Refrigerator Bran Muffins

1 cup hot water

3 cups 100% bran cereal

1 cup chopped dates or raisins, optional

¹/₂ to 1 cup applesauce

2 eggs

¹/₂ cup sugar or honey

2 cups buttermilk or nonfat yogurt

2 ¹/₂ cups whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons soda

³/₄-1 tsp salt

Pour hot water over cereal and dates in large bowl.  Let stand while preparing other ingredients.  In blender, combine oil, eggs, honey, and buttermilk.  Pulse to mix well.  Pour into the bran mixture, and mix together.  Combine flour, soda, and salt.  Add to bran mixture, mixing just long enough to blend ingredients.  Do not stir batter again.  Drop by table spoonfuls into non stick muffin pans, filling 2/3 full.  Bake at 400° for 15 to 18 minutes.  Makes 3 dozen muffins.

Contributed by Sharlene C.

Pumpkin Muffins

1 ¼  whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin
2 large eggs
1 tsp pumpkin-pie spice (a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and allspice)
½  tsp cinnamon
½  cups  sugar
¼ cup applesauce
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350° Put liners in muffin cups.  Whisk together flour and baking powder in a small bowl.  Whisk together pumpkin, oil, eggs, pumpkin-pie spice, cinnamon,  sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl until smooth, then whisk in flour mixture until just combined.

Divide batter among muffin cups (each should be about 3/4 full). Bake until puffed and golden brown and a wooden pick or skewer inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.  Cool 5 minutes.  Makes 1 dozen.

Banana Muffins

 ¹/₂ cup butter or margarine, melted

1 cup sugar

2 eggs, slightly beaten

2 large ripe bananas, peeled and mashed

1 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla

2 cup flour

¹/₂ tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

¹/₂ tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 400°.  Combine butter and sugar, mix in eggs, bananas and buttermilk.  Stir in the rest of the ingredients.  Pour into greased or lined muffins cups and bake for 15-18 minutes.  Makes 2 dozen muffins.