Morning Glory Muffins

Today after working out at the gym  I noticed their "Healthy recipe" board, and had to openly guffaw at the ridiculous suggestions they were toting as "healthy". Tater tot hot dish. Scalloped potatoes with ham and an entire log of Velveeta. Tuna Casserole with potato chips on top ( which I actually used to like until a chef I worked with threw a hotel pan of it across the kitchen once in a snit and I had to help his crabby ass pick it up.....) All probably tasty treats once in a while, but piping them out as healthy is just silly. Healthy meals require vegetables, fruits, minerals, and colors other than brown, white, and neon yellow.

It's a situation that has often troubled me as a health food advocate, and the fact of the matter is a lot of people just don't know how to eat healthy. Its a scenario I've seen played out plenty through my work in food and health care. It's not that they're not intelligent  and properly functioning adults,  it's just not something everyone learns about and understands. But if they think that eating ground beef covered in Velveeta is a balanced meal, they are sorely mistaken.  

Many people think that to eat well you have to resign yourself to live on smoothies or carrots, but I've always thought the key to eating healthy was as easy as eating a variety of colors. And I don't mean Yellow #5, but fresh foods and homemade stuff.  Here's a fabulous muffin recipe that's loaded with healthy ingredients and tastes great too.

Morning Glory Muffins

• 1  cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1-1/4 cups sugar
• 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• -1 t. ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• -2 medium mashed bananas
• -1/2 cup oats
• 1 cup canola oil
• -1 T. ground flaxseed
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups grated carrots
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup flaked coconut
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 medium baking apple, peeled and shredded

Directions:

• In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In another bowl, beat the eggs, oil and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in the carrots, pecans, coconut, raisins, flaxseed  and apple.
• Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Makes: 1-1/2 dozen. 

Now I know these look like ever feared super healthy muffin that people expect to taste like birdseed, but they're really sweet and  flavorful. 

Nuked for a few seconds and with a little drizzle of honey and you're in business! Speaking of which, someone told me the name of these came from their ability to improve your "business", as in keep you regular.... ahem.

 I think it's because you hold one in each hand and jump up and down in the morning with your tasty muffins, ready to face the glorious day, but maybe that's just me. Enjoy!!