Monday, May 4, 2009

Making Muffins for Desserts & Breakfast


Time for Muffins!

Fiber One is a "Weight Watcher's" friend! They offer some wonderful high fiber options of foods that can often be a little less than we realize, health wise! These awesome Apple Cinnamon Fiber One Muffins at a cost of under $4 a box, which makes 12, are a very reasonable financial AND nutritional choice!

Homemade anything just seems to scream out comfort food. Yes, I know our grannies and great-grannies were in the kitchen all day making true from scratch food. A boxed cake or dessert item was used in dire emergencies when company dropped in. Gone are those days, THANK GOODNESS! Now, you get great homemade taste with simple basic boxed mixes and there's something about "comfort food" that makes your eating experience so wonderful. These little muffins are no stranger to the "Comfort Food" style of eating but do so while remaining healthy! What more could you ask for?

A box of Fiber One Apple Cinnamon Muffin mix makes 12 average sized muffins. They also offer an even lower fat version, substituting apple sauce for the oil and egg whites or egg substitute for the eggs, taking off one entire point per muffin! Created the "lower fat" way these lovely creatures come out sweet, tender and delightful and extremely point friendly! (2)

My own special touch to make them even better was to add a sprinkle of the GFS (Gordon Food Service) spice "Maple Cinnamon Sprinkles". As a spice and used in small quantities they add no extra points while adding tons of extra flavor. Sprinkle the Maple Cinnamon on top of the muffins while still warm to get a slight melting reaction, creating a sticky sweet, delicious treat.

I love using the muffins for breakfast. They're a great quick "Grab 'n Go" option as you're running out the door. The kids love them, enjoy the sweet treat to get them going in the morning. As a "snack" they rock too! Add a glass of milk or a container of yogurt to get a wonderful, filling sweet treat.

I found my box of Fiber One muffin mix at Big Lots locally, making them a good $1 or more less than the grocery stores but most all stores carry them in my area.

So if you get a chance and have 20 minutes before bed, you might want to whip up a batch for a homemade treat that will leave you feeling so very delighted! It's just like "homemade" comfort, only made simple! My kids love them too!

Some other options to try while eating them....
  • A teaspoon of reduced fat peanut butter spread on top. Rocks!

  • Crumbled over top a low fat, point friendly ice cream & topped with some fat free whipped cream. Add a Tablespoon of sugar free, fat free caramel (don't forget to add the points up) and you've created an "a la mode" style dessert to die for!

  • Drizzle a thin line of sugar free, fat free caramel along the tops of these muffins for a decadent treat!

  • Add 3 or 4 cinnamon hearts on top of the muffins just as you take them out of the oven. Cute decorations and a touch of cinnamon sweetness makes each bite taste a bit like a candied apple.

Hope you find a box of Fiber One Muffin Mix and make the time to create these easy special treats for you and your family! You'll wow them, I'm sure! And feel free to share the different ways you too create a sweet treat for yourself and your family!