healthy muffin munchies

reading a women's health mag at the doctor's office today and came across some great healthy flavour filled muffin recipes i wanted to share with you all...

source: australian women's health march 2009

mood managers: papaya & pineapple muffins
'..packed with nutrient-dense complex carbs...to help your brain ramp up production of that "woo-hoo!" chemical (serotonin). the omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts and flaxseeds may offer additional protection... they combat moodiness and irritability and nourish the whole nervous system.'

ingredients
1.5 cups wholemeal flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
1.5 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup tinned pineapple, drained
1 cup cubed papaya
1/3 cup yoghurt
1 egg, beaten
2 tbs canola oil
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup golden syrup
1/4 cup walnuts
1/2 cup dried cranberries

method
1. preheat oven to 190degC
2. in a large bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon
3. in a food processor or blender puree pineapple, papaya and yoghurt. mix in egg, oil, sugar and syrup.
4. combine pineapple and flour mixtures; fold in walnuts and cranberries.
5. spoon batter into paper-lined muffing cups. bake for 20-22mins or until tops spring back when lightly pressed. cool on a wire rack.

heart guards: apple and cinnamon oat bran muffins
'pectin fibre in apples, oat bran and vitamin E rich canola oil are loved by cardiologists because together they lower both total and LDL cholesterol and keep blood sugar levels under control.'

ingredients
1/2 cup oat bran
1 cup wholemeal flour
1/4 cup ground flaxseeds
1 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 egg, beaten
4 tbs canola oil
1 apple, shredded
1/3 cup apple sauce
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans

method
1. preheat oven to 175degC.
2. in a large bowl, whisk together bran, flour, flaxseed, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg.
3. in a separate bowl, whisk together egg and oil until smooth. stir in shredded apple, apple sauce and sugar. combine mixtures and fold in pecans.
4. spoon batter into paper-lined muffin cups. if desired sprink oats over muffin tops. bake for 22-25mins or until tops spring back when lightly pressed. cool ona wire rack

engine starters: date and oat muffins
'...the natural sugars in the dates and prunes give you quick energy but blood-sugar regulating B vitamins in the oats keep it flowing slow and steady so you don't spike and crash.'

ingredients
1.5 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup milk
3/4 cup wholemeal flour
2 heaped tbs canilla whey protein flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
14 dates, finely chopped  (about 3/4 cup)
1 egg, beaten
4 tbs grapeseed oil
2 tbs golden syrup
1/3 cup prune juice

method
1. preheat to 200degC
2. combine oats and milk in a bowl and let soak. in a separate large bowl, mix flour, whey protein, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and dates.
3. in another bowl, combine egg, oil, golden syrup and prune juice. add to oats mixture, then stir in flour mix.
4. spoon batter into paper-lined muffing cups. bake for 20mins or until tops spring back when lightly pressed. cool on a wire rack.

flu fighters: carrot and ginger bran muffins
'carrots are rich in immune-boosting vitamin A, zinc-packed pumpkin seeds ward off infection and apple juice contains sniffle-stifling vitamin C. another weapon: yoghurt... its good-for-you bacteria provides defence against microbes.'

ingredients
1/4 cup frozen unsweetened apple juice concentrate
1/2 cup wheat bran
1.25 cups wholemeal flour
1 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup plain yoghurt
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
2 tbs molasses
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

method
1. preheat oven to 190degC
2. boil juice over high heat until it becomes syrupy. set aside and let cool.
3. in a large bowl, whisk together wheat bran, flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and ground ginger
4. in a separate bowl combine reduced juice, egg, yoghurt, carrot, fresh ginger and molasses. combine mixtures and then fold in pumpkin seeds.
5. spoon batter into paper-lined muffing cups. bake for 18 to 20mins or until tops spring back when lightly pressed. cool on a wire rack.

PMS busters: banana, yoghurt and walnut muffins
'bananas provide cramp-busting potassium and vitamin B6, a hormone regulator that may help reduce water retention, depression and other PMS symptoms... yoghurt delivers calcium and vitamin D: the dynamic duo has been shown to slash PMS symptoms by up to 40%. add magnesium-rich walnuts... the mineral which may reduce irritability and stabilise blood sugar.'

ingredients
1.25 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup rice flour
1/4 cup flaxseeds
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup plain yoghurt
3 medium ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup golden syrup
1/3 cup grapeseed oil
1/4 cup walnuts

method
1. preheat owven to 190degC
2. in a large bowl whisk together oats, flour, flaxseeds, baking powder and baking soda.
3. in a separate bowl, combine eggs, yoghurt, bananas, syrup and oil. add flour mixture and fold into walnuts.
4. divide batter into paper-lined muffin cups. bake for 20-22 mins or until tops spring back when lightly pressed. cool on a wire rack.