Review: Blueberry-Cranberry Orange Muffins 4/01

[luv2cook]

Made these tonight. Very good. I'd give them an 8. I would use more dried fruit, tho. I used the Berry Medley from Chukar.
Let me add that they're not exceptionally sweet and would be great with coffee, tea, etc.

[This message has been edited by luv2cook (edited 03-27-2001).]

[chefbec]

Thanks for the review. I love muffins. Now all I need is my April issue......

[donleyk]

I wanted to try these too. I was a little concerned about the amount of calories in one muffin tho'. They are almost 200 calories? That's a little high. I will likely try them for when I need to take breakfast food to the in-laws or something. Thanks for the post.

[luv2cook]

donley, I used margarine, not butter. Don't know how much that helps...

[funnybone]

Originally posted by donleyk:
I was a little concerned about the amount of calories in one muffin tho'. They are almost 200 calories? That's a little high.

Most muffins are high in calories,unfortunately.

[luv2cook]

how I normally beat the sweets is if I want to try something for future reference, I make it but then give it to my mother or my hubby to take to work - I've tried it and then there's nothing hanging around begging me to eat it! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[donleyk]

I agree about most muffins. I have been on a bran muffin kick lately and the low fat recipe on the 100% Bran Cereal (Post) is only 130. And that is using 2% milk. I used skim.... I may just tinker with the recipe. It will no doubt come out drier but what the heck.

[ama47369]

For anyone waiting on their April issue, here's the recipe just in case you want to make them now.....

Blueberry-Cranberry Orange Muffins

SOURCE: Cooking Light YEAR: April PAGE: 202

INGREDIENTS FOR 12 SERVINGS:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/4 cups low-fat buttermilk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup dried blueberries
1/4 cup dried cranberries
2 teaspoons grated orange rind
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon sugar

INSTRUCTIONS:
We loved the mix of dried berries in this recipe, but feel free to use only
one variety, if you prefer.

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine
flour and next 4 ingredients (flour through salt) in a large bowl; make a well
in center of mixture. Combine buttermilk and next 6 ingredients (buttermilk
through egg) in a bowl; add to flour mixture. Stir just until moist. Spoon
batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray, and sprinkle evenly with
1 tablespoon sugar.

3. Bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove muffins
from pans; cool on a wire rack. Yield: 1 dozen (serving size: 1 muffin).

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:
CALORIES 197 (23% from fat); FAT 5.1g (sat 2.8g, mono 1.5g, poly 0.4g);
PROTEIN 3.9g; CARB 34.5g; FIBER 0.8g; CHOL 29mg; IRON 1.2mg; SODIUM 221mg;
CALC 75mg

[junietoo]

I made these last night and they are definitely a keeper. I'm not ususally one for low-fat pastries (I just eat smaller portions) and these have that tell-tale chewiness of low-fat quick breads, but the outstanding flavor offsets that one shortcoming IMO. Even my "never anything low-fat" son liked them.

[Gina O]

Just wanted to add my two cents on this one for anyone else who decides to make them in the future. As I was digging out the recipe for Pommes Anna, I stumbled across this, and happened to have some dried blueberries in search of a recipe.

I thought they were very good, but, like luv2cook, I would also add more dried fruit. I should have checked the BB before making them..... what was I thinking!!!! I used more orange zest than it called for (just zested the whole orange and used it all) but didn't feel it was too "orangy". Gina

[TheresaM]

Do you think you could use frozen blueberries and dried cranberries ?

[emily]

Except that I have both frozen blueberries and cranberries. However, I fear that using all frozen fruit would add too much liquid? But maybe not? :confused:

[Tiger]

Originally posted by TheresaM
Do you think you could use frozen blueberries and dried cranberries ?

I was thinking the same thing too! I never heard of dried blueberries so I have a feeling I would have trouble finding them.

[Gina O]

I found the dried blueberries in the bulk section of Whole Foods. Bought them on a whim! I think the recipe would work okay with one dried (like the cranberries) and one not, I would just add more cranberries. If both were fresh or frozen, it may be getting a bit too juicy. Gina