Dumped the Amish.. kept the muffins

So.. the last batch of oat bran muffins I made spoiled - I have no idea why but I had read a few other people mention you can make the recipes without the starters.. so.. I dumped.. I did it in a hurry - no tears were shed ;)

Last night I made these oat bran muffins from cooking light:
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=522196

I used dates instead of raisins (and that's only because that's what I had) - I did the whole thing in the Cuisinart - so it was probably more blended then it asks you to - but they were GOOD.

I may use this as my new base recipe for 'wheat' muffins and play with it a bit (I got some new flours at the outlet in Issaquah that I want to try)

For my 'white' (aka unhealthier) I made lemon muffins - I used the amish recipe as a base omitting the starter (obviously). I used sugar free lemon pudding and vanilla yogurt instead of oil. I also used Trader Joe's cage free egg whites (out of the jug) for the eggs - I then forgot I was halving the recipe and used too much flour - I tried to take it out - but either way at the end of the mixing it was still thick so I added a hefty amount of lemon juice and some more milk, then some agave syrup and sugar to sweeten (sorry no idea how much) - the result was goey yummy lemon.. muffin shaped things (a little too moist to call muffins). I'll work on this recipe a little more.

So - look for more muffin / bread recipes.. without starter!

Chocolate Cupcakes

I finally found a recipe that Bill LOVES...
I took the recipe from Betty Crocker for Chocolate fudge cake.. I reduced the amount of sugar, flour and milk and added a cup of starter. I used sugar free chocolate pudding (2 small packages) and added a little extra milk.. I omitted the baking chocolate (as the pudding mix) however- which I had stirred in some chocolate chips. When I really sit down and look at it I will post a better recipe (and email or comment if you want the exact thing)

For me - I really think the butter is what added to it.. they came out kind of soft / gummy (just the way Bill likes it!) And everyone agreed they were NOT dry. BIG hit.. unfortunately - NOT low cal :) But for a treat - they aren't BAD. :)

Kate's Muffins

So.. searching the internet for inspiration I came across this website / recipe: http://www.gardenwife.com/healthy-oat-bran-muffins-made-with-amish-friendship-bread-starter/comment-page-1#comment-177865

These are the BEST muffins. Kate (18 month old niece) LOVES them :) And when I'm using all organic ingredients, no sugar and no added fat.. well LET HER EAT THEM! I use all whole wheat - the last batch I exchanged one cup of whole wheat flour for 1 cup of oats (upping the oats and hopefully lightening the muffins) and I added whole rasberries (defrosted frozen ones) to the batter - I have yet to have one (Tomorrow morning!) But mom says they are keepers!

These are now staples in the house and will be what I make with my whole wheat until we are sick of them...

Cherry Cheesecake Bread

Ok - I think this may be one of my best recipes yet!!

I took a standard amish starter (White flour) - I followed the recipe, except:
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce for 1/2 cup oil (then used 1/2 cup oil as well)
2 small boxes of SUGAR FREE cheesecake pudding mix (instead of large box of vanilla)
roughly 1/2 cup of reduced fat cream cheese
Roughly 1/3 cup of white sugar (instead of the 1 cup recipe says)
about 3/4 cup of cherries (Which I didn't cut as much as I should have - fresh)
I ended up adding milk.. maybe 1/3 - 1/2 cup more then it called for - I skipped the cinnamon

The key to this bread was using the beaters and under baking it a little (about 50 minutes instead of 60) AND THEN REFRIGERATE - we had some after it cooled and then some more the next morning (after beeing in the fridge overnight) OMG sooo good :)

Whole Wheat - Banana Bread

I made banana bread with the whole wheat starter I have.. definitly the best with that starter - I did put cinnamon brown sugar on it this time - (there is another post with the recipe alterations for this - I did use brown sugar this time and ground oats for some of the flour) - the topping added a LOT :)

I also added nuts.. OK this is what I did because as I write this I realize I altered a lot :)

Full whole wheat starter - basic recipe minus oil (used trader joes cinnamon applesauce (1 cup)) Egg substitute (which I'm now using all the time), no pudding mix, 1 cup whole wheat flour, 1 cup rolled oats ground in the food processor (I also tossed in some flax seed (which I didn't ground enough)) - about a half cup of walnuts (which I also did not break / grind enough)). 3 medium mashed bananas. Used about 1/3 cup of brown sugar (and no white sugar other then original feed)

It makes a dense bread.. but a good morning bread :)