Saturday, 31 January 2009

Better Bran Muffins

Bran muffins sounded like a healthy way to warm up cold January mornings.  This recipe is out of Cook's Illustrated and even though I didn't quite have all the right ingredients, they were delicious!  I am not a fan of raisins, so I substituted dried cherries which were a great choice.  These will defiantly become part of the regular rotation!



Makes 12 muffins.   Published May 1, 2007.  

The test kitchen prefers Kellogg's All-Bran Original cereal in this recipe. Dried cranberries or dried cherries may be substituted for raisins. Low-fat or nonfat yogurt can be substituted for whole milk yogurt, though the muffins will be slightly less flavorful.

INGREDIENTS

1cup raisins
1teaspoon water
2 1/4cups All-Bran Original cereal (5 ounces)
1 1/4cups unbleached all-purpose flour (6 1/4 ounces)
1/2cup whole wheat flour (2 1/2 ounces),
2teaspoons baking soda
1/2teaspoon table salt
1large egg
1large egg yolk
2/3cup packed light brown sugar (4 2/3 ounces)
3tablespoons mild molasses (or light)
1teaspoon vanilla extract
6tablespoons unsalted butter (3/4 stick), melted and cooled
1 3/4cups plain whole-milk yogurt

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray standard-sized muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. Combine raisins and water in small microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap, cut several steam vents in plastic with paring knife, and microwave on high power for 30 seconds. Let stand, covered, until raisins are softened and plump, about 5 minutes. Transfer raisins to paper towel-lined plate to cool.

  2. 2. Process half of bran cereal in food processor until finely ground, about 1 minute. Whisk flours, baking soda, and salt in large bowl to combine; set aside. Whisk egg and yolk together in medium bowl until well-combined and light-colored, about 20 seconds. Add sugar, molasses, and vanilla; whisk until mixture is thick, about 30 seconds. Add melted butter and whisk to combine; add yogurt and whisk to combine. Stir in processed cereal and unprocessed cereal; let mixture sit until cereal is evenly moistened (there will still be some small lumps), about 5 minutes.

  3. 3. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and gently mix with rubber spatula until batter is combined and evenly moistened. Do not overmix. Gently fold raisins into batter. Using 1/3-cup measure or ice cream scoop, divide batter evenly among muffin cups, dropping batter to form mounds. Do not level or flatten surfaces 
    of mounds.

  4. 4. Bake until muffins are dark golden and toothpick inserted into center of muffin comes out with a few crumbs attached, 16 to 20 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking. Cool muffins in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack and cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Thursday, 1 January 2009

New Years Eve With Warm Black Mission Fig, Walnut Crunch, and Blue Cheese Tart





We spent New Year's with the crew at the Tottens where fun was had by all. Mrs. Totten prepared a great spread including a Tuscan white bean soup that I hope to get the recipe for - it was perfect for a cold winter night.
My cooking bug is still really strong, so I brought a fig, walnut, and blue cheese tart. I thought it was good, but I think it makes a dessert than appetiser. I used dried figs, but think it would have been better looking and tasting with fresh figs earlier in the fall.