Healthy Carrot-Apple-Coconut Bran Muffins and A Closet Snack-Sneaker

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Are you a closet snack-sneaker?

You know what I mean...

someone who sneaks a naughty snack when no one's looking? 

I already confessed this to you when I told you how my sister caught me red-handed with a big bag of candy a few months ago.

I am pretty much a very healthy eater, however, 
my weakness is any kind of gummy candy or jelly beans.
I'm really trying to kick the habit, truly, I am.
I'm no dummy. 
I know that although they are yummy, 
gummies go right to the tummy, 
which ultimately, makes me feel crummy.  

But, the other night something happened 
that sent me on a downward chewy candy spiral.

I saw an unopened bag of gummy peach rings on the kitchen counter.
I had enough will-power to keep myself from tearing the bag open, but that was only because they weren't sour gummy peach rings...one of my faves.
Plus, I knew they had to be Junior Goo Shoes', and I couldn't steal my own kid's candy, now, could I? 
Of course I could, but I activated my "behave like a mom" switch, and resisted.

Later in the day, Junior Goo Shoes opened said bag of temptation in front of me.
Let's just say that he may have taunted me a bit, 
since he knows of my confection affection. 

It was all in good fun, but he wouldn't give me any.

Friends, I would only confess this to you..

but I actually paid him a dollar.

For ONE peach ring. 

Pathetic, yes, I know...

That one little peach ring did not satisfy my gummy desire;

in fact, it intensified my craving.

So, when I was in Home Goods the next day, 
and I saw Sour Gummy Worms at the register,

I couldn't help myself.

I ate half the bag, and miraculously, forgot about the rest until yesterday morning. 

I needed an ingredient for these healthy muffins, 
and when I went to pay, I found the worms in my purse.

Yay...Lunch!  

Finding gummies or jelly beans in my purse is the equivalent 
to a normal person finding $100 in their pocket.

 Now, the irony is, that I wanted to make these muffins because they are healthy, and here I am rejoicing over my candy find.

Anyway, about the muffins...

I'd had an amazing muffin at a cafe recently, and I was searching all over for a recipe that would come close to replicating them. 

It was right under my nose the entire time --

on the back the bag of Bob's Red Mill Ground Flaxseed Meal,

which I mix into my oatmeal every morning.

(See, I told you I was a healthy eater).

I was really happy with how the muffins turned out...

they were pretty close to the ones I'd had,

with carrot, apple, flaxseed meal, oat bran, nuts and raisins. 

I added shredded coconut to mine, like the ones I had in the cafe.

Oh, are they delish!

And the flavor is most definitely enhanced 

when served with a side of sour gummy worms.

Some notes about the recipe:

The original recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups of shredded carrots;

I used 1 cup; plus 1/2 shredded coconut.

You will need a LARGE bowl to fit the dry ingredients, carrot, apple, and coconut.

It doesn't look like there is enough liquid for the dry ingredients, 
but don't worry, there is.

I super-sized my muffins, and used jumbo muffin tins, which made 8 muffins; regular muffin tins yield 15. 

It took about 30 minutes for my muffins to bake; 15-20 minutes for regular size. 

Carrot Apple Coconut Bran Muffins

(Recipe adapted from Bob's Red Mill Bran Flax Muffins)  

Yield: 15 regular-sized muffins; 8 jumbo muffins

1 1/2 cups Unbleached White Flour

3/4 cup Flaxseed Meal (I used Bob's Red Mill Flaxseed Meal)

3/4 cup Oat Bran (I used Bob's Red Mill Oat Bran Hot Cereal)

1 cup Brown Sugar

2 tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 tsp. Salt

2 tsp. Cinnamon

1 cup Carrots, shredded (about 3 large)

2 Apples, peeled and shredded

1/2 cup Coconut, shredded

1/2 cup Raisins (optional)

1 cup Walnuts, chopped

3/4 cup Milk

2 Eggs, beaten

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract 

Preheat oven to 350°.
Lightly grease muffin tins.
Mix together flour, flaxseed meal, oat bran, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.
Stir in carrots, apples, coconut, raisins (if using), and nuts. 
Combine milk, beaten eggs and vanilla.
Pour liquid ingredients into dry ingredients.
Stir until ingredients are moistened. Do not over mix. 
Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake regular-sized muffins for 15-20 minutes; bake jumbo muffins for 25-30 minutes.

Enjoy, with or without the gummy worms.

 

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