Delicious Apple Muffins

This week's Food Network Challenge Chef, Ellie Krieger, had so many wonderful recipes I had a hard time choosing which one to make!  Ellie markets herself as a healthy cook... in fact, she has 30 healthy recipes posted on the Food Network Website designed to kick-off the new year (and the resolution to eat healthier).  Many of the recipes look delicious.



About two weeks ago, we watched Food Inc (great movie, if you haven't yet seen it), and Frog Prince decided that he too would be more concerned about what he's eating.  His first major change... saying goodbye to Fruity Cheerios.  {insert, angels singing}.

With Frog Prince heading to work well before the sun comes up, I've been looking for some yummy, make-ahead breakfasts that he can warm up and enjoy before he goes outside in the frigid cold oh so early in the morning.



Thus, Ellie's Apple Muffins caught my attention.  This might have also had something to do with the fact that I scored 9 lbs. of apples last week at the grocery store for less than 33 cents a pound :)  I tweaked the recipe a bit (omitting the nuts, of course) by upping the milk in order to omit the oil.  They turned out wonderful.     



Apple Muffins -  Adapted from Ellie Krieger

Topping
2 T brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Dry Ingredients
1 C whole wheat flour
1 C flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

"Wet" Ingredients
3/4 C brown sugar
1 C applesauce
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 C buttermilk (1 C milk + 1 T vinegar)
1 apple, chopped

Mix together dry ingredients.



Then, in a separate bowl, mix together the wet ingredients.



Combine the wet and dry ingredients together, stirring well to moisten.



Add in the apples.



Pour into ~20 muffin cups (the recipe said 12!!); and top with the topping mixture.



Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.



Enjoy!



They are light, and fluffy and ... yummy.