Practice Run - Banana Bran Muffins

One of my favourite 'healthy' recipes, borrowed and adapted from the Healthy Food Guide.  Great for lunch-boxes, 10.30am slumps and general scoffing.  Don't judge them till you try them - just because there is bran in there doesn't mean they are boring.  As I have them here they are dairy-free, however you can use butter and cow's milk if you so desire.  I use this recipe as the base and have added numerous ingredients over the year - variations at the bottom of the page.


 Soy Banana Bran Muffins


Makes 12 small or 6 Texas Muffins


Preheat oven to 180C.  Grease muffin tin.

                                                                                                  Ingrediants:

• 1 1/2 cups bran
• 1 cup standard flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 banana, mashed  - those ones with the brown skins that you haven't been able to fast enough, are the best.
• 1 tablespoon margarine, melted
• 1 tablespoon honey, melted or runny
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup regular soy milk

Method:

Mix first five ingredients together. Separately mix baking soda with soy milk and egg until well mixed, then add margarine, honey and banana and stir. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients and stir only until combined. (This is essential - I have no idea what the science is but your muffins will rise much better if you mix them just until the dry and wet ingredients are combined).

Spoon into muffin tray and bake in oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove from oven and leave to sit in tray for 5 minutes, before turning out onto a wire rack to cool.

Serving suggestion - buttered muffin, cuppa coffee
and a good book - "That thing around your neck" -
Chimimanda Ngozi Adiche 

Variations:

For something a bit different you can add any of the following ingredients (NB: the measurements are not exact - I just tend to chuck things in as they take my fancy):

- 1/4 c chopped walnuts;

- 1/2 - 1 tsp ginger or 5-6 pieces of crystalised ginger, chopped;

- 1/2 c sultanas;

- Substitute banana for stewed apple or pear;

- 6-7 dried apricots, chopped;

- 1/4 c sunflower or pumpkin seeds (the sunflower seeds will turn green but they are tasty nonetheless).

Any other variation suggestions are gratefully received.