Healthy Raisin Bran Muffin

The "Healthy Raisin Bran Muffin" — Jamie Koufman

Although raisins by themselves are acidic, they can be used in recipes like this one, or in cereal with milk or with oatmeal, because the other ingredients act as a buffer for the acidity.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons dark raisins or dried non-citrus fruit of your choice

1⁄4 cup whole milk (you can use lower-fat milk if you desire)

1 egg

1⁄3 cup yogurt

1 tablespoon milled flax seed (if you can't find milled flax seed, buy whole flax seed and grind it in a spice mill or coffee grinder)

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1⁄3 cup bran cereal

1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour

1-1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder

Salt to taste

1⁄2 Golden Delicious or Gala apple (washed and grated, with the skin)

Directions

1. Bring the milk to a boil in a small saucepan and pour over the raisins.

2. In a bowl, combine the flax seed, sugar, cereal, flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg, apple, milk mixture and yogurt.

4. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients with a whisk.

5. Pour mixture into muffin molds that have been buttered or sprayed with a non-stick spray or lined with paper cups.

6. Cook at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes.The muffins are ready when the tops expand and the fissures turn golden brown as the mixture caramelizes.

7. Extra muffins can be frozen in a plastic bag. To reheat, cut in half and heat in the oven until golden brown, or use them to make French toast.

Serves: 4 (1 muffin per serving)