Muffin Corn Dogs

Here is another fun, easy, summer dinner that your whole family will love!! Thanks to Lick the Bowl Good.(My hubby loved them more than my kids:) A lighter version of a fair favorite that will become a fun meal, snack or party food!!

With the works!! Add kethcup, mustard, and relish and you will be in heaven! My best advise, top them with your favorites and pick them up and dig in. Using a fork can get a little crumbly and messy :)

The inside, cute huh?

Ingredients:

1 corn muffin mix (I used Marie Callendar's)
1 package of turkey dogs
relish
ketchup
mustard
chili
anything you put on your hot dogs

1. Ok, really easy here! Preheat your oven to the right temperature. Whip up your muffins. When making your muffins make them low fat! If it asks for eggs: sub egg whites (2 whites for every 1 egg) milk: fat free, oil or butter: sub applesauce. Easy peasy. Ok after you have made your mix, cut your hot dogs into 3rds. That is what fits for a 12 muffin standard baking sheet.
2. Spray your tins REALLY GOOD with non-stick and fill about 2/3 full. Some of mine kinda stuck so spray them well. Stuff a little dog in there and kinda bury him in batter. The muffin will cook over it. Bake for the right time depending on what mix you get.
3. After they are done baking give them a few minutes to cool. I think that helps with the whole not sticking and crumbling apart mess of a dinner. Using a knife go around all the edges of the muffins and use a fork to pry them out. Be careful too. *Maybe it is just me, but I like my food to be pretty so I made my brother eat the broken ones before dinner started so no one would see that they we less than perfection :)
4. Ok. top them and eat! YUM!! Serve these babies with watermelon or fruit salad and a veggie like carrots and celery sticks or steamed green beans.

*To steam green beans buy fresh from the store or pick from your garden :) and place in a sauce pan that has a metal steaming basket and a couple inches of water. Bring to a boil and steam for about 10 minutes. Taste test and when just soft take off heat. Place in a dish and serve with a little tub butter, salt and pepper.

Pumpkin Muffins

So good with any meal!! Fast, healthily and great for snacks too!! I love love love pumpkin and this is a great no fail recipe!

(I put some chopped walnuts on a few, because they are so yummy!)

Ingredients:

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/2 cups sugar

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup applesauce

1 tablespoon oil

4 egg whites, lightly beaten

1 cup canned pumpkin

1/3 cup water

walnuts optional

1. Heat oven to 350.

2. In a large bowl, mix together cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, sugar, salt, baking soda, and flour. Add applesauce, oil, pumpkin and eggs. Stir until JUST moist. Over stirring will cause the muffins to have pointy tops :( No one likes a pointy muffins. Add nuts if you want (I added mine on top).

3. Spray or grease muffin tins or use paper liners for easy clean up. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 20 minutes or until center is set.

* These were so moist! My husband couldn't believe they were low fat! That is a good sign:)

* Add raisins,craisens or chocolate chips for fun!

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

This is my go-to muffin recipe. I can add anything to it!! It is quick and easy and a can make a batch up any night to go with dinner.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup flour

1/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 beaten egg (or two egg whites)

3/4 cup of milk

1/4 oil (I use 1/4 applesauce and you can't tell any different!)

*To make lemon poppy seed: add one teaspoon lemon zest, 1 teaspoon lemon extract, 1 tablespoon poppy seeds and increase sugar to 1/2 cup. Then I made a quick glaze with milk , powdered sugar and a bit of almond extract. Top with slivered almonds!

Directions:
1. Grease twelve 2 1/2 inch muffin cups or line with paper baking cups; set aside.
2. In medium bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Make a well in center of mixture; set aside
3. In another bowl combine egg, milk and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moist...VERY IMPORTANT. If you over mix muffins they will get tough and will form peaks and not round tops. Batter will be slightly lumpy.
4. Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling 2/3 full. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes, serve warm.


* To make banana muffins: reduce milk to 1/2 cup, stir in 3/4 cup mashed banana, and add 1/2 chopped nuts


* To make apple cinnamon: add 3/4 cup diced apple and 1 teaspoon cinnamon


* For streusel topping: combine 3 tablespoons flour, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Cut in 2 tablespoons butter until mixture resembles course crumbs. Top any of the variety of muffins with topping right before baking.