Baking Day

A few weeks ago Tuesday became Baking Day. This is a new addition for me - something that I've often wanted to do and felt I should do, but never quite got around to it. Baking was sporadic and unplanned, which does not make for frequent and enjoyable! Putting it on Jonathan's calendar was a way to hold myself accountable! :) Anyway, we're loving it. I bake with the boys, which makes it take longer but also gives it double duty - they're learning about baking, measuring, fractions, teamwork, and the need for cleanup, and Mommy is learning to enjoy the moment with patience. Good things, yes?

Yesterday Jonathan and I made a really stellar muffin recipe. It is adapted from the one here.

Oatmeal Fruit Nut muffins (makes 32)

3 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups oats (I used quick, because that's what I had, but I think it would work with rolled as well)
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup apple juice
1/3 cup vegetable oil (you could probably reduce this even more if you wanted to - just add a little more mashed fruit)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 mashed bananas
1 crushed apple (I blended mine in the blender - I wanted small chunks rather than applesauce)
1 and 1/2 cup craisens
1 and 1/2 cups walnuts, chopped

Combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs lightly. Stir in the milk, juice, oil, and vanilla. Add mashed banana and apple and combine thoroughly. Stir the flour mixture into the banana mixture until just combined. I used standard sized muffin tins with foil cups (lovely because they never stick!) Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Just one or two of these muffins goes a long way for breakfast because they're packed with so much good stuff! They look small but they're powerhouses of nutrients and fiber.