Power-Packed Muffins

Hello there, and welcome to The Sweetest Years' first official baking post!

This evening's recipe comes in modified form from"The High-Energy Cookbook" by Rachael Anne Hill. After an eventful Thursday night in Atlantic City, my husband and I left the land of five-dollar black-jack tables, stretchy pants and very big hair, and spent a relaxing Friday evening in to make some of my favorite power-packed muffins. They are good for week-day mornings when breakfast is a "grab and go" event, or even healthy enough to snack on during the day.

Here are the ingredients you will need for 12 muffins:

1/2 cup dried apricots, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup dried cherries
1 cup unsweetened muesli
1 cup all-purpose white flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 pinch of salt
1 cup unsweetened apple juice
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/3 cup of honey
1 large egg

 When I first came across this recipe, I thought to myself: This looks delicious! What is muesli?

So, I went to the source any savvy law school student frequents when confused...Wikipedia, of course. Here, I learned that muesli has quite an interesting history. It is a popular breakfast dish made from uncooked oats, cornflakes and dried fruits, and was first introduced by a Swiss physician in the early 1900's who served it to his patients for its healthy qualities. It's the star ingredient of this evening's muffins.

Preparation time: The cookbook states that the preparation time is 12 minutes, but for the domestically challenged, give yourself at least 20.

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Gather the dry ingredients, including the dried fruit, muesli, flour,  baking powder and salt, and combine them in a large mixing bowl.

 3. Combine the wet ingredients, including the unsweetened apple juice, vegetable oil, honey and egg  and combine them in a medium sized mixing bowl.

4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, and be sure not to overmix.
5. Scoop the mixture into a lined muffin pan and, pop into the oven & bake for 20 minutes, until   golden brown and risen.

6. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

 

7. Cut in half and share with your baker's helper!