Pear Ginger Bran Muffins

Woah yum.

In case you haven't noticed, I've become a fan of oat bran muffins. Today, I wanted to use up some leftover chopped pears, and I came across this Farmgirl Fare recipe that would not only use the pears and oat bran, but also the candied ginger leftover from my (thankfully over) days of morning sickness.

I made a couple of changes in the recipe, just for convenience:

-I had no wheat bran, so I used 2 c oat bran and 1 c Fiber One cereal, ground in the food processor.

-I was short on honey, so I used 1/3 c honey and 1/3 c brown sugar.

-I was a little short on pears, so I filled it out with some applesauce. It was delicious, but I'll go 100% pear next time.

These will be made again. They're delicious, hearty without being too heavy, and the pear and ginger flavors make them stand out from your ordinary muffin. I'd serve these for house guests or bring them to a brunch potluck... they're a winner.

The Recipe:

2 c oat bran

1 c wheat bran (or ground bran cereal)

1 c whole wheat flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs, beaten

2/3 c plain yogurt

1/3 c canola oil

1/3 c honey

1/3 c brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 c ripe pears, mashed

1/2 c candied ginger, chopped

Mix dry ingredients, then blend in the wet, and then fold in the pears and ginger.
Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

The Verdict:

Overall grade: A

Overall reason: Outstanding flavor and texture

Time to prepare: 35 minutes

Husband quote: (In the tone of a "Chopped" judge:) "You have great texture here, and I like how the spice builds up after a few bites." He went on to criticize the cat for not getting anything at all on the plate, and telling her that she's been chopped.

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