Double Almond Breakfast Muffins

(NC)—These scrumptious muffins taste great and are filled with essential nutrients to help jump start your day. Whip up a batch to get your morning going and triple the almond ante by spreading almond butter on half a freshly baked muffin. Makes 15 muffins.

Ingredients:

1/4 teaspoon (1 mL) lemon juice
1/4 cup (50 mL) low fat or skim milk
1 1/4 cups (300 mL) whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup (125 mL) almond flour
1 1/2 teaspoon (7 mL) baking powder
1 teaspoon (5 mL) baking soda
1/2 teaspoon (2 mL) salt
1/2 teaspoon (2 mL) ground cinnamon
2/3 cup (150 mL) granulated sugar
2 egg whites
1/4 cup (50 mL) canola oil
1 large whole egg
1/3 cup (75 mL) water
1/3 teaspoon (2 mL) vanilla extract
1 cup (250 mL) mashed banana (abt. 3 medium)
1/4 cup (50 mL) sliced almonds (for topping)
1/2 cup (125 mL) chocolate chips (optional)
Cooking spray

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).

In a large bowl, combine lemon juice and milk and set aside (Note: Buttermilk may be used in place of lemon juice and milk mixture).

Measure flours into a medium bowl; add baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and set aside.

Add sugar, egg whites, oil and whole egg to the milk mixture; beat at high speed until well blended. Add water, vanilla and banana and mix at low speed until combined. On low speed, slowly add flour mixture to banana mixture until just combined.

Spray muffin tins with cooking spray and spoon batter into cups ¾ full. Sprinkle sliced almonds (and chocolate chips, if desired) over each muffin.

Bake at 350°F (180°C) for about 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in centre comes out clean. Cool muffins in pan for 10 minutes then remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

This recipe was developed for the Almond Board of California by Bonnie Taub-Dix, R.D.

www.AlmondBoard.com

Nutritional analysis per serving, or for 1 muffin:

Calories: 175 kcals
Carbohydrates: 23.8 g
Fibre 2.1 g
Total Fat: 8.3 g
Cholesterol: 14.2 mg
Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
Monounsaturated Fat: 4.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.8 g
Protein: 3.5 g
Sodium: 380.3 mg
Potassium: 154.8 mg
Calcium: 50.7 mg
Magnesium: 25.4 mg
Vitamin E: 1.8 mg

www.newscanada.com