this whisking earn APs?

Bake for 20 mins until toothpick comes out clean. :)

Makes 12 muffins 205 cals, 7 g fat- 1 sat, 2 g fiber