Low-Fat Pear Oatmeal Muffins

pear-oatmeal muffins (photo by jhy)

You will need:

• 1 c quick oats (divided)
• 2 c white flour
• 1/2 c whole wheat flour
• 3/4 c sugar (or 3/8 c sugar and 3/8 c sugar substitute)
• 1 T baking powder
• 1 t baking soda
• 1/2 t salt (you can reduce or eliminate this for low-salt diets)
• 1/4 t ground cinnamon, mace or cardamom
• 1/4 t ground allspice
• 2 c chopped ripe pear (the smaller the pieces the better)
• 3/4 c low-fat buttermilk or sour milk (you can add 1 T vinegar to regular milk to sour it- be sure to start it about 30 minutes ahead to give it time to sour)
• 1/3 c lowfat cottage cheese
• 1/4 c vegetable oil (we now use Smart Balance, but canola, or any vegetable oil works fine)
• 1 T vanilla extract
• 1 egg plus one egg white OR 3/8 c Egg Beaters™ or similar product
• shortening or vegetable spray

bowls spoons, scrapers, etc. measuring cups muffin tins These muffins are really delicious. We've been making them for years, and after my husband had a heart attack, we made some substitutions to make them even more healthy. Preheat oven to 400F, and if you need to create the sour milk, mix the milk and vinegar and let it sit a few minutes. Prepare tins for 18 regular-size muffins. Combine 1/2 c of the oatmeal and all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the pear pieces and mix gently to disperse and coat them. Mix the rest of the ingredients and stir or whisk till well-combined. Make a shallow well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add the liquid all at once, and stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened.

fill muffin cups to the top (photo by jhy)

Spoon immediately into the prepared muffin tins. For this recipe you will fill the cups to the top (some muffins should only be filled to three-quarters). Sprinkle the remaining oatmeal over the muffins, and press in lightly. Bake for 18 minutes or until done. Muffins will be lightly golden. Remove from pans immediately and cool on a rack. These freeze well, if you can refrain from eating them all right away! With half sugar substitute, and lowfat milk, chottage cheese, etc. these muffins are only 120 calories each.