What better way to transition into the fall season than with some Apricot Amaranth Muffins? Everyone needs a new muffin recipe when the fall season comes around. The cool breeze, the changing leaves, it is such a wonderful time to get into some warming fall recipes. ( I know it still maybe a little early – but I am getting ready anyways!)
There is something about apricots and that fall that seem to go so well together. A little note on apricots. Make sure you are buying dark Turkish apricots, meaning they should look fairly brown as opposed to bright orange. The orange ones that you typically find in most grocery and bulk food stores are that colour because of preservative called sulphur dioxide. These little guys can get into our system and cause a whole host of health issues from headaches to stomach cramps. So if you can avoid sulfites and this is very easy, especially if you just stick to a whole foods diet, as most sulfites are found in things that are packaged and processed!
Apricots can be a wonderful ingredient to add into a whole bunch of recipes (especially in the fall). Whether you are making muffins, granola, a cake or pie – just chop them up and throw them in. They will not only naturally sweeten you baked goody, but they also add a great chewy texture. Apricots are also great in trail mixes. So if you have never seen or purchase dark brown apricots…I encourage you to go out and find them and use them in this extremely simple and delicious gluten free recipe!!
Apricot Amaranth Muffins
1 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup amaranth flour
1 teaspoon each baking soda/baking powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup puffed amaranth
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup rice milk
1-2 cups chopped apricots, soaked (I actually heated them up with some water and mixed them with some apple butter and lemon juice)
Procedure:
Mix all the dry ingredients in bowl.
Mix the wet ingredients in another bowl.
Mix the two together and stir in the chopped apricots.
Divide into 8 – 12 muffin cups and bake on 350F for 20 minutes.
Enjoy!
How you ask?
Well all it takes is some education and a little planning. You just have to fill your kitchen with the right ingredients if you want to make simple substitutions to your dessert favourites. And guess what …I can teach you how.
In this cooking class I will be outlining the different sugar alternatives that are available to you to use with ease. Not to mention their individual sweetness and subtle flavours. I will also be discussing whole grain flours flours that can be used rather than traditional white or now more commonly used whole wheat. These new whole grain alternative flours that can be used in your baked recipes, have some incredible health benefits and you can’t even taste the difference!
Most importantly I will cover how baking can be done without any dairy. That means no milk, cream, butter or eggs. Baking can be done without these timely staples. It is really that simple!
You will now have more fun than ever while baking your favourite recipes!
So come and join me on Wednesday August 20th for a wonderful and delicious exploration of healthy baking at it’s best.
Here is a recipe just to get your taste buds going….
Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
3/4 cup spelt flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (you can do more…I always do!)
1/2 sucanat (natural form of sugar)
1/4 cup maple sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup sunflower oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins
1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silpats.
3. Mix together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
4. Mix sugars, maple syrup, apple sauce, oil and vanilla together in bowl. Add flour mixture and stir until blended. Stir in the oats and raisins.
5. Let it sit for 10 minutes.
6. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto the cookies sheets.
7. Bake for 12-14 minutes and let them cool for 5-8 minutes on cookie sheets then scoop onto a cooling rack.
8. Enjoy them with a glass a cold glass of Vanilla Rice Milk.!
Well it is true, you will never get the result you want in a baked recipe when there is moisture in the air.
I was preparing my weekly batch of Spelt Blueberry Banana muffins, same ingredients each week in their proper amounts but the outcome… not the same. They just didn’t want to rise. They normally have this nice little peak in the very center, but not this time. I must mention however, that the slight moisture in the air, brought about a very moist and tender muffin. So the taste, was delicious—they were just a little flatter and smaller than my usual batch. So really you can’t beat the heat, when an order comes in, its got to be done. Just be aware that your muffins may not “muff” up like they usually do when the air is wet.
