Cranberry-Carrot Muffin

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup pureed cooked carrots
Zest of 1 orange
1/2 cup leftover cranberry relish
2 tablespoons Demererra or granulated sugar, for sprinkling
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375degrees F. Line a 12-portion 1/2-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger together.

In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand-held electric mixer in a large bowl, cream the butter on medium speed until lightened. With the speed on low, slowly add the sugar. Increase speed to medium high and beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating between each addition and scraping down the bowl as necessary with a rubber spatula. Add the carrot puree and orange zest and beat until well combined. With the mixer set on low, slowly add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined; do not overbeat. Remove the bowl from the mixer and with a rubber spatula, gently fold the cranberry relish into the batter until evenly distributed.

Evenly divide the batter among the lined muffin cups and sprinkle a little sugar over the top of each. Bake in the center of the oven until light golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes.

Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Remove muffins form the pan and transfer to a rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature.

From Wes Martin

Oatmeal Blueberry Applesauce Muffins

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tbsp canola oil
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper cases or spray with nonstick cooking spray. I simple greased and floured a muffin pan, saving the paper.
In a large bowl combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In a medium bowl combine applesauce, buttermilk, sugar, oil and egg. Make a well in dry ingredients and add applesauce mixture. Stir until just moist. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.
Bake for 16-18 minutes.

From Joy the Baker

Zucchini Bread

Ingredients

Canola oil cooking spray
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 large egg
1 large egg white
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup grated zucchini
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. Spray a loaf pan with canola oil spray and set aside. In a large bowl whisk together flours, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg and set aside. Using an electric mixer, combine sugar and canola oil. Add applesauce, egg, egg white, vanilla extract, lemon juice and zest and mix on low speed until well combined. Slowly add flour mixture and mix until just combined. Using a spatula, fold in zucchini and walnuts. Transfer to prepared pan and bake until a cake tester comes out clean (about 45 minutes) . Cool in pan for 15 minutes. Remove from pan and transfer to a cooling rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Serving Size: 1 slice (recipe makes about 10 slices)

180 calories, 8g fat, 26g carb, 4g protein, 2g fiber

From Dana White Nutrition, Inc.

Chicken and Spinach Pasta Bake

Ingredients
8 ounces uncooked rigatoni
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion (about 1 medium)
1 (10-oz.) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
2 cups cubed cooked chicken breasts
1 (14.5-oz.) can Italian-style diced tomatoes
1 (8-oz.) container low fat or fat free chive-and-onion cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 cups (6 oz.) low fat shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions
Prepare rigatoni according to package directions.
Meanwhile, spread oil on bottom of an 11- x 7-inch baking dish; add onion in a single layer.
Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or just until tender. Transfer onion to a large bowl, and set aside.
Drain chopped spinach well, pressing between layers of paper towels.
Stir rigatoni, spinach, chicken, and next 4 ingredients into onion in bowl. Spoon mixture into baking dish, and sprinkle evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Bake, covered, at 375° for 30 minutes; uncover and bake 15 more minutes or until bubbly.

From Southern Living

Texas Hold-Ums Mini Chipotle Beef Burgers with Warm Fire Roasted Garlic Ketchup

Ingredients
2 pounds ground sirloin
1 medium onion, peeled and cut in 1/2
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, eyeball it
2 chipotles in adobo and 2 tablespoons of adobo sauce
2 tablespoons grill seasoning, a couple of palm fulls, (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning by McCormick)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus some for drizzling
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
1 (15-ounce) can crushed fire roasted tomatoes, about 2 cups
Salt and pepper
12 slices, 1/2-inch thick, brick-cut smoked Cheddar or sharp Cheddar, (recommended: Cabot), optional
12 small round rolls, split
(Many markets sell mini Keiser rolls or use dinner rolls in any flavor you like)

Directions
Preheat grill pan to high.

Place the meat in a bowl. Cut the onion in half. Grate half the onion into the meat using the small grate on a box grater. Chop and reserve the other half onion. Add Worcestershire, chipotles and sauce and grill seasoning to burgers. Drizzle a little extra-virgin olive oil over the bowl and mix meat. Score the meat into 4 sections. Make 3 mini-burgers, each 3 inches wide, 1-inch thick, from each half-pound of meat.

Heat a small sauce pot over medium heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil and garlic. Cook garlic 2 to 3 minutes then add sugar and vinegar, cook 2 minutes more and stir in tomatoes. Season sauce with salt and pepper and allow it to reduce 5 to 6 minutes more.

Grill meat 2 to 3 minutes on each side and top with cheese, if you like.

Place burgers on buns and top with raw chopped onions and warm fire roasted ketchup and serve. G8N84F5MBPKU

Recipe from Rachael Ray