Clementine Bran Muffins

Just my little adaptation of the Five Roses Cookbook bran muffin recipe.

1 cup whole bran
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup molasses
1 cup flour
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 clementines, peeled and  chopped
1/2 tsp orange zest
3/4 cup raisins
2 tbsps wheat germ (optional)
2 tbsps flax (optional)
2 tbsps whey protein powder (optional)
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp allspice
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Combine bran, milk and molasses and let stand.

In a large bowl mix together flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, wheat germ, flax, whey, ginger, allspice, zest and raisins. Stir in bran mixture, clementines, egg and oil.

Stir quickly until all ingredients are just mixed. 

Line muffin tin with papers and fill with batter about 2/3 full.

Bake at 400F for 20 minutes

Serve with a little pat of butter.....yum!

Secret Ingredient Bran Chocolate Muffins

No one will ever guess what the secret ingredient is. 
Trust me.

And these muffins don't rise a lot but are surprisingly light.

You'll need:

3 cups all bran cereal
2  1/2 cups water

1  - 19 oz can black beans, drained (really!)
2 large eggs
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Add the water to the bran cereal and set aside for 5 minutes.

Take the rest of the ingredients, except the chocolate chips, and process in a food processor until smooth.

Mix together with the bran.
Fill muffin papers 2/3 full.

  
Sprinkle chocolate chips on top

and bake in a 350F oven for 25 minutes.

Makes 24

Here's another recipe made with beans:

http://hotandcoldrunningmom.blogspot.ca/2014/11/no-flour-chocolate-chip-brownie.html

Flax Seed Muffins with Orange and Bran

This is so COOL !!  You use the whole orange in this recipe.
I mean everything, peel and all!  And there's lots of other healthy stuff here too.

1  1/2 cups oat bran or oat flour
1 cup flour
1 cup ground flax seed
1 cup bran
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt

2 oranges (washed and quartered, zest 1)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk (yogurt or soured milk)
1/2 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup dates, optional

Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl, set aside.

Before pulverizing your oranges, zest one of them so you have a bit to sprinkle on top before baking. In a food processor combine brown sugar and oranges.
Here it is after just a few pulses.

Add the balance of the ingredients.

Pour into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix just until blended.  Add dates if using.

Fill muffin papers, sprinkle on the zest and bake in a 375F oven for 18-20 minutes.

Makes 21 medium muffins