Tag Archive: muffins

Fig Rosemary Muffins

DSCF6197 650x487 Fig Rosemary Muffins

After making protein bars a few weeks ago, I was left with half a container of fresh figs and nothing to do with them. Sure I probably could have eaten them straight from the container but where’s the fun in that, right?

So I wracked my brain for awhile thinking about something new and different that I could do with figs. Traditionally, figs are paired with a savor item to balance their delicate sweetness. Since figs stuffed with goat cheese seemed to be a little trite, I tried brainstorming other dishes that work perfectly with sweet and savory components.

Instantly, I thought of muffins. You can literally make a muffin out of anything and make it delicious. On some of the food chat boards, people suggested pairing figs with rosemary. So I figured why not try a fig rosemary muffins.

I also substituted a little steel cut oats for the flour so that the muffin would have a little crunch. If you don’t have steel cut oats on hand, feel free to sub in another crunchy grain like millet. Or if you don’t like crunch feel free to use flour instead icon smile Fig Rosemary Muffins

Fig Rosemary Muffins

Fig Rosemary Muffins 650x487 Fig Rosemary Muffins

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/3 cup steel cut oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 cup non-dairy milk (I used coconut milk)
  • 1 chia egg (1 tablespoon chia and 3 tablespoons water)
  • 1/4 cup applesauce
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup raw sugar (or you could sub in honey)
  • 4 figs, chopped into bite sized pieces

Method:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Make your chia egg (or flax egg or use a regular egg if you don’t care icon smile Fig Rosemary Muffins ). Add chia and water, whisk together, and allow to set while you make the rest of the recipe.

In a large bowl, combine your dry ingredients, flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and dried rosemary.

In a small bowl, combine wet ingredients, non-dairy milk, chia egg, applesauce, coconut oil, and sugar, and whisk.

Add wet ingredients to the bowl containing the dry ingredients and whisk together.

Fold in chopped figs until combined.

Scoop fig mixture into greased 12 tin muffin pan.

Bake for 15 minutes.

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Remove and allow the muffins to cool completely.

As usual, as soon as these babies started to cook, Mr. A wanted a bite. He’s always trying to sneak my treats before I can photograph them.

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Luckily for him, one of the muffins broke in half when I tried to remove it from the pan (I ran out of non stick spray so lazy me cook them in an ungreased pan…there was bound to be at least one muffin casualty).

It was pretty hilarious watching him try these muffins. He’s never really tried figs before (fig newtons don’t count) so I think he was expecting something sickenly sweet.

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When it turned out to be a savory muffin, he got a big smile on his face and said, “I love your muffins. They are always so hearty.”

Cue the swoons.

Cherry Crumble Muffins

This past weekend not only did we get to celebrate my first Nationals experience but we also got to celebrate my grandparents’ 62nd wedding anniversary.

That’s right they have been married longer than most people have been alive.  My grandfather says the key to a long marriage is marrying a red head.  Guess Mr. A and I are out of luck.

To celebrate their special occasion, I wanted to make something that reminded me of them.  My grandmother has always loved rhubarb (I think it’s a Midwestern thing.  I wouldn’t know about the existence of rhubarb were it not for her.)  So I decided to balance out the tartness of the rhubarb by combining it into a muffin with a cinnamon crumble topping.

I set out to the grocery store to gather up my needed rhubarb, only to find out that it’s actually not rhubarb season (who knew there was a season?).  So I had to make a quick last minute change.

I figured that cherries were almost as tart as rhubarb and they would serve as the perfect seasonal substitute.  When life gives you cherries, make cherry crumble muffins.

Cherry Crumble Muffins

Cherry Crumble Muffins 650x487 Cherry Crumble Muffins

Ingredients:

Muffins:

  • 1 cup quick cook oats
  • 1 ½ cups white whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • ¾ cup lightly packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup soy milk
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • 1 ½ cup cherries
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 flax egg (or you can use a regular egg for a non-vegan version)

Crumble Topping:

  • 3 tablespoons quick cook oats
  • 2 tablespoons vegan margarine or butter
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon white whole wheat flour
  • 3 tablespoons lightly packed brown sugar

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

If you are using a flax egg, you’ll want to make one now—1 tablespoon flaxseed and 3 tablespoons of water.   Whisk together and allow them to sit until you are ready to use them.

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Next you need to de-pit and dice your cherries.

Probably my least favorite step and the reason I never buy cherries.  Too many opportunities to stain your clothes.

With the cherries ready, it’s time to make the muffins.

Add dry ingredients to a bowl (flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt) and stir until combined.

In another bowl, combine wet ingredients (vegetable oil, applesauce, soy milk, orange juice, vanilla, and flax egg) and whisk until combined.

Add your wet ingredients to your dry ingredients.  Mix until combined.

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Fold in your cherries.

Evenly divide muffin batter between 12 prepared muffin tins.

Now, it’s time to make the crumble topping.

Add butter or margarine to a small bowl and microwave until melted.

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Add remaining ingredients (oats, cinnamon, flour, and brown sugar) to melted butter and use a fork to mix until combined.

Sprinkle approximately a teaspoon of the crumble on top of each muffin.  You’ll have just enough left to taste test some yourself icon wink Cherry Crumble Muffins

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Place muffins in the oven for 25 minutes.

Allow muffins to cool in pan for 10 minutes.  Then remove them from pan and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.

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When our dinner was over, I handed these muffins to my grandfather and explained that couldn’t find any rhubarb but I hoped they both liked cherries.

My grandmother immediately reassured me that she likes any and all kinds of muffins.

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I can see a lot of baked goods in your future Grandma.

Happy anniversary Grandma and Granddad!

I hope I’m lucky enough to get to spend 62 years with my soul mate like you two have.