STRAWBERRY MUFFINS

Strawberry Summer Muffins

These muffins are delicious fresh from the oven. If you are in the habit of spreading butter or margarine on your muffins, try some light cream cheese on these instead.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 cup sliced fresh strawberries (frozen can also be used)
• 1/4 cup low-fat milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon strawberry or raspberry extract (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring (optional)
• 1/4 cup less fat margarine with the least amount of saturated/trans fat (with about 8 grams of fat per tablespoon)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar (add 1/4 cup more sugar or Splenda if you prefer it sweeter)
• 1 large egg, room temperature (higher omega-3 if available)
• 1/4 cup egg substitute or 2 egg whites
• 1 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 cup unbleached white flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon powdered sugar for dusting the tops (optional)

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners; set aside. Place strawberries in a small food processor; process until pureed. Make sure you have 2/3 cup of puree.
2. In small bowl, combine 2/3 cup strawberry puree with low-fat milk, vanilla extract, strawberry extract, and red food coloring (if desired); set aside.
3. In bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream margarine and sugar on medium-high speed, until combined and fluffy. Reduce speed to medium-low and add the egg and egg substitute or egg white, beating just until blended. Make sure to scrape the side and bottom of bowl well halfway through.
4. With mixer turned off, in medium bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder and salt then add half of the flour mixture to the mixing bowl with margarine mixture, beating just until blended. Pour in the strawberry mixture and beat on LOW just until blended, scraping sides of bowl with spatula midway. Add in the remaining flour mixture, beating just until blended and scraping down sides of the bowl.
5. Add 1/4-cup of muffin batter to each prepared muffin cup. Bake until tops are just dry to the touch (about 22 minutes). Let cool completely in tin before dusting with powdered sugar if desired.

Yield:
11 muffins (5.5 servings when 2 muffins each)

Nutritional Information:
Per 2 muffin serving: 258 calories, 8 g protein, 47 g carbohydrate, 6 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 40 mg cholesterol, 4 g fiber, 260 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 20 percent.

Resources: WebMD Inc.